Love that Dog (and) Hate that Cat by Sharon Creech

Verse novels always on my list of favourite books. Titles like Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse, Farm Kid by Sherryl Clarke, Tom Jones Saves the World by Steven Herrick and Love that dog by Sharon Creech are among my most favourite books, so I was particularly excited to see another title by Sharon Creech, Hate that cat when I recently visited a new local book shop.

Today was the first day of my holidays and as a treat I started the day by reading Hate that cat. It certainly did not disappoint. Following on from Love that dog, we again enter the marvelous English class of Miss Stretchberry – such a lovely name. Over the course of a term or perhaps a month or even a year, students read a wide range of poetry and we read Jack’s responses to this through his poetry but his responses are so much more than just a commentary on the poetry, through his writing Jack tells us so much about his family, his dog, his cat, his own emotional development and his view of the world. As in Love that dog, the poems are presented in chronological order. I just re-read the poem from January 4th and it made me smile.

I have Love that dog as a cassette tape and it is a treasured possession of mine. Sharon Creech also provides copies of all the poems that Miss Stretchberry uses in class and in this second book she also thoughtfully provides an extensive poetry reading list. I hope to buy some of these titles for our school library very soon.

I especially like the way Jack tries out the poetry forms after each lesson. The poems are also a conversation between Jack and his teacher:

And I think I understood

what you said about

onomoto-something

and alliter-something

not HAVING to be

in a poem

and how sometimes

they ENRICH a poem

but sometimes

they can also make a poem

sound purple.

Purple!

Ha ha ha.

Listen to an audio sample here. 

Students in Years 4-6 will love these two fabulous books. I wish I had time to really explore both of these with a class because there is so much to read and enjoy. Look for all the books by Sharon Creech in your school library you will not be disappointed. I have talked about eight of her books on this blog - just click her name from the post labels. (Post edit 8th December, 2024 It was a moment of greatest joy in my life when Sharon Creech found this original post and made her comment!).

Teachers will take this story to heart, recognizing Miss Stretchberry’s skilled and graceful teaching and Jack’s subtle emotional growth both as a person and a writer. This really special triumph is bound to be widely discussed by teachers and writers, and widely esteemed by Creech’s devoted readers. Kirkus Star review

Listen to an audio sample here. 

Moo a novel by Sharon Creech

Newbery Medalist Creech touches on themes of loss, friendship, and belonging in this appealing tale of a young girl’s unlikely relationship with Zora, an enormous belted Galloway. Kirkus

Moo - why was I keen to read this book?

• It is by the wonderful Sharon Creech
• Sharon Creech once commented on this blog making me love her even more!
• I adore belted Galloway cows (even though I have never seen one)
• Moo is a partly written as a verse novel. I so admire writers who use this genre.
• Ever since I read The Homecoming and Dicey's Song by Cynthia Voigt I have sought out books set in Maine

Driving through city traffic Reena's mum says "let's get out of here".  She means let's leave this hectic city life.  But where will they go. Reena says Maine.

"My parents met in Maine many years ago and when they spoke of Maine their voices had the glint of sea and sky. In the car that day, Maine just popped out of my head. I hadn't expected they would take me seriously. I'm glad I didn't say Siberia."

Friends, family, neighbors, strangers all warn against the perils of Maine - especially the cold. But there are also good things - lobsters, blueberries, coastlines and mountains.  When the family arrive mum and dad send Reena and her brother Luke (a seven-year-old complexity) off for a ride around the town - this is unheard of freedom. 

In the city where we'd lived
there were few safe places
for us to ride - 
few places where we weren't competing
with cars and trucks and buses
and surprise clumps of kids
armed with sticks and stone
or wobbly bearded men spitting

but here in this little town by the sea
there were wide sidewalks
and quiet, curving lanes
spreading like tree limbs
from the trunk of the town centre
and you could ride and ride
the whole day long.

