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Category: Featured authors

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It Starts with a Seed - cover image
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Many congratulations to the winner of the Inaugural Margaret Mallett Award for Children's Non-Fiction which will be awarded at the English Association's General Meeting on 24th May.

It Starts With a Seed is written by Laura Knowles and illustrated by Jennie Webber, published by Words and Pictures in September 2016. We recommended the book in the autumn of 2016 on Dolphin Books  and are delighted that it has achieved such well deserved success.

It is the story of a seed as it journeys from the branches of a tree into the ground and becomes first a young sapling and then a tree. It introduces children to how the eco-system works, it teaches children about the life cycle of a tree, it has stunning artwork and words that easily engage the reader.

''The prize has been established by the English Association in memory of Margaret Mallett, a Fellow of The English Association and a long-serving member of the editorial board of the journal English 4-11, who died after a short illness in March 2017. Margaret was a passionate advocate for high quality books for children, and in particular non-fiction books. She had a deep and wide-ranging knowledge of children's literature, and her reviews of new titles in Books for Keeps and the School Librarian were hugely admired. She was able to get to the heart of a book and deliver a perceptive judgement that was both just and generous''.

 

Dolphin Books recommend  It Starts with a Seed to all our readers, a great book and we are delighted that The English Association begins the awards in great style, in memory of Margaret Mallett, with such a beautiul book.

 

 

 

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 Rocketful of Poems cover image and purchase link
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Space Poems which will take you to the moon and back again, stay at the Space Hotel, snack on a Mooncheese Toastie and play intergalactic squibble ball.

25 fantastic poems by the best of space poets in the universe, chosen by John Foster and illustrated by Korky Paul.

Ready for blast off!!!!!

This is a brilliant collection of space poems from John Foster, who is a writer of children's poetry and anthologies. The illustrations are by Korky Paul, a very famous illustrator, and  are full of fun and intricate detail with a real space feel about them. It will make a great present, book in the library or at home, to share and read alone. It will get the imaginations soaring across this universe and into the next.

Poems  include; Spaceman MacTavity by Marian Swinger, the spaceman who floated on the moon, Turn Left at the Moon by Eric Finney with a UFO who was redirected to Mars and loads more.

Fun, adventure, exploration, science, creativity and beyond....

 

So much to explore in this book from Francis Lincoln Children's Books. It fits in well with the recent voyage of Tim Peake in the International Space Station, which was so powerful in speaking out to young children about space and our world.

We recommend for ages 7+.

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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What on earth: Wind - cover image and web purchase link
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An exciting new series of books which explore natural elements about the earth and how that impacts on our lives. They are full of questions and answers, experiments and results and children can form conclusions on aspects of our world which affect them every day.Written and illustrated by Isabel Thomas and  Pau Morgan and published by QED.

I really love the way the books are laid out, with a contents page and glossary, templates and reference points. The illustrations are very appealing and with a pastel range palette of colours and images.

The books are produced in a most attractive way being half way between hard back and paper back. They have a real open the book feel about them!

What on Earth? Wind
   This book is packed with information and the titles and text is laid out in a way which is engaging and interesting. On the page called Ships Ahoy there is a world map with info about the trade winds and how the winds influenced the methods of sailing around the world. On the page, inside a storm, the formation of tornadoes is demonstrated and then an experiment to create a tornado in a bottle,  great stuff!

What on Earth? Water

What on Earth: Water - cover image and web purchase link
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Water cycles, our watery world and water and our planets are some of the sections, which then have a double page for a subject, such as racing to the sea… erosion, make a water wheel and water on other worlds.

Racing to the sea has colourful blocks of text which explain aspects of water from river to sea on a background of mountains, hills and shoreline.

QED have a wealth of expertise in producing fiction titles in a format which is very appealing and stylish and make great books to start a journey into exploration.

Isabel Thomas is a Science writer and children’s author, shortlisted for the Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize 2016, with 130 titles published.

Pau Morgan     is an illustrator based in Chile with an amazing porftolio of work.

   We really recommend these titles for children any age or  especially for 6- 9 years.

