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Category: Dolphinbooksellers

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An evocative bedtime picture book that distils the essence of a family summer at the beach. Living in Norfolk in the UK with the wild beaches nearby this book is a wonderful memory of holidays at the beach hut. It's a glorious way of being family together and enjoying the simple things of life that mean so much.

Summer holidays by the sea have a rhythm all their own. With a few resonant images Cowley takes us straight to the end of a long hot day with beach treasures under the pillow and the salty smell of the sea. The cadence of the final words echoes the shushing waves in a gentle signal of time for readers to sleep—“good day, good sea, good sand, good night”.

This simple poem by internationally renowned Joy Cowley transports the reader to a childhood summer with language that asks to be read over and over. Hilary Jean Tapper’s warm watercolour and ink illustrations add an inclusive cast of extended family, friends and children of different ages.

Gecko Books have a wonderful range of great books, bringing a while world of imagination and interest to all readers.

Choose this book for summer and spend happy beach  hours together.

Sue Martin - Children's Literacy Specialist

Part of Books Go Walkabout, Stories across the world.

 


Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.


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Play hide and seek in the city with a boy, his animal friends and a dinosaur that’s surprisingly hard to spot. The brilliantly interactive follow-up to international bestselling picture book, Have You Seen Elephant?  

An amazing book in which children will spot the dinosaurs well ahead of the adults, I guess! The story charmingly follows a journey with many clues.  Children can use their superior observation skills !

Best friends boy, dog and elephant are VERY good at hide-and-seek. There’s a missing dinosaur in the city—who better to spot this elusive giant? They search the skate park, the museum, the subway…

No one in the city can spot the dinosaur, not even this crack hide-and-seek team. But delighted readers will be pointing “There it is!” from the first page.

This absurd, laugh-out-loud picture book for preschoolers is richly illustrated with David Barrow’s trademark beautiful use of light and colour and dramatic cityscapes—a guaranteed hit with dinosaur-loving toddlers. 

With clues, surprises and humour, this game-inside-a-book celebrates imaginative play and is perfect for sharing with children who will love being better at finding the dinosaur than their adult reader.

Author and illustrator David Barrow is a recent graduate of the Cambridge School of Art where he completed a Masters in Children’s Book Illustration and received the top prize, the Sebastian Walker award for most promising children’s illustrator.

Gecko Press  are unique publishers who hand-picks books by some of the best writers and illustrators in the world—books of good heart and strong character, excellent in story, illustration and design.

Sue Martin - Children's Literacy Specialist


Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.


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A recent astonishing discovery was made in the famous Chauvet Cave in France, where  the footprint if a young child was found with a paw print beside it- from 26,000 years ago!

When Mo makes friends with a little wild beast, her family are horrified – wild beasts are dangerous.

But could this wild beast save baby Babba from a hungry lynx and become a friend to the whole family?
And then what would they call him? DOG!


This delightful, heart-warming story about a Stone-Age family and the first dog is inspired by the amazing, recent discovery of a child’s footprint alongside a dog’s pawprint in the Chauvet cave in France – from 26,000 years ago!

Bridget Marzo has published children's books over the world and gives amazing workshops on illustrations into schools and other organisations. She divides her time between Cambridge and France.

Otter-Barry Books is an exciting independent children’s publisher aiming to make a difference, push boundaries and publish books that children will love.

 

 

Sue Martin - Children's Literacy Specialist

Part of Books Go Walkabout, Stories across the world.

Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.


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There is a cat. A cat that couldn’t be bothered to do anything … anything at all. His friends ask him if he wants to play but he doesn’t feel like it. They invite him on adventures to far-off places, but he would rather stay at home. Until one day, a friend asks how he is doing, and the true reason why he’d rather do nothing is revealed. He is feeling sad.

