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Category: Dolphinbooksellers

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Michelle grew up as a young child  on the south side of Chicago. She  worked hard at school  and from High School attended Princeton University, where she became one of their finest graduates. From Princeton she went on to Harvard, and graduated in law.

We know Michelle Obama as a very famous First Lady of the United States from 2009-2017, in fact the first African American woman to ever serve in this position, being married to Barack Obama. Michelle  wasn’t just a good lawyer, she worked with not-for-profit organisations. She now campaigns for poverty awareness, education, health and many things which prevent people being able to be the best they can be.

Little People, Big Dreams captures the heart of Michelle as a person who follows her beliefs and work tirelessly to support and help those who cannot. Equality is at the core of what Michelle does.

If you already have a collection of Little People, Big Dreams, this book of Michelle Obama will be the perfect addition. If you are just getting started on Little People, Big Dreams,  there is no better place  to start.

Written by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and illustrated by Mia Saine, this is an amazing series of books about people, about people who started small but had big dreams for the future. It makes a perfect series for any school library and for home too.

Publishers are Francis Lincoln, part of the Quarto Knows, and they have the way of creating books where you can dive straight in and stay immersed for a long time! This empowering book features stylish and quirky images with extra facts at the back plus a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the inspiring woman’s life.

My review copy is going straight to a small school nearby, which have a whole shelf of Little People, Big Dreams.

Sue Martin

 

 


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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'Then one morning, someone new arrived. It was an elephant.’

An enchanting story about Humperdink, the elephant  joining in with all the fun at playgroup. He tries hide and seek, but that is tricky, he tries the slide, but he broke that. But he was so much fun at the stomping and stamping game outside.

With a little patience and understanding the children soon discover that Humperdink is good at some things–especially if they use their imaginations–leading to a riotously fun conclusion.

A delightful picture book with endearing artwork and a humorous story to engage young readers and help them gain an understanding about those different from themselves. This title helps children learn the key skill of playing with and accepting new friends, whatever their size, shape... or species! Exploring themes of empathy and imaginative play, this title is a must-have for young readers seeking to understand the world around them.

Sean Taylor  is the author and he is an award-winning author of over 50 books for young readers of many different ages. As well as writing, he has many years’ experience visiting schools, where he works with poetry and storytelling to encourage young people to write themselves. He lives with his wife and two sons in Bristol.

Claire Alexander is an award-winning picture book author and illustrator based in London. She is the illustrator of Humperdink Our Elephant Friend and The Snowbear and the author–illustrator of A Little Bit Different, Back to Front and Upside Down, That’s When I Knew, Millie Shares, and Monkey and the Little One. Claire earned a BA in painting from the Kent Institute of Art and Design and studied children’s illustration at Putney School of Art and Design. Claire teaches her own course on writing and illustrating picture books in local libraries, bookshops, and at the House of Illustration in London. She regularly visits schools and enjoys drawing for children.

Words and Pictures, part of Quarto Kids are the publishers and Humperdinck is another excellent book in their book lists.

At the end of the book, Humperdink makes a sign for all the children to climb on his back. It has a really good feeling about the book and is a great way to show that we can be friends with everyone, whatever their skills and interests.

I’m off to try and find an elephant just like Humperdink on this wet English day!

Sue Martin


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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As we emerge from the lockdowns of 2021, I imagine we will all be travelling in our cars to places in the UK. For anyone with children on a long journey this book is ideal.

It's a fun packed activity book filled with cars, buses, trucks and all the vehicles you see as you journey along.

There are puzzles galore, quizzes and drawing activities. All you need are colouring pencils and hours of fun are at your finger tips. My favourite is the page on Design your own sports car...

Or maybe you could design a poster for a monster truck rally or play spot-the-difference in a mechanic's garage or find the way home in a road maze.

Putri Febriana is the illustrator, she is based in Jakarta in Indonesia and her work is really engaging, bright and colourful. Her previous books include On the Plane Activity Book.

Wide Eyed Publishers part of Quarto Knows are the publishers with a stunning portfolio of beautifully published titles which bring delight their readers.

The Car Activity Book is the perfect companion for a long and short journeys and road trip holidays, this book will keep you busy for hours! In the Car Activity Book is a fun gift for all young readers who love cars and vehicles.

Sue Martin

 

 

 


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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Freddie and the High Flying Kick - cover image
Delightful graphics, great storytelling...

How to see the world from  a different point of view. How it feels to never be included in the games and fun activities because you are in a wheelchair of have to use a frame.

This is  a special book about disability and shows the absolute understanding of how difficult life becomes when you can’t take part in activities where other children are having fun .

Sometimes its hard to be involved and easier just to walk away rather than help.

Freddie and the High Flying Kick is a story which shows how the power of working together with a group of children cam make all the difference. Freddie is helped by the Super-siblings, who at first find it hard to know what to do. But they do take the giant step and help Freddie who just needs someone to help his balance as he kicks the football so high.

