The Little Book of Joy by His Holiness the Dalai Lama & Archbishop Desmond Tutu

 

 

Jama's Alphabet Soup does a weekly post called "nine cool things on a Tuesday" – always interesting. In the last one she featured this children's book

 

So, having got in from my trusty library, I can recommend it. Of course, anything that both the Dalai Lama and the late Desmon Tutu have put their name to has to be special.

 

 This may be aimed at children but its message is universal.  As they say, " If you just focus on the thing that is making you sad, then the sadness is all you see.  But if you look around, you will see that joy is everywhere."

 

The illustrations are accomplished as well.

A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond

 
 

How timely that I read this classic just before seeing Paddington and the Queen having tea.  What fun that was!

 

It's hard to believe that this book goes way back to 1958.  It has really stood the test of time.  It was re-released in 2018 to celebrate Paddington turning 60.

 

Funny and quirky. Such a polite bear who nevertheless manages to get into scrapes.  Recommended for adults and children alike. 

Llama Llama Red Pyjama by Anna Dewdney

 
 

If you want something fun to read to a little one at bedtime, I can recommend this fun rhyming book.

 

This is a beautifully written and illustrated funny story about nighttime worries of young ones.

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

 
 

Chrysanthemum is an important kids' book.  It has a message which is delivered with wit and grace.  Chrysanthemum is a mouse – when she gets to school she is teased about her name.  She is unsettled by this but reassured by her parents (who would give a child such a hard name to spell?)  And then a teacher comes along whose name is Delphinium.

 

I was teased at school – like almost everyone else – this book would have been magic. It was published in 1991 – too late for me!

Joseph Had A Little Overcoat by Simms Taback

 
 

If you want a charmingly illustrated story about a Yiddish farmer who re-purposes things when they get old and worn, this one's for you and your littleys.

 

The book was published in 1999 but was actually a re-illustrated version of the book the author wrote in 1977.

 

The illustrations are lovely and the little cut outs just add to the fun.

The Dot by Peter H Reynolds

 
 

I thought this little book was a winner.  A nice story with a lesson for children which wasn't at all a sermon but an example of how you can encourage a child to try to do something.

 

It is about a very good teacher who encourages Vashti to draw.  She draws a dot – the teacher gets her to sign it and then frames it and shows it to the class.  This made all the difference.

 

So if you know a littley who thinks they can't draw, read this book with them.  You never know…

The Eleventh Hour by Graeme Base

 
 

There's something for almost everyone in this fabulous, theoretically, kids' book.  The story is intricately illustrated – lots to look at carefully.  And if you are into solving puzzles there are lots of clues – of different types.

 

Horace the Elephant is turning 11 and so he invites 10 of his best friends (all different creatures) to a party.

 

But all the food gets eaten up  - but no one owns up to it.

 

There is even a section of the book at the back which provides some of the answers – and even after I'd looked at that I still didn't get all the clues.  One little clue I will give you – the time line is important.

 

Published in 1989 this book has certainly stood the test of time.

The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch

 
 

A cute kids' book for you today.  We all need a little light relief.

 

This book was published in 1980.  It reverses the usual stereotype of a princess and a dragon.

 

The dragon burns down her castle and takes away the prince she was going to marry.  But does she give up?  No , she dons a paper bag and marches off to confront the dragon.

 

When she saves the prince she finds that he doesn't rate her in her paper bag.  So she gives him the heave ho.  Fantastic fun!

The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey

 
 

The Bad Guys is simply hilarious.  Well illustrated too.  Mr Wolf invites 3 other villains (Snake, Piranha and Shark) on a mission to show that despite their reputations they are nice guys.  Their first task is to rescue 200 puppies from the pound – which doesn't quite go as planned!

 

Not only kids will find this funny.

Boris the Cat by Erwin Moser

  

What a great name for a cat – such amusing connotations.  This is written by an Austrian (in German) and translated into English.  The illustrations and little stories are charming.  It's quite a thick book so would take time to share with a littley.

