A Beginners Guide to Bear Spotting

A Beginners Guide to Bear Spotting

By Michelle Robinson & David Roberts

Published by Bloomsbury

Fanatical about bears? Ever wanted to see one out in the wild? Well this is the perfect beginners guide to spotting them! Superstars, Michelle Robinson and David Roberts come together to bring us the ultimate bear spotting guide.

In this read aloud picture book, a young novice bear spotter ventures into the woods in the hope of seeing a bear. The only thing is this little adventurer doesn't realise a real bear is a lot more dangerous than their favourite cuddly teddy bear! What ensues is a funny (and sometimes scary) guide to coming face to face with a couple of bears and what not to do if you need to avoid being eaten!

You couldn't get a better picture book team up than this! With Michelle's chatty and witty writing style and David's whimsy illustrations (beautifully inked and textured drawings adorn each spread), A Beginner's Guide to Bear Spotting is a fantastic and refreshing picture book. 

David's illustrations are top notch, with parts of the book mimicking a field guide, with the use of similar typography and graph paper. 

I love Michelle's tone of voice in this book, reminding me of mockumentry's and Monty Python sketches. The fact the protagonist also doesn't have a gender makes this a book the reader can put themselves in. An extremely funny read with an ending that will have any child snuggling up to a teddy instead of wanting to meet a real breathing bear! Here's hoping there's more fantastic books from this talented duo coming soon (pretty please?).

A Beginner's Guide to Bear Spotting is available to buy now at all good bookshops and online at Bloomsbury here. If you would love the chance to win a personally signed copy of the book check out the competition on twitter here. I also caught up with Michelle to ask her some bear related questions, check out the interview here.

The Cloudspotter

The Cloudspotter

By Tom McLaughlin 
Published by Bloomsbury

This is Tom McLaughlin's second picture book for Bloomsbury, his first being the magnificent The Story Machine. The Cloudspotter is another imaginative tale about a boy who would rather have adventures in the sky.

Meet Franklin, or as everyone else knows him, The Cloudspotter. Franklin doesn't have many friends, and instead of playing spends everyday with his head in the clouds. He spots big clouds, squeaky clouds, sneaky pretend-they-can't-see-you clouds and angry clouds. But The Cloudspotter doesn't just spot clouds, he has adventures in them!

Some of his adventures consisted of swimming with giant jellyfish, driving racing cars and being the KING OF THE CASTLE. However it all changes when a scruffy dog turns up. The Cloudspotter thinks the dog might be after his clouds and so he tries his best to avoid her. But everywhere The Cloudspotter goes the scruffy dog goes too. 

Enough is enough when the dog starts appearing in his cloud adventures and hatches a plan to get rid of her. And that plan takes the form of a hot air balloon, with the poor old scruffy dog being bundled into it! It's not long until The Cloudspotter starts to feel lonely and realises the scruffy dog wasn't actually after his clouds but was lonely like him too. Luckily the hot air balloon does get too far and the scruffy dog and The Cloudspotter are reunited, leaving them to have their adventures in the sky together.

This is a lovely book about friendship and learning how to share your interests with other people. The story isn't too dissimilar to Oliver Jeffers Lost and Found, but with Tom being Oliver's cousin I don't think he'll mind too much. The illustrations are classic McLaughlin, with the cloud spreads having a dreamy quality to them. A lovely story to accompany any rainy day this summer holiday. 

The Cloudspotter is available to buy now at all good bookshops and online at the Bloomsbury website.

Hooray! It’s a New Royal Baby!

Hooray! It’s a New Royal Baby!

Written by Martha Mumford & Illustrated by Ada Grey  
Published by Bloomsbury

It’s the latest book in the Royal series and the Royal Palace is in chaos again - there’s a New Royal Baby on the way! This is the third book, after Shhh! Don’t Wake the Royal Baby! and Happy Birthday, Royal Baby! which I reviewed back in early March which you can read here.

The Royal Palace is bustling with excitement, because the Duke and Duchess are bringing home the new Royal Baby. The nursery is being prepared; the royal rocking horse is being polished and teddy bears being placed in neat rows. At the palace gates, Royal Baby George is helping his auntie and uncle hang bunting. His auntie believes it will be lots of fun to have a new Royal Baby to make friends with but Royal Baby George isn’t sure. What if the New Royal Baby wants to play with all his toys or snatch his jam sandwiches, or worse still, if the New Royal Baby dribbles over his favourite toy dinosaur! This makes Royal Baby George not want a New Royal Baby at all!

When the New Royal Baby arrives, Royal Baby George is feeling glum. He thought the New Royal Baby’s face was scrunched up and wrinkly. And when the New Royal Baby starts to cry, it makes Royal Baby George start to cry. Everyone wants to catch a glimpse of the new arrival but Royal Baby George isn’t impressed, he thinks the New Royal Baby looks like a fish which gives the Duke an idea of giving Baby George a pet goldfish as a present from the New Royal Baby. Perhaps the New Royal Baby isn’t that bad. But a goldfish can only do so much and it isn’t long before Baby George is bored but the New Royal Baby is soon smiling, gurgling and rolling over - a lot more interesting. Everyday is different with the New Royal Baby. Sometimes, things become trickier, like when the New Royal Baby got some teeth and liked to bite or when the New Royal Baby took a fancy to Royal Baby George’s toys. On the whole, Royal Baby George decided that having a New Royal Baby was much more fun than having a new goldfish.

