Bear by Natalia Shaloshvili

"Bear thinks. I love being a bear. I love my cookie. I love my book. I love my balloon. I love siting on my bench, all by myself."

But what will Bear do when other animals arrive wanting to share his bench seat, wanting to have a bite of his cookie, take a look at his book and even ask for his balloon? Finally, it all gets too much, and Bear lets out a loud roar. The animals all flee but then Natalia Shaloshvili gives her readers one more scene where perhaps there is a way for Bear to feel better but now poor Duck has to give away his cookie! You and your young reading companion will now want to talk about what might happen next. 

Holding in your feelings can have unintended consequences. Kirkus

There is a fine line between a book that is written to 'teach a child a lesson' - heavy handed versions of this can be labelled didactic - and books that explore an aspect of life that might be familiar to a young child which shows familiar feelings and reactions.

Bear is a book that is filled with big, big feelings and it all feels so real watching the way Bear reacts to others. We are privy to the narrative in his head as he navigates situations with his friends. AND his facial reactions are perfect.

While Bear's words say one thing, his expression and the clever use of font say another, giving the reader the opportunity to consider his body language and speculate on what he is really thinking, offering yet more lessons in how to "read the room", particularly if the adult sharing the book begins a conversation about these sorts of non-verbal cues and clues. Read Plus

Let’s talk about those illustrations—because wow. They’re gorgeous. Natalia Shaloshvili brings Bear’s world to life with a whimsical, textured art style that feels both magical and totally unique. Each page is a little work of art, with rich colours and soft details that invite young readers (and their grown-ups!) to pause and explore. Mummy is reading Books

I highly recommend you look for Bear and add it to your Primary School or preschool library collection. 

Bookseller blurb: A hilarious and heartwarming picture book about sharing, big feelings, and learning how to speak up! Packed with vibrant illustrations and laugh-out-loud moments, Bear is a delightful story that little readers will want to revisit again and again. Perfect for bedtime, story time, or any time! Bear is ready for the perfect day - blue skies, a cosy bench, his favourite book, a delicious cookie, and a bright balloon. Bliss! But just as he settles in, Fox wants a spot on the bench. Then Wolf asks for a bite of cookie. Rabbit wants a turn with the book. And Elephant? Well, he has his eyes on that balloon...Before Bear knows it, his peaceful day has turned into a chaotic whirlwind of sharing, and he's about to explode! AAAAAARGH! From the brilliant mind of author-illustrator Natalia Shaloshvili, Bear is a laugh-out-loud, beautifully illustrated story about learning to say what you really mean before your emotions take over.

Natalia Shaloshvili began her creative career as a fashion and editorial illustrator, working with a number of international magazines and creative agencies, including Grazia, Women's Health, and Gala. Later, she found her true passion in children's books and paintings. Her original work can be found in private galleries and homes around the world. She lives in London, England, with her family. Find her on Instagram as @nataly_owl. See inside Bear here.

Here are other books by Natalia Shaloshvili. I will be heading off to my library to hunt for these:

Companion books:

Five Bears You could also look at Otto The Top Dog

Something's wrong

Norton and the borrowing bear

Two for me, one for you

Good for you, good for me

Fly Free by Roseanne Thong illustrated by Eujin Kim Neilan

"Fly free, fly free in the sky so blue. When you do a good deed, it will come back to you!"

This is a curious book and I am not sure how I would explain the story especially to younger readers but I was drawn to it because the illustrations are so different. They look as though they were painted on bamboo. 

In my former school the curriculum included a strand of stories with an Asian focus. My Grade Six students explored some interesting picture books such as Sparrow Girl; Ruby's Wish; Ah Kee and the Glass Bottle; Glass Tears and The Red Piano. (Pop these titles into my search bar). 

Here is my Pinterest of Asian focus picture books. As we read each book we discovered so many interesting customs and moments from history. With this book - Fly Free - I had no idea about the idea of paying to set captured birds free, but I do like the way kindness is explained here through a circle story but the actual practice of capturing animals is in fact very cruel. 