Their mother meets the eccentric Mrs Falala and volunteers Reena and Luke to help with a cow called Zora.  Reena and Luke know nothing about cows. Zora is ornery, moody and stubborn not to mention caked with mud and dust.  Somehow Reena and Luke need to make friends with the strangely abrasive Mrs Falala and with Zora, her cow, and then complete the seemingly impossible task of preparing Zora for the country show. But please don't go thinking this is just a book about kids and a cow - it is so much more. Read this book slowly, then read it again. This is story telling at its best.

Listen to an audio sample here from the first few pages of this book.  I would follow Moo with The girl who Bought Mischief and Fly Away.   Of course you should also pick up Love that Dog and Hate that Cat by Sharon Creech.


A heartfelt tale that will be embraced by Creech’s fans, work well as a classroom read-aloud, and find a spot in book groups. School Library Journal

Many children’s books depict a quest or journey, or a huge event in the main character’s life. With MOO, Creech acknowledges the fact that an unlikely friendship with an elderly woman --- and an ornery cow --- is all the drama a children’s book needs in order to shine. KidsReads

The unfinished Angel by Sharon Creech

This is one of those very illusive books. What I mean by this is I am not sure if I loved it or if it has just left me puzzled. I am glad I went on this reading journey with Sharon Creech and even now days later I am still thinking about this book and wondering at the message (if there was one) and wondering about this angel (she is a lovely character) and most of all wondering about Zola a girl with wisdom beyond her tender years. Zola is a little bit like Stargirl (Jerry Spinelli) with her multilayered colourful clothes and thoughtful view of the world.

I am a huge fan of Sharon Creech and so I was excited to begin The unfinished angel. Unlike the other books by Sharon Creech in my blog – Love that dog, Hate that cat, The unfinished angel is not a verse novel. The print size and white space make it look like a book for middle primary but it is such a sophisticated story I think it is better placed with senior primary students.

I do plan to re-read this special book because I am sure it like the skin on an onion and as I read it again I expect more layers of meaning will be revealed.

If you enjoy the books of David Almond then look for The unfinished Angel. The feelings I had reading this book were just like the ones I had reading Skellig.

Angel has lived in this Swiss village for centuries. The village is near the border with Italy hence most of the influences and language are Italian. Angel looks over the town and tries to take care of these disparate inhabitants but it only through the arrival of Zola and her father that she is able to really make a difference to the daily lives of these people and especially to the lives of one special group of lost and homeless children. You can read more about the plot here.

One of the lovely features of this book is the unique language of Angel. Sharon Creech is such a skillful writer we always know what Angel means even though the words are unfamiliar.

“The casa is pink … but the stone tower that rises more than three stories above it is the colour of its stone – how do you call it? Tan? The colour of straw in winter? Of coffee with very much milk? …So maybe you think it is nothing specialful, this tower, but to me it is the finest of all towers in all the world.”

Heartbeat by Sharon Creech

As usual I love to begin my holidays with a good book and for the start of this Summer break, I picked out a book I read quite a long time ago. It is one I often recommend to my senior Primary students.

Heartbeat is a verse novel and as I have mentioned in other review of verse novels this genre always seem to pack a very emotional punch.

Annie and her friend Max love to run. For Annie running is a release, a joy, fun! For Max running is a competition, an obsession, the way to forge a new destiny. Being twelve and thirteen their lives are changing. Annie will soon have a new sibling. Heartbeat is a chronicle of the development of the new baby from just a few cells “little, tiny cells multiplying every second” through to delivery. At the other end of life, Annie and her parents share their home with her elderly grandfather. He was also once a runner, but his life is slowly drawing to a close and his memory is failing. “He says he is falling to bits little pieces stop working each day and his brain is made of scrambled eggs.” These two aspects of Annie’s life lead her to think very deeply about life and relationships.

“Max also reminds me
that when I was ten
I suddenly jumped of a swing
and said
‘Why are we here?’
…
Am I supposed to do something
Important?
It doesn’t seem enough
to merely take up space
on this planet
in this country
in this state
in this town
in this family
…
I do not yet know
what I should be
or
do.”

