Got to Get to Bear's! by Brian Lies

The snow is falling but the note from Bear is urgent - 'Please come at once' - so Izzy sets out towards Bear's house. Luckily her friends are able to step in and help her - firstly Scritch, a squirrel, takes Izzy across the tree tops from branch to branch, then Bingle a goose offers Izzy and Scritch a ride in the sky but with the blizzard they cannot see and crash into a snow-covered roof. Luckily Snaffle the raccoon is able to help with the final part of the their journey and eventually they all reach Bear's house. Spoiler alert - Bear has a terrific surprise for Izzy - Happy Birthday!

Bookseller blurb: Bear never asks for anything. So, when she sends a note to Izzy urgently requesting her presence, Izzy can’t refuse! But a blizzard begins and slows Izzy's progress.  As the snow accumulates, so do her friends, helping her on her way to Bear’s place. 

Notice the word bear's in the title - the forest animals on the front cover and heading to the home of their friend Bear. You need to read this book with your preschool group or young reading companion to find out why.

I love the character names and their little knitted clothes especially Bingle's ear-flap cap with the camel decorations. Notice the letter on the first page was deliver par avian! and do take time to look closely at the half title page and the title page because these two scenes form the start of the story. 

I think we need a name for stories like this one where the main character is heading somewhere, he or she meets friends along the way, the friends all have a secret, and the destination is a surprise birthday celebration. There is always a sense of urgency about journey and the protagonist has no idea that a wonderful surprise is waiting for him or her at the end created by their very special friends. Take a look at this post. You could create a fun mini unit for a preschool or Kindergarten class on the topic of Surprise Birthday Parties. 

A beautifully illustrated and gratifying story of woodland-creature comradeship and determination. Kirkus

Got to Get to Bear's was published in 2018. You might find it in a library and I think new copies are available but the price here in Australia will put this book well beyond the reach of your library budget sadly.

I previously talked about More which is illustrated by Brian Lies. 

You can see other books by Brian Lies here.

Albert's Tree by Jenni Desmond

Never, never underestimate the power of a great story twist! And appealing illustrations and brilliant end papers. This book has it all. Jenni Desmond - well done!

Look at that face on the cover. Bear looks so content. We can guess he has found HIS tree! 

"Spring had arrived and Albert woke from his long sleep. 'Horray!' he shouted. As the snow was quietly turning to water and trickling down from the mountains, Albert raced to his favourite place. His tree."

This tree is perfect. Not too hard, soft, slippery or prickly. This is a place of peace and quiet.

BUT all readers know that at this point there is sure to be a complication. And yes, there is. Albert hears a noise. It sounds as though his tree is crying. Albert decides to ask his forest friends. Rabbit explains that digging holes makes him happy so the pair of friends dig lots of holes but the tree keeps crying. The Caribous suggests gathering lots of grass because it is delicious to eat but the tree keeps crying. The crying becomes louder and more intense.

Bear is at a loss what to do so he climbs his tree and he "gave the tree a huge, kind, bear hug." There are ten more pages in this book but I don't want to spoil the surprise. Bear does make a discovery about his tree but I am certain you will never guess the truth. This is a book you should add to your read aloud list. It would be perfect to share with a preschool group.

The picture book is as cozy and familiar as a teddy bear’s embrace, but smart touches elevate the story. They include vignettes against white space that contrast beautifully with more detailed and colorful spreads that give a wider view of the world around Albert. And by naming Albert alone of the characters, Desmond keeps readers’ sympathies squarely on the well-meaning mammal. If that weren’t enough, the endpapers include a lovely cutaway view of underground hibernation and a hilarious offhand joke that add beauty and charm, respectively, to an already endearing effort. There are lots of children’s books about cute bears who talk like people, but few are as cleverly put together and as witty as Albert’s little adventure. Kirkus Star review

Here are some other books by Jenni Desmond:

I have previously talked about these:

Puffin 

On the Night of the Shooting Star

The Zebra who ran too fast

Open this little book by Jesse Klausmeier illustrated by Suzy Lee

You really can't judge a book by its cover! ... A delightful and timely 

homage to reading and, more, to books themselves. 

