I Thought I Saw a Lion!

I Thought I Saw a Lion!

Illustrated by Lydia Nichols

Published by Templar Publishing

If looking for some chunky and interactive board books for very little ones, then I recommend checking out Lydia Nichols illustrated board book series, I Thought I Saw a Lion! and I Thought I Saw a Dinosaur! Published by Templar.

I Thought I Saw a Lion! is a beautifully illustrated small board book with sturdy sliders to reveal a cheeky lion hiding in every scene. What a naughty lion; he's in the library, at the hair dressers and even at a restaurant. 'I thought I saw a lion..' is repeated on each spread followed by 'Is it in the....' allows children to join in. Featuring a lovely warm colour palette with a screen printed effect and some nice character design, it also has a nice retro feel. 

For ages 0 - 3 years, little ones will love trying to spot this cheeky lion. 

Colours and Animals

Colours and Animals

Illustrations by Britta Teckentrup

Published by Templar Publishing

Templar Publishing have recently released a beautiful series of board books, featuring retro-styled illustrations by Britta Teckentrup. The series also includes Opposites, First Words, Animal 123 and Animal Spots and Stripes.

Colours includes gentle rhyming text which asks the child to spot a coloured item on the opposite page. The text page is the colour of the selected colour to spot and this 'colour' word is also printed larger and in bold. The opposite pages have a screen printed effect and large, evenly spread out illustrations on. Aimed at children, 2 years and up, they will be able to spot butterflies, teddy bears, fish, pencils, tractors and lizards all in a beautiful range of colours.

Animals is presented in a similar format with text on one side and screen printed illustrations on the opposite. Each page spread introduces a mummy animal and asks children to find her baby on the other side. The animals are beautifully illustrated and clear in what they are. I love the colour palettes for both books, which makes them stand out from other board books with similar themes. 

At the end of both books there is an additional question, which ask the child to either spot something that they've not seen before or which mummy has the most babies - this is a nice way to end the book on. 

A beautiful, colourful and bold, board book series featuring cute animal characters - what more is there not to love!!

Rainbow & Opposites

Rainbow & Opposites

Designed by Jane Cabrera

Published by Templar Publishing

Jane Cabrera's I Can See a Rainbow, is a beautiful and colourful die-cut board book that reflects the shape of a rainbow. Each page spread focuses on a colour of the rainbow and has sweet illustrations that are labelled for little ones to point out and name.

Jane Cabrera has a distinctive style creating cute characters that works well for this pretty board book. Each page features a range of creatures within each colour theme.  I love the rainbow shaped pages and they're also good for little fingers to turn the pages. A lovely book of colours.

Opposites is just as cute as Jane Cabrera's Rainbow but with a slight difference. This sweet board book has lift the flaps for children to see the opposite. I believe by allowing children to interact with the pages helps them take it in and have an early understanding of opposites or can be a good starting point.

Each page has different shaped flaps and some pages offer more than one. With a variety of illustrated backgrounds and animals included, there's some good talking points for adults and children to discuss. But its definitely another lovely board book for little ones to explore.

The Lumberjack's Beard

The Lumberjack's Beard

By Duncan Beedie

Published by Templar Publishing

There's some great picture books coming out this year that have important messages, and The Lumberjack's Beard is no exception. A heartwarming story with a very green message.

Meet big Jim Hickory, a lumberjack that does what normal lumberjacks do; cut down trees. Every day is the same, get up, exercise, eat a hearty breakfast of pancakes, grab his trusty axe, head out to the forest and CHOP-CHOPPETY-CHOP, he felled trees after trees. But one evening, he has a knock at his door, it's a very angry bird who now has no where to live. Jim invites the angry bird to move into his beard. After another day of work, he receives another upset visitor, a fed up looking porcupine which Jim also invites to move into his beard. 

That isn't the end of upset visitors, after a day off floating tree trunks down the river, he ruins a beaver's home and has to offer the beaver a home in his beard. Jim soon can't sleep, with all the chirping, and can't eat his pancakes as the beaver's tail knocks it to the floor. Jim has had enough and knows what he must do. He shaves of his beard and makes a cosy den for the animals to move into but after a lot more thinking he has another brilliant idea and grabs his trusty shovel to dig hole after hole and plant tree after tree. Jim's beard and  trees take quite a long time to grow but it's well worth the wait.

A lovely little picture book that will encourage children to think about the consequences of cutting down trees and what can happen to animals and their homes. Children will especially love the inventive new home for the animals. Fun illustrations with a nice colour palette and a good variety of page layouts. 

