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Sweet Child O'Mine
“She’s got a smile that it seems to me, Reminds me of childhood memories…” Come rain or shine, a father and daughter love spending time together. They take the time to explore the world and delight in what they see all to the backdrop of the classic rock anthem 'Sweet Child O’ Mine'…
Page Count: 40
Genre: Everyday life Themes: Family, music 'a word about books' says…”Die-hard Guns N’ Roses fan or not, all parents and children will appreciate this warm-hearted book that is perfect for reading together."
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Thank You, Omu!
Omu is very much looking forward to the stew that she has been busily preparing for her evening meal. As the scent of the delicious stew drifts out of the window it tickles the noses of the people in the neighbourhood and soon Omu is feeding the mouths of those that arrive at her door. But when it is time for her dinner she finds that the pan is empty. What will she do...
Page Count: 40
Genre: Everyday life Themes: Sharing, community, friendship, food, international, diversity, BAME 'a word about books' says…”Full of heart, kindness, the power of community and a very delicious stew! A wonderful reminder that sometimes, “Thank you,” is the most wonderful gift of all."
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Three Squeezes
Sometimes a hug is all you need. It can let you know you are loved, can you lift you up after defeat, it can be a warm embrace to celebrate a victory, can comfort you after an accident, can provide reconciliation after an argument, can be a joyous moment during good times and can protect you in scary times. There is nothing that cannot be solved with ‘three squeezes’…
Page Count: 32
Genre: Everyday life, life lesson Themes: Family, friendship 'a word about books' says…”Sure to bring a tear to many an eye and is best enjoyed by a child in the arms of a loved one. Three Squeezes is a wonderfully comforting hug of a book."
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Too Much Stuff!
After laying four precious eggs in their newly built nest, magpies Meg and Ash decide to decorate it with some things to make it the absolute best. There’s lots of things to be found too; cuckoo clocks, socks, plastic pegs, a teddy bear, fairy lights, a pram and even a car. But as the nest becomes ever bigger and more precarious, the magpies might just find out the hard way that they have too much stuff…
Page Count: 32
Genre: Humour, life lesson Themes: Animals, friendship, environment, nature, rhyme 'a word about books' says…”In a world of excessive consumerism, Emily Gravett serves up a fun and playful woodland tale that explores the problems of having ‘too much stuff."
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Truman
Truman the tortoise lives with his Sarah high above a busy street that bustled with life. Unlike the street, Truman and Sarah are quiet, peaceful and pensive. Truman and Sarah love spending time together, he would watch as she played and coloured. But one day Sarah does something very unusual, she catches the number 11 bus. Has Truman lost Sarah forever...
Page Count: 48
Genre: Everyday life Themes: Friendship, animals, home, bravery 'a word about books' says…”A sweet story that is big on friendship, devotion and bravery, and shows the extraordinary lengths that we will go to for the ones we love."
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The Twin Dogs
The twin dogs had a good life. All was grand until the day their parents returned home with something that was very, very noisy. And this was the day that everything changed…exercise was with a stranger, no more milk in the morning, the games stopped and they had to be quiet. What on earth was going on? Life was not good, so the twins dogs came up with a plan to fix things…
Page Count: 32
Genre: Everyday life Themes: Family, animals, humour 'a word about books' says…”What’s not to like…sibling rivalry from a dog’s perspective - brilliant and original. The debut picture book from Japanese author Chihiro Inoue is a tail-wagging success."
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Umbrella
The park would have been brilliant except Clara had no-one to play with. But when she spots an umbrella lying on the ground and gently places it onto the bench everything changes. The umbrella is a wonderful world of possibilities where anything is possible. It is a place where friends can be found, and where hopes, dreams and music make the world a better place…
Page Count: 32
Genre: Fantasy Themes: Kindness, sharing, empathy 'a word about books' says…”A wonderful book about kindness and selfless good deeds. Lots of us perhaps dream of finding a magical object, in this case an umbrella, that could grant us our wishes. What would you wish for?"
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Unplugged
Blip does everything on her computer, she loves being plugged in all day long. When there is a power cut Blip finds herself tumbling into the outside world. And Blip finds that she can experience all the same things outside as when she is plugged in inside…
Page Count: 32
Genre: Adventure Themes: Technology, life lesson 'a word about books' says…”I love this book - so relevant for today’s society. In a world where we are glued to our screens, this is a reminder about all the fun we can have when we are unplugged.”
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Waiting for Wolf
Fox and Wolf spend a glorious day together. As the sun shone, they played by the lake, they swam, and they laughed and talked. It was the most beautiful of days and as the stars sparkled later that evening the two friends sat together and enjoyed the beauty of the world. But the next day Wolf was nowhere to be found…
Page Count: 32
Genre: Fantasy Themes: Friendship, animals, grief, loss, feelings, emotions, life lesson 'a word about books' says…”A big, beautiful hug of a book that will bring comfort and solace to readers young and old when a loved one dies. Delivers a wonderful message to enjoy life, remember the good times and cherish the memories."
