Picture Book of the Month
May 2025
Goodnight Everyone. Written and illustrated by Chris Haughton
A series of exquisitely coloured cut pages of increasing size introduce woodland families - bears, deer, rabbits and teeny, tiny mice - who are all beginning to feel really tired! 'Dear me', says Great Big Bear, 'it must be time for bed!'. But Little Bear is certainly not sleepy - he's wide awake!
April 2025
My Mate Mark is a Hammerhead Shark! Written by Jeanne Willis, Ilustrated by Adrian Reynolds
Mark the hammerhead shark doesn't have it easy - unless he wears a disguise, waiters won't serve him, and he can't go anywhere without people screaming and running away or teasing him.
But when a little boy befriends him on a cruise ship holiday, he can see something in Mark that everyone else can't.
Could Mark be a harmless hero?
March 2025
The Dictionary Story by Oliver Jeffers & Sam Winston
Dictionary wishes she could tell a story just like the other books. So one day she decides to bring her words to life. How exciting it is, she thinks, that an adventure is finally happening on her very own pages! But what will she do when everything gets out of control, all in a jumble, and her characters collide causing the most enormous tantrum to explode. This isn't what she wanted at all! How on earth will she find sense in all this chaos? Her friend Alphabet knows exactly what to do and sings a song that brings calm and order to Dictionary's pages once again.
February 2025
Loved to Bits - written by Teresa Heapy, illustrated by Katie Cleminson
My ted's special. Stripy Ted. We make adventures round my bed. But he's no longer at his best. So will I love hime more - or less? Find out in this funny, tender, and action-packed tale about a boy and the very special bond he has with his favourite teddy bear.
January 2025
Mavis the Bravest - Written by Lu Fraser, Illustrated by Sarah Warburton.
Mavis is not like her adventurous friend Marge. Mavis is a chicken who finds EVERYTHING scary (night-time and daytime and anything hairy!).
So when the slumbering peace of their cosy barn is disturbed by someone trying to steal their friend Sandra the sheep, will Mavis be able
to find her bright spark of braveness and save Sandra?
December 2024
Usborne Touchy Feely The Nativity - Written by Fiona Watt, Illustrated by Rachel Wells
Charming illustrations by Rachel Wells accompany a delightful, tactile retelling of the Christmas story, complete with fluffy donkeys, woolly sheep, a glittering angel and, or course, the baby Jesus sleeping in his soft blanket.
November 2024
The Wilderness. Written and illustrated by Steve McCarthy
The Vasylenko family are adventurers. They all love the wet and the wild, the thrill of exploring the outside world. All that is - except Oktober.
He prefers the warm and safe comfort of the inside world, and for his adventures to take place between the pages of a book. But tomorrow, Oktober has to join his family on a trek into the slimy, grimy and climby wild, where he sees only danger and worry and fears a creature called 'The Wilderness'!
Failing to keep his wits about him could be dangerous though - it may even get him a bit lost. But perhaps getting lost is just what Oktober needs to find himself and maybe even make an unexpected friend.
October 2024
Pick a Pumpkin Written by Patricia Toht, illustrated by Jarvis
Pick a pumpkin from the patch – tall and lean or short and fat. Vivid orange, ghostly white, or speckled green, might be just right...
Illustrated by the winner of the V&A Best Illustrated Book 2017
It’s Halloween! Which means it's time to dangle cobwebs and bats from the windows, put on costumes, and – most important of all – visit the pumpkin patch and pick out that perfect pumpkin! Then cart it home, scoop out the insides, carve a scary face, and finally light a candle inside, transforming it into a one-of-a-kind, glowing jack-o’-lantern.
With warm, autumnal art, and a rhythmic read-aloud text that captures all the excitement and familial feeling of Halloween, this is the perfect book to share by flickering candlelight on the spookiest night of the year.
September 2024
Look Up! Written by Nathan Bryon, illustrated by Dapo Adeola
Rocket is a stargazer extraordinaire! She wants everyone in her town to LOOK UP before they miss a spectacular sight in the sky, but will they do so in time? A perfect read to if you caught last month's Perseid Meteor Shower.
August 2024
Wild Book Day by Karl Newson, illustrated by James Brown
Characters from different stories collide to celebrate our rich tapestry of children's literature. As pages wildly come to life, this riotous read not only entertains but also shows the magic of storytelling and the importance of keeping the joy of reading alive. With every turn of the page, it's a celebration of the limitless worlds within books, encouraging young minds to become active participants in their everyday reading adventures.
July 2024
We Are All Neighbours by Alexandra Penfold, illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman
Let's go walking down our street.
Friends and neighbours here to greet.
Oh so many folks to meet.
We are all neighbours here.
Welcome to a neighbourhood where everyone is welcome. A neighbourhood where children of every culture play together, sharing food and laughter, and learning from each other's traditions. A neighbourhood where diversity is a strength.
From the creators of the no.1 New York Times bestselling All Are Welcome comes a triumphant picture book that celebrates diversity, kindness and the power of community. Here, we are ALL neighbours!
June 2024
A Superhero Like You by Dr Ranj Singh
Lily knows exactly what she wants to be when she grows up: a superhero! But she's not interested in being a silly superhero. She doesn't want to wear her pants outside her trousers! Lily wants to be a REAL superhero: the kind who helps people and makes the world a better place.
Join Lily as she meets the extraordinary superheroes all around us, from doctors, teachers and air ambulance paramedics to scientists, recycling truck drivers and carers. Discover the amazing work these real-life heroes do using their incredible superpowers of kindness, care and love.
This uplifting picture book celebrates key-workers, and shows little readers that we all have the potential within us to be superheroes.