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Two new books for the Zeki series from Anna MacQuinn & Ruth Hearson.

Inclusive picture books which celebrate every day routines and shared time in early childhood. The illustrations are perfect for young children who will easily see the connections with their own daily lives. The text is just right for reading short sections and can easily lead to talking about the pictures.  A real delight in picture book series for home and nursery.

Zeki Rise and Shine

After a big sleep, it’s time for Zeki to wake up! His eyes, ears, mouth & nose, head, shoulders, knees & toes shimmy, shake and bounce into action. By the last spread, he’s ready for anything! An energetic companion to Zeki Sleep Tight, this is a perfect way to start the day.

After a busy day, it’s time for Zeki to slow down… One by one, his senses get ready to sleep. The room is hushed, the lights low – and after a dozy story, he’s already beginning to nod off.
A gentle companion to Zeki Rise & Shine, this is a perfect way to end the day.

Perfect gift for baby and parent. Celebrates all that is good about life as a baby.

Sue Martin - Children's Literacy Specialist

Part of Books Go Walkabout, Stories across the world.

 


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 partnership with their sponsors, Hachette Children's Book Group (HCG), and Peters, who support the award, the School Library Association are pleased to announce the 2022 winners of their Information Book Award (IBA).

Now in its twelfth year, the IBA aims to emphasise the importance of non-fiction by highlighting and celebrating the high standard of children's information books. This year's shortlist was made up of ten terrific titles, covering themes of science, art and diversity.

The awards are divided into three age categories, judged by a panel of educators against a criteria that assesses the quality of the text and illustrations, accuracy, bias and currency, alongside areas such as indexes, glossaries, content and whether it is likely to fire the enthusiasm of young readers.

In the 0-7 category, the judges have crowned Meet the Microbes, written by Dr Emily Grossman and illustrated by Maggie Li (Wren & Rook), as the winner. With illustrations that help readers to visualise concepts that can be hard to understand, this title is a colourful exploration of how these tiny living things play a crucial role in our existence.

The judges' winner of the 8-12 age category is Making a Baby: An Inclusive Guide to How Every Family Begins by Rachel Greener, illustrated by Clare Owen (Nosy Crow). Praised by judges as being "interesting, factually correct, and insightful", this book crucially celebrates the diversity of many different types of family.

The winner of the 13-16 age category - and taking the title of the overall judges' winner - is Black Artists Shaping the World by Sharna Jackson & Dr Zoé Whitley (Thames and Hudson).

The judges hail this title as "a stunning beginners' guide to the best of contemporary Black art". Populated with "dynamic black and white portraits", the "thoughtfully presented examples of a wide range of types of art [with] clear, concise text and exceptional design" creates a "classic" for any school library.

As well as the judges' choices, children have also had the opportunity to vote for their favourite book from the shortlist in order to determine an additional Children's Choice winner in each age category, and one overall. Generously funded by the Foyle Foundation, this year schools were invited to take part in the IBA Book Club, through which 24 lucky schools received a bundle of free books from a relevant age category in exchange for sharing their experiences of using the shortlist in their school library or classroom and taking part in the 2022 Children's Choice voting.

Students showed their agreement with the judges by giving Black Artists Shaping the World its third win as the Children's Choice Winner of the 13-16 age category. An eye-popping celebration of Black history, Black and British: An Illustrated History by David Olusoga, illustrated by Jake Alexander and Melleny Taylor (Macmillan Children's Books) was named the Children's Choice Winner of the 8-12 age category, as well as the Children's Choice Overall Winner. And finally, Katie Daynes and Jordan Akpojaro's gentle and sensitive lift-the-flap book, What is Racism?, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat (Usborne), was crowned the Children's Choice Winner of the 0-7 age category.

These votes from children across the UK show an overwhelming affinity to books that focus on race, with the winners in each age category being titles that celebrate the history and contributions of Black people and thoughtfully explore race for even the youngest of readers.

For further information  visit  SLA  

Sue Martin - Children's Literacy Specialist

Part of Books Go Walkabout, Stories across the world.

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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Furry tails, shiny tails, and tails which are bouncy!

A wonderfully tactile book with lemur and seahorse, busy beaver and blue whale the mighty swimmer. A real sensory experience on every page. To be published on November 8th 2022.

The beautiful illustrations are from Suryia Sajnani and capture the mood of the animal perfectly. Little faces will be enchanted by each of the animals as tiny fingers trace their different tails.

The board book size is just perfect for tiny fingers and hands and will develop their sensory and motor skills.