I Am A Very Clever Cat

I Am A Very Clever Cat

By Katie Matyjaszek 

Published by Templar Publishing

We all know cats are very good at making us do whatever they want, but a cat that can knit? Introducing your favourite new cat, Stockton, he's extremely clever and pretty much good at doing everything, but is he any good at knitting a scarf?

Stockton can play violin, juggle, paint. He's just so smart and good at everything. But what he's really good at is knitting. If you are very lucky, he will show you how he knits a fancy scarf. He never gets in a tangle at all. Never. Not even a little bit.

Of course Stockton is too proud to ask for anyones help and it takes two brave little mice to help Stockton get untangled and save the day by knitting the most marvellous scarf. Stockton is still a very smart cat, but he now also has very clever friends!

Each spread is bursting with colour with Stockton's neon coloured wool, which is tangled EVERYWHERE! I love Stockton's character and you can't help root for this unlucky cat as he desperately tries to be good at everything and not want to ask for anyones help. The illustrations are adorable - Kasia has a new fan right here! 

The perfect story for any perfectionists out there or simply those that love a hilarious story. It's sure to have your funny bones in a tangle!

I Am A Very Clever Cat is available to buy now at all good bookshops and from the Templar website.

The Pirate Cruncher

The Pirate Cruncher

By Jonny Duddle 

Published by Templar Publishing

Another one of Jonny Duddle's classic pirate books gets the board book treatment in this special edition. So if you missed it first time round, beware of the pirate cruncher!

An old pirate tells a tavern full of salty sea dogs about an island bursting with hidden treasure. Once they’ve set sail for the mysterious island, he tells them it is guarded by the terrible Pirate-Cruncher. The greed of the pirates gets the better of them and lets just say the treasure they seek is in safe hands...

Much like Jonny's other pirate titles, The Pirate Cruncher isn't your typical pirate picture book - full of humour and more colourful characters, this is a pirate story with a bite! Jonny flexes his signature style, and the level of detail is phenomenal. Again this board book comes with a surprise flap out spread that reveals something the pirates are unaware of and will certainly having young pirate fans chuckling. A great board book for the pirate in you!

The Pirate Cruncher is available to buy now in this new board book edition from all good bookshops and from online retailers.

The Pirates Next Door

The Pirates Next Door

By Jonny Duddle 

Published by Templar Publishing

Ever wanted pirates for next door neighbours? This story from the wonderful Jonny Duddle may make you think twice. Now in a smaller, board book format, there's another chance to catch this one if you missed it first time around...

The Jolley-Rogers family are moving to Dull-on-Sea, a quiet seaside town. Stopping to fix their ship, this pirate family get the whole town gossiping. Ignoring the grown-ups’ disapproval, Matilda from next door becomes friends with the youngest pirate son. But the rest of the town are not impressed with their new pirate neighbours and demand the council have them removed from their little town. Although the pirates aren't looking to stay for long, they still leave quite a generous present on their departure that leaves a lasting impression...

If you're not familiar with the original print of this book, it's a humorous rhyming tale with a surprise flap out spread towards the end. It's a delightful story about not stereotyping people at first glance. Pirates obviously have a reputation for not being the nicest of people, but this family of pirates are there to change that misconception. Filled with Jonny's beautifully rendered style, each spread is jam packed with detail and great character illustration. A must buy for any pirate fan! 

The Pirates Next Door is available to buy in a new board back edition from all good bookshops and online.

The Perfect Picnic

The Perfect Picnic

By Ciara Flood 

Published by Templar Publishing

Squirrel and Mole are the best of friends, they do everything together. And when Squirrel announces they should go on a picnic it must be the most perfect picnic ever! Which means no butter on the sandwiches!

Squirrel and Mole are inseparable. They dance together, bake cakes together, ride bikes together and especially love painting together. One day they decide to go on a picnic together and Squirrel wants everything to be perfect. Once they have packed and set out, Squirrel is determined to find the perfect picnic spot. They end up searching everywhere due to Squirrel finding fault in every spot they come to. Does the perfect picnic spot exist?

Ciara Flood is the author of Those Pesky Rabbits, and The Perfect Picnic is another triumph of a picture book. Ultimately it is a story about friendship and how sometimes we make compromises to keep our friends happy - especially perfectionists! Full of laughs and gorgeous illustrations, The Perfect Picnic makes a lovely bedtime read and is sure to tickle your funny bones!

The Perfect Picnic is available to buy now from all good bookshops and from the Templar publishing website here.