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Author: The Dolphin

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Wild Wolf is Inspired and adapted from a traditional Algonquin tale this powerful story, decorated with brightly coloured paintings based on the First Nation costumes and bead work is by international celebrated artist and winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal.

When the bravest warrior is refused as a suitor by beautiful Proud Girl, his heart turns to anger and revenge and he creates Ice Man who leads Proud Girl into danger. As the warmer weather returns and melts Ice Man, Proud Girl lays down to sleep in deep sorrow. Wild Wolf is the guardian spirit to the people of the high mountains and he saves Proud Girl. As Bravest Warrior realises what he has done he is sorry for his vengeance and Proud Girl returns to live with him by the lakes.

A moving story from long ago, the illustrations and text from Fiona French are evocative and deep and Wild Wolf is somewhere looking in on every page.

The story has been approved by an Algonquin storyteller and a donation from sales will go to Katarokwi Grandmother's Council of Kingston. Ontario.

A wonderful new book from Otter Barry Books, and part of their portfolio of books that will make a difference and push boundaries,

 

Sue Martin

 

 


Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.


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Take a ride through 26 fully illustrated search and find spreads, each one themed on a number. Count the animals going into Noah's Ark, two by two, spot 13 scary skeletons at the haunted house and 16 different things at the fun fair.

This is an amazing book to spend hours searching & spotting. Be warned children are  better than adults at this task!

You can learn numbers from 1-100, sharpen your visual skills, develop vocabulary and be an expert in search and find!

The two authors, Amanda Wood and Mike Jolley, plus illustrator Allan Sanders have come together with the publisher Wide Eyed Editions to create this beautifully produced book following on from Search and Find the Alphabet, which is a huge success.

Amanda Wood started her career in illustration at the Natural History Museum and then was the founding Editor and Publisher of Templar with many Greenaway winners.

Mike Jolley has worked in children's publishing for  25 years and is the author of several wonderfully illustrated books, such as Curiositree.

Allan Sanders has worked on animations for the FIFA world cup website and many books such as Little Explorers and How Machines Work.

Wide Eyed Editions have a high profile book list of top quality and intriguing books for children with attention to detail and the production of stunning books.

We love this book and I am about to take away with me to spend the evening searching for the 18 crazy golf objects!

Sue Martin


Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.


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All the best for 2020  Dolphin Book Blog readers!

Let's get started with a great new book from Tiny Owl Publishers.  This story will take you deep into the rivers and jungles of India, you can sense the heat, the place, the chatter between the other animals. And at the heart of the story you discover that not everyone, or every animal wishes you well all the time!

Under the Plum Tree is part of the One Story, Many Voices  series from Tiny Owl. It is written by Sufiya Ahmed and illustrated by  Reza Dalvand. It is an ancient Indian collection of animal fables from Panachatantra. This engaging story is of a friendship between a monkey and a crocodile,and the story takes you into the Indian jungle, from tree top to river. Mr Magarmach, the crocodile is too old to hunt and tells exciting stories every day about his adventures as a young and fierce crocodile to Miss Bandari, the monkey.

" There were tales of human hunters, pythons and lions, Miss Bandari clapped her hands and listened in wonder at the adventures of the past."

One day they set out together to meet King Crocodile, but all does not go well and they make a hasty retreat!! Mr Magarmach is banished from the swamp...

I love this book, the illustrations are woven around the text and add so much to a gripping tale.

Written by Sufiya Ahmed, who was born in India and lived in the UK since she was a baby.She is now a full-time author. In 2010 Sufiya set up the BIBI Foundation, a non-profit organisation, to arrange visits to the Houses of Parliament for diverse and underprivileged school children.

 

Reza Dalvand  studied graphic design at the Isfahan University of Fine Arts in Iran, he obtained a master’s degree in illustration at the University of Tehran. An illustrator and author of children’s books, he has published several children’s books in Persian, French, German and Japanese in Asia and Europe.

Tiny Owl is an independent publishing company committed to producing beautiful, original books for children. Established in 2015,their energy and passion stem from a belief that stories are bridges to new experiences.