The other truly special moments in this book come as Annie works on an art project. We have an art room in our Primary school, and I would love to think there might be children who treasure this room the way Annie does: “Twice a week at school we have art class with Miss Freely in a room I’d like to live in.” The art project is to draw apples for 100 days. This simple idea provides a beautiful metaphor for the evolution of life Creech explores though this book.

If you enjoyed Don’t breathe a word by Marianne Musgrove and all the books by Sherryl Clarke and Sally Murphy (Pearl verses the world), Heartbeat is even better. Sharon Creech is a master writer of the verse novel. You might also enjoy an old but very special picture book we have in our library called A Rabbit named Harris by Nan Hunt. Take a look at my reviews of Love that Dog and Hate that Cat. (Sharon Creech made a comment about this review and it is one of my proudest blog moments!).

I often muse about the way a book reaches me. Earlier this year a senior student lost our copy of Heartbeat. After quite a long period we purchased a new copy and then about four weeks ago the old copy was unearthed in a different classroom. This original copy is in fairly poor shape so we have withdrawn it from our collection and thus I bought it home to read. My holidays are off to a fabulous start with the reading of this sensitive and affirming story. You can read some notes here by Sharon Creech and an extensive set of questions for teachers who might like to use this book with a class.

Post update 30th June, 2024. I just read this book for the third time and loved it all over again.  I have added different cover designs to the top of this post and my five star rating. 

Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech

"Okay," Louie said. I accept the mission."

"What mission?"

"To save this pitiful motherless donkey."

Louie is exactly the right person to care for a new-born baby donkey. Yes, he has not had a good track record with other pets and wild animals, but there is a deep emotional tenderness about Louie and even though everyone doubts the young donkey will live through the first night, Louie never gives up. 

"I don't want to watch it die,' his mother said
'No!' Louie said. 'No dying. I told you, I accept the mission.'
The pitiful creature tentatively touched its nose to Louie's. 'Awww,'
'Don't get attached,' his mother warned. 'You're going to be heartbroken when it - '
'Shh,' Louie said. 'Don't let it hear you.' He asked his father if it was a boy or a girl.
'Boy,' he said. 'Poor thing."

Louie is determined to save the little donkey. He names him Winslow. Later we learn how this name connects with Louie's own difficult start in life.

Louie is a real kid. Sure he lives with a terrific mum and dad and has some loyal friends but his brother is away serving as a soldier and everyone deeply misses him.  Gus misses his family too. He write brief letters but always with the sign off "Remember me." There are reminders of his brother all over the house - they think about him every day.

Living near Louie is Nora. Nora has had some deep sadness in her short life too. Her premature baby brother has died and so did the family dog. Sharon Creech does not need to spell this out but it is very clear Nora is scared of being hurt. She likes Winslow, the baby donkey, but she is wary of making a connection because, in her view, it looks as though he might die too. Yet she is drawn to the little fellow. His fur is soft and he keeps butting into her boots and making friendly noises. How can she resist him?

Colby Sharp talked about this book and the wonderful thing that happened for all the students in his school.  One of his students loved Saving Winslow and he book talked it with all his class and it became such a popular book. An adult listening to Colby talk with passion about the urgency of getting books into kids hands decided to buy 60 copies - one for each child in Grade 5. Such a generous and special thing to do.

You might know that I am a HUGE (say this loudly) fan of Sharon Creech. I knew I just had to buy this book and buy it NOW! The power of the writing here comes both from what is said and what is left unsaid. I love that the reader is allowed to 'join the dots.' When you pick up this book take a look at chapter 10. It is titled Freeze that Scene. Louie records two contrasting scenes into his memory. One is of sunflowers growing against a white fence under a blue sky. This scene is made even more perfect when a small blue bird lands on a stalk.

"And now the scene appeared even more perfect to him: an indigo bunting atop a golden sunflower beside a white fence beneath a blue sky with drifting white clouds."