Kirkus star review

Why oh why have they let this book go out of print? Open this little book and inside you find a little red book about ladybirds, then there is a little green book about a frog. The little orange book is about a rabbit and the little yellow book has a honey comb cover - wait a minute does each cover give you a clue about the contents?  YES. So this is a book about colours, and books and reading and the fun of discovery inside a book. 

See inside this book here at Seven Impossible Things before Breakfast. Here is a ten minute audio interview with the author.

Here are some ideas for using this book. The author Jessie Klausmeier calls this book a "Russian nesting doll". Here is the book trailer.

The artwork in Open the Little Book is particularly vibrant, which makes perfect sense considering much of the storyline is based on colours. Interestingly, we are used to more subtly coloured drawings from Suzy Lee and the artwork she has created here is a distinct departure from her usual style. But it is a joy to pore over these vivid drawings, there is such intricate detail, each reading becomes a new experience. Library Mice

I thought I had talked about this book previously but I just put it into a post about Suzy Lee. Read more about Suzy and her work on Open this little book here.  

Look carefully at the characters. What is that white rabbit carrying? Well, of course, it is a pocket watch. Is the rabbit carrying the watch when he heads home afterwards? You know, he isn’t. Such a small detail, and yet through it and a myriad of other seemingly minor details, the book takes on another powerful layer of meaning.

The 2024 Children's Book Council of Australia slogan for Book Week is Reading is Magic. Open this little book would be a perfect book to use as you begin to discuss this idea.

Open this little book was the 2014 winner of Please Touch Museum book award: Established in 1985, the Please Touch Museum’s Book Awards have been unique in highlighting some of the best examples of storytelling for young children that help foster a life-long love of reading. All book selections are distinguished in text, illustration and ability to explore and clarify an idea or concept for young children 7 and under.

Other awards

• 2013 Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor for Excellence in Children's Literature
• 2014 Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year
• 2013 Huffington Post Best Picture Book of the Year

The best book to pair with Open this little book is one of my all-time favourites:

1 is for One

Who Lives Here by Julia Donaldson illustrated by Rebecca Cobb

 

It is always fun when someone invites you to visit but what would you do if they only told you the street name and not the exact address.

"The houses in South Street all stood in a row. But which how was Dan's house? I just didn't know."

So, the child ventures along the street, with their parent standing by, investigating each house. Number one - no, Number two - no, Number three - no, Number four - no. Does Dan live at Number Five?

Look at the team who have produced this book - Julia Donaldson master storyteller and wrangler of perfect rhyming texts and Rebecca Cobb who does nostalgic, sweet, detailed illustrations and draws the faces of children with so much emotion. Bonus - this book has lift the flap pages, fold out pages and it is made from sturdy paper so it can survive young hands who will read and re-read this treasure.

Julia Donaldson has created another original and entertaining read in rhyming verse and regular rhythm for reading aloud. It has the element of surprise that children love as they lift the flaps or try to guess what could be hiding there. Kids' Book Review

A gently reassuring jaunt, great for those starting school and making new friends, it suggests Donaldson’s knack for catchy rhymes and deeply resonant themes shows no signs of waning. Long may she reign over bedtime. The Guardian

Do you need a Christmas gift for a young child (aged 3+) - go out and grab this book - it is perfect. Take a look at my recent post about Julia Donaldson. 

Very sadly one of our excellent independent bookstores here in Sydney, Australia is set to close before the end of this year. This means all of their stock is now on sale. I have had Who Lives Here on my book wish list for the last few months. Hardcover picture books have become quite expensive but this one was only AUS$28 less my 20% discount. I now have to decide if I will gift this book or keep in on my own shelves.