This is a story about feelings, friendship and the importance of speaking to someone when you don’t feel right. This beautiful socially aware story:
Reassures children and adults too, that feeling sad sometimes is normal

  • Helps them understand others’ behaviour and promotes empathy
  • Encourages them to be more in touch with their feelings
  • Provides a sense of fun while also broaching a tricky topic

Both children and adults will love the quirky and hilarious cat’s refusal to take part in anything and the sweet and important message behind this story.
It’s never been more important to introduce kids to the importance of mental health. This bright children’s book is an easy way to talk about feelings and looking out for others. It provides an excellent jumping-off point for at-home and classroom discussions about emotional well-being and caring for others.

Author and illustrator Jack Kurland is a debut author-illustrator from Leigh-on-Sea in the UK. After graduating from Winchester School of Art in 2013, he spent seven years working as a graphic designer. He paused to go travelling for two years, where he realised he wanted to achieve an ambition he’d always had: to create children’s books.

Publishers are Frances Lincoln Childrens' Books  an imprint of Quarto  and one of my favourite publishers for quality and ideas.
This book spoke to me at a really sad time in my life! I love it when pictures speak louder than words.

Sue Martin Children's Literacy Specialist, BooksGoWalkabout 


Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.


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Lenny Has Lunch written and illustrated by Ken Wilson-Max, is a wonderfully illustrated picture book for young children. Have fun sharing the book together and the everyday things that make life full of adventure.

Lenny and Daddy prepare a delicious lunch, looked on lovingly by the dog. Lenny uses the large blue spoon to feed himself. The games and songs help them  to work up an appetite and they have some great actions to  “Row Row Row Your Boat”.

Ken Wilson-Max is an award-winning author, illustrator and publisher of children’s books. He lives in London and was born in Zimbabwe. In 2020 his book Astro Girl won the STEAM award for early years picture books and Where’s Lenny was listed in the 50 Best Culturally Diverse Children’s Books by The Guardian. In 2017 he became publisher at Alanna Max which focuses on an inclusive approach.

Ken is a brilliant author,illustrator to have in school. In a session with Reception children in an inner city school in London, we had organised for an author event,he and the whole class painted some great pictures !

Lenny Has Lunch is a perfect book to share with your own children and to have in a nursery or school. And you can also just read and enjoy it yourself at the end of the day, when all is quiet!

Sue Martin  Children's Literacy Specialist

 

 

 


Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.


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Set back in the days WHEN DINOSAURS WALKED THE EARTH, this is a hilarious picture-book about Smallasaurus, who enjoys a plant-based diet, and Badasaurus who likes to eat small dinosaurs who enjoy a plant-based diet.

It all begins when Smallasaurus has to think. And thinking can be a problem when you only have a brain the size of a walnut. Luckily, Badasaurus only has a brain the size of a peanut  . . . and so begins a hilarious game of 'cat and mouse'.

Will she eat the small dinosaur, with a plant-based diet? Or will she eat the great big dinosaur, with a small-dinosaur-based diet? It doesn’t take long for her to choose. And it doesn’t take long for Badasaurus to find out. And that’s how it sometimes was back in the days . . . WHEN DINOSAURS WALKED THE EARTH.

Super book which will engage with all those interested in dinosaurs.

Sean Taylor is an award-winning author of over 50 books for young readers of many different age.  Zehra Hicks is a brilliant illustrator and author, her character dinosaurs are so appealing.

Frances Lincoln Children's books are part of the Quarto Group and have a wide and engaging portfolio of children's books.

Sue Martin - Children's Literacy Specialist

Part of Books Go Walkabout, Stories across the world.

 


Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.


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When the last tiger is captured by human hunters, he realises that it is more important to be free than to be strong...

Strong and proud, the tiger is lord of the jungle, but all his strength and boldness cannot keep him safe from the human hunters. In captivity, the tiger realises that what really matters is not strength or power, but freedom.

Moving, thought-provoking and superbly illustrated by an award-winning picture book creator - this is an important fable for our time.

An incredible story about a Tiger in captivity who only escapes when he has become so thin that he can get through the bars of his cage. He decides that he will never let a man see him again.

