Dolphin Book Blog for younger readers

"I’m hungry! Fish are boring! I want something new. Something soft… and fluffy!"

Meet a little penguin who is super hungry but totally bored of eating fish. An older penguin recalls hearing of a fluffy creature called a ‘bolar pear’, so the little penguin sets off on an adventurous mission to find and eat this ‘mystery’ creature.

On arrival at the North Pole, the penguin can’t see a polar bear anywhere and eventually turns back home, hungry as ever. Little does penguin know that an equally hungry polar bear is following right behind...

This story will have readers gleefully shouting ‘it’s behind you!’ as this hilarious story unfolds. The reader can follow oblivious penguin on every step of its journey as it narrowly escapes being gobbled up by the polar bear.

Karl Newson is a best-selling, multi-award-winning children's book author. Author of the award winning picture book I Am a Tiger, the best-selling I Really Really Need a Wee and The Same But Different Too, plus many more! His stories have been translated in 29 languages around the world. Karl grew up in Norwich, England, and was inspired to write his first story when his children were small… he’s been writing stories ever since. He lives in London now, in a wonky old house full of pot plants and books.

Nicola Kinnear is an illustrator, storyteller, designer and maker from Kent. Nicola loves illustrating books for children and gravitates towards the magical and whimsical in her work, and is greatly inspired by nature and folklore.

Happy Yak is an imprint of Quarto Books  new imprint that publishes preschool board books, playful picture books, and accessible nonfiction for kids ages zero to seven.

A super book for the winter season, funny and with a great story, it will be a favourite for many children.

Sue Martin Children's Literacy Specialist

Little People, BIG DREAMS, Louis Braille, explores the life of the remarkable man behind Braille, the tactile reading and writing system.

Little Louis was a curious child – always exploring and having adventures. Then one day, while playing in his father’s workshop, he had an accident with a tool and eventually lost sight in both eyes. It was tricky to get used to, but with help from his family and a local teacher, Louis continued to learn and explore.

Aged ten, he moved to Paris to start at the Royal Institute for the Young Blind. Unfortunately, the school used a system that was very tricky, and didn’t allow pupils to write. Disappointed with alternatives, Louis began to develop his own system. When he shared his invention four years later, his teachers and classmates were amazed – his system used just six dots in a tiny space that fit under his fingertip, and included a complete alphabet, with punctuation marks, numbers and mathematical symbols.

It took many years for his system to be widely used, but little by little it spread across the world and came to be known as Braille. Today, Braille is used by more than six million people and there are codes for more than 133 languages.

Little People,Big Dreams is a brilliant series of books, widely used in schools, homes and libraries. They provide real insights into people and are great for children and adults to start a voyage of discovery.

Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara is the author of the books.

Ana Albero, the  illustrator of many of the titles was born in Alicante, Spain. She studied Visual Communication at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, and illustration at the University of the Arts Berlin.

Little People, Big Dreams is published by Frances Lincoln, children's books, part of Quarto and is an excellent place for resources and fascinating books.

Sue Martin Children's Literacy Specialist

When the Green Team come to Unity Street School to talk about climate change, the children have a great idea. They will make a wild area at their school!

With the help of Mr Moss, the caretaker, and the Green Team, the children clear the ground, sow wildflower-meadow seeds, and plant beans and hedge saplings. Then they wait… until… later that summer… something wonderful happens at Unity Street School!

We could all do with a Green Team full of inspiration and a way froward for the planet with young people at the helm. This delightful and inspiring story shows conservation and rewilding in action, as a group of children show the way to help our planet.

Full of ideas for conservation and would be a great project book for the summer holidays.

Sue Martin Children's Literacy Specialist

Step inside an enchanting woodland inhabited by delightful fairies with Fairy Treehouse, this magical doll's house in a book, complete with a handy guidebook to the woodlands and the fairy treehouse, ending with an easy-to-assemble, pop-up play scene that brings the story to life for hours of imaginative fun. 

This gorgeous book is a fairy wonderland, perfect for any child who loves doll's houses, fairy gardens and magical play adventures.

Fairy Treehouse starts off with a captivating 32-page picture book that tells the reader all about fairies of every kind – where they live, how to spot them in the wild, their secret magic spells and their incredible homes tucked away in nature's hidden corners. Each beautifully illustrated page explores a different enchanting aspect of woodland fairy life.

The final pages fold out and pop up into a stunning, three-dimensional fairy treehouse play scene that's sure to spark young imaginations and transport children into a world of wonder. The magical fairy treehouse features five separate rooms spread across three floors, each bursting with delightful details.

Six charming press-out fairy characters add to the excitement, bringing a cast of magical friends to life for endless storytelling and play adventures.

With a fold-away pop-up play scene and easy-to-store characters that pack away neatly for use again and again, plus timeless, folklore-inspired illustrations that capture the magic of fairy tales, Fairy Treehouse is a treasured keepsake your child will love for years to come. 

A wonderful book to read and to have fun with, educational too.

Sue Martin Children's Literary Specialist

A very special book to help anyone experiencing loss and grief. A beautiful companion title to the critically acclaimed The Hare-Shaped Hole, The Bear-Shaped Hole is a profound, heart-warming story that helps children understand and prepare for loss. 

Gerda and Orlo are best bear friends. When Gerda was there, Orlo always had time for a game or a story, a joke or a rhyme. He was never too busy to listen, to talk, to help, to share, or to go for a walk.

But slowly, something starts to change. Orlo reveals he is ill, and as he softly explains to Gerda, he is not going to get better. Gerda is overwhelmed by emotions she cannot quite explain, but Orlo gently helps her prepare, so they can spend their time together making memories that will last a lifetime. When the time comes, Gerda can fill the Bear-Shaped hole in her life with the special moments she shared with Orlo.

This brand new picture book is the latest powerful and moving tale from John Dougherty and Thomas Docherty, the award-winning creators of The Hare-Shaped Hole. This sensitively written and beautifully illustrated story explores the process of preparing for loss as well as the experience of loss itself.  Publishers are Frances Lincoln, part of the Quarto groups and so well known for their thoughtful and amazing books.

The Bear-Shaped Hole is a gentle, heartfelt tale that helps children navigate and understand the complex emotions associated with loss. Perfect for parents looking for a way to address sensitive topics, it covers a range of themes to support meaningful conversations.

This book is staying close to me as I also feel the sadness of loss and love

Sue Martin Children's Literacy Specialist