Picture This: Treats for a T.Rex

George is certain that a T Rex still exists, so with his clever dog Trixie he sets out to find one. On a mysterious island he finds pterosaurs, a triceratops and a diplodocus, but no T Rex. Until a stampede of dinosaurs rushes towards him as they run away from something big...

This story was lots of fun. It was great to read aloud and the art work was bright and engaging. My dinosaur loving three year old adored it and we've had to read it a lot (and just renewed it from the library!) I would love to find some of the other stories in this series, as they look just as fun to read as this one. 

Treats for a T. Rex is written by Adam and Charlotte Guillain and illustrated by Lee Wildish

Picture This: Perfectly Norman

We chose this from the library after enjoying Ruby's Worry last year, and it didn't disappoint. 

One day, Norman grows wings. Beautiful, miraculous, amazing wings. He spends a perfect afternoon flying and returns home for dinner. But Norman is worried what other people will think about his wings, so he hides them under a hot, uncomfortable coat. Because being uncomfortable is better than being different, isn't it?

Perfectly Norman is about the desire to fit in, the desperation to mould yourself into a shape that you believe is acceptable, even if it means giving up a part of you that you love. It's about learning to be yourself and the discomfort of trying to hide who you really are. It's a beautiful, uplifting story that will help young children to embrace what makes them special. 

Perfectly Norman is written and illustrated by Tom Percival

Picture This: Hippocrocohog

Today I am really excited to be featuring Adam Nuth author of the debut picture book, Hippocrocohog, on my blog. Here is a guest post from Adam himself about his inspiration for Hippocrocohog and how he came to publish it.

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The inspiration behind Hippocrocohog is a story in itself.

In 2015, I was working on board merchant ships as a security advisor in the highly pirated waters close to Somalia. Despite the long stretches away from home, it was a thoroughly rewarding job, helping to protect the hard working and often vulnerable men and women trying to make an honest living on the sea.

On one particularly lengthy voyage, we arrived into the port of Sudan after crossing the Indian Ocean, passing Somalia and travelling up through the Red Sea. We were pleased to see land but were met with unfortunate complications. The shipping company had not completed the required documents and therefore we couldn’t dock the ship. Everyone on board had no choice but to wait at anchorage. The situation continued for almost four long and wearisome weeks. Food and fresh water was running dangerously low, as was morale. I was missing my children desperately and had no means of contacting them. I decided to write them a story so that when I eventually returned, they would know that they had been constantly with me in my thoughts.

My mother is a wonderful storyteller and she would often record stories for me on an old cassette player. Archaic as it sounds now, as a young boy, pressing play and listening to her soothing voice made me feel so loved and special. I never envisaged that one day Hippocrocohog would be published. It was simply created in the hope that I could emulate that same warmth and spark the imaginations of my two beautiful girls as those cassette stories did for me years ago.

When I finally returned home, I sat the girls that I had missed so much, on my knees and read them their very own story. They enjoyed it so much and often asked me to read it to their friends. Sometimes their friend’s parents would be there and I regularly heard remarks such as ‘you should do something with that’.

Four years later, I was introduced to the very talented artist, Alice Samways. She expressed to me how much she would love to illustrate children’s books and our collaboration began. After much hard work and laughter, we had our finished product and it came to the attention of a benifactor. She heard my story, both the fictional one and the tale behind it and wanted to help me publish it. I will be forever grateful for her help. The delight on both Poppy and Lilly’s faces when they were handed a hard copy of their story will always stay with me.

Rhythm (although not with my feet, as those who know me will attest) and rhyme have always come easily to me. Although some of the rhyme in Hippocrocohog is not traditional or ‘perfect rhyme’, I believe it flows well enough to keep my children entertained.

The moral of this story being that if you believe you have something or are being encouraged to ‘give something a go’, then please try. It might seem daunting but ultimately in life, you will most likely regret the things you didn’t do over the things you did!

My heartfelt thanks goes out to Alice, for all her creativity, to my benifactor, for her faith in me and generous funding and to my beautiful partner Angela, who gave me the much needed support and confidence to make this happen. Above all of this, is a personal thank you to Poppy and Lilly who make me smile every day, even when I cannot be with them.

I hope you thoroughly enjoy reading Hippocrocohog. I have plenty more stories and rhymes, some already on paper and many more waiting to come to fruition. I very much hope to share these with you soon.

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This story has been a big hit with my two year old, who has asked me to read it a lot and remembered the name of the monster even when we didn't have a chance to read it over Christmas. It's funny and colourful, with a clear message about giving everyone a chance to change their behaviour. 

Hippocrocohog follows the story of two little girls called Poppy and Lilly, who are at the park with the grandparents when they are kidnapped by the monster in the middle of the lake. A swan queen, a squirrel and their quick acting, heroic grandparents soon save the day, and the Hippocrocohog is taken home and reformed.

