New titles – Page 4 – Dolphin Book Blog for younger readers

The Great Big Book of Friends

The DolphinApril 23, 2018April 24, 2018

In this fifth book in the internationally best-selling and well-loved,Great Big Book series, Mary Hoffman and Ros Asquith celebrate friendship in a funny and honest way. It is a great way to start a conversation with children about what makes a good friend.

The presentation and layout of the book are instantly appealing, with questions and answers and ways that children often think about friendships. It goes further too, and has some great sentences on other sorts of friends, not just people, the bear on the bed or someone who asks you to a party. Maybe even..." A cat's best friend is a laundry basket." and "Being there when needed".

Lots of opportunities for conversations, curiosity and reflection. It makes a great book for schools and also for home. The Great Big Book series is sold in over 21 languages across the globe and has already had some amazing reviews. Read Booktrust's interview with Mary Hoffman.

Mary Hoffman is an internationally acclaimed author of over 100 books for children, with famous titles such as Amazing Grace, which together with its sequel has sold over 1.5 million copies.

Ros Asquith is a world-famous illustrator and cartoonist, plus a writer and poet as well as being a Guardian cartoonist for 25 years. She is also currently poet in residence at UCLH. Her books for young people total over 90 titles and translated into over 21 languages!

Frances Lincoln Children's Books are part of The Quarto Group, delivering quality books across the world.

We thoroughly recommend The Great Big Book of Friends for children from age 5 upwards and there ar many times that adults too can dip in and find something helpful about being good friends.

Sue Martin

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Life on Earth: Ocean

The DolphinApril 10, 2018April 11, 2018

Ocean is part of the great new series of Life on Earth, from Wide Eyed Editions Publishers, with 100 questions and 70 Lift-Flaps.

The board book is sturdy and appealing to all young children. The illustrations are brilliant and the intriguing flaps reveal comprehensive answers to the questions...

How do fish breathe?
Why is the ocean salty?
Why is a whale not a fish?

Embark on an epic journey under the sea looking for fish and other ocean creatures beneath the waves, learn what shells are for, find out which sea creatures are the most dangerous, and take a closer look at a coral reef. This fascinating fact-filled book is the perfect introduction to life under the sea.

HEATHER ALEXANDER was born in New York City, and now lives in New Jersey. She began her career editing children's books such as Goosebumps and Fear Street, before moving into writing. She has written over 40 books for children.

ANDRES LOZANO is an illustrator from Madrid, who currently lives in London. He lists his inspirations as nature, architecture, Franco-Belgian comics and film noir. His work is characterised by overlayed colours, textures and strong line work. He has worked with The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Sunday Times, and Anorak.

Recommended for children ages 5 - 8 years

Sue Martin

The Carnivorous Crocodile

The DolphinFebruary 22, 2018March 25, 2018

The jungle animals find that an extremely carnivorous crocodile has claimed their waterhole for himself! Not even the elephants, giraffes or monkeys dare to argue with the crocodile.

But the flamingos have a cunning plan! They tell the crocodile that if he eats them he will get hiccups. We all know that crocodiles can't stand hiccups.

And so eventually crocodile learns to share and the elephants, monkeys and giraffes learn that they too can frighten a fierce crocodile.

A great story about sharing, togetherness, being brave and the environment.

Jonnie Wild, the author has been involved with forest conservation for many years and works at the University of Leeds. This is his first children's book and a great start to a new venture.

Brita Granstorm, the illustrator has won many awards and has been shortlisted twice for the Astrid Lingren Memorial Award. Often working with her partner Mick Manning, they have recently completed Books! Books! Books.

Otter-Barry Books has an extensive range of children's books on their lists and is making a difference, pushing boundaries and publishing books which children love!

Sue Martin

Up the Creek and The Busy Beaver by Nicholas Oldland

The DolphinNovember 10, 2017March 25, 2018

Up the Creek.

There once was a bear, a moose and a beaver who were the best of friends, though they often disagreed.

A journey up river is not the best time to argue about who is steering and who is rowing, as these chums set out on a journey across rapids and fast flowing currents.

They finally agree and make the journey in the canoe to the end of the rapids. Once out of the water they have lunch and decide on the best route home, that's by walking!

A great story about friendship, cooperation and adventure. Nicholas Oldland is the writer and illustrator and the characters come to life in the pictures and the words.

It is from a new publishing house, Pikku Books, based in the UK, with a Finnish background. They are an engaging team with a passion to share in good books with good stories, and new writers, often from afar.

The Busy Beaver also by Nicholas Oldland and published by Pikku Books is part of the Life in the Wild series.

The beaver is so busy working and cutting trees down he doesn't notice all the damage he has made. That is until one day when he finds himself on the wrong side of a falling tree. Landing in hospital with bandages and wounds makes him think and he decides to do things differently.

He hauls off trees which were strewn across the fields, he used broken branches to fix leaking dams and he planted saplings to replace the trees that he has felled.

A delightful story and the Life in the Wild series would make a great purchase for home and school, lots to talk about and share, lots to do research on and explore the worlds of beavers, moose and bears.

Books can be bought direct from Dolphin or through Pikku publishers. We are really pleased to be working with this new publishing team in promoting good quality books that you can't always find in the stores.

Sue Martin

We Travel so Far by Laura Knowles and illustrated by Chris Madden

The DolphinOctober 30, 2017March 25, 2018

We Travel so Far cover image — Buy this book from The Dolphin

Small stories of incredibly giant journeys. However far you have travelled these stories will surpass your longest journey.