Zoe Wanamaker has reviewed the book and says, 'This is charming, delightful and fun. A lesson in care for others. The pictures and verse make it a joy to read!'

Freddie and the High Flying Kick is available on Amazon and  is written by Adelle Spindlove with illustrations by Claire S. Bicknell and would be well placed in schools and early years settings as well as in the home.

Sue Martin


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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Shu Lin's Grandpa - cover image
'...such a beautiful book...'

Such a beautiful book with a powerful story. 

Shu Lin, a Chinese immigrant girl, finds it hard to gain acceptance in her new school, until her grandpa saves the day.

Shu Lin has just started at a new school. She stands alone in the playground and at lunchtime she eats by herself from little boxes of brightly coloured food. 

But when Shu Lin’s grandpa comes to school and shows the class his amazing Chinese paintings, everything changes….

With a stunning double-gate fold spread revealing a beautiful Chinese picture, this uplifting story shows the trans-formative power of art and imagination in developing cultural understanding and empathy.

'...sitting alone at lunch time?...'

Matt Goodfellow trained as a primary school teacher and still works part-time in schools in addition to his highly popular, high-energy performances and workshops. He is particularly concerned to write verse for children in a way which effortlessly combines learning, confidence and entertainment for young readers. He lives in Manchester

 Yu Rong is an acclaimed British-Chinese children’s picture book illustrator.  With a BA degree in Chinese Painting and Contemporary Art Design from Nanjing Normal University’s Art College and an MA degree in Communication and Design from London’s Royal College of Art, where she studied under Quentin Blake. Yu Rong lives in the countryside of Cambridge with her husband, Donkey, her three children, Caterpillar, Chilli Pepper and Bean, and their German Pointer, Captain Sniff.

This is a story for every child who has either stood on the side line or walked away  whilst others needed support. Fortunately Grandpa wins the day with unique Chinese style paintings which help others to see that Shu Lin can be their friend too.

Otter Barry Books are unique publisher of children's books, now standing out as promoting diversity.

Sue Martin

 


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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We were delighted to receive two great books from Sunbird Books and delighted to share them with our Dolphin Book Blog readers.  Sunbird Books is the home for innovative and original books for children. From board books to storybooks (and everything in between!), titles represent strong, lively, and diverse voices that reflect children’s realities and feed their imaginations while nurturing up-and-coming writers and illustrators from around the world.

Stuck Inside is written and illustrated by Sally Anne Garland and describes so perfectly this last year through a lockdown winter of being inside at home, when the weather is just too bad to be in the outside. Tilly, the girl and Toby, the dog, share ideas about what to do and create exciting adventures in their imaginations.

Sally Ann Garland grew up in the Highlands of Scotland and after studying illustration and graphic design at Edinburgh College of Art and now lives in Glasgow.

It’s Her Story: Marie Curie is a wonderful Graphic Novel about this trailblazing scientist who discovered radium and set out the term, radioactivity. She was the only woman to have been awarded two Nobel Prizes, for physics and chemistry. As part of a new series; It’s Her Story, the book is in hard back and a handy size with just enough information for ages 6-9 or for anyone interested in this major achievement.

Kaara Kallen is the author , and Rosie Baker the illustrator and  they both capture the achievements that Marie made in the early 1900's

Two great books, we hope you enjoy reading them  and purchase a Sunbird Book, we know they are great publishers of children’s books.

Sue Martin


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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Are you dressing up as a book character this year, reading your favourite book or anther great activity to promote books and reading?

Books Go Walkabout is celebrating in 2021 with online author events in China and Hong Kong. Books and authors alive in a global world.

In the UK we are working with the School Library Association (SLA) in their amazing Get Everyone Reading project for World Book Day 2021.

On 4th March you will be able to download this primer for reading from author Alec Williams. It is packed with ideas to create a reading culture. It shows how children who learn to read in the classrooms, can become ‘readers’ in the school library, a quiet space, at home, or anywhere they can have a book or a tablet in their hands.

It creates a ‘ Powerhouse for Reading ‘ and author Alec Williams said, “ This is a personal guide, from me to you. It includes things to smile at, things to surprise you, and things to spur you on. Let’s use it to bring reading alive!”

The SLA is a UK charity which supports everyone in school libraries, from the largest school library you could imagine to the smallest areas in school corridors and classrooms. It is a wealth of information and is just the place to go to this World Book Day for inspiration and ideas.

Whatever  you do this World Book Day, 4th March 2021, and wherever you are, find a book; you can purchase great books for £1.00 ,enjoy the story or the information and just get into reading, the best gift we have!

