Picture Books - Inspiring Feed

Eddie's Toolbox: And How To Make And Mend Things by Sarah Garland

Eddie's ToolboxFrances Linclon Publishers, London, 2011

Hardcover, 40 pages

ISBN: 978-1-8478-0053-4

Suggested reading age: 4+

Reviewed by: Indrani Perera

Rating: *****

When Eddie's new neighbour, Tom, moves in next door, he asks Eddie to help him fix some things. Soon Eddie is learning how to use a measuring tape, hammer and saw.   Before long he has made a boat for his little sister, has fixed his Mum's glasses and made a bird feeder. 

This book is wonderful. It shows young children that they can make and mend. The things Eddie makes are simple and inspiring.  There are notes at the end of the book about basic tools for a budding young maker and about attracting birds to your garden. 

Other titles in this series: Eddie's Kitchen: And How to Make Good Things To Eat and Eddie's Garden: How To Make Things Grow.


My Big Barefoot Book of Wonderful Words by Sophie Fatus

My Big Barefoot Book of Wonderful Words

Barefoot Books, Bath, 2014

Hardcover, 48 pages

ISBN: 978-1-7828-5091-5

Suggested reading age: 3+

Reviewed by: Indrani Perera

Rating: *****

My five year old daughter loves this book and so do I!  It is a great picture book / first reader.  The book takes us through a day in the life of Felix, Sam, Maya, their parents, grandfather and pets.  The gorgeous illustrations are labelled with descriptive words so little readers can start to connect word with meaning.  Think of it as a step up from flash cards with a story to boot.  Interspersed with the story are pages asking questions like, "What kind if home would you like to live in?" and "Which story characters would you like to meet".  On these pages are gorgeous illustrations and descriptions of different options the reader can choose.  These pages fit neatly into the overall story.  A brilliant book to share with your budding young reader, In would highly recommend it.


Daisy Saves the Day by Shirley Hughes

Daisy Saves the Day

Walker Books, London, 2014

Hardcover, 40 pages

ISBN: 13 digits

Suggested reading age: 8+

Reviewed by: Indrani Perera

Rating: *****

Shirley Hughes is another of my favourite author / illustrators.  Daisy Saves the Day is a good picture book for older readers curious about what things used to be like for children.  As well as a glimpse into the past, it is also a great story.  Daisy Dobbs is sent far from home by her mother to be a scullery maid.  Although Daisy works very hard, she isn't very good at housework and longs to be able to go to school again.  This could be a good book to read to kids who are having a hard time at school.  Perhaps things aren't so bad for them after all!


A Bus Called Heaven

A Bus Called Heaven

Candlewick Press US, Cambridge, MA, 2012

Hardcover, 40 pages

ISBN: 978-0-7636-5893-9

Suggested reading age: 5+

Reviewed by: Indrani Perera

Rating: *****

I have only just discovered Bob Graham and I love his books.  They are quiet, gentle and inspiring.  Reading them makes me want to be a better person and leave the world a better place.  A Bus Called Heaven is no exception.

In A Bus Called Heaven, an old abandoned bus is left on the street.  Stella finds it and everyone helps to push it into her front yard.  It quickly becomes a meeting point for her community as the adults clean up the bus while the children play underneath it.  People bring donations for the bus, street gang The Ratz paint it, and Mrs Stavros brings a bus cake.  Until one day, a tow truck arrives to tow the bus away because it is obstructing the footpath.  What will Stella and her friends do?


Let's Eat by Ana Zamorano and Julie Vivas

Let's Eat

Scholastic, New York, 2003

Paperback, 32 pages

ISBN: 978-0-4390-6758-4

Suggested reading age: 3+

Reviewed by: Indrani Perera

Rating: *****

Julie Vivas is one of my favourite illustrators and in Let's Eat she has teamed up with Ana Zamorano to create a gorgeous tale about Antonio and his family.  

Every day at 2pm, Antonio and his family gather at the big wooden table his Papa made to eat their lunch.  There are seven people in the family, soon to be eight as Antonio's mother is going to have a baby any day now.  I loved the family mealtimes with Alicia asking a thousand questions and Salvador wriggling off his chair to hide under the table.  This book is full of Spanish phrases and has a glossary at the back.


