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[[Category:New Reviews|Emerging Readers]] __NOTOC__ <!-- Remove -->{{newreview|title=TwitFrontpage|author=Steve Cole|rating=3.5|genre=Emerging Readers|summary=If I asked you to name a clever animal, you’d quite likely choose an owl. After all, they are known to be the wisest of birds, aren’t they? There’s one exception to that rule, though. Meet Twit. He’s rather cute with his big round eyes, and he’s polite and kind… but he’s not very wise.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444009699</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewNigel Baines|title=Bob Books First|author=Bobby Lynn Maslen and John Maslen|rating=5|genre=Emerging Readers|summary=As a home educator, this simple set of books is one of the most essential educational items I own. I've ended up buying 4 sets, as one was given away to a family in desperate straights, one was water damaged, and most recently a few books out of the last set have disappeared. It is the one thing I just can not manage without, so even though I'm sure they'll turn up eventually, I simply can not wait and ordered a fourth set. I have literally invested hundreds of pounds in phonics programmes, and I have some wonderful resources, but as simple as these books are, they are the one set I can not manage without. They break everything down into such simple terms that even the youngest child can easily get a grasp of how to use phonics to decode new words. It is not even necessary for the child to know their alphabet first, although I would recommend waiting until the child not only knows their alphabet, but also can recognise basic shapes and patterns, knows text is read from left to right, and can recognise a couple of words in print, such as their own name. It is possible to teach a very young child, even as young as two or three to read a few A Tricky Kind of these books, but it really is best to achieve some degree of reading readiness first.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0439845009</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|title=The First Third Wish (Little Gems)|author=Ian Beck|rating=5|genre=Dyslexia Friendly|summary=This is a lovely story of a lost wish. Cobweb has bungled her very first assignment, losing the third wish meant for a kindly woodcutter. She managed to replace it with a spare, but her job will not be complete until the missing wish is found and returned. It seems a lost wish is very dangerous indeed as it gives the finder an unlimited supply of wishes - and not all people are careful what they wish for. As luck would have it though, the wish has found its way just to the place where it most needed, where it will result in a true happily ever after, not only for the young man who finds it, but for many others as well.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781122458</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|title=My Friend's a Gris-Kwok (Little Gems)|author=Malorie Blackman and Andy RowlandMagic

|summary=BOB Books are designed Cooper loves to teach children to read through phonicsperform magic tricks. I do own several different phonics programmes His father was a magician, and this is one of named Cooper after the bestgreat Tommy Cooper. I feel it is comparable to ''Hooked On Phonics But sadly Cooper's father died suddenly, and now Cooper doesn' at a fraction of the price. Another advantage t quite know who to these books is that you do not need be, or how to buy the whole programme in one gobe. You can buy each set as you need it And when his dad's prop rabbit starts talking to him, and most sets will take at least one term to complete.he ''really'' doesn't know what's going on anymore!|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0545019214</amazonuk>1444960261

 {{newreviewFrontpage|titleauthor=Toucan CanJane Lightbourne|authortitle=Juliette MacIver and Sarah DavisMy Cat Called Red|rating=54

|summary=If you’ve ever wondered what a toucan can do, this book will tell youRobin has red hair. The answerHe hates it, in a nutshell, is EVERYTHING!and the freckles that go along with it. Some are typical things – dancing He's been bullied and singing and sliding and swingingmocked at school because of it. Some ''Ginger Minger! Carrots!'' Kids are more random – banging a frying pan, doing the cancanmean. But they all look like red hair is not Robin's only misery in life. He's already lost his dad to a lot of fun, mountaineering accident when his mum gets ill and the question remains: is taken into hospital. She doesn''can you do what Toucan can?'' I bet, I bet, I bet you can!t come home again.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1877467537</amazonuk>1838216812