The whales, birds, butterflies, turtles, fish and eels of all shapes and sizes make the most amazing journeys imaginable.

We Travel So Far is a book which will capture your imagination and set you off on a journey to find out more.

I was intrigued by; the Caribbean Spiny Lobsters which travel at the bottom of the sea in a long line, and the Arctic Terns which journey from North Pole to the South Pole. I have often watched them as they fly close to the water on the North Norfolk beaches.

There are so many journeys and so many different ways of travelling across the globe. Laura and Chris have made the pages intriguing, with a combined use of text and beautiful colour coordinated illustrations. From Whooping Cranes, as the ghostly white fliers, to the African elephants, the giants of the savannah, each page gives an insight into a world full of movement and travel.

At the end of the book, there is a page on migration data and also a page on people as travellers. We travel for adventure, to find food, to find freedom and much more, but we all travel.

Great book! Well written by Laura Knowles and illustrated by Chris Madden, published by Words and Pictures part of the Quarto Knows group.

Sue Martin

Pirate Baby by Mary Hoffman & illustrated by Ros Asquith

The DolphinOctober 10, 2017March 25, 2018

Pirate Baby cover image — Buy this book from The Dolphin

How do pirates cope with babies?

"Shiver me timbers," said the captain. "It's a baby!"

When the crew of pirate ship Ramshackle find a tiny baby adrift on the high seas, they are a bit flummoxed. Even more so, when they discover it's a baby girl.

This is a book full of adventure, surprises, fun and imagination. Taken into a world of pirates on the high seas, it will immerse you into amazing characters, exciting adventures and just how the dare devil pirates cope with a baby girl. As she wins them over, they find ways to give her milk, but in a different way; condensed milk with water is not maybe the best, but she seems to like it!

The pirates won't give up their baby, not even to the women pirates and when a huge sea monster appears it is baby Isla who saves the whole company of pirates.

Mary Hoffman, the author is well-known for her many children's books including Amazing Grace, which has sold over a million copies. The narrative is full of her wonderful style fitting the scenes with pirate adventures.

Ros Asquith a world-famous illustrator and cartoonist, has created delightful characters in the big blue seas. Her books are translated into over 20 languages and she was a Guardian cartoonist for 25 years.

Publishers Otter-Barry are a new publisher and aim to make a difference, push boundaries and publish books that children love. Pirate Baby certainly does all of those.

Buy direct from Dolphin Booksellers and we give 10% of the book price to support children in Nepal.

Sue Martin

Tug of War by Naomi Howarth

The DolphinJuly 31, 2017March 25, 2018

Tug of War cover image and web link — Buy this book here...

When Elephant and Hippo are nasty to Tortoise, he shows them that while he may not be big, he certainly is brainy!

A funny and heart warming story from a well-known myth from West Africa with beautiful illustrations and meaningful text.

Tortoise is out to find a friend in the jungle but is called names by the two biggest creatures around, the elephant and the hippopotamus. With the help of bird, tortoise decides to let them know that he is worth having as a friend,even if he is not extra-large and grey.

A tug of war follows and elephant and hippo fall over backwards in a very inelegant position, as the rope eventually snaps. They discover that it would be good to have tortoise as a friend.

A second book from Naomi Howarth, whose debut novel, The Crow's Tale was shortlisted for the 2015 Waterstone's Children's Book Prize. Naomi has huge talent in illustration and a background of working in art in costume and film, leading to a stunning career in children's illustrations and writing.

Published by Frances Lincoln Children's Books, we know that you will love this hard back book at home, in the library and at nursery and school.

Sue Martin

Doctor by Ando Twin and Lucy M. George

The DolphinJuly 28, 2017March 25, 2018

Doctor Busy People - cover image and web purchase link — Buy this book here...

'Doctor' is part of the Busy People series from QED publishing. An excellent series for understanding the need for people who help us. A great book to have for Early Years Settings and in the home. This edition is available in hardback and paperback.

Children love to read and find out what will happen at the doctors. Doctor Miranda looks at Olivia, who needs an X-Ray and then Jimmy who has spots on his tongue.

Going to see the doctor is something all children do and this book will explain the reasons, next steps, medicines needed and possible visits to the hospital.

The illustrations from Ando Twin are beautifully clear and text from Lucy M. George easy to read.

Children will also love to explore reading with this book and find letters and words that they recognise.

At the end of the book there is a description of the other things that Doctor Miranda does, pictures of things she needs and information about other helpful people at the doctors.

Definitely recommend this book and the Busy People series. Other books are Vet, Firefighter,Teacher.

Sue Martin

Hiccups

The DolphinMay 13, 2017March 25, 2018

Hiccups by Holly Sterling is now out as a paperback from Frances Lincoln Children's Books.

'Hic!' Ruby's puppy Oscar can't stop hiccupping! She tries all sorts of things to cure them, from dancing to jumping.

A really fun story guaranteed to appeal to all children, as hiccups is just one of those things that are unexplainable, uncontrollable and unexpected!

The illustrations are delightful and make this a really good book for reading aloud or for young children to explore on their own, and make up their own words to the pictures.

We are really pleased to see this book out in paperback, making it accessible for more children.. You can buy direct from us through the link above.

Recommended for children and good for ages from 18 months to 5 years.

Sue Martin

p.s...the hiccups did stop!

A Rocketful of Space Poems

The DolphinApril 23, 2017March 25, 2018

A Rocketful of Poems cover image and purchase link — Buy this book from The Dolphin...

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