Does this sound poetic?  It should. If you know the writing of Sharon Creech you are sure to be hearing echoes of words from Love that Dog.

That same day Louie sees a thin, disheveled man in a tattered army jacket sleeping on a park bench. "On his way home, Louie slid a small brown bag next to the bench. In the bag were two rolls and a candy bar." If we didn't know it already it is very clear Louie has a kind heart.

You can read the first 6 chapters on the author web site. I highly recommend you do this (now!) You can read about the inspiration for this story in an interview in the School Library Journal.

Another outstanding and unforgettable story that will work well both as a read-aloud for younger listeners and as a rich offering for those recently transitioned to chapter books.  Kirkus Star review

Set in an unspecified small-town past, largely free of adults and rich with unscheduled play time, the story is told simply but subtly, celebrating the unexpected strength of the vulnerable. Horn Book Star review

SAVING WINSLOW explores the balance between holding tight to those we love most and recognizing that holding on may not be best for them. SAVING WINSLOW is a thoroughly enjoyable read and a future classic in the genre of children and the animals they love. KidsReads

Take a look at my review of other books by Sharon.  Moo, Love that Dog, Heartbeat, Granny Torrelli makes Soup and The Boy on the Porch.

Compare the cover of Saving Winslow with Moo, Love that Dog and Hate that Cat. These four books would make a great set for any library or home collection.

Here is an indigo bunting - I just had to show you one because they look so amazing!

Image source: https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/indigo-bunting

The boy on the porch by Sharon Creech

"The young couple found the child asleep in an old cushioned chair on the front porch.  He was curled against a worn pillow, his feet bare and dusty, his clothes fashioned from rough linen.  They could not imagine where he had come from or how he had made his way to their small farmhouse on a dirt road far from town."

Take a close look at these opening sentences from The boy on the porch - a masterpiece of storytelling from one of my most favourite authors - Sharon Creech.

In this short paragraph the reader can discover so many things - some explicitly stated others implied.  This couple have no children of their own perhaps, this boy comes from far away and he is poor as are the young couple who are eking out a living on this remote farm.  They may be poor but there is love and comfort in their home. On the other side this paragraph there are so many questions.  Who is this young boy?  Where has he come from?  What might happen when he wakes up?  How will the young couple react?  Will his family every be found?  Does he even have a family?  What has happened in this past to this child?

This is another one of those wonderful books that I devoured in one sitting.  In 150 pages you will go on an emotional journey where some of the questions I have listed will be answered while others will remain a mystery.  I selected this book as my 600th review because I enjoyed it so much.  I am looking forward to putting this special book into the hands of a sensitive mature reader.

Marta and John are not sure what to do. They wait until the boy awakes only to discover he cannot speak. There is a note :

Plees taik kair of Jacob

He is a god good boy.

We will be bak wen we can.

This note gives the child a name but it also raises more questions and anxieties.  When will these people return?  Who are they?  Why have they abandoned their child? Should John and Marta tell the authorities?

"When no one came for the boy by nightfall, John and Martha fashioned a small bed beside their own.  Marta fashioned a small bed beside their own. Marta offered the boy one of John's softest shirts to sleep in and set out a basin of warm water and soap for him to wash with.  She tucked him into the bed, patted his arm and hummed a few bars of an old, half-forgotten lullaby, softly, for she was embarrassed that John might hear her and think her foolish.  As she stood to go, the boy reached up and tapped her arm five or six times, in that funny way he did, always tapping lightly on surfaces ... his touch startled her, and she nearly wept, so grateful was she for the gesture."

On Sharon's web site you can read about the inspiration for this story, you can hear the author read the first chapter and you can click on a sample of the text to read it yourself.  I recommend you do all these things now!  Here is a video of Sharon reading the book so you can even see what she looks like.

This book reminded me of The Stranger by Chris van Allsburg and Ruby Holler also by Sharon Creech.