Petr Horáček is the writer and illustrator, with such skill in portraying emotion and feeling, both in words and images. The tiger in the cage is at first seen by many people walking past but when he becomes so thin and is no fun to provoke, no one comes past. He was born in Prague and studied at the Academy of Fine Art. After graduating in 1994, he moved to live in England and now lives in Worcestshire. He has won a sring of international awards and The Last Tiger is Long Listed for the UKLA Book Awards

Otter-Barry Books are the publishers and have amazing skill at creating these wonderful picture books which tell much more that the words on the page.

The Last Tiger is a stunning book with a huge tale to tell.

Sue Martin - Children's Literacy Specialist


Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.


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Follow five families and their babies from birth to around 12 months, with all the excitements, challenges and joys of that first year with a new baby in the world. With lots to look at and point to, this delightful celebration of babies, from the team who created The Great Big Book of Families, will be loved by babies, older siblings - and grown-ups too!

A fantastic exploration picture book about babies. The pictures are wonderfully true to life and will really support toddlers in understanding the different aspects of a babies life.

Mary Hoffman has written over 100 titles for children that range from picture books to teenage novels. Amazing Grace, illustrated by Caroline Binch, was commended for the Kate Greenaway Medal and has, together with its sequels, sold over 1.5 million copies. Her Great Big Book of Families, illustrated by Ros Asquith, won the inaugural SLA Information Books Award.Ros Asquith has been a Guardian cartoonist for 20 years and has written and illustrated over 60 books for young people. She answered only to the name of Jim until she was five and believed herself to be an Apache brave until she was nine, a brilliant assumption and clearly led to a creative career!

 

A beautiful book from Otter-Barry Books, which will be much loved and read over and over again.

Sue Martin - Children's Literacy Specialist

Part of Books Go Walkabout, Stories across the world.

Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.


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Inspired by real-life activists and campaigners...

Four brave children watch, listen, search, and feel, as they experience the inequalities, dangers, and injustices of life in our world. A stunning look into how our world can be shaped and changed by young voices across the planet.

Inspired by real-life activists and campaigners Greta Thunberg, Yusra Mardini, Marley Dias and Iqbal Masih, each of these children is filled with courage, determination and hope. They campaign to help save the planet, show that refugees can contribute and show leadership in sport in their new land, they build a library of 1000 books depicting black girls, they speak out against the outrage of child slavery.

“Somewhere, out there, in the wide, wide world,a child like you is watching …”

Lyrical and powerful, this book is a passionate call to children everywhere to speak their truth and stand up for a better world.

Na'ima B. Robert is a powerful writer and brings a wonderful perspective to all her books. 'As a young mum living in South London, Black, Muslim, wearing hijab and niqab, I definitely did not look like any writer I had ever seen!'

Nadine Kadaan   is the illustrator and she is also a writer of many books. She has always had a passion for writing for children.

Nadine is published in several countries and languages and her mission is to champion empowered and inclusive representation in children’s books so that every child can see themselves in a story.

A Child Like You is  a book for schools, libraries and homes everywhere, a true call to find a way forward to make the planet a better place.

Sue Martin - Children's Literary Specialist

 


Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.


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Discover the life of King Charles!

Charles always knew that, one day, he would have a big job to do. As the son of Queen Elizabeth II, he was a prince, and in the future, he was to inherit the throne of the United Kingdom.

As a young man, he developed a passion for one cause; the environment. Charles recognised that plastics and pollutants were causing harm to Earth, and as the Prince of Wales, he spent all his efforts championing climate justice and sustainability.

As a member of the Royal Family, Charles used his power to build important organisations such as The Prince’s Trust, a charity that works to improve the lives of young people across the UK. In 2022, when he became King, he pledged that he would spend the rest of his life serving his people with loyalty, respect and love.

 

This inspiring book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the royal’s life, from little prince to grown-up king.

A new title from the highly successful Little People, Big Dreams series published by Quarto Knows, with author Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and illustrator Matt Hunt.

Definitely a book to buy and keep as the Coronation of King Charles the Third  will be happening next month.

Sue Martin - Children's Literacy Specialist

 

 


Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.