Sue Martin


Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.


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Magnus the Arctic seal wakes up one morning, puzzled by a strange sound. What's that noise? Hare, Owl, Fox and Bear don't have any idea.  Magnus goes to investigate; through the frosty forest, on top of the snowy rocks, across the melting glacier and by the icy river, but still no idea!

Walrus has an idea. Magnus dives into the freezing ocean and eats all the little shrimps he can find. The sound stops, well for while... but what is that rumbling sound?

A beautifully illustrated picture book of animals from the polar regions. Arctic hares, polar bears, Arctic Fox and Walrus.

Naomi Howarth, author and illustrator creates books which capture the imagination and tell stories of our world through the animals she bring into the books. In 2015, she was shortlisted for the Waterstones' Book Prize and she has exhibited work in National Gallery of Scotland.

Otter-Barry Books are the publishers and What's that Noise? is definitely a book that children will love and it will make a difference to their understanding of the world around them.

Sue Martin

 

 


Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.


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Bethlehem has never been so busy, Leah is the innkeeper's daughter and is rushed off her feet.

Then in the starlight miracles begin to happen.  This is a beautiful , fresh, new telling to the Nativity Story through the eyes of a young girl. It brings wonderful humanity to the Nativity story. In Bethlehem today, there will be young girls just like Leah walking through the streets star gazing.

"Leah reached her own street. But suddenly, she stopped quite still. A great silver star was shining right above her home."

The story is written for everyone and not just for those who believe in the Nativity story. There is a message of hope, peace and love, threaded throughout, and we all sometimes need to find that in a little space, whether  a stable or somewhere else.

The author Margaret Bateson-Hill is a famous children's author , including her series of Dragon Racer. The illustrator Karin Littlewood has a huge collection of children's book illustrations including The Colour of Home.

Alanna Max are the publishers and have a fantastic portfolio of beautiful books alive with diversity.

The last page in Leah's Star has a powerful message of love and knowing ...but I will leave that for you to find.

Happy Christmas from the Dolphin Book Blog

 

 

 


Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.


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A beautifully illustrated, well told story...

"Deep in the jungle lived a fearless tiger. No other animal was as strong and powerful as he was."

But for all his boldness and strength he could not outfight the cunning human hunters.

He was brought back to be kept in a cage and stared at by inquisitive eyes.

A moving, thought provoking story, superbly illustrated by Petr Horacek, award winning picture book creator, a fable for our time.

It is a moving story about freedom and it addresses conservation and animal rights issues. The glowing, expressive artwork is a powerful imaginative stimulus and is an absolute joy to turnover each special page.

Petr Horacek was born in Prague and moved to England in 1994 after graduating at the Academy of Fine Art. He has created numerous high quality, award winning picture books.

Petr has an interesting article on his blog about inspiration and converting ideas to art work- really great!

Otter-Barry Books is an exciting imprint which publishes amazing books, just like The Last Tiger.

Sue Martin

 


Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.


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Three outstanding new books from Tiny Owl, beautifully presented and stories and illustrations to set your imaginations alight!

The Secret of the Tattered Shoes - cover image
A beautiful book!

The Secret of the Tattered Shoes written by Jackie Morris and illustrated by Ehsan Abdollahi.

A fresh interpretation of the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale about twelve dancing princesses who are locked in at night, yet whose shoes are worn down by morning. But unlike the original story, this soldier seeks a different ending. Jackie's dark and poetic text updates this well known tale and intriguingly shows how stories adapt and change.

Beautifully illustrated by Ehsan Abdollahi  with a style that encapsulates the beauty and melancholy of the story.

Fair Shares - cover image
A tale, beautifully illustrated, with a message too!

Fair Shares is written by Pippa Goodhart and illustrated by Anna Doherty.

Hare and Bear would love some juicy pears. But the tree is just too tall. So Hare finds some chairs to help. Hare has two chairs but Bear only has one. " That's not fair!" says Bear.

But a little friend teaches then that being fair isn't always everyone getting the same thing...