Blurb: When you do a good deed, it will come back to you. Mai loves feeding the caged birds near the temple but dreams that one day she'll see them fly free. Then she meets a young girl named Thu, and shares the joy of feeding the birds with her. This sets a chain of good deeds in motion that radiates throughout her village and beyond.

Fly Free was published in 2010 so it is long out of print but you might find a copy in a library.

Here is part of the School Library Journal review:

A Vietnamese girl feeds caged birds outside a Buddhist temple, beginning a cycle of good deeds continued by the townspeople, including a girl who gives away her red-velvet shoes, before circling back to the birds. Although written to illustrate the Buddhist philosophy of karma, the lesson of this simple story, that helping others is helpful to you, is universal. The muted and warm watercolor-on-board illustrations glow with gold, orange, red, and brown tones, although the girls' unnaturally pink cheeks and lips give them a jarringly clownish look. One of the characters is a monk but the only explicit religious message is found in an author's note that explains karma, nirvana, and samsara (the wheel of life). The arresting cover illustration of a child holding her hands in the air as birds fly into the distance foreshadows the story's conclusion. That dramatic image will immediately engage readers in wondering how the birds will be freed.

Little Treasure by Chanelle Gosper illustrated by Jennifer Goldsmith

 

Publisher blurb: A mother and child explore a deserted beach on a windy day. It is an afternoon they will both treasure always. A poetic and tender book about how the small moments spent together are often the most precious.

One of the important "outcomes" that comes from reading a well written and beautifully illustrated picture book to a child (of any age) is they will hear rich language.  Look at these examples from Little Treasure:

"A smooth purple pebble with silvery lines, a seaweed strand with beads so fine, blue sea glass in the shape of a bell, and a tiny pale pink heart-shaped shell."

"A piece of the night sky that fell from the stars, a necklace of green stones sparkling like glass, a precious sapphire as blue as can be, and a perfectly pink charm of the sea."

I don’t think there is one straight line anywhere in any of the images in the book. The illustrations have a fluidity that capture the shifting nature of the beach setting and the make-believe scenes from the characters’ imaginations. Towards the end of the book, we begin to grasp the dual meaning of the title, Little Treasure. For while the child is lost in her world of seaside treasures, the mother is treasuring the experience of being with her innocent, inquisitive daughter. Reading Time

The ordinary becomes the extraordinary as shells and seaweed become a mermaids’ jewels; a ship on the horizon transports treasure to unknown places; footsteps in the sand become pathways to new adventures and undiscovered worlds.  And throughout it all, is threaded the unending love between mother and child fed by the small moments that become memories and the joy of sharing them in a timeless bubble, reminding us that those are the most precious things of all. The Bottom Shelf

Stop and look at the end papers and then next time you visit the seaside you might look for this seaweed that is like a string of pearls. I found the scientific name for Neptunes Pearls Hormosira banksii.

Image source iNaturalist New Zealand

Little Treasure is a 2024 CBCA Notable Picture Book. 

One Little Duck by Katrina Germein illustrated by Danny Snell

"One little duck went out one day, over the hills and far away. Mother duck said ..."

Wait a minute mother duck said - moo moo moo - no no no - what is going on here? A cow now joins the group. 

"Two happy friends went out one day, under the fence and through the hay. Mother duck said ..."

Bow-wow wow-wow! and so a dog joins them along with a chicken, a lamb, a donkey and a pig - seven happy friends. But what about Mother Duck? She is still calling for her baby - but it is okay "Mum I'm back!"  This long parade of farm animals reminded me of Who sank the Boat?

One Little Duck has been shortlisted for our CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) Early Childhood Picture Book award. This category is for children aged 0-6 and One Little Duck is certainly a preschool book. It will fit in well with all the Nursery Rhymes I hope preschool educators share with their groups every day. With very young children you should also notice the animals in the scene near the end are reading a famous book - The Three Little Pigs. Also, all the way through the mother duck has been shopping and, in each scene, the hungry animals are holding out their bowls waiting for her delicious food. It might be fun to talk with your group and try to guess what she has been making. I love the way Danny Snell has added another story layer with his illustrations in this book. 