The Secret Remedy Book by Karin Cates & Wendy Anderson Halperin

The Secret Remedy BookScholastic, New York, 2003

Hardcover, 40 pages

ISBN: 978-0-4393-5226-0

Suggested reading age: 5+

Reviewed by: Indrani Perera

Rating: *****

In The Secret Remedy Book, Lolly goes to stay with her aunt, on her own, for a whole month.  It is something that she has been wanting to do for a very long time.  But after her parents drive away, she begins to feel sad and homesick.  Her lovely Aunt Zep knows just why to do.  Together they search for The Secret Remedy book and set about completing each remedy in the book before the first hoot of the owl.

After reading this book, I wanted to create a Secret Remedy book just like the one that Lolly and Aunt Zepp use.  Full of good remedies such drinking apple juice so fresh that you could taste the blossoms of the apples, take a walk as far as you can to see something you've never noticed before and feeding a wild thing.


Nurse Clementine by Simon James

Nurse ClementineWalker Books, London, 2013

Hardcover, 40 pages

ISBN: 978-1-4063-3862-1

Suggested reading age: 3+

Reviewed by: Indrani Perera

Rating: ***

I think every child goes through a phase of playing doctors.  I know I did and my girls love playing doctors and using their doctor's kit to bandage their toys, each other and the cat when they can catch him!  In this story, Nurse Clementine gets a nurse's kist for her birthday and sets about bandaging everyone except her little brother who flatly refuses.  That is, until there is a real emergency and he finds that he does need Nurse Clementine's help after all.  A lovely story about siblings and caring for each other. 

My only complaint about this book is that Clementine is a nurse - I wish she was a doctor.  Girls can be doctors too you know, and we shouldn't limit them to nursing.  Not there is anything wrong with nursing, mighty fine profession, highly undervalued and all.  Oops, I think I may be getting myself in trouble here - I hope you know what I mean and take my comment in good faith!


On a Beam of Light by Jennifer Berne & Vladimir Radunsky

On a beam of light

Chronicle Books, San Francisco, 2013

Hardcover, 56 pages

ISBN: 978-0-8118-7235-5

Suggested reading age: 6+

Reviewed by: Indrani Perera

Rating: ****

This is a beautifully written and illustrated story about Albert Einstein's life and work.  In this picture book, Jennifer Berne and Vladimar Radunsky make Einstein come alive.  They share moments from his childhood, his search to do the work that he loved and his legacy.  Einstein was a curious child who was always asking questions and wondering. He got into trouble at school for always asking questions.  Something I am sure that a lot of children can relate to.  Their thirst and quest for knowledge seems at times to be unquenchable!

The book is a lovely way to introduce your children to one of the greatest scientists of our time.  It gives them encouragement to wonder, think and imagine as well as telling them that to be different is okay.  Einstein wore shoes without socks and said that now he was grown up, no-one could tell him to put on his socks!  The book includes an author's note at the end with more information about Einstein's life and work plus further reading.  Younger readers may not understand all the science references but they will enjoy the story of Einstein's life.


Mouse Mansion: Sam and Julia at the Theatre by Karina Schaapman

Mouse Mansion - TheatreAllen & Unwin, Crows Nest, 2013

Hardcover, 68 pages

ISBN: 978-1-7433-1843-0

Suggested reading age: 3+

Reviewed by: Indrani Perera

Rating: *****

In this gorgeous book, Karina Shaapman has created a whole miniature world out of cardboard orange boxes to tell the story of Sam and Julia at the Theatre.  As she says, Mouse Mansion is "...a little bit wonky, with a retro, shabby-chic look about it."  It is the best dollhouse you will ever see and it fills both children and adults alike with a sense of wonder.  I cannot do it justice in this review - this is one book you really have to see for yourself.

Other titles in this series- Mouse Mansion: Sam and Julia, Mouse Mansion: Sam and Julia at the Circus.


Building Our House by Jonathan Bean

Building Our House

Farrar Straus Giroux, New York, 2013

Hardcover, 48 pages

ISBN: 978-0-3743-8023-6

Suggested reading age: 4+

Reviewed by: Indrani Perera

Rating: *****

Ever since I was 17, I have wanted to buy a rural block of land and build my own house, just like the family in this book.  Based on a true story, Building Our House tells the story of how the author's parents bought a block of land in the country and lived in a caravan while they built their house by hand.  Collecting rocks from a neighbour's yard, mixing concrete and cutting timber with hand tools,  it took them five years. The author says "...it's hard for me to think of a better place to have grown up."  And I have to agree.