 

Quill Soup - cover image
A heart-warming story, not prickly at all...

Quill Soup by illustrator Dale Blankenaar and written by Alan Durrant

The third in the series 'One Story, Many Voices' series from Tiny Owl.

Noko the porcupine is very hungry. On arriving at the village, he asks the other animals for food and shelter. But despite their full bellies, they say they have nothing. So Noko sets about making soup from the quills on his back, which is so tasty that even the king likes it. Once the villagers hear of his plan they all want to share with him.

Three wonderful books a pleasure to read and to share.

Sue Martin

 


Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.


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‘Hmmm,’ said the marsupial studying the map.

Quite doable, but we’d better get going right away.’

Mr Chicken was always ready for adventure, so off they went.

A wonderful book from Leigh Hobbs of all the places that Mr Chicken could have possibly have ever visited in that huge country of Australia. Never daunted Mr Chicken just gets straight on in there, visiting, stopping for lunch and dinner, going to all the famous places and many others beside.

From Wallaroo to Pinnaro, from Goondiwindi to Mataranka (spell check can take a break here!) and of course Sydney, Queensland and Tassie (that’s Tasmania to you and I from the UK!) and did I mention Melbourne, or isn’t that where Mr Chicken is from?

This is a great book and makes wonderful reading for children and adults too, with the amazing illustrations, which are true Leigh Hobbs style, published by Allen and Unwin

The book is dedicated to the many children, teachers and librarians Leigh Hobbs met as the 2016-2017 Australian Children’s Laureate.

Thoroughly recommended for children of all ages and for adults too. In the school, library and at home this a wonderful read and an adventure across Australia.

So join Mr Chicken on his latest adventure and be sure to book your ticket on Qantas!!

 

Sue Martin


Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.


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In our loft office on the edge of Cambridge, UK, I always look forward to receiving new books to review from Allen and Unwin of Australia. Two brilliant new picture books arrived in mid September, just right for starting our school year in the UK.

Our Little Inventor by Sher Rill Ng is about Nell, who wants to save the planet from extinction. She has a new invention that she is sure will save the world. But no one believes her.

"We don't have time to look at a child's toy," she is told at an important meeting in the city. But eventually, when no one can breathe anymore she is able to clean the air.

Beautiful story written and illustrated by Sher Rill Ng, who is based in Melbourne. Her illustrations are beautifully atmospheric and hew website if full of her images and stories, amazing!

Ivanhoe Sweet Left Home at Six by Jane Godwin and A.Yi is the adventure of Ivanhoe who decided that he needed to see the world and set off with a sandwich, a kite and how map of the world. The illustrations are full of a sense of a future and Ivanhoe eventually sees that once he has finished hos sandwich, crossed the river and found the edge of the sea that maybe it is time to go home!

A great book for reading aloud and for children to follow their own dreams of adventure.

Recommend Our Little Inventor and Ivanhoe Swift Left Home at Six  for ages 3- 7, children at home and in nursery and schools, libraries too!

Sue Martin


Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.


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Getting ready for Pre- School  Kindergarten is a big thing! Lulu is  more than ready, or so she thinks. She has a brand new bag for all her things and a special water bottle. She would like to wear her very frilly party dress but Mum says, " Maybe not!"

Lulu's First Day is just the book to have for the start of life in education and learning. The illustrations are delightful and the text is just right for young children to hear and understand. It also makes a good start in finding words at the early reading stage.

Anna McQuinn is the author of Lulu's First Day and other books in the series and has a real talent for knowing which words to choose the important things for all young children.

Rosalind Beardshaw has some beautiful images in this book and they are warming and engaging.

Beautiful book from Alanna Max publishers, who are a small  independent publishers and have a very exciting and appealing portfolio of books for young children.

Recommended for ages 2-4 years and for parents of any age!!

Sue Martin


Dolphinbooksellers.co.uk is part of SmithMartin LLP

A retail resource for the best children's books, entry point into our children's and community library procurement and supply service. Offering a miscellany of news and featured authors for all our readers, whatever their age.