In a book world crowded with overwrought shock-fluff stories, 

this quiet novel sings.

Granny Torrelli makes soup by Sharon Creech

Granny Torrelli is a wise woman and a great cook.  This is the perfect combination to help Rosie when she and her best friend Bailey have had the most awful falling out.

If you have ever read my blog you will know I am a huge fan of Sharon Creech.  While Granny Torrelli makes soup is not a verse novel like Love that dog but it is a book of enormous warmth and wisdom and should be read by anyone - child or adult - who has ever felt jealous, or hurt or confused by the twists and turns of relationships.

"Bailey, my neighbor my friend, my buddy, my pal for my whole life, knowing me better that any body, that Bailey, that Bailey I am so mad at right now, that Bailey, I hate him today."

"My Granny Torrelli says when you are angry with someone, so angry you are thinking hateful things, so angry you want to punch them, then you should think of the good things about them, and the nice things they've said, and why you liked them in the first place."

Over delicious meals of soup, home-made pasta, meatballs and spareribs Granny Torrelli gently guides Rosie to a deeper understanding of herself and of Bailey.

This book was a present from our pen pals in Pennsylvania.  We have had a copy in our library for a long time and I thought I had read this wonderful book long ago but now I discover I had not.  If you are in middle Primary or older step into your library and borrow this book.  Sit in your favourite chair, turn on some very soft music and sit back for an hour or two and read, read, read.

Here is a detailed review.  Her is a literature circle plan.  Sharon Creech has written some discussion questions herself. Finally here are a series of book talks you might use after you read this book.

It is interesting to see the various covers for this book.  Which one do you like?

The castle of Corona by Sharon Creech

When I see a book by a favourite author I can’t wait to dive in. Sharon Creech does not disappoint with her book The Castle Corona. This is a completely different style and genre to other books by Creech all of which are on my most favourite books lists. Love that Dog, Ruby Holler, Granny Torrelli makes soup, Heartbeat and Replay are all in our school library and all are really fabulous.

In this latest book we have a fairy tale with all the right ingredients – a king, a queen, spoilt royal children, orphans and a special destiny you just know will end with those important words “they all lived happily ever after”.

Pia and Enzo are orphans living with an angry and mean merchant. They dream of a better life. One day they find a small pouch filled with mysterious objects two cornos or amulets to ward off bad luck, two gold medallions, a lock of back hair and a small piece of parchment with a message the children cannot read.

My favourite character in this book is the Wordsmith who is summoned in the evenings in the castle to tell stories. He carries a small bag or pouch, he asks the audience to supply story ideas and characters, looks briefly into his pouch and then weaves his magical tales.

This is a book for all Primary children especially those who long for happy endings and stories of castles, royalty and delicious food! Warning don't read this book if you are feeling hungry.

Momo's favourite books Post Number 2000

 2000

Momotimetoread is celebrating. I have reached 2000 posts. Here are some lists to help you discover some of the treasures I have explored over the last twelve years. Apologies in advance that I might mention books that are now "out of print".  My last milestone celebration was for 300 posts and 30,000 hits and now I have 2000 posts and over 570,000 hits. Have I missed one of your favourites? Have I mentioned a book you had forgotten? I love to receive comments. Colour titles link to each book.

Published in 2020 (Highlights)

If you come to earth by Sophie Blackall

Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake illustrated by Jon Klassen

Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park

Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman

The Silver Arrow by Lev Grossman

The House of Light by Julia Green

New Australian favourites

We are Wolves by Katrina Nannestad

The Biscuit Maker by Sue Lawson illustrated by Liz Anelli

I saw Pete and Pete saw me by Maggie Hutchins illustrated by Evie Barrow

How to make a bird by Meg McKinlay illustrated by Matt Ottley

Eloise and the bucket of stars by Janeen Brian

The Republic of Birds by Jessica Miller

Sometimes Cake by Edwina

Finding Francois by Gus Gordon

Ellie's Dragon by Bob Graham

Verse Novel - favourites

Love that dog by Sharon Creech (take a look to see a comment by Sharon herself!)

