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A very special book to help anyone experiencing loss and grief. A beautiful companion title to the critically acclaimed The Hare-Shaped Hole, The Bear-Shaped Hole is a profound, heart-warming story that helps children understand and prepare for loss. 

Gerda and Orlo are best bear friends. When Gerda was there, Orlo always had time for a game or a story, a joke or a rhyme. He was never too busy to listen, to talk, to help, to share, or to go for a walk.

But slowly, something starts to change. Orlo reveals he is ill, and as he softly explains to Gerda, he is not going to get better. Gerda is overwhelmed by emotions she cannot quite explain, but Orlo gently helps her prepare, so they can spend their time together making memories that will last a lifetime. When the time comes, Gerda can fill the Bear-Shaped hole in her life with the special moments she shared with Orlo.


This brand new picture book is the latest powerful and moving tale from John Dougherty and Thomas Docherty, the award-winning creators of The Hare-Shaped Hole. This sensitively written and beautifully illustrated story explores the process of preparing for loss as well as the experience of loss itself.  Publishers are Frances Lincoln, part of the Quarto groups and so well known for their thoughtful and amazing books.

The Bear-Shaped Hole is a gentle, heartfelt tale that helps children navigate and understand the complex emotions associated with loss. Perfect for parents looking for a way to address sensitive topics, it covers a range of themes to support meaningful conversations.

This book is staying close to me as I also feel the sadness of loss and love

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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Discover the joy and meaning of Pride, a very special celebration for LGBTQIA+ people and allies all around the world.

It's Pride Month and Brian is preparing for his local Pride parade with his family and friends. Luckily for you, they're inviting you along to learn more!
Embark on an inspiring month of learning and loving with Celebrations & Festivals: Pride, a beautifully illustrated, narrative non-fiction picture book designed for children. This engaging and informative book takes young readers on a colourful journey through the history and significance of Pride, told with a gentle, age-appropriate voice.

Join Brian and his friends at school, where their teacher Ms Macleod tells them how Pride Month started with the Stonewall Uprising and the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. The children do lots of fun activities together with their parents; Charlie and David go to a Pride trail at the museum, Nicola makes bracelets at a Pride crafting day, and they all enjoy drag story hour at the local library.

Whilst helping to make a Pride float for an LGBTQ+ charity, it dawns on Brian that everyone seems to know what they're going to wear for the Pride parade, except for him! What is he going to wear? Can his dads help him?

  •  Discover heroes and milestones that have shaped LGBTQ+ history
  •  Create your own pride flags and learn the meaning behind the designs!
  •  Bake some yummy rainbow cookies for your own Pride event
  •  With 16 pages of extra non-fiction content, including quizzes and activities that bring the learning experience to life, encouraging young minds to engage, create, and understand the importance of pride and acceptance

Perfect for families, educators, and young readers, this book is a celebration of diversity, inclusion, and the power of love and community.
Discover more with other titles in this delightful Celebrations & Festivals series!

Eric Huang is a podcaster, writer, start-up mentor and university lecturer. He reads a lot, loves museums, nature, and art history. He worked as an editor and book publisher for 20 years with roles at Disney Publishing, Penguin Australia, Penguin UK, and LEGO Books – then joined digital agency Made in Me and became a children’s media consultant, and now a children's author.
Amy Phelps is an American illustrator from the Central Coast of California. They grew up visiting the local library every weekend, and always adored picture books and other children’s media. They frequently pull inspiration from vintage art and fairy tales, and are drawn to stories with LGBTQIA+.
Quarto are publishers of brilliant children's books in today's world.
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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I loved this book from the moment I saw the front cover!

The fierce little woman lived in a house at the end of the jetty. She knitted socks in blue and green wool to sell to sailors who got their feet wet. She played bagpipes to the seagulls, swam in the sea, and fished through a hole in the floor.  One stormy day, a pirate came to the house on the jetty. He started tap-tap tapping on the window...

A beautiful story of how to ask a question, of how never to give up, and how to let others know if you're not feeling as brave as you appear.