My friend from Kinderbookswitheverything has a Pinterest of picture books that features houses and homes. Companion books:

Squeak Street (See the full original series here).

It could also be fun to include this book if you are working on a theme of Happy Birthday stories. You could talk about all the details that need to be included on a party invitation. 

The Birthday Invitation

Apples for Little Fox by Ekaterina Trukhan

Adult readers have read this plot of this story many times but for a young reader this will be a new story. Fox loves reading and he especially loves mystery stories. He also loves apples and libraries and his perfect day involves collecting a few apples from the trees in his forest on his way to the library! Life is good but Fox would love some action. Then we turn the page and as readers we can see the action is already underway but of course Fox does not know this. A group of masked animals are collecting all of the apples. When Fox sets off to the library the next day all of the apples are missing. 

"A mystery for me to solve! At last!"

As he continues his journey, Fox meets each of his friends and he tries to ask them about the missing apples but everyone is too busy to talk. Finally he reaches Rabbits home where he smells something delicious. Have you guessed what it is?  Spoiler alert - Rabbit has baked a delicious apple pie because everyone is gathering to give Fox a very special surprise Birthday Party! The final words of this book gave me a warm smile:

"In the middle of the party, Fox saw that the whole apple pie had disappeared. But he didn't need to investigate that mystery."

I do have a Pinterest collection of picture books with apples. Here are some other books about surprise birthday parties"

Once again I am so sorry to say this book is out of print even though it was only published in 2017. The cover caught my attention - I like the bold, graphic design and I had not heard of this illustrator. She is originally from Russia but now lives in Montenegro (well she did in 2019).

Here are some other books by Ekaterina Trukhan:

Here is her website. And here is a 2019 interview where she talks about her work. And here is another interview where you can see more of her illustrations. 

What if, Pig? by Linzie Hunter

Many of us worry about small things and I am sure this is a natural process bur this becomes a problem when small worries grow out of proportion. It is so dangerous to live with the constant thought of "what if".  Perhaps this book will help a young child, in a small way, to see the complications that arise when worries become all consuming. 

Pig decides to host his Birthday party and invite all of his friends but then the worries begin to pile in - will anyone come? Will too many friends come? What if this party is not as much fun as those hosted by the others? Pig cannot cope with all of these mounting worries so he cancels the party and retreats to his home. 

The best part of this book (spoiler alert) is the way his friends all band together to give Pig the best birthday every. I do enjoy stories about surprises like this especially when they show the kindness, understanding and generosity of friends. Then, in truly beautiful moment, one by one his friends reveal they have worries too. 

What if Pig? is a story that many children will relate to, it highlights the little voice inside us all that makes us doubt whether or not we are good enough and makes us worry about all the little things that could go wrong. It shows that friendship is a wonderful thing and that we shouldn’t keep worries secret. Just Imagine

The humour and the optimistic tone of this appealing book lighten the important message it conveys. A Library Lady

Another book with a surprise party that I love is Frog and a Very Special Day by Max Velthuijs. Here is Linzie's web site.  I do also have a small Pinterest collection of books about Birthday parties. Companion reads:

PS I was excited to hear my blog mentioned (42.50 min mark) on the Your Kid's Next Read Podcast this week - Episode 43. In this podcast the presenters share their favourite book bloggers and reviewers and also, as always, alert you to new books they have received in their mail (aren't they lucky that publishers send them review copies - I dream about this!). 

Boa's Bad Birthday by Jeanne Willis illustrated by Tony Ross

What do you want for your birthday? Think about the most perfect present you ever received. Now think about the giver of this gift. I imagine the giver really thought about YOU and the the gift was a perfect fit. Even now, years later, you may still treasure this gift.

Now imagine you are a boa!  It is your birthday. All your friends have gifts but are they the right ones and are they given with you in mind?  Would you like a grand piano; a pair of sunglasses; colourful mittens; or perhaps a new hairbrush?