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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Surprise! Surprise! - cover image and web purchase link
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It must be Spring! Two new books from Otter-Barry Books about baby arrivals, but they are completely different stories. Beautiful books with delightful illustrations and stories that will be wonderful for sharing.

Surprise! Surprise is by Niki Daly. Niki is an internationally acclaimed, award winning writer and illustrator who lives in South Africa.

The story is about a couple who dream of having a child, but end up looking after a little pig as a child. When he is not allowed into school because he is a pig, they start to rethink the whole thing and make changes, But not changes you would expect... they all end up with surprising noses! Be careful what you ask for...

 

Monster Baby - cover image and web purchase link
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Monster Baby is by Sarah Dyer, who won the Smarties Bronze Award for Five Little Friends. A really good book to read if a baby is on the way, it is written from the older brother's point of view,he couldn't be held by his Mum and then had  to share his toys and presents. Very appealing illustrations and the monsters as characters are fun and quirky.

Both books are newly published this month, March 2017 and form a great part of the book-list of Otter-Barry Books, an exciting new imprint for children's books.

Sue Martin - Dolphin Booksellers

Dolphin Book Sellers

 


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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The Night Gardener cover image
The Night Gardener by The Fan Brothers

An amazing book! Captivating from beginning to end. 

I started to read The Night Gardener and flip through the pages, but that was impossible. I had to read every page, I had to look at every illustration.

It is a stunning debut novel from Eric and Terry Fan and published by Frances Lincoln Childrens' Publishers, who always have an eye for a new book and creative qualities. The illustrator uses a mix of ink and graphite mixed with digital techniques and the effects are a mix of traditional sketches and a misty haze of magic.

The story is based on William in the village of Grimloch, as he gazes out of the window with his 1940's cap on his head, to see a commotion outside. There is a tree which has been sculpted into the shape of a wise owl. In the following days, more topiaries appear and soon William's town is full of colour and life and is changed forever.

One night William followed the night gardener to the park and helped him until he fell fast asleep under a tree, he was given a very special present  of a pair of shears!

Eventually the autumn came and the leaves fell off the trees and all the shapes were gone.

" But the people of the small town were never the same."

We thoroughly recommend this book and The Fan Brothers are authors and illustrators to follow.

Suggestion is to buy it now ! Use the link above or order from your library. There is so much in this book that you will come back to it forever.

Sue Martin
Dolphin Books


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.


Published on

Happy New Year!

2017 is going to be a great year for children's books and for Dolphin Booksellers. Thank you for all the comments about the blog which reaches places across the world; schools, children, teachers, parents....  and people who just like good children's books.

Our blogs start this year with titles  published in the last year and are simply amazing.

Illuminature by Rachel Williams and Carnovosky
View, review or purchase this title from Amazon.co.uk here...

Our first title is Illuminature!

You may already  know that there are hidden secrets in different places. When you walk into a garden, you don't always see the spider in the hedgerow or the worm just inder the surface of the ground.

Illuminature is a remarkable book,  it explores the hidden secrets of the world's most diverse environments. A three colour lens illuminates each page in a kaleidoscope of colour.

On each double page spread there are flora and fauna that co exist in each habitat. Use the species guide to identify and find out more.

As you travel through a jungle, a reef, a mountain, grasslands, woods and rivers you'll uncover a world that never sleeps - with the graphics of Carnovsky and Williams, the innovative Milan based design duo.

Rachel Williams is the award winning author of Atlas of Animal Adventures and she lives and works in London. Her titles can also be found through Good Reads.

Milan based duo, Carnovsky, was started by Silvia Quintanilla and Fransesco Rugi in 2007. They are published around the world in magazines and famous for their wallpaper designs.

Wide Eyed Editions is an imprint of Quarto Publishing and publishes beautiful and informative books.

Sue Martin

Dolphin Booksellers


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's a tiger in the garden cover image
Review or purchase this title from Amazon.co.uk here...

When Grandma says she has seen a tiger in the garden, Nora doesn't believe her. She's too old to play Grandma's games. Everyone knows that tigers live in jungles not gardens?

So even when Nora sees butterflies with wings as big as her arm, and plants that try and eat her toy giraffe, and a polar bear that likes fishing, she knows there's absolutely, DEFINITELY no way there could be a tiger in the garden... Could there?