This is a lovely addition to the series and cleverly done so that there’s no mention on whether it’s a little brother or sister for Royal Baby George, as it has been published before knowing what the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be having. Though I’m sure it won’t be too long now!

It’s a great book for little ones when there’s a new baby on the way. A lovely and fun read for older siblings on what to expect from new babies; smiling, gurgling, rolling, playing games and also some not so fun things. Parents and little ones will enjoy following Royal Baby George on how he comes round to liking the New Royal Baby and like the other two previous books, there’s plenty of Corgis within this book and they're all still just as adorable - with some gorgeous Corgi covered end papers to boot!

Hooray! It’s a New Royal Baby! is available in all good book shops and online at Bloomsbury. 

Happy Birthday Royal Baby

Happy Birthday Royal Baby

Written by Martha Mumford and Illustrated by Ada Grey 
Published by Bloomsbury

 

 

Well, I’m a little late in reviewing this book but with my thoughts now turning to my daughter’s first birthday it’s always good to remember that it’s the simple things babies love most! This is the second Royal Baby book, Shhh! Don’t Wake the Royal Baby! is the first in the series by author Martha Mumford.

The Royal Palace is awash with activity all because it's the Royal Baby’s first birthday and everything must be perfect. The cook is busy making the biggest cake ever with lots of jam, as the Royal Baby loves jam. The banqueting hall is filled with hundreds of balloons and dinosaur shaped ones, as the Royal Baby loves dinosaurs. There’s a bouncy castle and the royal orchestra in the garden, because of course, the Royal Baby loves bouncing and loves music.

 

 

 

It’s soon time for the party to begin and guests have arrived from near and far carrying gifts of all shapes and sizes. At any birthday party, there’s always party games and in this royal case, there’s Pin the Tail on the Corgi and Musical Thrones (what else?). Everyone is having a lovely time except the birthday boy himself. Waaaaaaaaaah! He cried. The Royal Baby was not happy. No one knows what’s the matter with him - they thought they had remembered all the things the Royal Baby likes.

 

 

The prince’s grandad suggests opening presents and what a pile of presents there are - so many toys for the little prince but still he just continues to cry. But who better to know how to fix the situation than Grandma. Minutes later the Queen’s private jet flies overhead leaving a vapour trail with the message Happy Birthday Royal Baby. As everyone looks up, the prince stopped crying just as the Queen parachuted to the ground with a present strapped to her front. Handing over the present, the little prince tore off the paper to find a cardboard box with nothing inside. His parents are astonished but the Queen knows to wait and see… the Royal Baby bounced up and down excitedly and climbed inside with his dinosaur shaped balloon - he was finally happy. Now the prince was able to enjoy all the cake, bouncing and the music, and everyone was right, he did love all those things and had the most fun ever.

 

 

This picture book is bursting with cake, balloons, presents and corgis! There are corgis everywhere! And I imagine children will enjoy spotting the cute little dogs amongst the wrapping paper and toys. Each page is jam packed with bright and bold illustrations. I enjoyed the illustrated Royal family and family members of the Duchess. It’s a lovely way of introducing Prince George and the Royal family to young children - though hopefully your little ones won’t be expecting a party of this magnitude! And as ever, Corgi covered end papers! (drool!).

 

 

With Royal Baby number 2 due anytime soon, look out for the third Royal Baby book - Hooray! It’s a New Royal Baby! due this April 2015. I’m sure it will be a marvellous Royal read! Happy Birthday Royal Baby is available in all good bookshops and on the Bloomsbury website.

WANTED! RALFY RABBIT, BOOK BURGLAR

WANTED!
Ralfy Rabbit, Book Burglar

By Emily MacKenzie 
Published by Bloomsbury

As an owner of two naughty, mischievous bunnies, I love reading any books about rabbits and this book is one is a breath of fresh air. Wanted! Ralfy Rabbit, Book Burglar is the debut book by Emily MacKenzie and as everyone knows or would imagine, rabbits like to dream about lettuce, carrots and juicy dandelions (I know mine do) but not Ralfy, all Ralfy dreams about is books! He's definitely not your normal everyday bunny.

Ralfy loves books, making constant lists about books, his favourite books, books he wants to read, what he thinks others should read and rates them all with a score of carrots (what else?). Ralfy loves getting lost in stories, exploring new worlds and even the smell of books. Doesn’t everyone?! But then Ralfy starts creeping into people’s bedrooms and reading their books, and this soon leads to Ralfy stealing them and becoming a BOOK THIEF!