May B by Caroline Starr Rose

The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossman

Sister Heart by Sally Morgan

Motormouth by Sherryl Clark

Out of the dust by Karen Hesse

Picture book - favourites - 

small selection

Shelter by Celine Claire illustrated by Qin Leng

The Suitcase by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros

A friend like Ed by Karen Wagner illustrated by Janet Pedersen

Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall

Come on Rain by Karen Hesse illustrated by Jon J Muth

Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal illustrated by Scott Magoon

Australian children's Picture books every child should hear

Fox by Margaret Wild illustrated by Ron Brooks

Mallee sky by Jodi Toering illustrated by Tannya Harricks

Sonam and the Silence by Eddie Ayres illustrated by Ronak Taher

Herman and Rosie by Gus Gordon

The Bunyip of Berkeley's Creek by Jenny Wagner illustrated by Ron Brooks

Sebastian lives in a hat by Thelma Catterwell illustrated by Kerry Argent

Miss Lily's fabulous pink feather boa by Margaret Wild illustrated by Kerry Argent

Felix and Alexander by Terry Denton

Our School Fete by Louise Pfanner illustrated by Kim Gamble

Puffling by Margaret Wild illustrated by Julie Vivas

Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Margaret Wild illustrated by Julie Vivas

Special Australian children's Picture books (out of print)

The Greatest Treasure of Charlemagne the King by Nadia Wheatley illustrated by Deborah Klein 

Space Travellers by Margaret Wild illustrated by Gregory Rogers

Jandy Malone and the Night O'Clock Tiger by Barbara Bolton

The Wonder thing by Libby Hathorn illustrated by Peter Gouldthorpe

The Bush Jumper by Jean Chapman illustrated by Ali Beck

The Mouse with the too long tail by Bani McSpedden illustrated by Greg McAlpine

The Sea-Breeze Hotel by Marcia Vaughan illustrated by Patricia Mullins

Pog by Lyn Lee illustrated by Kim Gamble

Picture books for older children

The Colour of Home by Mary Hoffman

Let the Celebrations begin by Margaret Wild illustrated by Julie Vivas

The Minstrel and the Dragon Pup by Rosemary Sutcliff illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark

War and Peas by Michael Foreman

Stepping stones by Margriet Ruurs illustrated by Nazir Ali Badrby

Ruby's wish by Shirim Yim Bridges illustrated by Sophie Blackall

Mr Maxwell's Mouse by Frank and Devin Asch

The Moon's revenge by Joan Aiken illustrated by Alan Lee

Early chapter books

Houndsley and Catina series by James Howe illustrated by Marie Louise Gay

Mr Putter series by Cynthia Rylant illustrated by Arthur Howard

Flubby series by JE Morris

Dixie O'Day series by Shirley Hughes and Clara Vulliamy

High Rise Private eye series by Cynthia Rylant

Detective Gordon series by Ulf Nilsson

Care of Henry by Anne Fine and Choosing Crumble by Michael Rosen illustrated by Tony Ross

Fairy Bread by Ursula Dubosarsky illustrated by Mitch Vane

Middle Grade novels - a selection of favourites

View from the 32nd Floor by Emma Cameron

The Night bus Hero by Onjai Q Rauf

The Unadoptables by Hana Tooke

No ballet shoes in Syria by Catherine Bruton

Detention by Tristan Bancks

How High the moon by Karyn Parsons

Front Desk by Kelly Yang

Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech

The Witch's Boy by Kelly Barnhill

Beautiful Blue World by Suzanne LaFleur and the sequel Threads of Blue

Lenny's book of Everything by Karen Foxlee

The Wonderling by Mira Bartok

The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L Holm

A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park

Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor

Savvy by Ingrid Law

The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp by Kathi Applet

Christmas top picks

Truffle's Christmas by Anna Currey

The Silver Christmas tree by Pat Hutchins

The Polar Express by Chris van Allsburg

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojeichowski illustrated by PJ Lynch