Published by Frances Lincoln Children's Books this is the debut novel from Lizzie  Stewart, an illustrator and author of great talent. The story and journey line stretch deep into the imagination and will be a wonderful story to read together or alone.

Lizzie has been a freelance illustrator since graduating from Edinburgh College of Art in 2009. In 2013 she completed an MA in Communication Design at Central St. Martin. She was selected as one of the It's Nice That Graduates 2009 and was nominated for a British Comic Book Award in 2013.

Her inspiration comes from folk culture, flora and fauna and life in far flung cities and a compulsive need to tell stories. Currently Lizzie lives in London and teaches on behalf of The National Portrait Gallery.

Sue Martin

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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.


Published on
A Visit to City Farm
Review or purchase this book from Amazon.co.uk

There is a great story behind A Visit to City Farm, published by  Firetree Books.

The book is the result of close collaboration between the children of Chalkhill Primary School in Wembley and Firetree books.

Chalkhill Primary School are the proud co-publishers and the children's names are included in the book.

Firetree Publishers have received Arts Council funding for the project, a real achievement in the production of such a wonderful book, and a splendid idea.

The story is set in London and we follow the children on their journey from school, 'Coats zipped, rucksacks light, hands free for holding tight'. The class sets off through the noisy traffic and reaches the underground, where the train comes roaring through a deep dark, tunnel.

A Visit to City Farm

At the farm they meet the animals, help to feed some and then enjoy their packed lunches.

'That was the best day ever, said Rainbow class.'

Written by Verna Wilkins, who is a great supporter of diversity in books, which is clearly shown through the children and teachers at Chalkhill Primary, Wembley.

Karin Littlewood is a terrific illustrator and the images are full of character and fun between the children and the animals. Karin also illustrated The Colour of Home by Mary Hoffman.

We recommend A Visit to City Farm for ages 5-7 years, an excellent book  and a very interesting dimension on how to work with children in writing and creative projects.

Sue Martin

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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.


Published on
one-cheetah-one-cherry
Review or buy this book from Amazon.co.uk here...

One Cheetah, One Cherry is stunning in design, colour and  use of numbers for counting to ten. It combines maths and art with ease in glorious technicolour! 

Always a joy to have a book by Jackie Morris in your hands. One Cheetah, One Cherry is no exception.

A real winner for Otter Barry Books.

 

Gold, blue and purple are combined to give  excellent illustrations and works of art, they have wonderful creatures on every page in eclectic settings.

Six bright tigers for instance, playing pat a cake, has six wonderful tigers on their hind legs each with a different friendly smile on their face.

Seven giant pandas with pretty painted parasols, has the seven pandas out of their normal habitat and enjoying each others company.

An otter in a hat! Well fancy that!

A beautiful book to have and to share with others. It is a vividly descriptive book on numbers and will  really support visual memory and understanding. And for the colour and energy of the animals alone this is definitely a book to buy.

Hope you  enjoy the book. Review or buy a copy here.

Sue Martin

Dolphin Booksellers

dolphinlogo2012imageright3.jpg


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.


Published on
Adder, Bluebell, Lobster - book cover image
Review or buy from Amazon.co.uk here...

There is more to this Wild Book of Poems from Otter-Barry Books than meets the eye!

From Adder to Wren, forty fantastic poems celebrate forty amazing animals, birds and plants and their beautiful names - names which you can help poet Chrissie Gittins save from EXTINCTION!

They are all words which have been left out of the latest Oxford Junior Dictionary. Join authors such as Michael Morpurgo and Margaret Atwood who along with 28 other authors protested against Oxford Junior Dictionary's replacement of natural words with 21st century terms.

The poems are brilliant, each page has a poem from Chrissie and illustration from Paul Bommer such as. Harry the Hamster...

'Harry the hamster, in his ball

rolled round the bedroom,

rolled round the hall.

He rolled to the bathroom,

he rolled to the stairs

where a huge teddy bear

took him clean unawares'.

We recommend for ages 6+ and for all ages. Follow the picture link to buy.

Sue Martin

dolphinlogo2014imageright


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.