Each evening, as she tries to find her quack, the roll at the tea table grows in length and diversity but she remains unflappable, just getting out a bigger cooking pot and more dishes and cutlery each time.  Until one night… The Bottom Shelf

One more thing - did you spy a lighthouse in some of the illustrations?

Here are some teachers notes from the publisher. And some others are here. 

You can read the judges' critique: Children acquainted with the traditional rhyme, Five Little Ducks, will be delighted with this inventive and surprising picture book about a mother duck who has forgotten how to quack! The familiarity of a farmyard setting is used throughout and the amusing farm animals are the heroes of this story. Page design and an engaging illustration layout together with the endpapers subtly connecting to wallpaper inside the duck house, combine with the lively, humorous text to create a cohesive and enjoyable reading (or singing!) experience. Every element of this book has been carefully considered, from the narrative pace to the visual humour, providing countless opportunities to revisit and retell stories, and to discuss and explore concepts such as sequencing and counting.

The award-winning author and illustrators have done a remarkable job in reimagining one of our favourite nursery rhymes. This is a much-loved picture book, one which all families should add to their collection. Reading Time

Here is the original Nursery Rhyme:

Five little ducks went out one day

Over the hill and far away

Mama duck said quack, quack, quack, quack

But only four little ducks came back

Four little ducks went out one day

Over the hill and far away

Mama duck said quack, quack, quack, quack

But only three little ducks came back

Three little ducks went out one day

Over the hill and far away

Mama duck said quack, quack, quack, quack

But only two little ducks came back

Two little ducks went out one day

Over the hill and far away

Mama duck said quack, quack, quack, quack

But only one little duck came back

One little ducks went out one day

Over the hill and far away

Mama duck said quack, quack, quack, quack

But none of the five little ducks came back

Sad mother duck went out one day

Over the hill and far away

Sad mother duck said quack, quack, quack, quack

And all the five little ducks came back

Image source Itsy Bitsy Music

I have a very small Pinterest collection of Songs in Picture Books. I would also look for these books by Tony Wilson:

See more books illustrated by Danny Snell. Here are two other books by Katrina Germein I have previously talked about:

Before you were born

Bev and Kev

Oh! If Only by Michael Foreman

This is a brilliant book that teachers could use for writing inspiration. Sadly it is out of print but it might be in your school or local library. 

If only I hadn't met that dog ...

If only he didn't have that ball ...

If only he didn't want to play ...

And so begins a remarkably funny chain of events as one young boy and a dog unwittingly unleash the greatest havoc imaginable.

This story feels like a version of the butterfly effect. I would pair it with these:

And ...

Would you Rather ...

Foreman's minimal text sometimes tumbles and dances across the page, and his watercolor-and-pastel illustrations capture both motion and dumbstruck faces hilariously. Kirkus

With enchanting twists and turns, you will enjoy watching events unfold as the boy and his new found dog go on a romp around London causing mayhem along the way. The Book Bag

Mel Fell by Corey R Taylor

Pre-schoolers know a lot of things they didn't know as babies. They don't yet read independently and no one expects this, but IF they've been read to a lot, they know a thing or two about reading:

• They know books are read from front to back. 

• Pictures should be right-side up. 

• Reading is done from left to right. 

• The language of books is different from spoken language. 

• Words have different sounds in them. 

• There are familiar and unfamiliar words.

Reading tons of books to a preschool child, or an even younger child, and knowing all of the above means they will also understand books can break conventions. Of course they need to be familiar, through the reading of hundreds of books, to know conventions such as how pages turn, how books are held, how stories work.

Mel Fell breaks some of these conventions and that is why it is a terrific reading experience and why it won a Caldecott Honour in 2022 and a Wanda Gag Read Aloud Book Award. I talked about that award yesterday.

Mel is a young baby bird - a Kingfisher. She has been in the nest with her siblings for a long time and she is certain today is the day she should fly. Her tree is very tall. To understand just how tall, as a reader you need to turn this book sideways to see the full trunk of the tree. We all watch as Mel falls down. Mel is scared but also brave or is she foolhardy? 

"She jumped. She flipped. She spread her wings. And then .... she fell."

On the way down she passes a family of owls on a tree branch - take a look at their faces! A family of squirrels try to catch her "but it was no use. They missed her by a whisker."

And so as she continues down the bees try, the spider grabs her with all eight legs, and the ants, a slug and a tiny ladybird look on helplessly as she falls past. 

Until you reach the middle page which contains the unexpected word - SPLASH.

The simplicity of this story along with the joyful outcome and the tiny visual jokes, especially towards the end are the strengths of this wonderful book. 

Here is an interview with Corey R Taylor where he talks about his idea for and creation of this book. 

This playful and innovatively designed book tells the story of a small bird who is eager to fly. Horn Book

The unusual orientation, coupled with the gripping idea of first flight (or fall!), inspires both excitement and anxiety. Muted pastel illustrations set against ample, bleached-out white space convey craggy bark, Mel’s soft blue and russet feathers, and clusters of oval celadon leaves. ... Young people, who find themselves on the precipice of new activities, routines, schools, and challenges so frequently, will savor this little kingfisher’s success and perhaps feel they can right themselves the next time they fall into a downward spiral. Kirkus Star review

I have previously talked about these books by Corey R Tabor:

First the Egg by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

 

"This is a book about transformations - from egg to chicken, seed to flower, and caterpillar to butterfly. But it's also a book about creativity as paint becomes pictures, word becomes story .... and commonplace becomes extraordinary."

This book is so significant it even has its own Wikipedia entry. 

The book comprises a series of die-cut pages that convey various forms of transformation. Seeger uses word play and alters the composition of the illustrations between cut-outs to create unexpected relationships among basic concepts such as time, opposites, and colours. In 2009, the company Weston Woods Studios, Inc. made a video version of the book.

There is a surprise under the dust jacket:

I am not a fan of this video but it will allow you to see how the die cuts work. 

The flower on the page "first the seed" is just such a beautiful image:

A paperback edition of this 2007 book was published in 2018 [9781596437227] but it is sadly out of print. The hardcover is still available but the price is way too high to consider here in Australia. I saw one retailer listed this book for over $47. My friend from Kinderbookswitheverything adores this book but sadly her library copy is in bad shape. I found a copy at Better World Books and I hope it is in slightly better shape so she can have a better copy in her wonderful school library. 

Awards:

• 2008 Caldecott Honor Book
• 2008 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book
• New York Times Best Seller
• New York Times 10 Best Illustrated Books of 2007
• American Library Association Notable Children’s Book, 2008
• Horn Book Fanfare Best Books of 2007
• Oppenheim Platinum Award, 2008
• NAIBA Children’s Pick of the List, 2007
• Arizona Grand Canyon Young Readers Award, 2007
• Michigan Great Lakes Great Books Award, 2007
• South Dakota Prairie Bud Award, 2007
• Eric Carle Museum Picture Book of Distinction, 2007

Take a look here to see other books by Laura Vaccaro Seeger. I have previously talked about Green. 

Mouse Cookies and more - a Treasury by Laura Numeroff illustrated by Felicia Bond

Every now and then a new book arrives in our school library that makes me almost jump for joy. Mouse Cookies and more - a Treasury is one of these books.

I have been a fan of Laura Numeroff and her 'circle' stories for many years and love to read If you give a mouse a cookie and many others to our Kindergarten students each year.  I bought little cassette tapes of these stories but the tapes are now quite worn out and it can be difficult to find an old cassette player.  Mouse Cookies and More - has it all.  The full text and illustrations for four Numeroff stories, a CD with readings by people like David Hyde Pierce, recipes, craft ideas, teaching activities and even the music for the mouse cookie song.

Here is a list of some recipes :
Mum's old fashioned Oatmeal cookies
Uncle Sydney's Snickerdoodles
Pop's peanut butter Munches
Ice Cream pancakes with Strawberry Sauce
Corny Corn muffins
Chocolate mud muffins
and more

I have talked about this series previously.  This treasury would make a lovely gift for a young child - especially if you own a piano and can enjoy the songs too.  You can see some sample pages here.

In Japan they even have a Mouse Cookie Bus.