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We're All Wonders
Despite doing all the things ordinary kids do, Auggie is not the same as them. Auggie’s mum knows that he is a wonder but not everyone sees him that way. All they can see is how he looks different to them. Auggie cannot change the way he looks but perhaps he can change the way that other people see things…
Page Count: 32
Genre: Everyday life Themes: Feelings, disability, differences, personal & social issues 'a word about books' says…”Hopefully Auggie’s story will help children to understand that it’s what is on the inside that counts. A great book for introducing the ideas of empathy, kindness and about treating everyone equally regardless of appearance."
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The Whale Who Wanted More
Humphrey the whale is searching for the perfect treasure to make him feel completely happy. He doesn’t know exactly what he's looking for but he is sure that happiness is only one object away. Or is it? A brave crab is determined to stop Humphrey's collecting ways and has some life-changing advice that could help Humphrey find what he has really been searching for…
Page Count: 32
Genre: Life lesson Themes: Ocean, animals, feelings, friendship 'a word about books' says…”In a world of consumerism, this is a touching reminder of what really matters in life. “So perhaps true contentment is not about stuff…Since we all need so little to have quite enough.” As Humphrey eventually learns, less is most definitely more!"
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What Happened to You?
Everyone has a theory as to what happened to Joe’s leg. It fell off. It was stolen by a burglar. It was eaten by a lion. Joe is hiding it. Every time he goes out, it is the same. What Joe really wants is to just play pirates and to do battle with sharks and crocodiles. And what he would especially like is to not have to answer the question, ‘What happened to you?’…
Page Count: 32
Genre: Everyday life Themes: Disability, friendship, personal & social issues 'a word about books' says…”Addressing disability, this ground-breaking story will develop empathy and understanding around how it might feel to live a different normal."
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What I Am
What are you? One little girl is lots of things. She is so many things that she has not got enough words. She is a girl, a human, an animal. She is a daughter, a granddaughter and a mother to her cuddly toys. She can be mean and kind, shy and outgoing, mischievous and well-behaved. She is everything and so much more. She is proud of who she is and she wants the world to know it…
Page Count: 40
Genre: Everyday life Themes: Personal & social issues 'a word about books' says…” Fantastic in every possible way, it is a fabulous celebration of what makes us all who we are and why each of us is a ‘unique, priceless, vital part of this world.’"
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When Sadness Comes to Call
You never know when sadness is going to come calling. And when it does come to call it can feel overwhelming and it takes over every single part of your life. Join a little girl and see what happens when sadness visits her and she gradually lets sadness into her life…
Page Count: 32
Genre: Everyday life Themes: Feelings, emotions, mental health, personal & social issues, life lesson 'a word about books' says…”A sensitive and gentle picture book that explores the emotion of sadness and how to manage it and might just help a little someone feel a little bit better."
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Wild
No-one really knows how the small child ended up in the woods but that didn’t matter as the forest creatures immediately took to her as if she were one of their own. Educated and raised by the animals of the forest, the girl learnt to speak, to eat, to play. She was at one with her wild environment. All was perfect until the strange animals arrived and took her away...
Page Count: 32
Genre: Fantasy Themes: Nature, animals 'a word about books' says…”Some things are just born to be wild and Emily Hughes’ debut book is a wonderful walk on the wild side that is a celebration of nature and the outdoors."
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Wolf in the Snow
On a wintry day a young girl ventures from school towards home. The young girl is not the only one that is on the move, a wolf pack are also traversing the snowy plains. Lost in a snow storm, the young girl meets a young wolf cub who has become separated from the pack. Both are upset, scared and unsure of which way is home and soon the most unlikeliest of friendship forms…
Page Count: 40
Genre: Adventure Themes: Friendship, trust, animals 'a word about books' says…”This wordless book is a beautiful example of the power of pictures. It will warm hearts and is the perfect wintry read for young children."
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The Worrysaurus
Worrysaurus heads out for a picnic in the sun but it isn’t long before worries start to fill his head though and his day out is no longer fun. Luckily, Worrysaurus has a very wise mummy and with a few words of wisdom he is able to manage his emotions and get on with his day…
Page Count: 32
Genre: Adventure Themes: Dinosaurs, personal & social issues, feelings 'a word about books' says…”This is great reading for those children who are prone to overthinking and the perfect story telling helps to normalise having worries and helps children deal with their anxieties.”
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A Year With Marmalade
Ella is devastated when her best friend Maddy breaks the news to her that she and her family are going away for a year. As a parting ‘gift’, Maddy gives Ella the responsibility of looking after her pet cat, Marmalade. Friendship can come in all forms…
Page Count: 32
Genre: Everyday life Themes: Friendship, loss, growing-up, nature 'a word about books' says..."Great for helping children understand that sometimes things are not quite as bad as they first seem and that sometimes good things come from what feels like a bad situation.”
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