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Category: Otter Barry Books

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"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.


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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.


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Invisible sights, silent sounds, odourless smells, and mysterious forces all at work in our world but yet unseen and unheard.  Nature that is invisible to us but so important to make our world work.

Big Bangs and Silent Waves, Day Glow and Shiny Colours, Bouncing Sounds and Squeaky Whistles with Ultrasound, Weird Whiffs and Silent Smells, the Secret Scents in our lives, these are just some of the fascinating pages in this unique book.

Children will be amazed by the facts they discover; they will learn how these secret powers are at work which support everyone in their daily lives. It is always fascinating to discover unseen things at work and children are so observant in their perception and understanding. This book will enable them to uncover their own detective nature work and feel really empowered to find out even more.

There is a wonderful glossary with definitions and diagrams to show just how invisible nature works for us all in this universe.

Catherine Barr is  an award wining author of non-fiction children’s books and her books include Water, Fourteen Wolves and and Let's Save the Amazon. Her website is not only beautiful but is packed with information. Her author visits for schools are full of information, adventure and inspiration .

Anne Wilson has produced the most beautiful illustrations with huge visual impact.

Otter Barry Books are the publishers and Invisible Nature is part of their exceptional portfolio of non fiction books for children in primary schools.

Highly recommend this book to all the schools we work with and for parents at home too.

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 story celebrating mindfulness and quiet moments in a noisy world

The Starlings are squabbling
the Crows are making a terrible din - 
it's SO NOISY the Squirrel babies just CAN'T sleep.
Squirrel knows there's only one thing to do. She must ask Owl for help...

And so begins a magical woodland journey with Owl's amazing Silence Catcher. Owl and Squirrel discover the hush inside a hollow tree...then the stillness when an acorn drops...and last of all, the silence between the lightning's flash and the thunder's roll. They capture pockets of peace, moments of stillness, bubbles of silence...and Owl puts them all together for Squirrel.

Now, when Squirrel goes back home to her babies, could there be A Little Bit of Hush?

This beautiful picture book encourages mindfulness, awareness of nature and ways to find peace and stillness in our noisy world.

Paul Stewart is the author. In the video he describes the different sorts of silence you can have. Paul is a highly regarded author of books for young readers and is the co-creator along with Chris Riddell of the best-selling Edge Chronicles. Before living in Brighton Paul was a traveller, living in Germany and Sri Lanka, and this brings a huge dimension to his work .

Jane Porter is an exciting new illustrator and also works with the V&A Museum in London and Kensington Palace. In A Little Bit of Hush, Jane has used different materials to create a collage for each page.

Otter-Barry Books are the publishers and have a unique and exciting new collection in 2022 of high quality picture books.

A beautiful book and one to really enjoy exploring with a young reader by your side.

Sue Martin      Children's Literacy Specialist      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.


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Picture Books with style, meaning and love. New books from Otter-Barry Books are why I love picture books for young children. Through wonderful illustrations and engaging text they express deep meanings.

The Fussy Flamingo

By Jonnie Wild and Illustrated by Brita Granström

A fourth exciting adventure featuring the Five Flamingos.

"I don't like flingo weed," says Baby. "I'm going to find a family that eats something delicious."

Baby Flamingo is a very fussy eater! He visits the monkeys, the bats, the giraffes and the anteater, but he doesn't like ANY of their food. So he goes to the river to see what Crocodile likes to eat!

Each page is full of spectacularly coloured illustrations and make wonderful reading.

 

 

 

 

As this book is about conservation and Reforest Africa,  the author's royalties will be donated in support of wildlife habitat conservation projects in Africa.

And...

I Love You ,Blue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Love You, Blue

By Barroux

A touching love story with an important message about ocean pollution through plastics.

When Jonas the lighthouse-keeper is rescued from the stormy sea by a whale, they become friends. But soon Blue the whale is in great danger too, and now he needs help from Jonas...

This touching love story from world-renowned picture book creator, Barroux, beautifully highlights the urgency of saving our whales and our oceans.

Such a moving book, says so much in a few words, but the illustrations are so expressive. We all need to look after our seas and oceans.

Living close to the sea, I enjoy walks along the shore, seeing the shells and stones brought onto the sand banks, but saddened by the pieces of plastic.