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Margaret Henderson SmithFrancesca Simon and Steve May|title=Smart Read EasyTwo Terrible Vikings

|summary=Reading has always been one of my great pleasures In a small Viking village there live two twins, Hack and it's one which has been passed down in my family. It's the key to so much: without an easy grasp of the skill employment opportunities Whack, who are limited, there's always going eager to be social embarrassment lurking around the corner very worst Vikings ever! Nothing can stop their mad marauding, as they cause havoc at a birthday party, chaos whilst tracking a troll, and there's the loss of so much ''fun'' and enjoyment. It's well over half undertake a century since I learned grand journey to read and in that time I've seen numerous schemes for teaching children raid Bad Island with their friends! They get up to read come all kinds of mischief and gonaughty behaviour, some discreditedalong with their wolf-cub Bitey-Bitey, some no longer fashionable. It's always struck me though that no one system will work for all children; reading will click for some using one method, some another and occasionally what's needed is a combination just to slot all the bits their crazy cast of the jigsaw into placefriends.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1845495756</amazonuk>0571349498

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=1838593187|title=The Christmas CarrotGuess What I Found in the Playground!|author=Allan PlenderleithVictoria Thompson

|summary=It’s Christmas timeSet in Indonesia, and there’s every reason to be afraidin the not too distant past, at least if you’re this is a carrotstory about social change. While everyone else is getting excited about the season Dealing with some difficult issues, such as political corruption and nepotism, the Christmas carrot book is dreading itneither boring nor preachy. He’s about to go under the knife and emerge as a side dish on the family dinner table tomorrow. Gulp! Luckily Billy has other ideas It educates gently, with vibrant, challenging illustrations, and seizes him from the kitchen where his dad (a nice touch…it’s not just mums it portrays how social movements need people who cook) had been about to prepare himwill try, even when it seems that they will fail. Outside they go, heading for Billy’s snowman who The message is missing a positive one small feature… a nose! It’s a last minute save from the chopping board; that in an increasingly uncertain world, but we do still have the Christmas carrot is still not happy with this career power to instigate change, because it’s, y’know, rather cold out here. And so his adventure continues.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1841613754</amazonuk>1609809351

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=1949471004|title=Too Many Hats (My First Reader)Dog on a Log Chapter Books: Step 1|author=Hilda OffenPamela Brookes

|genre=Emerging ReadersDyslexia Friendly|summary=It What do you do when your child has dyslexia and you need books which will help them to achieve the wonder that is reading? You can risk buying early readers, but the sounds in the book might not be difficult, sometimes, to find the ones you've been working on and encountering words which are just too challenging can have more of a negative effect on the young dyslexic than a good story child without that an emerging reader can try to read themselvesproblem. I know some of the You need to be able to buy books my daughter has brought home from school to read have had at a reasonable price which concentrate on what you've been working on, without anything else being thrown into the most boring plots ever! mix. This is an example of You need a good early reader howeverstory which engages the young mind and you need stages which progress steadily through the learning process without there being any large jumps. ItSome online support and games wouldn's a funny story about princesses and hats t go amiss, either. Reading - and ''learning'' to read - should be a catpleasure. It should be ''fun''.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0957301332</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=099334030X|title=Things Can You Never Knew About DinosaursDraw the Dragosaur?|author=Giles Paley-Phillips Peter Lynas and Liz PichonCharlie Roberts

|genre=Emerging ReadersCrafts|summary=The idea You're going to get a hint of a dinosaur what this book's about very quickly. When you see the title page, you'll find out what the book's called and that it's been written by Peter Lynas. Then we move on to who has done the illustration - and there's a trampoline or playing football is just plain sillygap. ''You'' are going to put your name there. After all, everyone knows dinosaurs died out yonks ago…didn’t they? Nope It's ''your'' responsibility to provide the pictures for this book about one of the largest creatures ever to roam the earth. No There's some help available, they did not.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1472319842</amazonuk>but your name is on the title page - and you have work to do!

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=1609809335|title=Elmer and the WhalesThe Lizard|author=David McKee Jose Saramago, J Borges, Nick Caistor (translator) and Lucia Caistor (translator)|rating=4.52|genre=For SharingEmerging Readers |summary=Elmer and Wilbur are spending some time with Grandpa EldoOne day a giant lizard appears in the city. We don't even get told how it arrived, something lots of children will identify withbut it certainly appeared. He tells them that in his youth People took against it, this was the time of year he’d go down to the coast for some Whale watching and, well, that sounds like if they weren't shrugging it off as a marvellous ideahallucination brought on by tiredness just as they fled it, so Elmer and Wilbur decide to try they wanted something done about it for themselves. But Can something be done about it turns out there’s more to Grandpa Eldo’s story than he’s telling them, and Elmer and Wilbur soon find themselves on a wild adventure.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184939749X</amazonuk>though?