Happy Yak the publishers are an imprint of Quarto Kids and their books are an absolute delight in style, content and sheer enjoyment as an introduction to books.

They are a  loveable new imprint that publishes preschool board books, playful picture books, and accessible nonfiction for kids ages zero to seven. Books are bright and accessible, with eye-catching design, contemporary illustration, and engaging, entertaining text. With a focus on the latest trends and a strong seasonal offering, our books are perfect for small children with big personalities.

Sue Martin - Children's Literacy Specialist

Part of Books Go Walkabout
Part of Books Go Walkabout

 


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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Taming the lion that roars deep within you! This is a picture book with a difference. In Timmy’s room, they could be just what they wanted to be, dress in sparkly costumes and sing until their heart soared. But when asked to perform at the school Timmy became withdrawn and that lion roared and roared.  A friend, called Nia came to the rescue and supported Timmy in all the shyness and fear. The lion’s roar is quelled, and Timmy realises that the lion is frightened too.

Beautifully descriptive with wonderful illustrations, a truly imaginative and engaging book about starting new ventures and being a small person with a big heart. A roaring lion can prevent anyone from being filled with adventure and good ideas.

Written and illustrated by Harry Woodgate, Timid joins other brilliant titles from Harry, such as Grandad’s Pride and Grandad’s Camper which won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize for Best Illustrated Book 2022

Published on Oct 13th 2022, by Little Tiger Press. Timid joins a wonderfully imaginative and engaging portfolio of books from Board Books to Chapter books.

Timid is perfect for home, school and nursery. With its vibrancy and uplifting story centred on a non binary main character. I shall definitely be taking this book to schools with me!

Sue Martin Children’s Literacy Specialist

Part of Books Go Walkabout, Stories across the world.

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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Who jumped, slithered, and stretched into the bed last night? That’s what Dad wants to know in this wiggly, giggly bedtime book! Written in catchy, sing-song verse, this adorably illustrated book will be a bedtime favourite. Children will love seeing who jumps into the bed next, and parents will appreciate the dad who, after a sleepless night, still gets up and saves the day!

A peaceful night was changed when different animals find their way into the bed. The cat who wandered, the dog who bounded and the giraffe who stretched...

A great book for sharing in a nursery or at home. You can explore how different words reflect the actions of the animals and it can become a learning experience!

Pictures are fun and quirky and very descriptive on mood and actions. I really enjoyed this delightful book and recommend for any Early Years setting and at home.

Written by Joe Rhatigan    who has a great Facebook page with other great books too.

Illustrator is Julia Seal who is hugely talented with colourful and lively pictures.

Sunbird Books are a great new publishers we are pleased to work with. They have some amazing books for early years and beyond, books with a difference.

Sue Martin - Children's Literacy Specialist

Part of Books Go Walkabout, Stories across the world.

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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There’s more than one way to say “bark!”. Comedy ensues in this not-quite-wordless picture book as different dogs, each with a different bark, learn to communicate with each other… and a cat.

Intriguing and, delightful pages with dogs of all shapes and sizes and all kinds of ways of saying ‘Bark!’

In fact you will learn how to say Bark in eight different European languages. And even more interestingly you will find ways of making yourself understood with common ground and a greater understanding.

Love the images and the intrigue of exploring the ways dogs can be soooo expressive!

'Sunbird Books is the home for innovative and original books for children. From board books to picture books to graphic novels, our titles represent strong, lively, and diverse voices that reflect children’s realities and feed their imaginations while nurturing up-and-coming writers and illustrators from around the world.'

These aims are very close to our hearts at Books Go Walkabout. The joy and importance of books in pictures and words is precious! Sunbird Books have a range of resources to accompany the books too.

Bork is a great book for all nurseries and early years.

Sue Martin Children's Literacy Specialist

Part of Books Go Walkabout, stories across the world...

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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Such a great book! Everyone who has ever had a cat, knows they are the best characters ever.

‘I love my cat. That shiny black fur. That tiny white ring, that goes right round the tip of her tail, I think it means she might be magic!’

Her name is Aditi or Adie, Adie Adster, she can climb up walls, open the door and do all sorts of magic things. She is perfect , well nearly. One day whilst helping her best friend the little girl, to eat her toast, she just digs her claws in  tooooo hard! And the little girl shouts.

Adie,Adie, Adster goes outside. But she doesn’t come back that day or that night or for a whole week. Everyone is very worried. Until one day, hiding behind the pots in the garden she reappears as if nothing has happened.

