By Melissa Corkhill
04th March 2013
Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
‘Nice? It’s the only thing,’ said the Water Rat solemnly, as he leant forward for his stroke. ‘Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.’ When the Mole, bored of spring cleaning, leaves his tidy burrow behind, he finds that the River Bank is full of friends -brave and lively Ratty; kind, sleepy Badger; and the irresponsible Mr. Toad, famous for his wealth and his car smashes. But beyond the River Bank lies the Wild Wood, full of sinister weasels and stoats. When the Wild Wooders venture out and capture Toad Hall, the friends must band together to save it.
Aladdin’s Magic Carpet and other Fairytale Meditations for Children by Marneta Viegas.
“It prompts imagination, has beautiful illustrations and helped with a difficult time when my daughter was in hospital.”
Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees
Gerald would love to join in with the other animals at the Jungle Dance, but everyone knows that giraffes can’t dance . . . or can they? A funny, touching and triumphant story from an award-winning creative team.
The Complete Nonsense of Edward Lear
The classic collection of nonsense by the greatest nonsensicalist of all time, Edward Lear – inventor of the limerick, and creator of the “Jumblies” and “The Owl and the Pussy Cat”.
What The Ladybird Heard by Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks
A witty farmyard thriller from the author of THE GRUFFALO!
Roald Dahl’s Danny, Champion Of The World.
“It makes me feel young again!”
Alice’s Adeventures in Wonderland, and Through the Looking Glass Lewis Carroll
Part of Barnes & Noble’s series of classic works with beautiful illustrations making an elegant additions to any home library.
Frog and Toad Collection by A. Lobel
“I love Lobel!”
The Enchanted Wood by Enid Blyton
When Joe, Beth and Frannie move to a new home, an Enchanted Wood is on their doorstep. And when they discover the Faraway Tree, that is the beginning of many magical adventures! Join them and their friends Moonface, Saucepan Man and Silky the fairy as they discover which new land is at the top of the Faraway Tree. Will it be the Land of Spells, the Land of Treats, or the Land of Do-As-You-Please? There’ll be adventures waiting for them, whatever happens!
Brown-ears: The Adventures of a Lost-and-found Rabbit
“Beautiful magical pictures and a lovely simple natural story”
We Going on A Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury
Imagine the fun of going on a bear hunt-through tall, wavy grass (SWISHY SWISHY!); swampy mud (SQUELCH SQUELCH!); and a swirling whirling snowstorm (HOOOO WOOOO!) – only to find a “real” bear waiting at the end of the trail!
The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr
“My daughter loved it when she was very tiny and knows it by heart”
Rudyard Kipling How the first letter was written
Kipling’s imagined answers to such questions draw on the beast fables he heard as a child in India, as well as on folk traditions he later collected all over the world. He plays games with language, exploring the relationships between thought, speech, and written word. He also celebrates his own joy in fatherhood. The tales were told to his own and his friends’ children over many years before he wrote them down, adding poems and his own illustrations. They invite older and younger readers to share a magical experience, each contributing to the other’s pleasure but each can also enjoy them alone, as more jokes, subtexts, and exotic references emerge with every reading.
How to train your dragon series by Cressida Cowell.
“We particularly like the audio version read by David tenant!”
Oh the places you’ll go by Dr Seus.
“So inspiring but also shows that life has its ups & downs”
The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew it Was None of His Business
“Pure Genius!”
Dear Greenpeace by Simon James.
“Beautifully captures the difference between the child’s perspective and the adult’s. Lovely story.”