Adam's backstory makes this story even more special, and I know it is one we will enjoy reading again and again.

Thank you Troubador Publishing for sending us a copy of this story to review. 

Picture This: What's In Your Mind Today

I have reviewed a few picture books about anxiety now, but I think this is the first specifically on mindfulness. What's In Your Mind Today encourages children to take a pause and focus on their breathing, allowing their minds to settle and their worries to drift away while they count slowly to ten.

It's gentle and soothing, and includes some great descriptions of the different ways worrying can make us feel: like wriggling worms, bubbles or stomping monsters. I would definitely recommend this story to children who often feel anxious and I think it would work well in a classroom too.

Thank you Little Steps Publishing for sending us a copy of this story to review.

What's In Your Mind Today is written by Louise Bladen and illustrated by Angela Perrini. 

Picture This: Scapegoat

Family bullying is an unusual topic for a children's picture book, but I think it's unfortunately an important one. Scapegoat centres around a small goat - Scapegoat - who is always blamed whenever things go wrong in his family. He's left feeling upset and ashamed, and unsure what he's doing wrong. School is his safe haven, and eventually he confides in his teacher, who quickly tries to help resolve problems at home. 

Scapegoat is a great conversation opener, and a way to discuss a difficult topics in a way that's easy for young children to understand. 

There's even a selection of helpful website at the back of the book, which I think would make this story a great addition to any school library. 

Thank you Little Steps Publishing for sending us a copy of this story to review.

Scapegoat is written by Ava Keyes and illustrated by Aleksandra Szmidt

Picture This: Africa Day

It's the Africa Day festival and Emeka can't wait to explore with his mum. Once he arrives, there are so many things to listen to, eat and buy that the fun doesn't stop until evening comes and the stalls begin to close. 

Africa Day is a wonderful celebration of African culture. It's an explosion of colour and fun, full of sounds, tastes and smells which bring its pages to life. This story is a great way to introduce young readers to a culture different to their own, or to celebrate one not often depicted in picture books. The artwork is bright and exciting, and I love the contrasting fonts used for emphasis.

Thank you Little Steps Publishing for sending us a copy of this story to review. 

Africa Day is written by Chi Mary Kalu and illustrated by Jelena Jordanovic-Lewis

Picture This: The Small Five

The plains of Africa are ruled by the five largest and strongest animals, until the small five challenge them for the crown. The big five think they have all the advantages, but Buffalo Weaver, Elephant Shrew, Antlion, Rhinoceros Beetle and Leopard Tortoise know they have what it takes to win. Five tests follow: hunting, survival, parenting, patience and wisdom. The result surprises almost everyone. 

This was a fun, colourful rhyming story which my two year old really enjoyed. We liked Stanes' artwork and the storyline was really entertaining. This picture book is all about not judging others by their size and strength, and seeing the value in different approaches to problems. 

Thank you Little Steps Publishing for sending us a copy of this story to review.

The Small Five is written by Ralph Johnstone and illustrated by Harriet Stanes. 

A Throne of Swans

When her father dies just before her birthday, seventeen-year-old Aderyn inherits the role of Protector of Atratys, a dominion in a kingdom where nobles are able to transform at will into the bird that represents their family bloodline. Aderyn's ancestral bird is a swan. But she has not transformed for years, not since witnessing the death of her mother - ripped apart by hawks that have supposedly been extinct since the long-ago War of the Raptors.

With the benevolent shelter of her mother and her father now lost, Aderyn is at the mercy of her brutal uncle, the King, and his royal court. Driven by revenge and love, she must venture into the malevolent heart of the Citadel in order to seek the truth about the attack that so nearly destroyed her, to fight for the only home she has ever known and for the land she has vowed to protect. {goodreads}

I was lucky enough to have my request to review A Throne of Swans accepted on Netgalley and was so excited when the notification came through. A Throne of Swans has been all over my Facebook timeline and I LOVE a retelling, so I knew this would be perfect for me.

A Throne of Swans is a YA fantasy inspired the story of swan lake. It's sweeping, beautiful and magic. Here are three reasons I would recommend it.

1. The world is really well thought out and developed. I loved its history and how it was woven into the fantasy aspects of A Throne of Swans. The court intrigue that arrives from the world politics keeps the story tense and exciting throughout.

2. Aderyn is a really strong main character. She is fallible and does plenty of things that you'll be screaming at her not to, but she is also keen to atone for her mistakes and is driven by love and duty throughout.

3. Early on in the story, Aderyn is told to "trust no one" and this is advice that stuck with me throughout and kept me on the edge of my seat - I was never sure who she could or couldn't trust and was always on the lookout for lies and betrayal. It made this a really exciting read.

There's been a lot of hype about this book, but I wasn't at all disappointed. A Throne of Swans is the first in what is going to be a very exciting series. I can't wait to find out what happens next!