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=1789016320|title=Dixie O'Day in Tadcaster and the Fast LaneBullies|author=Shirley Hughes and Clara VulliamyRichard Rutherford|rating=54|genre=Emerging Readers|summary=The first collaboration by award winning children’s author [[:Category:Shirley Hughes|Shirley Hughes]] and her illustrator/author daughter [[:Category:Clara Vulliamy|Clara Vulliamy]] has been eagerly anticipated for In some ways it was a gentler time : video games were around, but children usually went outside to enjoy themselves. They flew kites and this gorgeous little book more than meets expectationswent sledging if there was snow around. In Tim and Mary's great-grandfather started a business in 1899 so our story is probably set in the first of a new series we meet Dixienineteen seventies. Something which hasn't changed, unfortunately, a car-loving dog who is always ready bullying and two lads are making life miserable not just for adventure Tim and Percy his smaller and slightly more cautious friendMary but for other children who gather in the playground. Together Tim's probably about ten - just at the stage where he's beginning to feel responsible for his younger sister, who's two chums enter an all-day race in Dixie’s car and are determined that they will win first prize. Howeveryears younger than him, first they discover that they will be up against Dixie’s arch rival Lou-Ella, then all manner of mishaps cause them problems and but he's not yet at the race does not go smoothly for our heroesstage where he knows how to deal with bullies. Can Dixie save the day?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1782300120</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=B01N0OZQOD|title=George's Dragon Goes to SchoolNickerbacher|author=Claire Freedman and Russell JulianTerry John Barto|rating=4.5|genre=For SharingEmerging Readers |summary=I would have been useless during Nickerbacher is doing his dragonly duty as all dragons do. That dragonly duty is, of course, princess-guarding. That's what dragons are for, after all. But Gwendolyn isn'Take your pet to school'' weekt any princess. The goldfish who lived with us for short moments of my life (and She finds the entirety of their short lives) wouldn’t have been very portable whole princessing thing quite boring really and even if they had, they’d have been a bit boring, swimming she is much less interested in fairy tales than she is in circles mouthing watching comedy on ''The Late Knight Show'o-o-o' . I would have been immensely jealous of anyone who brought Nickerbacher likes ''The Late Knight Show'' too - in fact, it's his favourite TV show because he wants to be a lively puppy or a cute snuffly bunny rabbitstand-up comedian himself. As a bit of a trophy whore even at a young age, I would have been very sad that I wasn’t really in the running for the ''Best Pet'He tries out his jokes on Princess Gwendolyn but they don' cupt always come off quite as Nickerbacher intended.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1407132067</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=0008265836|title=Blood and Guts and Rats' Tail PizzaRory Branagan Detective|author=Vivian French Andrew Clover and Chris FisherRalph Lazar

