Books for children and toddlers get better and better
Imagine a child’s sense of excitement as the she waits for the inevitable BOO in the book of the same name by Tracey Corduroy and Caroline Pedler (Little Tiger Press €13.20 HB). Hullabaloo Rabbit likes to lie in wait for unsuspecting creatures to pass, then jumps out with a loud ‘BOO!’. His three animal friends lay down the law — ‘No more boos!’. However, they relent when Hullaboo’s birthday comes around. Perhaps that was a big mistake!
Hug (Little Tiger Press €8.30) is a sturdy board book, which is just the right size for small hands. Each colourful spread shows animal mums and babies, as they cuddle and snuggle. The tactile, purple paws on the cover can be used to add further effect to each page. A charming introduction to books.
When it comes to dealing with toddlers can anything trump the interactive and touchy-feely volumes? The most imaginative to come on the market this year is Bee The Book by Debora and Hilary Tobin. The oval apertures are for an adult or older sibling to look through and mimic the creature on each page. Fold-out flaps feature big-print jaunty rhymes. The colourful illustrations are by Bernadette O’Neill. This innovative, face-to-face book is available on-line (€12.99 freepost) from www.beethebooks.com
Another laugh-aloud book to share is When Tom Met Tallulah by Rosie Reeve (Bloomsbury €8.30)
When Tiny Tom Kitten arrives in Tallulah’s house she makes him a house map so that he’ll find the best napping places. She even makes a special toy for him and lets him nap with her on the sofa. So impressed by his new mistress, Tom figures he should learn to be human. However, the tables are turned when Tallulah opts to act feline — lapping milk and sleeping in a cardboard box. The surprise ending is delightful.
Humour is a vital ingredient to convert toddlers to the joys of books. Some of the funniest this Christmas include Dr Duck by Steve Smallman and Hannah George (Little Tiger €13.20 HB). When Porcupine is in misery with her constant sneezing she calls on Doctor Duck for relief. But when the other creatures see him arrive with his bag of cures, they all call on his services — especially smelly Gorilla.
When the Christmas gadgetry begins to lose its lustre, pick up Can You See Sassoon? by Sam Usher (Little Tiger €7.20). This is a book with jaunty rhymes and an age-old challenge.
Sassoon is a slithery snake who likes to hide. Turn the many exciting pages and see who can find his colourful skin, as he peeps from behind the picnic-party goodies; sails among the flotilla of boats at sea; checks the books on the bookshelves, and slips into several, other hiding places.
Bear, in Bear’s Best Friend, by Lucy Coats and Sarah Dyer (Bloomsbury €7.20), sees that all the animals in the forest have a best friend, except himself. Who would want to be friends with a creature who creates artistic shapes on trees? But his skill attracts someone special, who shares his feelings.
In Come To School Too Blue Kangaroo by Emma Chich-ester Clark (Harper Collins €8.30) Lucy brings her comforting toy with her on her first day in school. But when she finds fun and friendship at school she forgets him and leaves him behind. But nothing phases Blue Kangaroo and all ends well.
A well-crafted story where experiences of loneliness in animal and human excellently complement each other. And a must-have, fun book to allay pre-school fears.
The Great Granny Gang by Judith Kerr (Harper Collins €8.30) is one of those timeless books that will continue to entertain children for many years. The grannies are a bunch of stalwarts (the youngest aged 82) who all have wonderful skills, such as building, fixing cars, road-mending and welding to name just a few. When a bunch of thugs rob a baker of all his cakes and buns, the news is passed to the grannies who muster together using their individual skills to catch the rotten thieves. A laugh-aloud book to share with a granny.
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