The Clothes Horse and other Stories by Janet and Allan Ahlberg

There are six very short stories in this little book with delightful, detailed illustrations by the late Janet Ahlberg.  The stories cover a range of emotions and some of these ideas or themes might surprise you. Each story is named after a common expression such as jack pot or God knows.  The first story is the one you see in the title. A magician makes a horse out of clothes and for a while the horse works pulling a milk cart but eventually he runs away. Over time all of his clothes are stolen so the horse goes back to the magician and because he is now invisible, he plays a few tricks on him until the horse works out he can take washing off clothes lines and find a new purpose in life as a pantomime horse. 

The second story is very sad and poignant. A young girl decides to save parts of her life for later. As an old woman she opens her various boxes. For one day, for example, she is able to live as though she is eight all over again. Bit by bit, over time, she uses her Life Savings then sadly she dies but there is one box left. This box contains 'half an hour, age four.'  The twist is clever:

"If ever you should feel the urge to act like a four-year-old (unless you are a four-year-old) you can blame it on the life savings of a woman in the fortune-telling business, with a little magic on the side. That's what I'd do."

The third story is called The Jack Pot and it is about a whole lot of boys named Jack who invade the home of a giant. The fourth story is called No Man's Land but it is not about a war. And the sixth story, God Knows, is the most complex. God is telling a bedtime story to a group of children and it is about the creation of the earth and some how all of history is squeezed in too.

My favourite story is Night Train which explains the delivery of night at the end of every day and also the delivery of sweet dreams. It reminded me of this book:

The King who Banned the Dark

I am always on the look out for short story collections because they are so perfect to use with a class as writing inspiration and also I love to share these with casual (relief) teachers because they are easy to pop into a bag of teaching tricks for those days or times when no work has been left for a class.

I had a copy of The Clothes Horse and other stories in hardcover and in a larger format in my former school library but oddly I had not read it until last night. My copy comes from a charity book sale and as I have said previously, I am fairly sure this book has never even been opened it is in such pristine condition. The Clothes Horse and other stories was first published in 1987. My copy is a reprint from 2000.

Here is the full Kirkus review:

Six brief, whimsical stories with the air of extemporaneous bedtime tales told by a gifted parent, from the creators of Each Peach Pear Plum; each story is a logical (but zany) extension of a common phrase. "The Clothes Horse" has been made by a magician, out of clothes; but even after all the clothes are appropriated, one by one, he retains a tenuous existence. "Life Savings" are bits of various ages stored up by a 70-year-old woman, resulting in curious behavior when she gets them out again. In "The Jack Pot," a beleaguered giant catches troublesome Jacks till they form a football team and bother him more than ever. Then there are "No Man's Land," "The Night Train," and "God Knows" - God's answer to his own children when they ask him what else people invented (after spaceships and the Beatles) and what they did next. Janet Ahlberg's deft, carefully detailed illustrations add to the fun. Cozy, comic, wry and wise, these rather British morsels may not be to the taste of every American child, but they're certainly worth a try. The avuncular voice suggests a read-aloud, but the stories' brevity will also make them attractive for independent reading.

The Clothes Horse story which opens the book reminded me of this picture book:

The Emperor's New Clothes Horse

You should also look for this book by Janet and Allan Ahlberg - it's a terrific one to share with a Kindergarten or Preschool group. 

I Love Vincent by Laura Ljungkvist

"My name is Scout. I am a good dog! 

My best friend is Vincent. 

Vincent can't see so I am his guide

and we go everywhere together."

This book had the potential to move me to tears for two reasons. I just watched a moving little Instagram film of a very young boy exploring the uniform of a firefighter with his hands. And many years ago we had a boy in my school who had lost both his eyes as a baby.

Scout is a guide dog and Vincent is his best friend. We follow their journey in this book from their meeting in guide dog school through to Scout learning how to navigate Vincent's home and neighborhood. They visit the park and ride the subway and enjoy lunch at a cafe. At night Scout can relax without his harness and the friends enjoy listening to music together. 

My friend picked this book up for her library from a bargain bookseller but sadly it is out of print because it was published in 2021. If you can find it, this book would be a terrific addition to your school or preschool library. 

You might like to watch this television series "Pick of the Litter." Here are some other books about guide dogs from my friend at Kinderbookswitheverything.

Laura Ljungkvist is originally from Sweden. She moved to the US in 1993. You can see inside her books here. 