|genre=Emerging Readers|summary=Despite Ten-year-old Rory Branagan isn't just a revolting menu with dishes like slug and snail stew or rats' tail pizzas, Billy Bonenormal kid. He's café a detective and he has a mystery to solve – why did his dad disappear when he was usually packed at lunchtime. Perhaps because there was no other place three? Rory doesn't know where to eat. All of their customers were malestart but, because neither Billy Bonesthen, nor his assistant Hank liked girls at all. A large sign Cassidy moves in the window proclaimed ''Absolutely No Girls! But one day the customers disappeared - next door and what was worse, Hank he discovers he has an accomplice who is full of ideas. This is just as well as they soon discovered their customers had all discover a very serious crime: Corner Boy's dad has been stolen by girls. The girls were very large, green poisoned and hairy is at risk of dying but they were girls nonetheless, and their traveling cake shop had enticed all of Billy Boneno-one else will believe he's in danger. It's customers awayup to Rory and Cassidy to uncover the truth and save a life.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444007297</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=0192758748|title=ABC and DoHorace & Harriet Take on the Town|author=Lee Singh and Karen WallClare Elsom|rating=54|genre=For SharingEmerging Readers |summary=Being able When Harriet, aged seven and a quarter, decides to recognise letters is an essential aspect of emergent literacy. I know so many parents and children who feel that being able go to Princes Park to sing their ABCpractise 's is Going to the same as knowing the alphabetPark on Her Own' (i.e. It isnwith her Grandad walking at least thirty steps behind) she can'tbelieve her eyes. A child must be able The statue of Lord Commander Horatio Fredrick Wallington Nincompoop Maximus Pimpleberry the Third (or Horace for short) starts to recognise the letter formsmove. He not only moves but stamps his foot, shouts something that would get him in upper and lower casesserious trouble with Harriet's mum, identify them by name and understand the sound or phoneme made by eachclimbs down from his pillar. Learning Understandably Harriet can't resist following and quickly finds herself dragged all around the alphabet is something that most children will need some help with at town as Horace searches for a new – and more suitable – home. No matter how good His sights are firmly set on the school your child attendsMayor's mansion and it, it is impossible for therefore, falls to Harriet to persuade him that there must be a teacher better alternative. Sadly, Horace's visits to give each child the individual attention required to master this subject easilymuseum, cinema, train station, playground, bank and failure to do so often leads to lifelong difficulties library all cause mayhem. Luckily, however, a competition in literacythe park reveals the perfect answer.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405265329</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=Saulles_Bee|title=Space PiratesBee Boy: StowawayClash of the Killer Queens|author=Jim LaddTony De Saulles|rating=34.5|genre=Confident Emerging Readers|summary=ItYoung Mel's a weird place where Sam lives. The planet P-Sezov 8 is just a nothingness in friend has left and the middle of nowhere, and beehive is home only now his to his scientist parents look after. Unfortunately, Mel lives in a tower block and a whole spaceport full not all of bickering, nasty pirates. Both groups only use his neighbours agree that it is the correct place as for a departure point for more interesting things elsewhere, his exploring parents leaving Sam with his computerised tutorhive. But Things change when Mel suddenly realises he gets word they are stranded on has an amazing superpower; he can become a fully gold world the pirates would be interested in, Sam must muscle in with the worst of them and try and helpbee.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857631543</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=Davidson_Night|title=Mary's HairNight Zookeeper: The Giraffes of Whispering Wood|author=Eoin ColferJoshua Davidson

|genre=Dyslexia FriendlyEmerging Readers |summary=Mary hates her hair. It has black bits and brown bits, curly bits and A straight bits -laced student makes one defiant act of creativity and Mary feels that it looks very much like has a bushworld of magic and imagination opened up for him. Her Daddy says if you don't like something, you should change it (instead Will is the new Night Zookeeper and his tenure in the role of whining about it to your parents when they want protector to relax with a cup of tea). Mary's Daddy, like many others, should watch what he says to children. Mary follows his advice magical world starts with hilarious results. First she cuts her hair, but when that doesn't go to plan she decides to dye it. She has learned something from the whole hair cutting experience though, this time she plans to try the dye out on someone else firstrepulsion of a dangerous invasion.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781122261</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Chris Higgins and Lee Wildish|title=My Funny Family on Holiday|rating=4|genre=Emerging Readers|summary=Mattie Butterfield and her family are going on holiday to Cornwall and as ever for Mattie there's lots for her to worry Joshua Davidson has written about. What if they lost one of them on the train to Cornwall? What if someone fell over the edge of the cliff? What if... As usual Mattie can think of all sorts of things which could go wrong Night Zookeeper before and it looks as though her worst fears there are going online cartoons devoted to be realised when the family manages to leave Jellico the dog on the station platformcharacter but this marks a new launch and a new series. It's This is not just a book but a long journey to the south whole online event with huge educational tie- eight hours on the train ins and then another hour on the bus a push to get them children using their own imagination. The story itself mirrors what the author is trying to achieve in real life; the campsite, but after a couple power of days they've all settled into a relaxed way of life. Mattie the imagination makes friends with a local boy too - although strangely enough no one else can see himeverything better.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0340989858</amazonuk>

