Midge and Mo by Lara Williamson illustrated by Becky Cameron

Midge has changed schools. Everything is strange and all he wants to do is go back to the way things were. The teacher assigns a classmate to look after him. Mo is a happy and very positive girl. She loves the idea of showing Midge around her school but Midge just does not react to anything - not a soccer game, the school friendship flower garden, the giant sunflowers the class have been growing, or the climbing frame. Midge just sits under a tall tree in the playground. 

Through his eyes the world is a grey and sad place to be. In art he draws a sad rainy-day picture (sadly the teacher misinterprets this). After two days of trying so very hard to reach Midge, Mo talks to her teacher Mr Lupin. I love his advice:

"Don't give up Mo ... Nothing is in the right place for Midge at the moment. Perhaps he doesn't feel like he's in the right place either. New beginnings can feel like that ... You were new here once ... That's why I asked you to be Midge's buddy, because I was sure you would remember how your first day here felt, too."

Mo goes home and talks to her mum and dad and togther they come up with a really special gift for Midge and while I am sure he will still have sad days a little sparkle has entered his life at last. Oh and those huge sunflowers have now opened up and are showing off their own bright yellow happy colours. I also love the character names - Mo (I wonder if this is short for something) and Midge.

Publisher blurb: Midge doesn’t want to go to a new school. He wants everything to go back to the way it was – with his old school, his old friends and his parents back together. Mo is Midge’s buddy at his new school. She’s super smiley and can’t wait to be his friend, but the more Mo tries to make friends the more Midge retreats. It’s like there’s an invisible raincloud hanging above his head – drip-drip-drip. Then Mo remembers how she felt when she was new, and it makes her even more determined to help Midge feel happy and to show him that the sun will come out for him again soon.

This book is from the Little Tiger series published by Stripes. I have mentioned books from this series previously. I highly recommend adding lots of these titles to your school library. These are so appealing with their hardcovers, high quality paper, colour illustrations and most important of all - really good stories that are easy to read but also contain authentic and emotional narratives.

I previously talked about:

The Long way home

Little Rabbits big surprise

Little Bird Lost

Two Sides

A sea of stories

I also thought of another small chapter book from many years ago that also features a snow globe - Snow Dog by Malorie Blackman (it was a Corgi Pup title from 2001). It was reprinted with a different publisher in 2010 so you might find this in a library. 

A Sea of Stories by Sylvia Bishop illustrated by Paddy Donnelly

Roo goes to stay with grandpa for a few days. He lives in a small cottage by the sea with a wonderful view of the beach and a nearby lighthouse. In his younger days Grandpa was a fisherman and over time he has collected all sorts of interesting objects which now fill his house. Near Grandpa's house there is a small cove. It is a place Roo loves to visit but sadly Grandpa can no longer manage to clamber down the rough path.

Roo and her Grandpa do enjoy their day - playing hide and seek. In the late afternoon they settle down inside and Grandpa begins to tell Roo the most marvellous stories, true stories, using the curious objects in his collection. He begins with a gold dubloon which could be pirate treasure. 

Over the following days Grandpa shares lots of stories but Roo keeps thinking about the Cove. Grandpa loved visiting the cove and so many of his stories are set there, plus it was his favourite place to view the sun setting. Roo is a problem solver and a kind girl. When her parents return she explains the problem and her proposed solution. 

"They parked the car in the Market Square, and went to ask for help. Before long a great crew of people had assembled, carrying spades and buckets and wood and rope and tools of all sorts and sizes."

I will leave you to imagine the next scene and also to imagine the happy ending to this story. You will need to take time on the last page because there is something important and very poignant in the illustration. 

This poignant tale about a girl’s touching relationship with her grandfather is ideal for children who are moving on from picture books. Perfect to explore the concept of the past, it beautifully celebrates the value of sharing stories and memories. The vibrant, full-page illustrations have a dynamic, painterly quality and successfully evoke the wildness and beauty of the coast, bringing the text to life.  Book Trust

The illustrations are delightful, airy and with a frothy texture evoking the soft wildness of the sea in their special cove, and the scenes with the garden and the sea are just so evocative you can smell the salt and green leaves. Little Fae

This book is from a series published by Little Tiger either called Stripes of Colour Fiction. I talked about Little Rabbit's Big Surprise earlier. I really do highly recommend this series for independent reading and also as books to read aloud in a family. A Sea of Stories is aimed at a slightly older audience of 6+. The colour illustrations are especially fabulous. Paddy Donnelly is a children's picture book illustrator and author, originally from Ireland and now based in Belgium. His art reminds me of Salvatore Rubbino and especially the book Ride the Wind. 

You can see more art from this book here. 

And here are some of his books:

Little Rabbit's Big Surprise by Swapna Haddow and Alison Friend

Little Rabbit is looking for something to do. Big Rabbit, her grandfather, invites Little Rabbit to tag along. He has work to do. First off they visit the Mole family. Mole is planning a big party for Little Mole but he is worried no one will want to come along because their new tunnel is so dark. The next stop is Granny Hedgehog. She is unwell with a bad cold and feeling a little miserable. Then Big Rabbit and Little Rabbit see a family of tiny dormice who are struggling to manage they little children and find food and make a new nest from twigs. Finally the pair of rabbits visit Squirrel. She has broken her leg and cannot collect food for her young family.

Big Rabbit is a problem solver. When Little Rabbit wakes up the next day she finds a list - shiny paper, twigs and flowers. Are they going to make a kite? No, each of these things can be used to help their friends in ways that are sure to amaze and surprise your young reading companion.

