The title itself is curious enough to wake up little minds, but what’s even better is that this is a true story, that of the journey of Jessie the elephant from her old zoo in Sydney to her spacious new home in the Taronga Zoological Park. The illustrations are exquisite, beautifully rendering the bizarre reality of an elephant being guided through streets onto a ferry. There are, of course, potentially perilous events on the journey but we learn that Jessie is both stoic and even-tempered and can overcome any hurdle. An inspiring and delightfully wrought tale.
An easy-read verse book about a rather exuberant classmate who also happens to be a penguin. The thrill for young ones will arise from the joyous sherbert bright illustrations by Nielsen, and the idea of a rebellious, disruptive-but-loveable peer, a truly wild friend who never does what she’s told by adults. Ethel runs away from home, leaving a note saying she’s gone for an adventure on a Ferris wheel. For a brief disappointing moment it looks like she’s regretful about her naughtiness, but a cheeky wink to her best friend reassures that this little penguin will never be tamed.
This humorous book for little ones picks up on a popular issue among young families – can we get a pet? It has great fun turning logic on its head by writing off common pets like puppies, budgies and rabbits (whose quiet moments in their hutch are used for planning world domination) and suggesting instead hilarious jellyfish, hospitable anacondas, sweet-smelling rhinos and tigers, who love a good game of hide and seek in the trees. The illustrations are delightful and should help make this a favourite read for any animal-loving kid.
Ethel the Penguin, illustrated by Christopher Nielsen
Jeffers and Winston have delivered yet another soon-to-be-classic about a female dictionary who is unhappy that, though she is full of words, she can’t tell stories. So one day she decides to bring her words to life. But chaos ensues as the words begin to charge into each other, chase one another and roam free. The forces of anarchy are ultimately subdued by a kindly soul – in this case Dictionary’s friend, Alphabet. The best thing about this book is the pages of text which look to have been ripped out of real dictionaries but in fact have been written by the playful authors, ie: “And – a sociable word that likes to introduce other words to each other, as in ‘rock and roll’.”
Much loved by readers of all ages, Michael Rosen has bestowed upon his enthusiastic readership another book of funny and thoughtful poetry. Inside, he considers issues like what the future might hold, what it would be like to be a cat, and – in a poem which might appeal to Oliver Jeffers – what would happen if a monster ate the alphabet. The one-time Children’s Laureate is not afraid to scare his readers – a visit to an outside toilet in the dark summons quite terrifying hypotheticals. But peace, love and harmony are restored in the end. This might be one to read to your child cosied up in bed – but be prepared for questions. Rosen likes to test his readers and encourages curiosity.
You might recognise the names Barrows and Blackall as they are the creators of the best-selling Ivy and Bean books which were adapted into a Netflix series. Now they are back with another loveable couple, sisters Stella and Marigold. The books tell the tale from the birth of younger sister Marigold, with Stella excited to become a big sister. An instant bond between the two is established in a rather moving little scene and then the sisters begin to have adventures. And more importantly, share secrets which only they – and the privileged reader – know about. A delightful chapter book with all of the ingredients of a family favourite.
We at Big Issue are not particular fans of celebrity children’s authors, of which there are a plethora. However, with Ayoade we will make an exception. Ayoade’s eccentric, oddball and often childish humour, which works so well in comedy dramas and panel shows, transfers to children’s books with aplomb. This is an investigation of fairy tales, revealing the lesser-known aspects of the likes of kissable frogs and not-so big bad wolves. The book is beautifully written, full of the kind of silly pedantry that Ayoade’s The IT Crowd character, Moss, would approve of. There are also attempts to make a more serious point about how fairy tales – like perfect people – are not realistic and should not be a measurement of virtue, which comes from how you behave and what you value. A little saccharine perhaps, but Ayoade gets away with it due to the daft laugh-out-loud moments in-between.
Though written with a light touch, this is a serious and thought-provoking novel about how standing out from the pack is a misery for school students. Solo doesn’t just hate his odd name, he hates his ill-fitting uniform. He also hates his mother’s habit of gate-crashing funerals for free food. But things become even more complicated when the two crash the funeral of a celebrity and their actions make it to the tabloids. Suddenly Solo is a viral sensation – how will he cope? This is a bighearted novel with a sympathetic hero who is caught up in the cost of living crisis and the humiliation it brings to children. There’s some tough material here but Solo finds a way out of his dilemma and the book ends in an uplifting, wholesome manner.
Frances Hardinge has written a couple of the most lauded children’s books; Costa winner The Lie Tree and the tender coming of age tale, Island of Whisperers. This is a sometimes unnerving fantasy about a young girl’s challenge to defend herself and her friends from an encroaching natural world dedicated to destroying her. With shades of Day of the Triffids, the details of the dangers posed by “the hungry forest” – its grabbing tentacles, its poisonous pollen, its humming hornets’ nest – bring the perilous world little Feather must navigate brightly to life.
Celebrity American writer Jason Reynolds has written a number of modern children’s classics, including Long Way Down and the especially terrific Oxygen Mask. This is the story of 17-year-old Neon, who is about to sleep with his girlfriend for the first time – in 24 seconds. Reynolds presents a touching picture of young masculinity – the posturing it seems to require, and the terrors running through Neon’s mind as he hides in the bathroom just before the deed is to be done. The book jumps backwards and forwards in time as we discover how the relationship between Neon and Aria has progressed and from where Neon sought advice. But what’s best about what is essentially a love story is Reynold’s trademark tenderness, and the lessons young men might learn about respecting their partners through his writing.
This very handsome hardback graphic novel retelling HG Wells’ legendary War Of The Worlds is a triumph. Mould gives us the diaries of smart and likeable young Leon as he reports what at first looks like a falling star – and turns out to be a vehicle for militaristic Martian life. He and his wife Anya must try to understand the science they’re up against before their time runs out. The story, we already know, is a cracker. But my words cannot quite convey the beauty of the artwork in these pictures; cinematic, dynamic, sometimes terrible, often emotionally resonant, whether Mould is presenting the horror of a spindly bug-eyed monster or the sweet-natured relationship of the leading couple. A fantastic Christmas present for any graphic novel fan.
This children’s book by the acclaimed writer of global bestseller Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is the tale of 19-year-old Merowdis Scott who may be a seer and who can talk to the animals and trees. Her pets include cats, ferrets, parrots and wild birds. Her parents want her to marry but she doesn’t want her freedoms to be curtailed – and the nunnery isn’t a realistic alternative. When she is out for a Christmas walk with her dogs and Apple the Pig a strange figure approaches as the light fades from the sky. What comes next is a solemn tale as enchanting as the living wood Merowdis walks through every day.
These children’s books are available to buy from the Big Issue shop on Bookshop.org, which helps to support the Big Issue and independent bookshops.
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