My Easter Bunny by Vicky Young is a children’s tale for the under fives.
There is a moral about giving second chances and apologising when you are wrong. Kindness goes a long way – if you give it out, it comes bouncing back to you.
It is easy to empathise with Sammy, the young girl, as we all have toys that we are afraid of but our parents love!
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My Little Prayer Book by Auntie Theo (Theodora Akpan) is a beautiful book for young children. It will help them to build a relationship with God.
There are ten individual prayers, all simply written in everyday language that everyone can understand. We see the importance of listening for God’s answers, praising Him in church and building a personal relationship with Him. We see how our fathers love us and so does our heavenly Father.
Sometimes we cannot ‘see’ or ‘feel’ God but He is still there walking beside us.
Every prayer is accompanied by a simple illustration. The picture and the content of the prayer can be starting points to talk with our children about the love of God for us. We see that we need God and others in our lives.
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The Valley Of Lost Secrets by Lesley Parr is a marvellous children’s novel for ages ten and over.
The novel is written in the first person from the point of view of twelve year old Jimmy, who along with his brother six year old Ronnie, is evacuated to a Welsh mining village. The reader witnesses how hard it is to settle when everything has been ripped away from you. It almost feels like a betrayal if you start to feel happy. Jimmy experiences many conflicting emotions as he receives unconditional kindness.
There is a beautiful caring bond between the brothers as Jimmy knows just what Ronnie needs to flourish.
The evacuees from London meet both kindness and hostility from the locals, both young and old. Those who should know better are quick to point the finger and criticise and accuse.
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Zoo Buddies The Chimps Surprise Party by Joanne Morgan is the most delightful book for the under fives.
It is beautifully illustrated by Angelika Scudamore who has put so much detail into each page – including a small caterpillar called Clive who is hiding on every page. I just could not turn over until I had found him! All the zoo buddies are colourful with friendly faces drawing the reader in. Each page is there to be savoured.
The story is simple and easily understood – planning a surprise party means all the animals must work together to ensure success.
I absolutely loved the zoo buddies and am glad to see it is the first in a new series. Every nursery and home with young children should have a copy, not just because it is beautiful but because it could entertain for hours.
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