Picture Book of the Month
November 2024
The Wilderness. Written and illustrated by Steve McCarthy
The Vasylenko family are adventurers. They all love the wet and the wild, the thrill of exploring the outside world. All that is - except Oktober.
He prefers the warm and safe comfort of the inside world, and for his adventures to take place between the pages of a book. But tomorrow, Oktober has to join his family on a trek into the slimy, grimy and climby wild, where he sees only danger and worry and fears a creature called 'The Wilderness'!
Failing to keep his wits about him could be dangerous though - it may even get him a bit lost. But perhaps getting lost is just what Oktober needs to find himself and maybe even make an unexpected friend.
October 2024
Pick a Pumpkin Written by Patricia Toht, illustrated by Jarvis
Pick a pumpkin from the patch – tall and lean or short and fat. Vivid orange, ghostly white, or speckled green, might be just right...
Illustrated by the winner of the V&A Best Illustrated Book 2017
It’s Halloween! Which means it's time to dangle cobwebs and bats from the windows, put on costumes, and – most important of all – visit the pumpkin patch and pick out that perfect pumpkin! Then cart it home, scoop out the insides, carve a scary face, and finally light a candle inside, transforming it into a one-of-a-kind, glowing jack-o’-lantern.
With warm, autumnal art, and a rhythmic read-aloud text that captures all the excitement and familial feeling of Halloween, this is the perfect book to share by flickering candlelight on the spookiest night of the year.
September 2024
Look Up! Written by Nathan Bryon, illustrated by Dapo Adeola
Rocket is a stargazer extraordinaire! She wants everyone in her town to LOOK UP before they miss a spectacular sight in the sky, but will they do so in time? A perfect read to if you caught last month's Perseid Meteor Shower.
August 2024
Wild Book Day by Karl Newson, illustrated by James Brown
Characters from different stories collide to celebrate our rich tapestry of children's literature. As pages wildly come to life, this riotous read not only entertains but also shows the magic of storytelling and the importance of keeping the joy of reading alive. With every turn of the page, it's a celebration of the limitless worlds within books, encouraging young minds to become active participants in their everyday reading adventures.
July 2024
We Are All Neighbours by Alexandra Penfold, illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman
Let's go walking down our street.
Friends and neighbours here to greet.
Oh so many folks to meet.
We are all neighbours here.
Welcome to a neighbourhood where everyone is welcome. A neighbourhood where children of every culture play together, sharing food and laughter, and learning from each other's traditions. A neighbourhood where diversity is a strength.
From the creators of the no.1 New York Times bestselling All Are Welcome comes a triumphant picture book that celebrates diversity, kindness and the power of community. Here, we are ALL neighbours!
June 2024
A Superhero Like You by Dr Ranj Singh
Lily knows exactly what she wants to be when she grows up: a superhero! But she's not interested in being a silly superhero. She doesn't want to wear her pants outside her trousers! Lily wants to be a REAL superhero: the kind who helps people and makes the world a better place.
Join Lily as she meets the extraordinary superheroes all around us, from doctors, teachers and air ambulance paramedics to scientists, recycling truck drivers and carers. Discover the amazing work these real-life heroes do using their incredible superpowers of kindness, care and love.
This uplifting picture book celebrates key-workers, and shows little readers that we all have the potential within us to be superheroes.
May 2024
Spreading My Wings by Nadiya Hussain
I am a boy, and this is Rayf, my bird.
Rayf is my friend.
On his first day of holiday camp, a little boy arrives with his bird best friend perched proudly on his shoulder, but he soon discovers that he is different from everyone else - no one else has a bird. He hides Rayf away to try and fit in but it's hard to pretend to be someone else for long.
A beautiful story about finding the confidence to spread your wings and fly as your true self.
April 2024
Ten Little Bugs by Mike Brownlow and Simon Rickerty
The Bug Hotel is hosting the Moonbeam Ball so ten little bugs are getting everything ready for the party. Can these lively bugs send out invites, decorate the ballroom and arrange a musical surprise before the guests arrive?
Follow the ten little bugs as the buzz and bounce through a wonderful mini-beast world - meetings spiders, bees and dragonflies along the way.
Read the bouncy rhyming story and count from ten to one and back again, as the little bugs disappear then reappear. Spot and count the details on each page, and join in with the magical read-aloud sounds.
March 2024
The Oak Tree by Julia Donaldson
Watch a thousand years unfold in the life of one magnificent tree!
A thousand years ago, a tiny acorn fell to the ground. As the years pass, it grows . . . and GROWS into an enormous oak tree!
As the centuries sweep by, children play games around the tree. Families dance about it. A fleeing king even hides inside its hollow trunk!
The tree gives food and shelter to a host of animals, from squirrels and badgers to birds and beetles.
After a thousand years, the ancient tree finally falls in a storm - but a new acorn sprouts, and the cycle of life begins all over again.
February 2024
We are Family by Patricia Hegarty and Ryan Wheatcroft
All families are different - and yet in many ways the same! This book uses a gentle rhyming text to follow eight different families, celebrating their everyday differences as well as the similarities they share.
January 2024
The Boy who Rescued a Rainbow by Corrina Campbell
What does it mean to be strong, brave and fearless? When a little boy finds a broken rainbow lying on the ground, he decides to take it home and look after it. The little boy loves the rainbow but when it eventually disappears, he finds out what it really means to be strong, brave and fearless. A gentle and magical story exploring one boy’s journey through love and loss.
December 2023
Three Christmas Bears by Linda Worrall
What do you look forward to as it gets nearer to Christmas? I love to decorate my Christmas Tree, bake Christmas cookies, eat Candy Canes and get my stocking ready for Santa!
With beautiful and traditional artwork, follow our family of bears as they prepare for Christmas and do all of their favourite things too!
November 2023
Mavis the Bravest by Lu Fraser & Sarah Warburton
Mavis is not like her adventurous friend Marge. Mavis is a chicken who finds EVERYTHING scary (night-time and daytime and anything hairy!). So when the slumbering peace of their cosy barn is disturbed by someone trying to steal their friend Sandra the sheep, will Mavis be able to find her bright spark of braveness and save Sandra?
This adorably warm-hearted story is brimful of humour, reassurance – and two exceedingly courageous chickens!
October 2023
My Hair by Hannah Lee, illustrated by Allen Fatimaharan
My birthday's coming up so soon,
I'll need new clothes to wear.
But most of all, I need to know,
How shall I style my hair?
Will it be dreads or a twist out? Braids or a high-top fade? Joyous and vibrant, this captures perfectly the excitement of getting ready for a celebration, as well as showcasing a dazzling array of intricate hairstyles.
'Lively illustrations in warm, rich colours accompany the rhythmic text... A delightful debut collaboration' BookTrust
June 2023
I Remember by Jeanne Willis, illustrated by Raquel Catalina
George's granny is quite forgetful. Sometimes, she can't even remember George's name. But George doesn't mind. Together they play in the garden, dance, and share chocolate biscuits. Granny might not always remember the little things, but George knows she loves him more than words can say.
A celebration of the unforgettable love between a grandparent and grandchild, proving that even though the mind can sometimes forget, the heart will always remember.