Joy Cowley is an award winning New Zealand author, and a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.  She is a patron and trustee of Storylines, the Children's Literature Foundation of New Zealand (CLFNZ) and has written a book on writing for children, "Writing from the Heart," as a fundraiser for Storylines.

Miho Satake is the amazing Japanese illustrator  who also was the  Illustrator of the Japanese 20th anniversary edition ‘Harry Potter’ books.

Gecko Press have a brilliant portfolio of books and this is a fantastic new edition brought to life by the story and illustrations. It will stay in your heart!

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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A chucklesome story from author-illustrator Alice Courtley that celebrates diversity in nature, and shows that what's "best" is a matter of perspective. 

Steve is a city squirrel. He's got style, he's cultured, he knows what he likes. But for a while now he's felt a call to the wild . . . So Steve packs up his things, says goodbye to city life and moves to the forest.

He's got BIG plans: he's going to build the best garden in the world. He's got his vision in mind, his tools at hand, and his rules for visitors ready. So, why don't the forest folk seem to enjoy his garden as much as he does? Steve sets off to find out, and with each forest neighbour he meets, Steve discovers that perhaps what he thought was "best" might have been missing a thing or two . . .

A timeless story about fresh starts, friendship, and gaining new perspectives. 


 Alice Courtley, author and illustrator is based in Cambridge UK. She has wonderful way of bringing text to life through her illustrations stunningly full of character for the animals. As the author of The Best Garden in the World she has also created a whole world alive .

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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Follow Bird as she discovers how animals make their homes in this clever creature caper, packed with oodles of facts and a spoonful of silliness!

Caves, holes, hills, hives and especially nests – they all make GREAT homes for animals but there are SO many MORE. From snow drifts, webs and shells to logs, pebbles and tunnels and even a hot underwater volcano, follow Bird as she discovers how over 50 different animals make, find and build their homes in this super-fun collection of awesome animal tales.

Find out whose home is also used as a trip wire, wrapping paper, parachute . . . and  submarine?! (Spider!) Or which animal clears a tidy a path to their log-pile house to make it easier for visitors? (Rattlesnake! But watch out, visitors . . .  this animal plans to gobble you up!) Whose home has a larder, dining room and super-slidey escape tunnel?! (Mole!) Plus find out which house ends up being the BEST after all. And guess what? It’s not just birds who make nests as this this little Bird is about to find out!

Children will love discovering all the different kinds of animal homes and which clever creatures made, found and built them with awesome facts that are easy to remember to make learning about the animal world fun.

Happy Yak, the publishers are an imprint of Quarto and have a great collection of books which are happy, fun and full of imagination.

Saskia Gwinn has a huge experience in children's books has written and published award-winning books for every age and on every topic .

Adam Ming, illustrator is Malaysian and  lives in Kuala Lumpur, his illustrations are lively and bring all the characters to life.

A wonderfully informative and entertaining book.

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.


Published on

Snake and Lizard live together in a burrow in the desert. They are such good friends that Lizard decides to display their names above the burrow entrance. But three small words can cause trouble between friends.

They must decide whose name should appear first. Then Lizard makes an unfortunate spelling mistake—he thinks it’s very funny but Snake is not laughing. Snake finds some spelling of her own that will teach Lizard a lesson!

The friends eventually find a way to put the argument behind them in this funny picture book that holds a mirror to our human flaws and reminds us that names and nicknames must be used with care.

Wonderful illustrations from Gavin Bishop which really show the characters and emotions of Snake and Lizard as they are challenged by each other. Gavin is a leading Maori illustrator living in Christchurch and award winning illustrator including the Ihaka award for lifetime contribution to Maori art and culture.

Joy Cowley, the author, has a wonderful way with words which show all the fun and annoyance of Snake and Lizard. Joy is one of New Zealand's best loved writers and winner of many awards including the Margaret Mahy Medal.

Living in the UK this is a great opportunity to purchase a book from New Zealand publisher through Gecko Press, who bring such great diversity across the world through children's literature.