{{newreview|author=Chris Higgins and Lee Wildish|title=My Funny Family|rating=4|genre=Emerging Readers|summary=Mattie Butterfield This is a worrier. Wellclassic Dr Seuss quote from this book, it's not surprising with a family like hers - something always seems to be going wrong. Or if it doesn't go wrong then it very easily ''might''. She gets upset and one that I painstakingly stickered onto the tomato seeds which she and Lucinda have planted at school won't thrive because they're in the cold, dark cupboard and they're all wet. Lucindawall of my children's parents don't seem to like each other very much and it might be that they're going to get divorced. school library! What would happen if Mattie's parents stopped liking each other? Why does grandma seem not to like the Butterfield children The book is very much? You seesilly, when you think about itas Dr Seuss always is, there's lots to worry about. And Mattie but is particularly worried about why Mum has been also a good rhyming ode to the doctorjoys of reading.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>034098984X</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=Neal_Words|title=CheesemaresWords and Your Heart|author=Ross CollinsKate Jane Neal

|genre=Dyslexia FriendlyEmerging Readers |summary=Every time Hal eats cheese he has terrible nightmares. HalTrolling, bullying, cyber-shaming, whatever-it's mother suggests drastic measures - no more cheese before bed. Hal loves his cheese though so he sets off on called-this-week-ing – all act as proof that the adage about sticks and stones is actually a quest for clues to solve the Case lot of the Cheesemarespiffle. He is accompanied by his canine sidekickIn a world where we all have hearts, Rufus. He stumbles upon his first clue very quickly. All of the cheese we should have a heart that has been giving him bad dreams has come from Contessa Von Udderstein's (not at all evil) House of Cheese in Bovinawhat we say to other people is positive. Hal follows We can examine our world and the trail to a spooky castle ruled sound it makes through communication, we can make each other smile, laugh, sing and be happy together, and bit by bit the evil Contessa Von Udderstein, a very mad cow who looks quite a bit like world can be a bovine version of Cruella De Villebetter place. The irate cow wants revenge on humans for stealing their milk for years (itAnd hang the 's a good thing no one mentioned hamburgers or roast beef) Hal and Rufus must escape from , after you' attitude some people would have in response. There, I've given the clutches entire plot of the mad cattle and make cheese safe to eat again. Itthis book away in my summary, but that's a good thing cows don't have hands to clutch withnot really an issue.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781121915</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=Tavares_Red|title=Mr Birdsnest Red and the House Next DoorLulu|author=Julia Donaldson and Hannah Shaw Matt Tavares|rating=4.5|genre=Dyslexia FriendlyEmerging Readers |summary=I love Julia DonaldsonMeet Red and Lulu. They's books for younger children. Everyone loves [[The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson|The Gruffalo]] re a committed couple of cardinals and [[Tyrannosaurus Drip by Julia Donaldson|Tyrannosaurus Drip]] is still one of our favourites, but as the children they have grownlived for some time in someone's garden, these books have been read less frequentlysafely in an evergreen tree. I have It seems to admitthem that every year people mention their home in a lovely song, I've missed them. ''Mr Birdsnest and which tells the House Next Door'' gives us a chance to enjoy this brilliant author for just a little while longertree thy leaves are so unchanging. This is fun storyBut one year, told in just as the first person, so we never know seasons turn for the name cold of winter, the main character. We do know she is lively active young girltree vanishes, perhaps with an active imagination. I would guess her to be about 10 years old taking Lulu with an equally active and inquisitive younger brother named Elmo.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781120056</amazonuk>it…

 {{newreviewFrontpage|titleisbn=My ZooDickens_Search|author=Rod Campbell|rating=5|genretitle=For Sharing|summary=My children have always been drawn to Rod Campbell's simple but appealing illustrations, so I was delighted to have a chance to review this book, even though my boys are now older than the expected age range. This is a very simple book. There are fifteen large die cut animals on a pastel coloured background. The illustrations have a unique quality to them that I can only describe as ''Rod Campbell''. The animals all have friendly appearance, Search and a kind of gentleness to them. The front view of each animal has only the animal's name in bold black print. When you turn the page, there is a single sentence about the animal in smaller print. With a very young baby, the parent can read only the animals name, perhaps adding the sound for each animal. As the child grows older, the parents can begin reading the extra line on each animal. The fact the animals are larger than usual in these pictures, and on sturdy pages that are perfect for little hands, means this book would be ideal for babies as young as six months. I feel this would make a lovely first book for young child. As much as we loved [[Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell|Dear Zoo]], I feel this book is even better for infants.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0230770924</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|title=Kurt Gets TruckloadsFind A Christmas Carol|author=Erlend Loe|rating=5|genre=Emerging Readers|summary=Meet Kurt. He's a dockyard truck-driverCharles Dickens, with a wife Sarah Powell and three children, and more dreams than money. The family has travelled before, but might not be able to in future, as there is just not the budget. Funnily enough, just the day after talking about what having a huge amount of money would do for and to Kurt, he gets a windfall. And then the problems start…|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1877579300</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Peter Bently and Russel Ayto|title=Dustbin DadLouise Pigott

