Picture Book Perfect

These have been published for some time and I feel sad that I missed publication day but today is an attempt to bring new readers to these stories! Fantastic books with a range of beautiful illustrative styles. These are more must haves for bookshelves!

The Chalk Garden by Sally-Anne Garland, Published by Sunbird Books

A delightful story of re-wilding an unloved and concrete space. Emma’s garden is uninviting though she tries to make it colourful and creative using her chalk but all that comes is the rain washing it away. When a small green shoot appears between a crack, Emma and her Dad nurture and make space for new growth and new life. Over the summer, the shoots blossom and bloom and finally, one sweet sound makes Emma look to the sky to see her beloved birds visiting her garden. A joyous story that will fill your heart with hope and help you to find the joy in small things. Emma’s patience is rewarded by the greenery and plenty of love being poured into a small space. Gorgeously illustrated, young readers can be inspired to plant their own small gardens.

My Tree by Amy Sparkes and Fiona Lumbers, Published by Scholastic

A young girl loves the tree that she can see from her window. She spends time playing in and around the tree and watching it house the animals, weather the seasons and be a constant in her world. When a storm comes one night, the tree comes down and at first, the young girl is sad but she finds the legacy of the tree and plants this very special seed. Over time, the girl and the tree both grow and we can see the passing of the years as the young girl is now a mother sharing her love of trees and nature with her own child. A book perfect for sharing with children about the ups and downs of life, the ends and beginnings. It is beautiful in text and illustration.

Sunny Side Up by Clare Helen Welsh and Ana Sanfelippo, Published by Little Tiger

There are some days when we might need to look at life and the world differently, wearing sunny-side specs that will help us to find the fun, humour and positivity around us. There are also days when feeling sad is what we need. Recognising our emotions and understanding ways of coping is all part of growing up. What a delightful and gorgeous book to read and share with young readers. I loved the specs to look through as well as the paper engineering throughout, making it perfect for a range of ages. Eventful moments in life can be tricky to navigate but by wearing our sunny-side specs we can see the positive side. I loved that while the book promotes positivity, it also recognises and encourages letting emotions run their course for as long as needed. Reassuring and heartfelt for little readers.

The Thing at 52 by Ross Montgomery and Richard Johnson, Published by Quarto

What a gorgeous story celebrating friendship and the ends and beginnings in life. A young girl notices a Thing who always seems to be alone. Building a friendship with the Thing brings joy to both as they adventure together, learn from each other and enjoy time in each others company. Their lives are both enhanced from knowing each other. Stunningly illustrated with soft strokes and pastel colours, readers will find this soothing and heartfelt. When their adventures eventually come to and end, the young girl finds solace in her memories. A friendship is worth remembering and sharing with new friends. So lovingly created, I wish I had a Thing in my life.

Victor the Wolf with Worries by Catherine Rayner, Published by Macmillan

Catherine Rayner’s iconic and well loved illustrations form the heart of any story she is involved with. They are just mesmerising. Victor is a young wolf, one who worries about being brave, fierce and wolf-ish. He worries about showing the pack that he is brave or fierce but then failing at those things. Pablo, another young wolf, encourages Victor to share his feelings, blow them away or go for a run as a way of helping. Over time, these things do work and Victor is impressed to learn that everyone worries from time to time. A fitting story to share with a class or assembly to encourage sharing and listening. Blowing the worries away is also a great way to encourage deep breathing as a strategy for anxiety, woven into the story perfectly.

Grandpa is Here by Tanya Rosie and Chuck Groenink, Published by Walker Books

The joy to be felt in this book is immense. A young girl’s grandpa has travelled from Tehran to spend the winter with her family. She delights in showing him everything that is important in her world from the line of trees to the hill with rabbits. She wants to savour every moment with him as he is there only for the winter. They speak different languages but laugh in the same way. They share simple pleasures of a hug and favourite foods. Holding his hand while he sleeps is such a pure moment in the story and it is so heartwarming. Wondrous illustrations will enchant young readers. Inter generational stories are so important for young readers to build empathy, understanding and to bridge the gaps in age.