I previously talked about this book by Laura Ljungkvist:

Pepi sings a new song

And these might be in your local or school library:

One Lone Swallow by Corinne Fenton illustrated by Owen Swan

This book is set in Florence, Italy and when you read this post I will be there! I am penning a series of posts for my blog ahead of time because it might be difficult to access a computer.

This is the story of a swallow who sets off across the city to find her mate. She has to leave her babies back in the nest and so there is a huge urgency to her quest. 

There are wonderful words in this book - lingered, ruffled, flimsy cobwebs, and silvery beams. And some beautiful phrases - writing music with her wings; beyond the charcoal edges of the ancient city; (the) blue velvet night draped whispers over the timeless city.

The swallow soars across 1805 Florence and we see cityscapes from all angles depicted by Owen Swan in soft shades of purple, tan pale blue and grey. Her mate is eventually found but he is tangled in shoemakers' twine. The female struggles to release him and at that moment a huge rat arrives - a moment of extreme danger.

This book would be so perfect when you talk about narrative arc - you could draw a graph of the way the story moves through low and high points before reaching that all important happy reunion and ending. Prescribed writing programs for children (I am not really a fan) use the term tightening tension. 

I also love the way the opening words are written in glorious sweeping calligraphy.  

Corinne’s text gently reveals the mother’s plight, with enough suspense to keep little minds guessing as to what might transpire for the lone swallow and her family. From piazzas and cathedrals to the foot of Michelangelo’s statue of David, the illustrations are rich with history, and Owen Swan gives a subdued colour palette life, placing the reader firmly in the landscape of Florence with an aerial view of the enchanting city at dusk. Reading Time

The angle of the city buildings and structures are brilliantly illustrated showing Italy 200 years ago.  The style is muted and dusky, showing iconic Italian landmarks from a birds-eye point of view, including the statue of Michelangelo’s David, as an integral aspect of the story. The book has a gentle and flowing rhythm that lends itself to a perfect bedtime read. Story Links

But it is not the courage and determination of the swallow in her mission that is the hallmark of this story, but the beautiful, lyrical description of her journey accompanied by the exquisite, soft illustrations that are the perfect match. The Bottom Shelf

Here is an interview with the author Corinne Fenton about her book. You can find other books by Corinne Fenton on her webpage. Pegi Williams page has a copy of the Teachers Notes, which were originally available on the publisher web site, for this book. 

Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus illustrated by Jose Aruego

From time to time, I think about Leo the Late Bloomer (1971) because it was a favourite book of a very skilled Kindergarten teacher who worked at the first school where I was appointed back in 1984 in rural NSW. I have also mentioned Leo the Late Bloomer a few times over the years here on this blog so I was pleased to pick up a copy (in close to mint condition) at a recent charity book sale. 

Leo couldn't talk. Leo couldn't draw. Leo couldn't write.  Leo couldn't read. He was also a very sloppy eater. But his mother knows they just need to wait. One day Leo will bloom! Dad just needs to be patient and listen to mum!

I love the way, when he finally does speak, Leo says a whole sentence and not just those punctuation words such as no, yes, up, down, more, mum, dad etc. 

Having reading this book again decades after I first saw it, I can now see it might be a book you could share with new parents in a preschool setting or at the start of kindergarten. If I was reading it to a group of children in a library or classroom I would talk about the concepts we associate with Growth Mindset such as "some things might take longer but that's okay"; "When I struggle I grow"; and "It's okay for me to make mistakes". And you could talk about the way we are all different and we all learn differently and the importance of patience and perseverance. This book might also fit in with your family if your child has older siblings who 'seem' to be great at everything - reading this book side by side with your young reading companion might allow you to talk about the concept of 'not yet'. Try to find the book Frog is Frog where Frog is trying to find his talent.

I now discover there was also a sequel -Leo the Late Bloomer bakes a cake (1982) but I have not found a cover image to share. 

I found these two classroom ideas.

Robert Kraus (1925-2001) wrote and illustrated over 100 books. Here are a couple of other books by Robert Kraus:

Which one doesn't belong? Playing with shapes by Christopher Danielson

This is one shape book that will both challenge readers’ thinking and encourage them to think outside the box. Kirkus Star review

I do love to browse the non fiction shelves in the library I visit each week - I always find so many quirky books.  If I was using this book with a class I would copy each page to display - one per week over a term and then invite the children to talk about their 'answers'. Actually the author explains there are no 'right' answers here - you just need to be able to justify your ideas.

This brightly coloured book has four shapes on each page with the question - which one doesn't belong. This book was published in 2019 but it is still available in paperback for a good price. 