Ralfy then finds Arthur’s bookshelf and starts taking his books, but when he steals Arthur’s The Biggest Book of Monsters Ever, Arthur notices his favourite book has disappeared. Who would do such a thing? Unluckily for Ralfy that his left behind half eaten carrots and soggy lettuce leaves give him away. Arthur makes a plan to try and catch the book thief and late that night, he hears a rustle, grabs his torch and spots Ralfy but Ralfy is too quick and escapes. Arthur tells everyone but no one believes him, especially a rabbit stealing books. He even calls the police station to report the incident but the police man laughs at him.

However, that night Ralfy the Book Burglar burrows into the wrong house, it turns out to be the policeman’s house and is caught red handed. Arthur is called into the police station to identify him. Ralfy is very sorry and is ordered to return all of the stolen books. Arthur feels sorry for Ralfy and shows him where he can find lots of books to read and borrow.. the Library!

This is an adorable story for any little book lover and encourages a love for libraries - Emily MacKenzie is a huge advocate of libraries and with the recent cuts, this is a great way to remind children and adults about the joy of books.

With the use of Ink, watercolour and pencil, the illustrations are fun and sweet. The bunnies are adorable and adults will enjoy the rabbit related book titles in Ralfy’s book lists. A lovely bedtime story or perfect for celebrating National Libraries Day (commencing Saturday 7th February), children will love this naughty bunny (and all bunny lovers).

I don’t think this is the last we’ve heard of Ralfy Rabbit, look out for more from Ralfy in 2016. You can buy Wanted! Rally Rabbit, Book Burglar from the Bloomsbury shop here.

Stormy Night

Stormy Night

By Salina Yoon
Published by Bloomsbury

 

If you or your little ones are scared by thunder and storms, then this little book is a lovely way to help ease their worries. And if you're familiar with Bear and Floppy from Found by Salina Yoon, then you’ll enjoy being reunited with this little Bear and his bunny.

 

 

It’s one stormy night and Bear cannot sleep, what with all the wind whirring and trees crackling. He sings to Floppy, his toy bunny which makes him feel better but then the thunder rumbles and startles Bear. Bear’s Mama and Papa come to check on him but they’re also both scared by the storm. Bear kisses Mama’s nose to comfort her and tickles Papa’s ear to make him laugh, which helps Bear feel better and forget about the storm that's raging outside. He even reads a book to Floppy to make sure Floppy isn’t scared but then…BOOM!, a loud sound of thunder reminds Bear about the storm and it’s his Mama and Papa who help ease his worries and sing him a song. And it isn’t long before they’re all fast asleep. 

 

 

Salina Yoon is the author and illustrator of nearly two hundred innovative novelty books for young children and as you can see in Stormy Night, her style is bold, bright and energetic with the bear characters being big and filling the pages allowing young children to easily focus on them. This is a very simple but lovely tale showing the love and thoughtfulness of a little bear, who himself is very scared, but wants to make sure that his Mama, Papa and friend are all okay first. Stormy Night will make a lovely bed time story as it shows that even storms need their sleep and so do little bears. 

 

Stormy Night comes out on the 15th January but can be pre-ordered from Bloomsbury direct.

Florentine and Pig and the Spooky Forest Adventure

Florentine and Pig 
and the Spooky Forest Adventure

Written by Eva Katzler and Illustrated by Jess Mikhail
Published by Bloomsbury

With Halloween just around the corner, this spooky adventure with Florentine and Pig, will get your little ghouls in the mood for camping and searching for monsters that go bump in the night. Or if that’s a little too scary, maybe try the recipes and craft projects at the back of the book.

In this, their third adventure, Florentine and Pig are woken by a loud and frightening sound; ’Woooooooooooooo!’ Whatever could it be? Could it be the growling, prowling Bog Mog? Who lives in the deepest, darkest forest lurking in the bog? Well Florentine and Pig don’t want to be frightened again by the Bog Mog and decide to head into the forest to find him! Pig gathers their cosiest sleeping bags, brightest torch and warmest hat. While Florentine prepares their supper of roasty toasty campfire kebobbles, sweet potato woodland wedges and snuggly buggy marshmallow brownies, among other goodies! (well, monster catching is rather hungry work). It’s time for Florentine and Pig to go on a spooky forest adventure! They trudge and tramp, splish and splash, but after all their investigating no Bog Mog is found. After setting up camp and enjoying their delicious supper, its time to sleep... ’Woooooooooooooo!’ Oh dear, is there really a monster out there, or are Florentine and Pig's imaginations playing tricks on them? 

What makes this picture book extra special, is the great little craft ideas and easy tasty recipes. You'll find; Twinkly jam jar lanterns, a magic shape shiner, star gazers’ stacked banana pancakes and 'drink-in-your- sleeping-bag' honey milk malties (I think I’ll be trying this!). Though children will need adult supervision to make these, they are great ideas for keeping children busy and entertained. This book is part of the Florentine and Pig series, which all have recipes in. A great idea for introducing cooking to young children and helping them get excited about food.

And as with all the Florentine and Pig stories, the illustrations are by Jess Mikhail, which work well with this fun and spooky story. A great one to read this Halloween, as your little ones will enjoy this nail biting spooky forest adventure and also enjoy the yummy treats to make too! It's available now to buy in all good bookshops and online.