A beautiful story and a beautiful book, perfect for those of us with a ‘cat of character' at home.

Simon Mole, the author, has some great video clips and amazing online writing workshops. Definitely a good opportunity for teachers!

Sam Usher, the illustrator has created  fantastic images of the family, the cat  and brings the story to life with illustrations which flow with the story.

Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, part of the Quarto Group have an exciting portfolio of children’s books and I Love my Cat is a great addition.

Published on July 5th, this book is one to buy for the summer hols.

Sue Martin, Children's Literacy Specialist


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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Meet Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon.

Another brilliant book in the Little People, Big Dreams series from Frances Lincoln Children's Books, part of the Quarto Group. 

As a child Neil just knew that he wanted to be a pilot and fly. He grew up as the oldest son of the Armstrong family from Ohio, USA. After studying aeronautical engineering and time spent in the navy, he became a pilot. From there, he was selected to take a trip to where no human had gone before – the moon! Along with his team, Buzz and Mike, he was the captain of the Apollo 11. And Neil took a giant step for humankind as the first person to ever step onto the surface of the moon.

This inspiring book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the legendary astronaut.

Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara is the author with an amazing skill of telling the story in simple sentences which are fascinating to read. I am confidant that this also enables the reader to remember the facts more clearly too.

Christophe Jacques is the illustrator and the images on each page are well designed and engaging, they just fit the words perfectly. Even if you are not that good at reading you would be able to work out the message on the page, that's a real bonus!

Published on August 2nd 2022, this book will find its way into many classrooms by September. A wonderful series to have for the classroom, in the library for whole school talks on amazing people and for individuals who just want to read something really interesting. What else could hold the imagination like a trip to the moon!

Sue Martin Children's Literacy Specialist


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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Africa is a treasure chest, too." Tante James says. ' Full of fruit and spice and precious wood like ebony. For thousands of years, trades sailed across the Red Sea to buy frankincense resin to make perfume.'

An incredibly insightful book about the importance of culture and a sense of belonging. A visit to the Trinidad for Paloma and her family starts conversations about how people from Africa first came to the Caribbean. They brought with them a few belongings like the combs that they still use.

At first Paloma doesn't feel she belongs, how can it be her family when they can't even understand what she is saying? But Tante Janet reassures her that the African family goes back thousands of years, to beyond a time when they were fighting the Romans!

Through the beautiful illustrations and engaging text on each page, this book draws you in to this amazing story of people, families and relationships through time.

Rachel Williams, co-publisher and managing director, acquired world rights from Caroline Sheldon at the Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency. The picture book will be published in August. 

 Williams said: “Unflinching yet uplifting, Patrice’s story takes us through the dark days of colonisation and enslavement, to the emergence of a thriving, contemporary Africa of many faces, places and triumphs. A book every family should have to understand how the human story starts in Africa.”   As quoted in  The Bookseller

Patrice Lawrence, the author grew up in a house of books and knew how important they are to understanding so much.' Words build worlds. Words create people,' says Patrice. Booktrust article 2019 The Book That Made Me: Patrice Lawrence

Jeanetta Gonzales, the illustrator, has captured the feel and message of this story perfectly. She has a huge wealth of illustrations and hugely talented.

Magic Cat Publishers are a new and vibrant publishers, full of exciting titles now and even more in the future. Download a catalogue or check out their website.

Highly recommend this stunning book. I keep finding new and amazing quotes in each page!

Sue Martin    Children's Literacy Specialist

 


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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Ever wondered what to do with your youngsters when you are at a restaurant? This book has all the answers. It is packed with activities and ideas, puzzles, quizzes and drawing tasks. Creative and inspiring and will fill the time when they have finished their meal and you are still enjoying yours!

Can you untangle the pile of spaghetti on he page or take part in a cookery competition, maybe design your own menu or match the country flag with the different food on the pictures.  In fact, this book would last for several dinners and is much more fun that drawing on the paper mats with the wax crayons that sometimes are provided.

The fourth title in this fun filled activity book series, At the Restaurant is overflowing with puzzles, quizzes and drawing activities, sure to keep kids occupied when out and about.
All you need to complete the activities are some colouring pencils and a big appetite!

Alice Hobbs is the author and has some great ideas in this fourth book of the series. Putri Febriana is the illustrator and has created each page a different format of beautiful illustration.

Quarto Kids are the publishers and At the Restaurant Activity Book is a wonderful edition to their exciting and creative portfolio of books for children.

Sue Martin   Children's Literacy Specialist

 

 


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.