"It was Boa's worst birthday ever.

All his gifts were rubbish."

Then one more friend arrives. It's Dung Beetle and his gift (I know you have already guessed) is a pile of ...  It is true a dung ball is not the perfect gift but inside is a wonderful surprise.

The moral of this story is, ‘Never turn your nose up at a stinky present; you never know what delights it might hold in store.’ The sight of Ross’s Boa, sporting his conical party hat and showing a whole range of expressions from sobbing despair to snaky smiles is a real treat as are his depictions of the other animals bearing their self-centred offerings. Red Reading Hub

I would pair Boa's Bad Birthday with The Silver Christmas Tree by Pat Hutchins because this is also about anticipating and hoping for a perfect gift. Another book to look out for would be Thank you for my Yukky Present by Meredith Hooper illustrated by Emma Quay. You might also like to take a look at this little animated film - The Present - which would be good to use with an older group of students.

Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross are a perfect pair of book creators. They have collaborated on a large number of terrific books. My favourite is Mayfly Day.

If you are looking for other books about Boa Constrictors here are a few you might find in a school or public library. This could be a topic to explore as a mini theme with younger students and of course you would include some non fiction titles in your book bag too. Go to [597.967] to find them.

We're Stuck by Sue DeGennaro

We are stuck! Where are we stuck? Why are we stuck?

Building 24 (my favourite number) has five floors all accessed by a central lift or perhaps you call this an elevator. Turtle lives on the top floor. His mum gives him a list - it is important. Turtle races out the door and jumps into the lift. As it travels down, the lift fills up with a delightful assortment of residents. The lift space soon becomes very squashy. Then the lights go out and the lift is stuck.

"I have a meeting to go to."
"I have a shop to open."
"I need to get to the hairdresser."

Look at these concerns - they all begin with "I".

It is our little hero Turtle who turns all of this around. He starts to cry and everyone looks at his list.

Today is his birthday.

Crocodile has a plastic glove - she turns it into a balloon.
Hippo grabs a newspaper and folds a set of paper hats.
Pelican has a delicious treat in his lunch box.

"And in Building 24, on the busy side of town, nothing was ever the same again."

There are not very many books on the CBCA Early Childhood Notables list this year that I truly like but We're Stuck is one exception. I especially love the first page where you need to turn the book lengthwise to see the whole building and I also like the variety of work wear worn by the animals characters who reside in this building and ride the lift.  Here is a set of excellent teachers notes from the publisher.

I have a horror of being stuck in a lift, especially a crowded one but this group of animal passengers in Building 24 work out a way to bring real joy to this very stressful situation. This is a perfect book to share with a young child aged 3+ and it poses the wonderful question - just what was written on that list?

There's a lion in my cornflakes by Michelle Robinson illustrated by Jim Field

A friend a I recently visited a museum display of the theme of toys from the past. One area that caught our eye was a collection of the little toys that came in cereal boxes.  My friend pointed out how much breakfast conflict these little plastic objects created but luckily in There's a lion in my cornflakes there is no time for arguments because our two intrepid siblings desperately need 100 tokens to claim their FREE lion! And of course there is only one token in each box.

After weeks of munching cornflakes for breakfast, lunch and dinner the boys send in their tokens. Alas this is a case of buyer beware.  The boys have not read the 'small print'. While all their friends are enjoying their lions, Dan and his brother arrive home to find quite a different animal has been delivered.  Mr Flaky Ltd sends a letter of apology and the promise of a different reward but once again no lion.  The disasters continue until we reach the wonderful twist at the end.

You could play a great game with this book - the publisher has kindly supplied 100 free lion coupons.

The illustrator web site includes a terrific book trailer (listen at the end for the 'buyer beware' warning) and some original sketches plus excellent insights into the creative processes Jim Field went through when designing this book. You can also find some activities on the author web site.

This book made me think of a title from the Aussie Bites series called Nathan and the ice rockets.