Books To Read » animals

Beatrix Potter – the Complete Tales By Beatrix Potter

admin — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 07:43:20 +0000

“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 “difficult” words off putting. We have fun sometimes trying to incorporate them into our speech: “Please exert yourself when you tidy your room!”

The version linked on the left is the complete and unabridged collection, hardback which contains all 23 of Beatrix Potter’s Tales in one volume with all their original illustrations. It should last many years.

You can read many of the stories online here. The text would also make lovely copybook.

Many of her books are in the Auckland Library including audio versions.

Available from Fishpond

The Story of Dr. Dolittle by Hugh Lofting

admin — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 03:54:29 +0000

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reading Gub-Gub’s Book, An Encyclopaedia of Food (1932), an old copy from my local library, no doubt it will soon be withdrawn: the original books are now out of print. There are newer version of some of the books with all the un-PC content removed, I hope they republish them all because they are lovely books. What child does not dream of being able to talk, really talk to their favourite pet?

The Story of Dr. Dolittle is available online for free including the audio book.

The National Library has a great number of the books:-) as to has Auckland Library .

Just How Long Can a Long String Be?! By Keith Baker

admin — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 10:00:21 +0000

I was delighted to find a new book and author we have not read before that we really liked.
Keith Baker has written and illustrated thirteen picture books, this is the first that we have read. We are planning to explore his other books.
“Just how long can a long string?!” be is the question an ant asks a bird. Then we are taken on journey through the many uses for a piece of string: to tug a balloon, wrap a box, hang a picture…The answer is, it all depends on what it is being used for.

On suggestion from a reviewer on Amazon is to read this with Ezra Jack Keats’s Jennie’s Hat for a fine spring storytime.

Here is the link for the books at the NZ National Library

Here is the link for the books at the Auckland Libraries

Click on the image to buy it from Fishpond

Along Came a Dog by Meindert De Jong

admin — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:20:51 +0000

Along Came a Dog
De Jong writes quiet books that spend time observing everyday events. They often involve farm and rural life but also gentle observation of the human spirit. Some children may find her books “boring” . But some of my children especially one animal loving boy loves them. I love to suggle on a cold day and read her books aloud. “Along Came a Dog” is about a stray dog and a chicken who has lost its toes. The chicken is bullied by the other chickens and the dog is an outcast. These two animals find friendship with each other.

“The little hen on his shoulder outside the window stood absolutely still, the soft spring warmth that had come to the land in the night came welling up to her from the ground far below. She flapped her wings”

You will find others of Meindert De Jong’s books at the library

Manukau Library

New Zealand National Library

Among others we have enjoyed “The Cat that Walked a Week”,” The House of Sixty Fathers”, ” Puppy Summer ” and ”The Wheel on the School”