Please note, for the links to work you need to click on the title of the book to be taken to the full post. Thanks Tarnya
"The picture book is a peculiar art form that thrives on genius, intuition, daring and a meticulous attention to its history and its various, complex components. The picture book is a picture puzzle, badly misunderstood by critics and condescended to by far too many as merely a trifle for "the kiddies." Children are routinely patronized and thus so are we who spend our creative lives entertaining them and nourishing their spirit" Maurice Sendak
Read Alouds to share
Books that are especially enjoyable read aloud and usually have an appeal to a variety of ages
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne
I read this to my son (11 years). It is the kind of book to be read aloud because there is so much to discuss and the subject matter is difficult: The story is set at the time of the holocaust but when you begin the book you don’t know this. My son... »
Caps for Sale By Esphyr Slobodkina
Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina ” Caps for sale, 50c a cap!” As you can guess this is an old book, you certainly can’t buy a cap for 50c and I have not seen a peddler! It was published in 1938. But it is certainly worth including in your children’s library. “This easy-to-read story about a... »
The Door In the Wall
The Door in the Wall by Marguerite De Angeli is a delightful historical fiction book. We purchased it on audio cassette some years ago, the tapes used so often they has to be thrown out. It was my older children’s favourite book to listen to when they were ill in bed. Robin, the son... »
The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pène du Bois
The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pène du Bois was published in 1947. This book has stood the test of time. A retired school teacher sets off on a balloon adventure and ends up of an island secretly populated with families of immense wealth- the island has a diamonds. The author explores what different... »
My Father’s Dragon: Three Tales by Ruth Stiles Gannett
My Father’s Dragon: Three Tales: 50th Anniversary Ed My 10 year loves these books. I read the first one aloud to him when he was about 8. They were one of the first real chapter books that he read to himself. They have lovely illustrations. The type is large for easier reading, the vocabulary is... »
Beatrix Potter – the Complete Tales By Beatrix Potter
“Peter gave himself up for lost, and shed big tears; but his sobs were overheard by some friendly sparrows, who flew to him in great excitement, and implored him to exert himself.” When I read Beatrix Potter I am surprised by the rich vocabulary. My children love them and the young ones do not find the... »
The Story of Dr. Dolittle by Hugh Lofting
Dr. John Dolittle featured first in the illustrated letters from a father enduring the horrific trenches of WW1 to his children. I have enjoyed reading aloud many of the books, there are little jokes throughout that often only the parent will get. I am just finishing reading Gub-Gub’s Book, An Encyclopaedia of Food (1932),... »
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
This lovely book to share, invites us to cuddled up together, before bedtime, to help settled down all those wiggles. I think the reason this book has grown in popularity over the years is it invites a parent and child to find things in the child’s room to which they can say goodnight. A lovely... »
The Very Hungry Caterpillar By Eric Carle
A lovely way to learn the days of the week. It has cut out holes showing how the caterpillar eats through all the food. A classic which all our children have enjoyed. Here is the link for the book at the NZ National Library Here is the link for the books at the Auckland Libraries Click on the... »
The Tiger Who Came to Tea
I read this so many times to one of my children we had it memorised. The story is so delightful that I have not minded a bit reading it again and again to a younger sibling. An opportunity to have a chat about table manners in a informal way, what would mother say if you... »