Bad Badger: A family story by Maryrose Wood illustrated by Giulia Ghigini

The genuine affection between characters is palpable; this is a delightful exploration of family and love itself, of the challenges of facing one’s fears 

and the joys of trying new things.

A warm tale of found family and frantic gulls that hits every emotional beat with aplomb. Kirkus Star review

Having declared Bad Badger: A love story my book of the year so far, I was very keen to read the sequel. It is almost as good as the first installment. I really did enjoy catching up with Septimus and Gully and finding out how everything was going with the three baby gulls.

This is another book that can be read on different levels. If you think deeply this story is about parenting and identity. The baby seagulls have moved in with Septimus and he is a badger. Then eight other badgers arrive. The baby gulls grow and their flight feathers emerge and of course their mother Gully expects they will soon fly. She knows all gulls are programmed to want to fly but these three youngsters want to stay on the ground. They have missed all the role models of the bird flock. This is a huge problem that Septimus needs to solve, and it is also of course very distressing for Gully. 

Listen to a three minute audio sample here. I love that the narrator has an English accent not American. Read more about Maryrose Wood.

Publisher blurb: To help raise a trio of gull chicks is a rare task for a badger, even a badger as unusual as Septimus. With three spotted fluff balls underfoot, hiding in his phonograph, and pecking at his seashell collection, Septimus has his hands full. To be perfectly frank about it: living with chicks is a lot to get used to. Especially when Gully is off fishing all day while Septimus-Papa Septimus-is left in charge. Just when it seems Septimus might get a bit of the bird-free, badger-only alone time he needs, a knock at the door brings a big surprise: eight visiting forest badgers! As the chicks take to burrowing underground and gobbling up worms with their new badger family, Gully worries they will never learn to take flight. Can Septimus find a way to give the chicks a proper liftoff? Or will their family fall apart instead?

This sequel expands the theme into family in all of its many forms.  Whether it is Gully's flock of gulls or Septimus's "flock" of badgers, the members help each other grow, doing for the individual what he or she needs.  Never too heavy or precious with that message, the story is full of humor and fun, and a packing in a thrilling adventure as the fluffballs grow into becoming members of their large extended family.  A lovely book for children and adults alike! Not Acting my Age

The story also illustrates the stresses of parenthood in an empathetic and caring way. Margaret's Reading Journal

Here are some text extracts:

Opening page: Septimus was a badger. Not a typical badger, mind you, but well within parameters. True, his muzzle was spotted, not striped. His tastes were not what most would call badgerish. He loved his westward-facing porch with the glorious sunset view. He loved his tandem bicycle, his kayak, his seashell collection, and all things italiano. And when it came to the opera? La-la-la! This badger knew his way around an aria. These were the facts about Septimus, and yet—to be frank—they only paint part of the picture. For the most rare and indisputable fact about Septimus was this: He had a good friend—no, a great friend—named Gully. Gully was a seagull. A seagull with three chicks.

But now that he and Gully had spoken, the facts were not so hard to face. Life with chicks was a challenge and a joy, for him and for Gully. A temporary challenge. That part was important. The days seemed endless, but the weeks would fly. Soon, the chicks would too. Today’s struggles would be replaced by new ones, wave following wave in the ever-changing sea. This is what is called taking a bird’s-eye view. Gully had a talent for it, for obvious reasons. It was one of her qualities that Septimus treasured most.

What a brilliant scheme! Even Gully thought so. Thanks to the Ferris wheel, the chicks would get their first true taste of the sky! Surely it would make them long to take flight, at last.

There are some truly delightful turns of phrase in this book such as: 

Easy peasy, badger squeezy!

Easy peasy, turtle squeezy!

And I learnt a new word - food - zeppole. It is an Italian doughnut-like pastries made from deep-fried dough. They have a light, puffy texture. After frying, they are usually topped with powdered sugar and may be filled with custard, jelly, cannoli-style pastry cream, or a butter-and-honey mixture.

It could be fun, if you read this book in a family, to talk about your child's first steps. Gully misses the chicks first float and she is devastated. Did you, as parents, see your child's first steps? Take a look at the Bluey episode Baby Race - it is another great way to talk about this important moment in the life of a child and their parent.

Betsy and Bon: Three Sweet Stories by Simon Howe

 There are, as the subtitle tells you, three stories in this little volume. Each begins with a similar opening sentence:

The Hive

"Down at the bottom of the garden where flowers grow tall and roots grow deep, Betsy and Bon built a hive."