Bookseller blurb: Written by a celebrated math educator, this innovative inquiry encourages critical thinking and sparks memorable mathematical conversations. Children and their parents answer the same question about each set of four shapes- "Which one doesn't belong?" There's no one right answer--the important thing is to have a reason why. Kids might describe the shapes as squished, smooshed, dented, or even goofy. But when they justify their thinking, they're talking math! Winner of the Mathical Book Prize for books that inspire children to see math all around them.

There is also a version of this book available with a teachers guide:

In the companion teacher's guide, (9781625310811) Danielson shows how to facilitate rich discussions and teach mathematical argumentation using Which One Doesn't Belong? He models how to listen closely and respectfully to students' ideas about shapes. Danielson synthesizes research about how children learn geometry, discusses the role of geometry in the mathematics curriculum, and gives plenty of practical advice about different ways to implement Which One Doesn't Belong? in classrooms.

Christopher Danielson has a PhD in Mathematics. Take a look at his webpage. He is clearly a very passionate educator. In this video (3 minutes) he talks about the inspiration for Which one doesn't belong? and as a bonus you can see inside the book. 

I am keen to look for this book too:

Little Puggle's Song by Vikki Conley illustrated by Helene Magisson

All of the birds contribute to the bush chorus. You can hear the little blue wren, the fantail, the Sulphur crested cockatoo, and the laughter of Brown Feather. Little Puggle longs to join them but he just cannot make a sound. Even the Kangaroo and Koala can grunt and click. Brown Feather is in charge of the orchestra. Brown Feather is a kookaburra but on the day they all need to sing to help the emu family with their eggs, Brown Feather is ill. How can the chorus still sing without their leader? Little Puggle has the answer. He has been quietly watching Brown Feather. He plucks a long quill from his back and the singing can begin!

Little Puggle's Song was a Notable Early Childhood Book of the Year by The Children's Book Council of Australia in 2020. Here are some brief teachers notes. I this interview Vikki Conley talks about the inspiration for her story and here is her webpage. Read this extensive review on The Neverending Bookshelf. In this video Vikki Conley reads her book. 

This deceptively simple story is  all about joining in, finding your own special talent and the warmth of community and of course, the power of music. Sure to appeal to the very young and everybody else as well. Storylinks

The stand out illustrations with beautiful colour and light create a dreamy Australian setting, and an instant connection with Little Puggle’s character. Vikki Conley’s captivating story-telling and Helene Magison’s pictures flow and lift each other to make a wholesome and stunning book with a cover so delightful that it warmed my heart before I even opened it. Kids' Book Review

Early in 2024 Orchestra Victoria turned Little Puggle's Song into a performance - I wish I had known about this - it must have been very special.

Hello and welcome to Little Puggles Song, one of Orchestra Victoria’s special Storytime Series, designed for our young and young-at-heart audiences. Telling stories is at the heart of what we do here at Orchestra Victoria, and we are so thrilled to bring you Vikki Conley’s book in a new and interactive way, with an enthralling composition by well-known composer Maria Grenfell and featuring a selection of our talented Orchestra Victoria musicians. We hope you enjoy the musical prowess of today’s performance as they bring this exciting musical score to life telling the story of Puggle, the young echidna who wants to find his voice so he can take part in the bush choir.

Here is the sequel:

I guess by now you have worked out the word puggle is the term for a baby echidna. I have often thought I would love to talk to an international audience of children's literature fans about our Australian animals and the way they are portrayed in picture books - especially the less well-known animals such as the echidna. 

• Echidnas, along with the platypus, are the only mammals known to lay eggs, placing them in the unique mammalian subclass of monotremes.
• An echidna’s tongue can shoot out of its snout at remarkable speeds, up to 100 times per minute, to capture ants and termites.
• Echidnas have a highly developed sense of smell and a significant portion of their brain is dedicated to olfactory processing.
• Echidnas make up 4 of the 5 surviving species of monotremes.
• Echidnas are great swimmers.
• Echidnas are covered in quills. These quills are made of keratin, the same material that makes up hair, claws, and fur. The keratin proteins harden into spikes that protect the echidna from harsh conditions and predators.
• Echidnas are powerful diggers.
• They produce milk from patches of skin. Young echidnas suckle on these patches and draw milk through pores in the mother echidna’s skin.
• Young echidnas suckle on these patches and draw milk through pores in the mother echidna’s skin.