 

The cover is typical – there is Boris driving a bathtub up a hill.

 

The little stories are of simpler times – no drama.

Tom Gates: Excellent Excuses (and other good stuff) by L. Pichon

 
 

This fat little graphic book is a tour de force.  I really felt I was reading the thoughts of a young boy – who is a bit naughty.

 

I had no idea that this was the second book but it didn't matter.  It read just fine as a stand-alone.

 

The hero Tom Gates is just fabulous.  This is said to be suitable for ages 8-12.  But don't miss it yourself.

Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola

 
 

This is a board book which I am sure the littlies will enjoy.  It is a classic Italian fairy tale with a wise woman (or witch) who has a magic pasta pot.  And a young man who tries to use it without obeying the rules.

 

I enjoyed the story and the illustrations.  I couldn't find any mention of who translated it into English.  And then realised that it came out in English!  It was originally published in 1975.

Are You My Mother? By PD Eastman

 

I have been waiting so long for this book from the electronic library that I knew it must be really popular – about 3 months I think.

 

And it is cute.  The surroundings of the baby bird are much more benign that is real.  But putting that to one side it is a lovely read.

Grandude's Green Submarine by Paul McCartney

 
 

Would I have posted about Grandude's Green Submarine if it hadn't been written by Paul McCartney?  I don't know.  But, given how many great songs he wrote with John Lennon, I had to get my hands on it when I heard about it.

 

The story is entertaining and fun.  And the submarine made me think of Yellow Submarine – which was written by the Beatles duo.

 

The illustrations are boldly coloured.  Not entirely to my taste but I'm not sure why.

 

Give this a go and see what you think…

The World's Worst Children by David Walliams

 

If you are squeamish about bodily fluids and functions you won't enjoy this book.  I am a little squeamish but enjoyed this outrageously funny and gross book for kids.  I can see young boys really taking to it.

 

There are 10 stories – called Dribbling Drew, Bertha the Blubberer, Nigel Nit-Boy, Miss Petula Perpetual Motion, Peter Picker, Grubby Gertrude, Brian Wong who was never Ever Wrong, Windy Mindy, Earnest Ernest and Sofia Sofa.

 

All of these characters are incredibly annoying and/or revolting but they usually get their comeuppance.

Sheep in a Jeep by Margot Apple

 
 

Sheep in a Jeep was a real winner – not just for the ankle biters but I enjoyed it enormously as well.  The mostly rhyming antics of 5 sheep in a jeep are such fun.

 

A Solitary Blue by Cynthia Voigt

 

A Solitary Blue is the third in the Tillerman Series (after Homecoming and Dicey's Song).  I didn't actually realise that until quite a long way into the book which is focused on Jeff Greene who meets Dicey.

 

Jeff Greene's parents are hopeless cases.  I got so angry with them for quite different reasons.  His mother abandons him – she is a save the world person but is totally selfish.  His father is a reclusive academic.

 

He is drawn to the Tillerman family but all does not run smoothly.

Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor, Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser

 
 

This little book is just delightful – it's mostly aimed at little girls.  Nancy likes being fancy and tries to get her family to be fancy too.

 

All great fun!  There are more books in the series but this one will do me fine.

The River by Gary Paulsen

 

I enjoyed The Hatchet so much that I decided to give the second book in the series a go.  It was also a cracker – different in that Brian was not in the forest alone – but that made it interesting.

 

The book was published in 1991 – so the technology referred to is a bit out of date – but don't let that stop you.

 

It does make you think about how impossible it is to train people to deal with real crisis (if they always know there is a way out).

 

So do give this a go – despite the horrendous cover. 

The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton

 
 

This is a cute board book featuring animals.  It has a dedication – "for Keith who is never tired" – there's a story there! I looked up the author's Wikipedia page – and Keith is her middle name.  And one of her 4 children is called Keith.

 

I think littlies will enjoy this – especially at bedtime.