Wombat divine by Mem Fox illustrated by Kerry Argent

Max's Christmas by Rosemary Wells

The Christmas Caravan by Jennifer Beck

Obscure but worth finding (most are out of print)

Mayfly Day by Jeanne Willis illustrated by Tony Ross

Ratbags and Rascals by Robin Klein

The Mice Next Door by Anthony Knowles illustrated by Susan Edwards

Farfallina and Marcel by Holly Keller

The Night fairy by Laura Schlitz illustrated by Angela Barrett

The story of a seagull and the cat who taught her to fly by Luis Sepulveda

Walter by Barbara Wersba illustrated by Donna Diamond

Left Shoe and the Foundling by Annie O'Dowd and sequels

Meannie and the Min Min by Pamela Shrapnel illustrated by Terry Denton

Varjak Paw by SF Said

The Big Bazoohley by Peter Carey illustrated by Stephen Michael King

Billy's bucket by Kes Gray

Out of print and precious

Sorry Miss Folio by Jo Furtado illustrated by Frederick Joos

The Amazing Adventures of Chilly Billy by Peter Mayle illustrated by Arthur Robins

The Astonishing Madame Majolica by Erilys Hunter

Snow White in New York by Fiona French 

Pete and Roland by Bob Graham

The Tishkin silk series by Glenda Millard

Felix and Alexander by Terry Denton

Ice Flowers by Jutta Goetze illustrated by Patricia Mullins

The Vegetable Thieves by Inga Moore

Billy Twitters and his Blue Whale Problem by Mac Barnett illustrated by Adam Rex

Duck for Danger by Ann Grocott

Jandy Malone and the Nine O'clock Tiger by Barbara Bolton

Mike's Magic seeds by Alexander McCall Smith

O'Diddy by Jocelyn Stevenson

1 is for One by Nadia Wheatley

World War I and World War II 

Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian

The Little Riders by Margaretha Shemin

What about me? by Gertie Evenhuis

Christmas in the Trenches by John McCutecheon illustrated by Henri Sorensen

The War that saved my Life by Kimberley Brubacker

Anna at War by Helen Peters

Captain Rosalie by Timothee de Frombelle

The Goose Road by Rowena House

A few essential Picture Book additions for every school library (Primary)

The Black book of Colours by Menena Cotton illustrated by Rosana Faria

Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson

Mustafa by Marie-Lousie Gay

Whale in a fishbowl by Troy Howell and Richard Jones

The Hug machine by Scott Campbell

Truman by Jean Reidy illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins

Six Dinner Sid by Inga Moore

The Secret Sky garden by Linda Sarah illustrated by Fiona Lumbers

On the night of the shooting star by Amy Hest illustrated by Jenni Desmond

Sonam and the Silence by Eddie Ayres illustrated by Ronak Taher

I like bees, I don't like honey by Sam Bishop illustrated by Fiona Lumbers

Series 

Cogheart by Peter Bunzl and three sequels

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown and sequel The Wild Robot escapes

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate and sequel The one and only Bob

Endling Book One The Last by Katherine Applegate and sequels

Boot by Shane Hegarty illustrated by Ben Mantle and Boot the Rusty Rescue

Fire Girl by Matt Ralphs and sequel Fire Witch

The legend of Podkin One ear by Kieran Larwood and sequels

Heartwood Hotel by Kallie George (4 books)

Beetle Boy by MJ Leonard and sequels

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson and sequels (Young Adult title)

The Thickety by JA White and sequels (Young Adult title)

Children's books all adults 

should read too

Momo by Michael Ende

The Eleventh trade by Alyssa Hollingsworth

Pax by Sara Pennypacker illustrated by Jon Klassen

Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed

Toby Alone by Timothee de Frombelle

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate illustrated by Charles Santoso

Where the river runs gold by Sita Brahmachari

The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman