Skip to content

Category: Featured children’s book

Published on
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.


Published on

What can you create with a little chalk and a big idea? As Emma uses her imagination to draw a beautiful flower garden with sidewalk chalk, a tiny ecosystem develops outside her door, with real-life flowers that bud and bloom!   Author and illustrator, Sally Anne Garland has created more than just a book in this delightful Picture Book as hope and joy are found in  the real gardener of nature itself.

In The Chalk Garden Emma, has been busy creating beautiful chalk drawings in her back yard on the concrete walls and slabs. But the rain comes, and Emma watches all the delicious colours being washed away. Her hope is restored when one of the slabs wobbles underneath her and with her Dad’s help they take up the slab and see the tiny, crawling creatures underneath the slab. With a little help from a watering can, Emma watches as seed begin to shoot and then to flower.

There is real joy in this book as it shows us how we can always learn from the best teacher in nature herself. Emma’s hopes are revived, and her patience is rewarded as a new garden thrives and produces such a wonderful garden full of colour and chances for flowers and insects to thrive.

This is Sally’s third picture book with Sunbird Books, an imprint of Phoenix International Publications producing stunning innovative and original books for children. Look for the free downloadable activity sheets too.

Sally Anne Garland grew up in the Highlands of Scotland and went on to study Illustration and Graphic Design at Edinburgh College of Art. Now Sally lives in Glasgow with her husband and her son, enjoying walks and reading. Her other Picture Books are Stuck Inside and Share.

The Chalk Garden is the type of Picture Book I love as it leads you into the world from a child’s perspective and how a child can make such a difference. Lots of beautiful pictures woven around the text of this delightful story.

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.


Published on
...a world of colour and creativity...

 

An Artist's Eyes, follows Jo as he journeys through the world of colour and creativity in an empowering story of confidence and imagination.

A beautiful picture book from Frances Lincoln Children's Books, , which is full of delightful pictures and words to help anyone see beyond the everyday, and to start to visualise like an artist.

Jo is a little boy who desperately wants to 'see like an artist'.
He tries as hard as he can to see the things the way Mo the artist does, and when he starts to use his imagination, he realises that the things he can dream up are completely unique.

From the autumn oranges of the forest floor to pink and lilac pigeons in flight, Mo teaches Jo to trust his own eyes, and to see like an artist.


This is a magical story about the power of imagination and discovering that our individual perspectives make us all artists, and no two artist's eyes are the same.

Frances Tosdevin is a writer of picture books. She loves words, how they feel, how they sound and the effect they have on the reader.

Clemence Monnet is the illustrator and she has used wonderful flowing pastel i mages on every page.

Everyone sees things in a different way and An Artists's Eyes is a great book to share with others around how you can start to look in a different way and it could change your world.

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.


Published on

"What can we do
when Mother Earth needs our help?
From one to ten we’re counting green
to keep our planet safe and clean."

Super brilliant new book for young children and anyone who wants to find ways to help our planet survive, published 16th March 2023.

Follow a group of children as they discover how every small action can make a big difference and help to save our Earth. From one new tree and two breezy bicycle wheels to seven beach pick-ups, nine wild flowers and ten friendly neighbours.
Illustrated with the simplicity, warmth and charm which Barroux is famous for, Counting in Green is an inspirational picture book, encouraging young children and their families to push for change and keep our planet safe and secure for all living things.

Hollis Kurman is a multi-talented author ,and writing for children is just part of her talents. Counting in Green is part of Counting series. There are amazing activities to download and videos too.

Otter- Barry Books has a wonderful portfolio of books and Counting in Green is an excellent addition to their books which will make a difference to children's lives.

It is always a joy to receive a book from Otter- Barry Books and Counting in Green is a book which I will enjoy so much for sharing at home or for school visits.

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.


Published on

The Hare-Shaped Hole is a beautiful, touching, and poignant picture book which gently explores themes of grief and loss.
Immediately touched by the gentle rhyming and expressive illustrations in this beautiful picture book.

'Hertle and Bertle were always a pair, though one was a turtle and one was a hare. They were utterly buddies, and best friends forever and whenever you looked, you would find them together... until quite unexpectedly... the end came.'

When Hertle disappears for good, Bertle can only see a Hertle-shaped hole where his friend should be. He pleads with it, get angry with it, but the hole still won't bring his Hertle back.
It seems like hope is lost... until Gerda the kindly bear finds him. She explains that he must fill the hole with his memories of Hertle. And slowly... Bertle begins to feel a little bit better.

Powerful and moving text from children's author and poet John Dougherty is paired perfectly with warm illustrations from the wonderfully talented Thomas Docherty in a thoughtful and sensitive approach to this difficult topic.

This moving picture book can be used as part of a gentle conversation about death and grief with children.

"A beautiful, gentle, rhyming exploration of grief and mourning." - Joe Coelho, Waterstones Children's Laureate.

Stunningly clever at dealing with grief in the same way as a child can do, by looking all around, getting cross and then by doing something about it, the memory lives and the grief can find its own way out.

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.


Published on

 

A fantastic, full-colour, read-aloud poetry collection for young children.         All aboard for Kalamazoo!

One ticket will let you… ride on an elephant, stay in a bug hotel, travel by train boat and plane, mingle with bears and minibeasts – and even meet an alien! All this and more, in 19 zippy poems to read aloud.