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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When little Maya meets a lost baby rhino in the city, it's the start of wonderful happenings.

Little Rhino is lost in the big city – no plants or jungle greenery. Little Maya befriends him, but what can she do to help? She finds a wonderful answer – the city can be transformed into a welcoming green space. which a child and a baby rhino can both call home. An enchanting story of what's possible from an internationally successful author.

Candy Gourlay  has written a huge number of successful books for young and older children and is an internationally acclaimed writer. Originally from the Philippines Candy now lives in London and w rites... ' Wouldn't it be lovely if we could make our world a place a baby rhinoceros could call home?' Check the website www.savetherhino.org

Jamie Bauza  is an illustrator, designer and crafter based in Manila, Philippines and is a graduate of Ateneo de Manila University.  Little Rhino Lost is her first picture book for Otter-Barry Books .

I really enjoyed sharing this book with young children, it engages with them to share in compassion and concern about the rhinos in our world.

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.


Published on

A super new book about Easter and why it is an important Christian Festival from Words & Pictures, part of the Quarto Group.

Sam and his siblings are inviting you to celebrate with them! Join in as they prepare in the lead-up to the festival, bake Easter treats, dye eggs, attend Church, spot Spring flowers and new life, hunt for eggs and enjoy a wonderful Easter Sunday of food and fun with all the family. 

Along the way, you’ll learn all about this Spring-time festival, including:
The significance of Shrove Tuesday and the period of lent 

  • The importance of the Easter story and Jesus's sacrifice
  • The fun to be had baking Easter treats and dying eggs
  • The delicious food eaten and fun to be had on Easter day, from egg hunts to Easter lunch

. . . the joy and excitement of this Christian festival are brought to even more life with:

  • Instructions to make your own Easter basket
  • A recipe to make delicious hot cross buns
  • A fun quiz to try out all your knowledge

In this immersive exploration of Easter, kids join a practising family as they celebrate. Seen through the eyes of young children celebrating themselves, this is a simple and exciting way to introduce little ones to this special period.

Nancy Dickmann the author and Emma Randall the illustrator have a winning combination of words and pictures which makes this book an ideal read and activity before Easter.

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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The trouble with getting to sleep with so many distractions is beautifully described in words and illustrations. Super little story for tired little ones( and bigger too!)

It's bedtime. Hedgehog, Fox, Donkey, Pelican and Crocodile are so tired! But Seal needs to use the bathroom--slip slap slip, out the door. Crocodile forgot to clean those sharp teeth--shlurf shlurf, out the door. And Pelican is thirsty . . .

One by one the animals climb out of bed, until everyone is piled in the child's bed for a last goodnight kiss. Oof, that's a heavy pile! What happens now?

Susanne Strasser's snowballing animal stories that children love are bestsellers in multiple languages. She is the author and illustrator of many successful picture books. This funny in-and-out-of-bed story ends with a timely fart joke to start the fun all over again.

 Gecko Press hand-picks books by some of the best writers and illustrators in the world—books of good heart and strong character, excellent in story, illustration and design.

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.


Published on

 

A beautiful story of rescue and recovery in the hands of kindness. A sad, exhausted little hen is rescued from the crowded cages of the chicken farm and discovers the joys of freedom.

It's a hard life for the hens forced to lay eggs in crowded cages. But one sad, exhausted little hen is rescued, given a name, and discovers grass, worms, bugs, puddles, friends and freedom in her new home.

Now there's grass and freedom and the little hen is given a name, Gwen!  She is given a rainbow coloured vest to keep her warm whilst her feathers grow back. she is a very happy hen indeed.  And one day she gives everyone a big surprise...

This delightful picture book with captivating illustrations is a perfect gentle introduction to animal rights and well being.

Carol Thompson is the author and illustrator and Carol's work is a belief in the power of picture books and stories to show a child that there is 'someone else like me!'

Otter- Barry Books are a unique independent children's book publisher, really making a difference to children and books around the world

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.