ReadingZone: The best new books February 2011

Baby

Baby Play Day

By Roger Priddy

Published by Priddy Books
ISBN 9781849153843

This ‘touch and feel’ board book touches on a number of first concepts, from shapes to counting and colours. Very young children will love the bright colours and distinctive illustrations which make it suitable for babies from just a few weeks old.

Cloth tabs on the side make it easy to turn the pages and there are plenty of different textures and ‘lift the flap’ elements to explore. One of the images, a ball, turns into an apple when lifted, and also a cat.

Children also love to see themselves, so the mirror on the last page will be a treat for them, whatever their age! We loved the novelty elements and the bright colours in this book, perfect for the very youngest of readers.

Toddler

Stomp

By Jeanne Willis, Paul Howard

Published by Orchard Books
ISBN 9781846167942

Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! Here comes a mini-monster - he's looking for something special . . . He crashes through the kitchen and stomps up the stairs, but he can't find that special something anywhere! Just what is the mini-monster looking for?

Jeanne Willis’ text perfectly captures the single-mindedness of a toddler who is on a mission, and the artwork is charming. Children will love joining in the search with the irresistibly cheeky mini-monster and the bold, simple text make this perfect for sharing.

Once they’d read the story, the young children we shared it with were all set for their own game of mini-monsters, so be ready to play!

3 - 5 years

Bears on the Stairs

By Julia Jarman, Lynne Chapman

Published by Andersen Press
ISBN 9781849390057

It’s bedtime but this little boy is reluctant to go – could it be because there are bears on the stairs? The little one at the bottom is ‘fierce and growly’, the fat one in the middle has ‘big, biffy paws’ and the large one at the top of the stairs is HUGE!

The only way to get past them is with bribes – chocolate biscuits and milk should do the trick – but even that won’t work with the biggest bear of all.

Is it just the boy’s imagination, as his parents think, or is that really a big grizzly bear hanging from the lampshade….?

Children aged three plus (who aren’t scared of bears on stairs) will love this story which is illustrated from the child’s perspective and has some very grumpy-looking bears –  until you reach the final, reassuring, spread.