 

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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This brilliant new collection of poetry by Valerie Bloom is newly published in January 2021. What a great year for delving into poetry, lots of time at home and lots of time for books! There is a huge variety of poems in all shapes and sizes, from a small cinquain to a four verse poems. One of my favourites describes different forms of poems;

 

 

 

TERMS  which starts..

The SLAM of the Door,

the STAMP on the floor,

is onomatopoeia.

When  school bells CHIME,

right on TIME,

that's rhyme.

If the boy IS AS FREE

AS a bird in a tree.

that's a simile.

There are many more great poems and this is definitely a book to buy right now, whether you are home schooling or online teaching. This one is just the thing.

'Valerie Bloom is a performance poet, originally from Jamaica, and many of her poems are in Jamaican Patois. Her published work includes Hot Like Fire which is a Power of Reading recommended text and the award winning picture book Fruits – a Caribbean Counting Poem. She has considerable experience running writing workshops in schools. Valerie was awarded an MBE for her services to poetry in 2008. Several of her poems feature in the CLiPPA 2015 shortlisted book Give the Ball to the Poet: A New Anthology of Caribbean Poetry. Among her most recent work is Jaws and Claws and Things with Wings ( Harper Collins, 2013).' from Poetry Line on CLPE

Ken Wilson-Max was born in Zimambwe  and living in London. He is an internationally renowned  children's book illustrator, author and designer, plus co director of publishing house, Alanna Max. He wrote and illustrated Astro Girl, winner of the 2020 STEAM award

 

 

 

Otter Barry Books are the publishers, with poetry at their heart and have out together this delightful book with two amazing people. It shows how they live up to their aims of pushing boundaries and publishing books that children will love.

This is on my list to buy for those home schooling sessions, or just to sit and read and dream!

Sue Martin


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 heartwarming picture book from award-winning author-illustrator Caroline Magerl about a little bear who forges a forever friendship.

Nop is a scruffy kind of bear. He sits on a dusty armchair in Oddmint's Dumporeum surrounded by the beaders, knitters, patchers and stitchers who are much too busy to talk to him. So he watches the litter tumble until, armed with a new bow tie, he has an idea that will change his life forever...

A beautiful book about a bear. A bear that has been left behind and not noticed by those working in the Dumporeum. Maybe that is a good thing as Nop begins an adventure.

Books go Walkabout book shop button image and linkThere is much to be said for a book about bears in this time of stay at home and stay indoors. May be the time to check out those cupboards where bears may be lurking or even trying for adventures.

The illustrations in line and watercolour have a magical feel about them and a real joy to explore bringing the text alive.

 

Caroline Magerl  is an award-winning and internationally distinguished illustrator, cartoonist and painter, who is now recognised as a unique and arresting presence. Her work spans from dark, enigmatic oil paintings, through incisive cartoons, to lively children’s book illustrations.

Walker Books published Nop in Jan 2020 and have a great collection of picture books for young children as well as a host of other genre. Their website has some great links to their teacher notes and videos.

But for now, Nop is definitely a book to add to your list of books to buy in January lockdown of 2021.

Sue Martin


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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Sail away with your imagination...

Matthew Flinders was born in 1774 in a quiet village in Lincolnshire, England, called Donington.

He was expected to stay at home and become a doctor, but he had other ideas, like sailing the world and the high seas!

This an intriguing book providing all the information in chunk size pieces, carefully researched, beautifully written and crafted by Carole Wilkinson.

 

Matthew Flinders was determined to map the entire coast of the continent we now call Australia. His story is packed to the gunwales with adventure – storms and shipwrecks, death and danger, a race to beat the French – but more than this, it is a story of loyalty to his crew, love for his wife, and affection for the brave little cat who sailed with him.

Did you know that Flinders was the first person to circumnavigate Australia and create the map of the whole continent. He was a cartographer and completed the maps of Australia, mapping 35,000 kilometres of coast in leaky ships, a magnificent achievement.

The book is an excellent resource with a package of resources including route maps, a time line of Flinders’ life and a glossary. It has everything you would need in gaining an insight into the Flinders’ as a navigator and a cartographer. There is also a great set of teacher's notes on Wild Dog Books.

Carole Wilkinson is an award-winning author from Melbourne, Australia. She has recently written a wealth of fact-finding books including Putting Australia on the Map, Ten Pound Pom and Atmospheric. Her adventure series of Dragonkeeper is now being made into an animated video and is a unique series on life in the Han Dynasty through the eyes of a slave girl.

Prue Pittock, the illustrator, also from Melbourne is passionate about illustration and has a unique style, displayed beautifully in Matthew Flinders.

Wild Dog Books is an award winning Australian independent publishers,  inspirational in their catalogue of books on environment, history and the future, they just know the excitement in great stories told well.

I love this book and wonder and dream if one day,  and maybe  one day soon, I too may be heading across continents, although best in a jet plane not a leaky ship . It has inspired me and I am sure it will inspire you too.

Sue Martin


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.