This is a book you could equally read aloud to a very young child (aged 3+) and later give this book to an older child (5+) who is learning to read.

Here is the web site for Swapna Haddow. Alison Friend has illustrated many books including the Sparks series about Maggie and her horse Bramble which are perfect for young horse lovers. 

I really love this series but I am a bit uncertain about what they are called. The publisher is Little Tiger so the library I visit each week use this as the series name but inside the book they are also called Stripes and some booksellers and the publisher call them Colour Fiction. 

I highly highly recommend this splendid series. If you used to have Aussie Nibbles, Young Colour Puffin books or the Banana book series in your school library these could replace your older books, which may be looking a little worn out.  I have read lots of books from this series and every story is so satisfying and the colour illustrations are just perfect. Here are some others:

Check out my posts about:

The Long way Home

Little Bird Lost

Two Sides

The books in the Colour Fiction range from Little Tiger Group are perfect for newly independent readers aged 5 and up, especially those still struggling to find their feet. Those in search of both a meaty story and the vivid illustrations you find in a picture book. The illustrator is credited alongside the author on the cover – pictures mean business, after all. The books celebrate collaboration, exploration and extraordinary acts of kindness, challenging stereotypes and empowering children.

The Long Way Home by Corrinne Averiss and Kristyna Litten

This is one of the saddest little junior books I have ever read BUT I am certain a child reading this sweet story will not have these feelings.  As adults we are now so aware of the ravages of dementia. Or course this book is about an elderly elephant grandmother who has some memory loss - it is not meant to be a deep book about dementia but my adult reaction was coloured by my experiences with this horrid disease. 

Otto and Nanu love to take adventures together. Little Nanu has been to Red Rock Cave and Blue Pool but today he is so excited because they will visit Lion Mountain. Nanu, his grandmother will lead the way. 

Publisher blurb Little Tiger: Nanu and Otto are off on a climbing adventure – to the top of Lion Mountain! Otto is a born explorer, just like his grandma, who is brave and bold and can’t resist the urge for adventure. But Nanu is having a forgetting day. She forgets her backpack and the name of the mountain … and then she forgets the way home and leads them deep into the forest. Can Otto remember all the things Nanu taught him about being a great elephant explorer and guide the expedition home?

This book comes from a series of simple chapter books published by Little Tiger. It has 85 pages, with an easy to read font and vibrant colour illustrations on every page. These little books are simply perfect and I highly recommend them for all Primary school libraries. Listen to an audio sample from page 16. 

I have previously talked about:

Little Bird Lost

Two Sides

And here are some others from Little Tiger that I am keen to read:

Companion read after you read The Long Way Home:

Up the Mountain

I talked about Corrinne Averiss in a previous post - My Pet Star. You can see some more art by Kristyna Litten here. 

I have previously talked about these two books illustrated by Kristyna Litten:

Ziggy and the Moonlight Show

Norton and Alpha

Little Bird Lost by Patricia Hegarty illustrated by Sebastiaan Van Doninck

It is time for Little Bird to fly away with his flock but he has badly damaged his wing in a flying accident. Luckily Little Bird meets Deer and Deer kindly offers to carry Little Bird. They set off ask advice from the animals in the forest. Bear has told them the flock will be heading towards the sun to find somewhere warm.

Deer and Little Bird walk through the days of Summer, Autumn, Winter and finally in Spring Little Bird is reunited with his flock and in a beautiful moment Deer finds a special friend too. Along the way the pair of new friends play games, share stories and sing songs.

This is a perfect little easy chapter book for newly independent readers.It has a predictable structure (following the seasons), an strong emotional arc and best of all some sweet touches of humour. I especially laughed at the character of Porcupine.  It is so wonderful to see the care the publisher, Little Tiger, have taken with this book. The illustrations are vibrant and at times quite powerful (take a look a the attack of the wolf), the cover is appealing, the end papers are fun images of Little Bird and his crazy antics and most of all I appreciate the beautiful quality of the paper used in Little Bird Lost and other books in this series. There are eleven titles so far. Here are some I have on my "to read" list:

Take a look at the art of Dutch illustrator Sebastiaan Van Doninck.  I have talked about another book by Patricia Hegarty in a previous post - Bee. She is the author of several books illustrated by the brilliant illustrator Britta Teckentrup.

Two Sides by Polly Ho-Yen illustrated by Binny Talib

"... sometimes people say that we're like chalk and cheese. Or pens and peanuts. Or penguins and pencils. Or any two things that are quite different from each other."

This is a story about two friends. Lula and Lenka. They are best friends but they are also very different from one another.

Think about your own close friend. Now think about these pairs:

• Loud or quiet
• Extroverted or shy
• Always running late or punctual
• Dog or Cat
• Disorganised or organised
• Summer or Winter
• Messy or tidy

Yes these girls are different but they are also best friends until The Day That Everything Goes Wrong. Can Lula and Lenka find the key to their friendship again?

Make sure you linger over the end papers in this small volume. They are a perfect way to show how Lula and Lenka are different.

How can an author show two voices? In this book Polly Ho-Yen uses a combination of font and bold type. Lenka speaks quietly so her font is a pale. Lenka is bold and loud and so is her font.

This little book is part of the Stripes series published by the Little Tiger Group.  The publisher says:

Each story has a unique voice, and encourages children to think and see the world differently, helping to develop empathy, tolerance and understanding.  They celebrate difference, collaboration, exploration, extraordinary acts of kindness, unlikely unions and loving relationships, challenging stereotypes and empowering children with the tools they need to make sense of the world and see it through different eyes.

Here is another book illustrated by Binny which I mentioned in 2018.