This story is about making and including all friends who have delightful names: Frogly (frog), Harrington Mouse (mouse), Penny Spots (ladybug), Butter Benjamin (butterfly) and Spencer Snail. All are welcome.

The Good Idea

"Down at the bottom of the garden, where the sun is warm and the breeze is cool, Betsy and Bon were relaxing in the shade."

This story is about resolving differences, and I love the way they play hide and seek (check other books about this game).

The Sunny Spot

"Down at the bottom of the garden, where the buds are small and the blooms are big, Betsy and Bon were searching for the perfect spot to have afternoon tea."

If you share this book in your family with your small reading companion it would be fun to make some scones, grab some jam and a picnic rug and head outside to read the final story.

Blurb: Down at the bottom of the garden, where flowers grow tall and roots grow deep, Betsy and Bon play in a world full of whimsy and imagination. They try to find friendly bees to live in their wonderful hive, decide on a game they will both enjoy, and have a picnic in the perfect sunny spot.

Everything about the production of this book is appealing - it is a small hardcover volume, the full colour illustrations, the chapters or short stories which are short and could easily be read as a family read aloud - one each night for three nights, and this book even has one of those bookmark ribbons.

Simon Howe spoke to Joy Lawn at Paperbark Words. I also wondered if Betsy and Bon were children or bees.  Here is the answer from Simon Howe:

When I drew that original picture, the same question occurred to me: are they children in costumes or are they actually bees who look like children? They talk about being bees. And they even talk about being able to fly, but we never see them do it. Personally, I imagine them as children in an imaginary play-space. But I don’t think the stories prove this. The question is open. They may very well be bees.

Full of nostalgia and charm, this deluxe hardcover collection of low-conflict short stories is the perfect gift for young readers. The Little Bookroom Melbourne

It is a little book (and I mean that in every sense because it is the right size for small hands) that harks back to gentler times and vintage favourites such as Cicely Mary Barker’s flower fairies, Ida Rentoul Outhwaite, Jan Wade and May Gibbs with their darling little inhabitants, and their common themes of nature and its beauty, companionship, gentle pleasures and kindness. Just so Stories

Huge thanks to UQP for sending a review copy. There is a link to Teacher's Notes on the publisher page but really I would just read this book either in your family or to your Preschool or Kindergarten group with no need for deep analysis. 

Post update: Simon Howe spoke about his book at a Gleebooks Kids event last weekend. Things I discovered:

• The illustrations were created with digital tools (many of us at the event agreed that was a surprise)
• Simon makes clay versions his character's heads so he can draw different angles
• In each story Betsy and Bon are perhaps far apart from their friends, but the end of each story celebrates a coming together.
• The flowers in the story are reminiscent of an English cottage garden but with the addition of one Australian reference - gumnuts. I noticed milkweed; foxgloves; and sorrel. Simon especially loves the word milkweed!
• The names for his characters came to him very quickly - he loves playing with language and delights in the sounds of words like elderberry cordial or the name Harrington (for his mouse character).

After his talk I thought about the way the story is set in a giant garden and that made me think of the classic book The Borrowers.

You will find this book in your local independent book shop next week (1st September).  I previously talked about his book from Simon Howe:

The House that walked away

One series I thought of to read after Betsy and Bon is the Squeak Street books by Emily Rodda.

Other companion books:

Houndsley and Catina

Honey and Bear

Vicky and June

Bear and Bird

Mouse and Spoon

Cornbread and Poppy

Bad Badger by Maryrose Wood illustrated by Giullia Chigini

Deceptively simple, exceedingly smart, and lovely to eye and ear alike, this is a delightful little book. Betsy Bird Fuse 8

Badger (his name is Septimus) looks different from other badgers. He also has a very different lifestyle and different tastes and interests. Septimus is filled with doubts. Is he really a badger? He enjoys his little cottage not far from the sea. He listens to his favourite opera music on his phonograph. He has his special shell collection on his mantel but is something missing in his life? To his great delight and surprise, he seems to have found a friend. A seagull has come to visit not just once but every Wednesday towards the end of the day. They share tea (from a saucer for Gully) and biscuits and conversation. Well they sort of have a conversation. Gully can only say 'caw' but somehow Badger is able to 'interpret' what each 'caw' means either by the tone or body language. Then they enjoy watching the glorious sunset. 

Tone is a big aspect of this story or more exactly of the way it is told. As a reader we live, while reading this book, inside the badger's head feeling every moment of doubt and every confusion as Septimus tries to second guess just how Gully is reacting to their relationship and as he tries so hard not to upset Gully or cause her (spoiler Gully is a girl) to, I can hardly write these words, to leave.

Wednesday has become so precious to Septimus.  As a reader you are sure to recognise his loneliness even though Septimus never uses this word. Then comes a marvelous day when Gully invites his badger friend to visit the beach. Sadly, it is not a terrific day for Septimus because the sand gets into this fur and the water is salty and uncomfortable, the sun is too hot and he is missing his pack and supplies. Gully persuaded him to leave everything at home such as boots, and a chair and snacks. The best part of the day, though, comes at the end when Badger can lie back in his bath:

"The bathwater was the exact temperature he preferred with just the right number of bubbles, and a thick dry towel waited on the hook. ... Septimus stretched in the miniature sea of his bath, to which he added a soothing drop of lavender oil."

Oh and on that day too Gully gifts Badger a wonderful new shell for his collection - surely this means their friendship is secure? Alas though, perhaps it is not, because then Gully disappears.

There are two major scenes in this story which I will leave you to discover. When Gully goes missing Septimus visits two private investigators but they turn out to be a pair of snails! And later Septimus visits other badgers deep in the forest and he makes some important discoveries about his own name and about his 'unique' appearance. 

After reading this book you might ponder the title and why Septimus thinks of himself as a bad badger - a great way to talk about (not in a formal way with a class) with your young reading companion the role of self-esteem and doubt and that inner voice we all have. Then you might think about the subtitle 'A love story' which should open up a whole other conversation about friendship and the give and take and ups and downs of relationships. 

Here are some of the delicious words you and your reading companion/s will encounter in this utterly charming story: inkling; preening; intrigued; perception; rhetorical; hindsight; funicular; inscrutable; superlatively; and unencumbered.

Bookseller blurb: Septimus is not good at being a badger. He adores the sunset. He dreams of going to Venice. And he lives alone in a charming cottage by the sea. He's not unhappy with his tidy, solitary life, but there are times when being so bad at badgerdom makes him wonder if he's even a badger at all. When a gull of very few words lands on the windowsill, Septimus leaps at the possibility of friendship. However, his new confidant soon goes missing and Septimus is bereft. Determined to find his best-and only-friend, he ventures into new territory and encounters a cast of surprising characters. Can Septimus be as brave and bighearted as he'll need to be to find Gully? Or is he really a bad badger after all?

It’s a simple story that somehow manages to bring up all kinds of complex questions along the way. Best of all, kids will come up with their own answers to those questions. It’s a book that speaks to the very heart of what it means to be a real friend and a true friend, to someone else. Betsy Bird Fuse 8

You also need to know that the art/illustrations by Giulia Ghigini are fantastic.

The book precisely pinpoints the anxieties and fears that many experience when making new friends, especially those grappling with insecurities. Wood narrates with a wry sense of humor that’s particularly evident when Septimus converses with other animals, such as a pair of snail private eyes. Gentle illustrations complement the tale’s understated tone and perfectly bring to life the cozy settings. Kirkus Star review

At the start of Book Week here in Australia I visited three of our big city bookstores - Abbeys, Dymocks and Kinokuniya along with a local one near my home. I was dismayed to discover NONE had the 2026 CBCA award winners on display - although Abbeys did have Once I was a Giant by Zeno Sworder on their small high book section counter.

To celebrate Book Week of course I decided to buy a book - and this is the book I picked. You are probably somewhat surprised because it is not Australian, it is not an award winner (even though it should be) and it is not new (published in 2025) BUT this will make my list of the BEST books I have read this year so I did make a great choice for a book to enjoy during Book Week. 

And now, joy of joys, I have discovered there is a sequel:

In her review Betsy Bird says about Bad Badger: Some will say, “They don’t make ‘em like this anymore,” but I say, “They never made them like this, and I’m glad they started now.” 

I agree but I do feel as though I have read a book or two with a similar feel to Bad Badger featuring a main character filled with self-doubt and charming quirky habits maybe I am thinking of the badger in the Heartwood Hotel series for younger readers. Anyway, here are some possible companion books:

These are two different covers for the same book

The Story of a Seagull and the cat who taught her to fly

Sunk and Badger

Violet and Jobie

Maybelle in the soup by Katie Speck illustrated by Paul Ratz de Tagyos

Cockroach rules:

When it's light stay out of sight.

If you're spied, better hide.

Never meet with human feet.

Maybelle breaks each of these rules with hilarious consequences. Yum - Turtle Soup. She didn't see any turtles but the broth and tomatoes smell SO good. Yes, she lands in the soup tureen. Everyone runs away from the dinner party which means Maybelle can feast on the tasty leftovers scattered all over the dining table including the special cream desert. Unfortunately, she is caught by the cat, but she is not eaten - Maybelle is given as a gift to the homeowner Mrs Peabody. Ramona the cat is sure Mrs Peabody will LOVE this gift. Mr Peabody fails to stomp on Maybelle, but the humans call in the pest exterminators. Luckily this means the Peabody's need to spend the night in a fancy hotel. Luckily Maybelle and her friend a flea named Henry are able to stow away and spend the night at the hotel too and of course there are sure to be more adventures there!

Blurb: Maybelle is a lovely, plump cockroach. She lives in her own cozy little home under the refrigerator of Mr. and Mrs. Peabody. Maybelle knows it's best to stay hidden away, but she simply adores food. Just once she would love to taste something yummy before it hits the floor!When the Peabodys invite a Very Important Guest for dinner, Maybelle can't resist. She takes a teeny taste--and splashes into the biggest adventure of her life!

This little book (the first in a series of four) was published in 2007. I wonder why I haven't seen it on the numerous read aloud lists I seem to see on social media - they often contain old titles - this book would be such a fun one to read aloud to a Grade 2 or 3 class or in a family. Yes, this book is out of print but the ebook version is still available. 

Here is the Kirkus Star review: Myrtle and Herbert Peabody, the picture of upper-class gentility, have their lives turned upside down by a lovely, plump cockroach named Maybelle. Living in a house that is dust and bug free is a challenge for the cockroach, but she follows The Rules: “When it’s light, stay out of sight; if you’re spied, better hide; never meet with human feet.” Maybelle loves food but she is sick of crumbs and spills and longs for the tasty food she spies on the Peabody's plates. Despite the warning of her friend Henry the Flea, Maybelle visits the Very Special Dinner table. Delightful details will make adults giggle right along with new readers. References to Herbert’s comb-over, his wife’s false eyelashes and illustrations that show the drama of an airborne roach and the bottom of Herbert’s monstrous shoe add up to a lot of fun, especially for reading aloud. Maybelle is one cockroach who will be welcome back any day.

I am not in flavor of the prescriptive paid writing programs that are in use in many Australian classrooms but if you need to demonstrate one of the concepts that these programs 'teach' children - then this book is perfect one to show 'tightening tension' at work.

Here are the four books from the series:

In 2022 my friend from Kinderbookswitheverything penned a blog post about Cockroach appreciation. Here are some companion books that I thought of:

The Miniature World of Marvin and James

Quentin's lunch

Island Storm by Brian Floca illustrated by Sydney Smith

"Now take my hand and we'll go see the sea before the storm."
"You pull on me, I pull on you, and we decide to go on."

The text in this book is a lyrical poem. Two children head outside but they know a storm is approaching. There is an urgency to their journey. When the storm arrives they race home to the comfort of towels, dry clothes, dinner, a warm bed and blankets. But like all storms this one will eventually be spent, and the morning gives everyone the promise of a new day.

"A powerful thunderstorm is brewing on the island. Leaves whisper and branches shake. Waves crash and the sky grows close and dark. Two brave siblings bear witness, pulling each other through the woods and along the shore. They'll shelter soon, but not yet. First they need to feel it all."

This book is an equal partnership of exquisite writing and exquisite illustrations.

Here are some examples from the text:

"We stand on stones that lie like great bones, weathered and worn by water and time - by storms like the one that's headed our way."

"We pass the lighthouse, standing guard- a tower with a blinking eye, a tower with a lonesome cry, a welcome and a warning."

"Our town is eerie and empty, a stage without its show."

Walker Books blurb: A gorgeously illustrated jacketed hardback picture book for children which explores the extraordinary strength and changeability of the natural world and shines a light on those thrilling new experiences shared with siblings. Join in the journey as two siblings go hand-in-hand to experience the true power of a thunderstorm in their seaside town. They want to witness it all - the rise, the thrill of it all, and then the slow return to calm once the storm has passed and a new day begins.

Smith’s impressionistic watercolor and gouache illustrations convey not simply the horrifying strength of the storm, but also the way the light of day changes and shifts throughout the kids’ walk. The images plunge readers into heart-stopping moments, rendered real thanks to Floca’s incredibly evocative wordplay, capable of eliciting both fear and comfort. Readers will experience this tempest alongside the characters, every step of the way. Kirkus Star review

I would never use the phrase tranquil conclusion, but it is an interesting concept and does fit the ending. I was thinking, “I love a good storm as much as the next person, but I do not think I would venture as far away from home as these two kids did.”  However, I liked how Smith’s colors change as things start to “heat up” and the storm comes closer, becomes more intense, then as it leaves and brightens the day. Things are dark, but always have a form of light to them that allows a little hope. Cannonball Read

Sydney Smith (winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Award) is a master of water scenes in his illustrations. See more pages inside this book here.

Hopefully you have seen many of his previous books:

Check out this blog post

You can see more books by Brian Floca here.

Kid by Peter Carnavas

"They were so brave ... the bravest goats in the world! And I want to be just like them."

Now read the opening sentence of Kid: 

"There once was a small goat who lived on a farm, not far from the rugged mountain."

Ask yourself some questions - will this small goat have an adventure? will he travel to the rugged mountain? what will he find there? does he have a good life on the farm? are there any other goats there? does 'not far' mean this story will involve a journey?

Life on the farm is good. There are cows, sheep, pigs and hens. Oh, and of course there is a small goat - a young goat - a kid named Kid.

"He was barely taller than the hens, and not just because he was young. He was a small breed of goat - a miniature - so even when fully grown he would hardly peek over a bale of straw. For now he was still a kid, with gangly legs, ears that stuck out and two bumps on the top of his head. He couldn't see them but he knew they were there, and he dreamt that one day they would grow into big curved horns, strong and majestic."

Kid has dreams - big dreams. And these dreams are linked with the story of his parents. This is the story Audrey, one of the hens, tells him night after night. His parents were Buck and Bess and they heroically saved the farm from a fox but by chasing the fox they jumped over all the fences and "no one ever saw those brave goats again." Bess and Buck left their baby behind in the care of Audrey. "And you've been stuck with me ever since."

Kid has the care and friendship of Audrey and also of Harriet, a whitish-pink pig. So, the story is set. Kid would like to be heroic like his parents. He is sure his parents are living in the nearby mountains. Audrey needs to protect her young charge just as she promised his mother all those years ago and Harriet is keen to experience new tastes in the wild. But of course, there is a problem - well there are lots of problem but the biggest one of all is Farm Law. Note the capital letters. 

"Farm Law says that any animal who leaves the farm can never come back ... They'll bring danger to the farm - predators, or sickness from the wild."

"The adventures of Buck and Bess played in his mind. He had loved the stories, so wild and exciting, but he always dreamt that one day they would return to the farm. Now he knew he would never see them again, all because of a big white dog who didn't like goats."

Kid will not be stopped. Ma, the big white farm dog will not stop him. He jumps over the fence and ...

There are some sweet words of wisdom in Kid:

Audrey: "I was scared and I didn't want you to go. But then I asked myself what was more important: to follow the rules or follow your dreams?"

Audrey: "The world hasn't ended. You have a home and friends who love you - even when you're miserable. I didn't raise you to blob around like a snail without a shell. Get up and do something."

Cow: "Gavin (the great hawk) said you will find your family ... on the mountain."

I think I held my breath through the final chapters of this book - I know Peter Carnavas is a trustworthy author and he would give me that all important "happy ending", but I was so worried about little Kid - would Ma let him come back to the farm?

Publisher blurb: This is the story of a small goat called Kid. Ever since his parents chased away a fox and never returned, Kid has stayed with Audrey the hen in the chook yard. Audrey tells him stories of his mum and dad’s daring and bravery. She says they live on the nearby mountain, and Kid longs to leave the farm to find them. And then, one day, he discovers he is big enough to jump the fence … Will a wild adventure up the mountain help Kid find where he belongs?

Here is the trailer - this is sure to make you fall in love with this book:

This book will be published next week - do not wait - run to your independent bookstore or local library and order a copy of Kid by Peter Carnavas. I really wish I lived in Queensland so I could participate in some of the launch events for Kid. Huge thanks to UQP for sending me an advance copy of Kid. I devoured it in one sitting and then went back and read it all again today. There are extensive teachers notes for Kid BUT really my suggestion is just read this book - to your young reading companion, to your class or to your library group. Don't dissect it - just enjoy the writing, the friendships, and the very special voice of young Kid.

This one is just a delight from the first page to the last and your young readers will find it entirely satisfactory and, very likely, the kind of book that they will return to again and again. Just so Stories  (You can see art from Kid in this review)

Kid gives us plenty to love especially for the confident junior reader, animal lover, and those searching for their own g.o.a.t mini-hero to emulate. Dimity Powell  (G.O.A.T stands for Greatest of all Times)

In the UK Kid from Pushkin Press has a slightly different cover. I love talking with students about covers - design, appeal, font choices and the way covers can influence our reading choices. The US edition will come from Groundwood Books in 2027! Kid is published in hardcover and the beautiful pastel colours reminded me of my old copy of Heidi (I have put this image at the bottom of this post).

The publisher and Peter Carnavas himself (quite rightly) links Kid with two very famous books:

Charlotte's Web

You may know this book became the movie Babe.

Peter Carnavas says: After writing my last book, I promised myself I’d take a quiet break from writing, 

but then a small goat trotted into my thoughts. I’m not sure where he came from but I remember what I was doing at the time – I was reading Edwina Wyatt’s book Cub and Brown. Edwina’s story has nothing to do with goats but for some reason, halfway through reading, I put down the book, opened my sketchbook and drew a goat.  Up until now, my novels have centred around quiet children and relationships, so I wanted to try something different with my goat – I wanted an adventure! I started drafting ideas based on the structure of the hero’s journey: I gave him a call to action, a merry band of accomplices (each with their own strengths), a wise elder, a series of trials and an exciting climax. 

I really appreciate having maps in books. The map at the beginning of Kid reminded me of this book:

Map from Kid (found in the teachers notes)

Try to find this picture book too:

Albert and Lila

Check out all the picture books by Peter Carnavas and then look for his terrific novels:

Leo and Ralph, My Brother Ben, The Elephant

Kid is published in hardcover and the soft pastel colours used on the cover reminded me of my old copy of Heidi. Just a small observation of mine - Kid doesn't have any actual links with Heidi!

February 4th World Read Aloud Day

World Read Aloud Day was founded on the belief that stories are the key to creating positive social change, ... studies have shown that reading aloud to children has been linked to the development of vocabulary and comprehension, 

strengthening emotional bonds and enhancing focus.

I saw a question on a Facebook forum asking for books to share with teachers for National or World Read Aloud Day. The person who asked for book ideas set a couple of criteria but I am going to disregard these - Australian and published in the last five years. 

For my scenario I am going to imagine a school with twenty teachers. I don't really believe in one size fits all so I am going to group my books into four sections - Kindergarten; Grades 1 and 2; Grades 3 and 4; and Grades 5 and 6 and I will put five books per group = 20 books.  I will put some wonderful Australian titles here but also lots of international ones too. Because hopefully my scenario school has a well-stocked school library, I will put books that are not new - that is the joy of a library - you can find older books that are truly gems. In terms of gems the person asking for suggestions also used the dreaded word 'quality'. I won't go into that right now, but this is a word that makes me shudder. I am sure I could list several hundred books for this post - these are titles that I blogged recently. I previously talked about World Read Aloud day in 2018.

Kindergarten

Little Bear's Little Boat

Two for me, one for you

Happy Birthday Moon

Puffling (or you could read Lucy Goosey)

Owl Babies

Grades 1 and 2

Where does Thursday go?

Lizzy and the Cloud

Lisette's Green Sock

Strictly no Elephants

Dimity Dumpty (or another book by Bob Graham)

Grades 3 and 4

Shelter

Robber Girl

The King and Nothing

The Suitcase

Extra Yarn

Grades 5 and 6

Mr Lepron's Mystery Soup

Herman and Rosie

Snow White in New York

Sparrow Girl

As Time went by

A Brief History of World Read Aloud Day

When was this event established: World Read Aloud Day was founded in 2010 by the nonprofit LitWorld. Following a trip to Kibera in Nairobi, LitWorld founder Pam Allyn realized how important the power of stories was to children around the globe. So, she started World Read Aloud Day to make a positive impact on the world.

How has it developed since then: Since its establishment, World Read Aloud Day has been celebrated by millions of people through 170 countries. 

There are some resources here.

In answer to the question and using the very restrictive criteria from the original Facebook post here are the two sets of nine titles that I suggested (note one is older than five years but I snuck it in anyway). You can pop any of these titles into my search bar for more details.