The Bookshop Dog

Scamper loves living at The Happy Tails Bookshop with Paige. He has been welcomed to the area by everyone in the neighbourhood and he loves them all, especially Paige. He decides to follow her example by picking out some books he thinks his friends might enjoy with great success- but will he be able to find something to put a smile on Paige’s face?

‘The Bookshop Dog’ is a delightfully heart-warming story about love, community- and the joys of a good book!

Scamper is absolutely adorable and is sure to win the hearts of everyone who read the book, just as he won the hearts of his local community. He shows that by paying attention and noticing little things it is possible to find the right book for anyone- perhaps something they might not have chosen for themselves. Reading is celebrated on every page and the story is sure to inspire discussions about favourite books, new books and reading habits in general!

Children are sure to enjoy the word play as much as the adults they share the story with- Paige, Happy Tails Bookshop, the doggy titles of the books- all add to the joy of the tale. The illustrations are just as wonderful, offering lots of details to notice and discuss. Children are sure to spot how distracted Paige has become and notice her preoccupation with the pile of bills she keeps looking at. which contrast with the delight on every face as the story reaches its very satisfying conclusion. ‘Reading is a way of coming home…’- how poignant and how true!

The Bookshop Dog

Harriet Evans, illustrated by Claire Shorrock

Little Tiger ISBN: 978-1838917258

I Turtley Love You/Don’t Ever Smile at a Shark

Today, I’m reviewing two delightful books from Little Tiger which take little readers under the sea, both written by Harriet Evans, but illustrated by Bryony Clarkson (Turtle) and Michael Slack (Shark).

‘I Turtley Love You’ is a beautifully produced board book. Sturdy board pages and colourful illustrations are enhanced by both cut outs and raised sections, offering plenty of tactile interest for little fingers to enjoy. The gentle rhyming text focuses on the love between adult and child as different sea creatures are introduced.

As well as emphasising a feeling of love and being special, the illustrations and text could lead to conversations about these sea creatures and finding out more about them. Little ones who have seen ‘Finding Nemo’, for example, may make the connection between Marlin and Nemo and the clownfish in the story. The interactive element of the cut outs allows them to play peek-a-boo with the young clown fish by flipping the page back and forth. There are also plenty of details to spot, like the heart shapes made by the crabs claws. It is a delightful little book with much to recommend it!

I Turtley Love You: A sea-riously cute Book of love!

Harriet Evans, illustrated by Bryony Clarkson

Little Tiger ISBN: 9781838915681

Also under the sea, ‘Don’t Ever Smile at a Shark’ is a wonderfully interactive read! Clever paper engineering means the pop-ups move in different ways as an array of sea creatures leap off the page.

The rhyming text is fun to read aloud with plenty of opportunities for little ones to join in with the story, making noises and perhaps actions to suit. As with the previous story, this one might lead to further investigation about the creatures pictured here. Children are sure to enjoy manipulating the book to make the pages move - and older children (and some adults!) are sure to want to investigate how the movement is created. Sure to become a firm favourite!

Don’t Ever Smile at a Shark

Harriet Evans, illustrated by Michael Slack

Little Tiger ISBN: 978-1838915292