I previously talked about these books by Vikki Conley:

Under the red shawl

Amira's Suitcase

Milly and the Mulberry tree

And I previously talked about these book illustrated by Helene Magisson:

Sarah's Two Nativities

The secret boat

Quickly Quickly

Before you were born

The Loathsome Dragon retold by David Wiesner and Kim Kahng

"With firm resolve he bent toward the beast, and once, twice, thrice he kissed its fearsome head. With a hiss and a roar, the Loathsome Dragon collapsed to the ground revealing 

fair Margaret within its heart."

This story, retold by husband-and-wife team David Wiesner and Kim Kahng, is based on an eighteenth-century ballad. David Wiesner found the story in a book of English folktales from 1890. 

"I found the image of the maiden awakening in her bed as 'laidy worm' or loathsome dragon, so striking that I painted it as a poster for an art exhibition in 1985."

In Bamborough Castle there lived a king and queen and two children. A daughter named Margaret and a son named Richard. After the queen died the king met a beautiful woman - he did not know she was an enchantress. Richard had left the castle to see the world so only Margaret was there to greet the new queen. But the new queen could see the king loved his daughter perhaps more than his new queen. Enraged by jealousy, she decides to put a spell on the young girl.

Change love to fear, princess to dragon,

Forevermore shall this be,

Unless Prince Richard, the kings' own son,

Gives the beast kisses three.

And so, Margaret is transformed into a dragon, and she sets off seemingly to attack the town and the people. Luckily the court wizard gives his wise counsel. He cannot reverse the spell but if the villagers give the dragon the milk of seven cows every day at sunset they will not be attacked. The wizard also explains time is running out and Richard must be found quickly and told to return home.

Bookseller blurb: A lovely princess, a brave prince, a wicked stepmother, evil enchantments, magic rowan wood, and an immense, scaly dragon. ... Favorite fairytale elements sparkle in The Loathsome Dragon, a traditional English tale. Majestic, romantic paintings by two-time Caldecott medalist David Wiesner display the remarkable artistry and dizzying perspectives his work is known for.

I’m a huge David Wiesner fan – and while this is not one of his more well-known books, it is certainly one of my favorites.  It is one I would categorize as a traditional dragon story – and comes complete with a lovely princes, brave prince, wicked stepmother and evil enchantments, not to mention a dragon.  Reading Power Gear

I love the way so many numbers are woven into this story - the enchantress passes her arms in front of herself nine times nine; she chants her spell three times three; the people need to supply the milk of seven cows; Richard gathers three and thirty men to build his ship to rescue is sister and of course he must kiss her three times.

This book was first published in 1987 and then reprinted in 2005. It is sure to be found in many public and school libraries. 

One of my favourite books would be the perfect companion to read after The Loathsome Dragon:

The Minstrel and the Dragon Pup

Zola's Elephant by Randall de Seve illustrate by Pamela Zagarenski

This book - Zola's elephant is a feast for the eyes. Zola has a big box and our narrator is sure there is an elephant inside. She can smell fresh hot toast and this confirms her idea because she know elephants love hot toast. Our narrator goes on to imagine all the things Zola might be doing with her elephant - taking a bubble bath, playing hide and seek, building a cubby house and more. 

Eventually she knocks on Zola's door.

"Okay, so maybe Zola doesn't have an elephant. But do you know what she does have?"

YES a new friend! and someone to share your wild imagination. 

This book contains a riot of colour and a riot of images. You and your young reading companion will most certainly want to linger over every page. This is also a book you are sure to return to many times. Take time to notice the scrumptious end papers and the hot air balloons which are a trademark image by Pamela Zagarenski. Also look for all the crowns. Hopefully you will find this book in your school or local library. It was published in 2018 and so is now sadly out of print. 

When Zola moves into the house next door, a young girl imagines all of the reasons why a friendship between them is impossible. Kirkus Star review

Bookseller blurb: Illustrated by two-time Caldecott-honor winning artist Pamela Zagarenski, this tender, witty friendship story of imagination gone wild, by New York Times bestselling author Ranall de Seve, shows how assumptions often cause us to misjudge - and miss out. But with a little courage, new opportunities and new friendships can be made. When Zola moves into the neighbourhood, her new next-door neighbour is too shy to go over and introduce herself. Plus, Zola already has a friend to play with - an elephant! What we imagine is not always true, as the little girl discovers. Luckily, she also discovers that being brave can lead to new friendships - and even richer imaginary worlds - in this heartwarming book about friendship, moving, and the power of imagination.

Here is the web site for Randall de Seve. She lives in New York city. Here is an interview with Randall and Pamela. In this post from Seven Impossible Things before Breakfast you can see many examples of art by Pamela Zagarenski.

You may have seen greeting cards by Pamela Zagarenski. I have gifted these to many friends over the year.