This is a fantastic and eagerly awaited poetry collection for young children, from the author of bestselling Zim Zam Zoom!, which was shortlisted for the CLiPPA Award and long-listed for the UKLA Award

I love poems to read out loud, poems which can be right for any time of the day and can be shared with  just one or many little people. What fun!  I loved the poems in  A Ticket to Kalamazoo ( such a good word!) and one of my favourites is  ‘Hug Day’.

'Is today a hug day?

A going on and on day?

An everything’s all wrong day?

You   need   a   hug!....'

Or maybe my favourite is Ginger-Pincher?

James Carter, the author, is a prize-winning poet, guitarist and educational writer. He travels all over the UK to give poetry performances and workshops and is the author of many best-selling poetry books including Hey Little Bug! and I'm a Little Alien. James lives in Wallingford, Oxfordshire.

Neal Layton is an author and illustrator whose images are prized for their spontaneity and inventiveness. His picture books include The Tree, The Story of Stars, and Oscar and Arabella. Born in Chichester, he was going to be a scientist but instead studied Graphic Design, gaining a BA at Newcastle and an MA in Illustration at Central St Martins. He lives with his family in Portsmouth, Hampshire.

Otter-Barry Books are unique, small independent publishers based in Herefordshire with a focus on culturally diverse and inclusive illustrated books, as well as a strong collection of poetry titles. They just produce such irresistible books of high quality.  They have been shortlisted for the British Book Awards Small Press of the Year, 2020, 2021 & 2022.

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.


Published on

I took this book to my favourite three-year-old who lives on a farm in Norfolk. The dark winter evening had already settled in. As I walked in the dogs barked and the ponies neighed.

‘Come in, come in,’ said a little voice. And at the sight of the book Santa’s Christmas Countdown in my arm…  ‘Can I read that book now, can I find out about Santa?’

And we sat down and read the book together, with fun and enjoyment, and an understanding that at times we all need some help. Santa certainly did with his elves. The book written by Kath Jewitt and illustrated by Sebastien Braun is a beautiful book with all that you would ever need about how Santa gets ready for Christmas.

Because Santa has lost his list of jobs to do! This large format board book tells a fun rhyming tale of Santa who is getting ready to deliver presents around the world. Children from 18 months to five will love this book. It has some wonderful touch and feel parts, especially his curly beard and velvet hat.

Congratulations to Townhouse Publishing for a wonderful book at Christmas time.

Sue Martin Children's Literacy Specialist

PS I had to leave Santa's Christmas Countdown in the farmhouse, by the fire, so it's ready for a special person who may just come down the chimney one day soon.

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.


Published on
A beautiful book...

 

Flooded is the funny and beautifully illustrated tale of animals who live in a city that is ever so slowly flooding.

The flood comes gradually at first. There is a sense of poignancy as many of us live in a place where we are slowly watching water levels increase.

All the animals ignore the obvious and go about their busy lives, disjointed from one another and preoccupied by their own problems.
Eventually, the flood water reaches a height that they can no longer ignore and they have to work together to save their city.
All the animals join together in a line and pull out the plug that is drowning the city.

This is an exceptionally illustrated story that teaches a message not to let problems fester and with a little team work and community spirit, no problem is insurmountable. 

Mariajo Ilustrajo is a highly talented Spanish author and illustrator, who lives in London and graduated in 2021 with an MA in Children's Book Illustration at Anglia Ruskin, Cambridge.

Flooded is part of an amazing portfolio of children's books Frances Lincoln part of Quarto Knows.

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.


Published on

 

Two new books for the Zeki series from Anna MacQuinn & Ruth Hearson.

Inclusive picture books which celebrate every day routines and shared time in early childhood. The illustrations are perfect for young children who will easily see the connections with their own daily lives. The text is just right for reading short sections and can easily lead to talking about the pictures.  A real delight in picture book series for home and nursery.

Zeki Rise and Shine

After a big sleep, it’s time for Zeki to wake up! His eyes, ears, mouth & nose, head, shoulders, knees & toes shimmy, shake and bounce into action. By the last spread, he’s ready for anything! An energetic companion to Zeki Sleep Tight, this is a perfect way to start the day.

After a busy day, it’s time for Zeki to slow down… One by one, his senses get ready to sleep. The room is hushed, the lights low – and after a dozy story, he’s already beginning to nod off.
A gentle companion to Zeki Rise & Shine, this is a perfect way to end the day.

Perfect gift for baby and parent. Celebrates all that is good about life as a baby.

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.


Published on

Furry tails, shiny tails, and tails which are bouncy!

A wonderfully tactile book with lemur and seahorse, busy beaver and blue whale the mighty swimmer. A real sensory experience on every page. To be published on November 8th 2022.

The beautiful illustrations are from Suryia Sajnani and capture the mood of the animal perfectly. Little faces will be enchanted by each of the animals as tiny fingers trace their different tails.

The board book size is just perfect for tiny fingers and hands and will develop their sensory and motor skills.

Happy Yak the publishers are an imprint of Quarto Kids and their books are an absolute delight in style, content and sheer enjoyment as an introduction to books.

They are a  loveable new imprint that publishes preschool board books, playful picture books, and accessible nonfiction for kids ages zero to seven. Books are bright and accessible, with eye-catching design, contemporary illustration, and engaging, entertaining text. With a focus on the latest trends and a strong seasonal offering, our books are perfect for small children with big personalities.

Sue Martin - Children's Literacy Specialist

Part of Books Go Walkabout
Part of Books Go Walkabout

 


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.