Lulu Moves Home by Anna McQuinn and Rosalind Beardshaw

The latest title in the charming Lulu series explores the subject of change and offers young children comfort and reassurance as they face both big and small alterations to their circumstances. The wonderful team of Anna McQuinn and Rosalind Beardshaw are skilled at offering tender and kind guidance ensuring that events that may trouble little ones initially become instead life experiences that are both exciting and positive.

Lulu’s mum has some news! She is going to have a baby so the family will need to move from their flat to a house with enough space for the five of them. These could be challenging changes for Lulu and her little brother Zeki creating insecurity and worry. However in this delightful book Lulu’s parents are organised but also thoughtful involving the children in the plans for the moving and making the preparations fun for them to participate in.

Both the text and illustrations capture the world of small children and the everyday minutiae that is so important to them and their sense of security. I love the simplicity with which Rosalind Beardshaw is able to convey family love in the detail such as the light touch of Mum on Lulu’s shoulder while she plays, the snuggles on the sofa and the expressions on the parents’ faces as they look at each other. All of this adds to the overall feel of warmth which is also evident in the thoughtful text. Mummy has a cunning plan to use stickers to identify the packed boxes and both Lulu and Zeki join in enthusiastically. Even the family cat gets a sticker! There are goodbyes to caring neighbours and familiar household items such as the height chart however there are welcoming neighbours at their new home and a beside shelf for Lulu’s ‘three best books‘. As Lulu settles in bed on her first night in a new home the young reader will feel greatly reassured.

Lulu Moves Home was published in September by Alanna Max and is perfect for both families and Early Years settings.

The Day the Jungle-Net Broke by Marleen Lammers illustrated by Ian Smith

The increased use of screens by pre-school children has been widely reported with concerns raised about the negative impact this may have on their development. The Day the Jungle-Net Broke is a light hearted look at the importance of boundaries around the use of technology. The amusing story of Miles the monkey who is extremely fond of his ‘i-Tree’ is a great starting point for adults to use to talk to children about screentime and making the most of the world around us rather than the world online.

Miles is woken up by his i-Tree and launches into his daily morning exercises before ordering his breakfast via his Just Peel app and then it’s time for his ‘tree-time’ chat with his cousin who lives a few forests away. But then disaster strikes and his screen freezes! Miles tries turning it off and on again but no, it refuses to work. What will Miles do? Luckily Miles discovers that he has been missing out on life around him and starts to enjoy walks of discovery, the joy of sending and receiving letters and much more.

This is an important subject and a picture book that addresses the issue will be helpful for both families and educational settings. Marleen Lammers has made sure that this is first and foremost a jolly story with child appeal and although it does contain a valuable message it does not feel like a heavy handed lesson or preaching. The colourful illustrations by Ian Smith have touches of humour with lots for children to browse over by themselves adding to the enjoyment. The Day the Jungle-Net Broke was published in October by New Frontier Publishing.

Baxter’s View by Kerri Cunningham (Murphy’s Sketches)

Baxter‘s View is a delightful picture book that has a message of mindfulness and appreciating nature at its heart. This gentle story about two young brothers highlights both the beauty of the world around us and the importance of accepting, or perhaps cherishing, neurodiversity.

Baxter and Rory see the world differently. Rory wants to raise ahead, eager to get to the playground and experience the delights to be found there. His little brother Baxter on the other hand likes to savour every little thing he passes, splash in the puddles and feel the tickly grass on his hands. Rory becomes impatient with Baxter but gradually, encouraged by his Mummy, Rory watches Baxter as he giggles and laughs over the ducks and starts little by little to slow down. Eventually Rory lies down on the ground next to his little brother and watches the sunlight flickering through the leaves, listens to the birds singing and the insects buzzing. Perhaps Baxter is right. Rory thinks it is all beautiful. Together the boys play in the playground and then Rory decides that next time they will not rush but will stop to look at all the special things and places Baxter enjoys. Rory has learnt to see things from Baxter’s point of view.

This is a gently told story of value for many reasons; the close sibling bond even when there are differences in character is portrayed well, the character of Baxter is well drawn enabling the youngest children to recognise the differences in behaviour found in their friends and classmates and finally the many gains of slowing down to appreciate the small things in every day life. A really lovely book. Published by Fox and Ink books on 7th November.

I should like to thank Alanna Max Books, New Frontier Publishing, Hannah Bright, Fox and Ink Books and Graeme Williams for providing my review copies.