Watch this amazing video from Barroux. Jonas and the whale respecting each other.

I love both of these books and highly recommend for home, nurseries and schools.

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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Big Green Crocodile - cover image
A beautiful book with rhymes and actions...

Rhymes to Say and Play

A beautiful book full of rhymes with actions, easy to say and fun to do. A star book for Early Years Settings and homes. A new and original rhyme action book to help creative play with babies and toddlers.

A great big crocodile lay down for a nap.

I lay down beside him until he went …SNAP!

Sixteen original play-rhymes, devised and tested to entertain the very young, but also to help develop vital cognitive skills and prevent dyslexia. They cover the events of a child's day from breakfast to bedtime, on themes like animals, bees, crocodiles, tractors, and many more.

My favourite page is Here Comes the Farmer… the red tractor has a load of hay and on its way to the horses, and then the cows and pigs. There are actions and suggestion on every page, easy to do and  easily remembered by the toddler. Learning will flow, discovering which action goes with which page.

Jane Newberry is the author and creator of the rhymes, she lives in Cornwall and has many years experience of working with children, creating play rhymes and songs for early years.

The illustrator who magically brings the rhymes to life is Carolina Rabei, who has a BA in Graphic Design from Moldova and a distinction from the Cambridge School of Art in the Children’s Book Illustrations course.

Otter Barry Books are the publishers and Big Green Crocodile is an engaging book, part of their delightful poetry collections for children. They are an insightful and creative publishers who excel at bringing a uniqueness to children's books with colour and imagination, making a difference in children’s lives.

Greatly recommend A Big Green Crocodile for Early Years Settings and anyone who reads, laughs and has fun with young children.

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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Three gifted poets team up with a collection of poems dealing with worries and anxieties and find ways to develop empathy and mindfulness.

Read about the Land of Blue, where it’s OK to feel sad, find ideas for what to do with worries or how to slow down when your head is full of hurry.

Give yourself time to chill out, find quiet voices in noisy places and discover kindness in yourself and others. Then maybe your own special thought machine will tell you, 

This important and unique anthology of 45 poems by three leading poets, well known for their empathy and perception, speaks to the heart of what children think and care about, offering understanding, support and encouragement. 

The publishers are Otter-Barry Books and part of their poetry collection which celebrates poets for children which make a difference to their lives. They have unique collections which are a valuable resource for schools and at home.

There are poems from Liz Brownlee, Matt Goodfellow and Laura Mucha with illustrations from Victoria Jane Wheeler. Poems which children will read and remember and will make a difference to how they see the world around them.

One of my favourites is What do to  with Worries?

Shout them to the ocean

Sigh them to the moon

Sing them to the sun...

In 2021, this book could be just the answer for so many children who are facing anxiety and worries about their life and the world.

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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The Lost Child of Chernobyl - cover image
'An imaginary story with imaginary characters but inspired by a real event ...'

An imaginary story with imaginary characters but inspired by a real event  that affected the whole world.

On 26th April 1986 at Chernobyl in Ukraine a nuclear reactor exploded sending huge clouds of radio active dust into the atmosphere with devastating results, especially for the people of Chernobyl.

This powerful graphic novel is inspired by that nuclear explosion at the Chernobyl power station, and is published for the 35th anniversary of the disaster.

One April night, people living near Chernobyl see a bright light in the sky...Everyone is told to move out of the forbidden zone around the destroyed nuclear reactor, but two stubborn old ladies, Anna and Klara, refuse to leave.

Nine years later, the forest wolves bring a ragged child to their door - a child who has been living with wolves in the forbidden zone. Who is the lost child of Chernobyl and will Anna and Klara be able to find the child's family after all this time?

Inspired by the real events of the global environmental disaster at Chernobyl in April 1986, this haunting and deeply relevant graphic novel is about the place of humans in the natural world, about healing, survival and the meaning of home.

Helen Bate is the award-winning author of Peter in Peril, USBBY Outstanding International Book, and Me and Mrs Moon. The graphics in the story excellently portray the reality of the aftermath and provide thought provoking materials for discussion

Otter-Barry are the publishers of courageous and inspirational books for children. The Lost Child of Chernobyl is one of their best!

I shall treasure this book as a reminder of that time in 1986, when the cloud of dust even came as far as the East of England. with difficult consequences.

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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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.