|genre=Emerging Readers|summary=Recently I got to applaud a book that branched away from the Where''Dustbin Dad'' is s Wally? style volume, and taught the explorer about a cautionary tale aimed at all of those children who leave food on their plate at the end of non-fiction subject as they went a meal-searching. Dad likes nothing better than Well, it seems tweaking the form is going to polish off the leftoversbe a big thing, much for this book tries yet another different approach – to teach us about a fictional story. They've started at the disgust of his family. One daydeep end, however, he gobbles down with a pint of something that tastes like fish chowder. Unfortunatelybook hastening towards being two centuries old, it is cat medicine and it one that has some very strange side effects indeedbeen adapted countless times before now, as dad discovers when he hears yet always has people returning to it at a loud rip and a long tail pops out certain time of the back year for its ageless lesson. But does the rich content of Dickens, even at his trousers...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847388744</amazonuk>most populist, survive this quirky variation?

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Francesca Simon and Tony RossSeuss_Eggs|title=Horrid Henry's NightmareScrambled Eggs Super|author=Dr Seuss|rating=4.5|genre=Confident Emerging Readers|summary=Horrid Henry was the first chapter book my son ever read alonePeter T. It was quickly followed by a succession of books in the series and my sonHooper doesn't mean to show off, but he is ''very''s confidence in reading grew by leaps and bounds with this engaging series that gets young children reading and keeps them readinggood at cooking. Some would say he is ''The simple fact Best'' capital T, capital B. And his signature dish isscrambled eggs. You might think that's quite an easy dish, one with such which it's a large number of books in the serieslittle hard to showcase one's prowess, any child who reads through the whole lot will improve their reading skillsbut not so. For Peter T. As he has grown olderHooper, what makes his tastes in books have changedscrambled eggs so super is the choice of the egg itself, but as I sat down to read 'Horrid Henry's Nightmare' to my four year old and he was happy will go out of his way to listen in as well and we all enjoyed sharing this book as a familyprocure the best of the best from whatever nest.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444000160</amazonuk>

{{newreview|author=Anne Fine and Vicki Gausden|title=How Brave Is That?|rating=5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=All Tom has ever wanted to do is join the army, but the odds seem stacked against him. Schoolwork doesn't come easily for Tom, and without a lot of work, he'll never pass his exams. Tom is determined and with enough determination we can overcome huge obstacles. It's a good thing too - because Tom is going to have major obstacles thrown in his path. Any child with younger siblings will be able to laugh at the disasters that befall Tom as he tries to prepare for the most important day of his life - the exam that will determine his future. If he passes he can join the army. If not - his dreams are over.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781122431</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Gemma Merino|title=The Crocodile Who Didn't Like Water |rating=5|genre=For Sharing|summary='The Crocodile Who Didn't Like Water' begins with a Mother crocodile carrying a basket of blue eggs. But one of the eggs isn't quite like the others, and when the little crocs hatch, one crocodile isn't quite like the others. All of the other crocodiles love the water, but the odd one out prefers to climb trees. The other crocodiles were not cruel, but he felt left out as they all played water games. He tried to fit in, but he just wasn't meant to be a water creature. His attempts to be something other than what nature intended are touching, but also terribly funny. Soon the reason for the little crocodile's dislike of water becomes apparent - he isn't a crocodile at all and he wasn't meant to swim - he was meant to fly.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1447214714</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Lane Smith|title=It's a Little Book|rating=5|genre=For Sharing|summary=Lane Smith's blockbuster hit 'It's A Book' spent six months Move on the New York Times bestsellers list. Her new 'It's a Little Book' provides a very similar story, but on a level better suited to very young children. Both books feature a very computer-literate donkey and a quiet thoughtful monkey. In both books, donkey has never seen a book before and has all sorts of questions to which monkey always replies ''no'' or ''it's a book''. Donkey doesn't seem able to quite figure out why monkey is so interested in this thing with no whistles and bells or lights or action, or to understand why monkey likes this strange thing so much - until monkey shows him the magic of books as well.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>023076875X</amazonuk>}}[[Newest Entertainment Reviews]]