Polly keeps getting up throughout the night to check that her parents are still nearby. And every time Polly gets up her mother gently reassures her and leads her back to bed. This continues on throughout the night until Polly's mother eventually becomes too tired to do anything about it. So when Polly next comes into her parents' room her mother simply lifts up the sheets for Polly to climb in. But when Polly's mother wakes up it isn't Polly who is sleeping next to her - Monty the dog is looking very happy! This is a very cute and loving tale based on a true family story. The simple illustrations and easy-flowing repetitive language is wonderful for young learners. Cute and appealing with an amusing twist.
Suitable age: 2-4.
Phoebe calls out to her mother to take her to the toilet because she's scared of the dark. Phoebe's mother tells her to go on her own but Phoebe replies that she can't because she has a wolf under her bed. So Phoebe's mother suggests that Phoebe should take the wolf with her. Phoebe does this and she and the wolf end up meeting an assortment of wonderful creatures on their way to the bathroom. But when Phoebe switches on the bathroom light she finds she's all alone. Was it all just her imagination?
This is a very appealing book with bright vibrant pictures and a humorous and thought-provoking tale. A wonderful story for helping to demystify all those scary things that come out at night.
Suitable age: 2-5.
The little blue duck is a survivor - he managed to hatch beside the river when all the other eggs were washed away. And he overcame a lot of adversity to survive into adulthood.
But when it's time to leave his parents and set off on his own he finds that man has interfered with his environment, so finding his own territory is not going to be easy. A tramper then gets lost in the woods.
Will she be able to locate the call of the little blue duck so she can find the river and follow it to safety? What is going to happen to Whetu now that his river is going to be mined? Who can help him?
This is an informative, thought-provoking tale about the environmental issues blue ducks face and how people can do something about them.
Suitable age: 3-7.
Fred has six brothers and one sister. Every morning Fred and his brothers get a hurry-along from their mother while Shirley, their sister, is always dressed, clean and ready to go. Fred and his brothers eventually tire of Shirley always being praised so one day they huddle together to form a plan. Will they be able to make Shirley late so they can be the first ones up and receive their mother's praise?
Or will Shirley always be one step ahead of them?
This book will appeal to many children. It is entertaining, cleverly written and has a great use of language. It contains lots of rhyming words, descriptive verbs, alliteration and the passing of time.
A recipient of the Joy Cowley Award.
Suitable age: 3-8.
This is yet another fun and silly take on the song There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, which was originally written by Alan Mills. But this story has a New Zealand/Kiwi twist. This old woman starts by swallowing a weta, followed by a bat, a jandal, a stoat, a tuatara, a hawk, and a sheep. She almost manages to eat a kiwi as well but the Department of Conservation manages to stop her and sends her to jail (a twist I wasn't expecting). The best part is that the woman doesn't die or burst and all the animals manage to climb out of her stomach and escape! The illustrations by Errol McLeary are very humorous and extremely appealing. Children will love this story.
Suitable age: 2-7.
- Paula Benson-Gamble is an early childhood teacher.
