#365PictureBooks 72. Tamara Small and the Monsters' Ball by Giles Paley-Phillips, illustrated by Gabriele Antonini

Paley-Phillips, G., & Antonini, G. (2012). Tamara Small and the Monsters' Ball. Pulborough, UK: Maverick Arts.

ISBN: 9781848861008
Pages: 32
Age Level: Early Childhood 0-6
Genre: Picture Storybook
Rating: 5 stars

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One night when Tamara Small can't sleep she is whisked away by a hairy monster and taken to the mysterious Monsters' Ball for an evening of fun she will never forget! 

Starting off in a spooky rhyme that is just full of building tension, we find Tamara clutching her ted and unable to sleep.  Suddenly a big hairy arm comes snaking in and grabs poor Tamara.

With the illustrations done in lots of dark tones to help build the feeling of fear, the only bit of brightness is Tamara in her bright pink PJ's.

Suddenly the tone of the illustrations changes.  Although they are still quite dark, depicting night time, they have a brightness to them - more of a friendly party atmosphere.

The rhyme also changes, taking on a questioning tone before moving into an energetic fun filled one and finally a sleepy bed-time feeling.

The font is large and easily read, while the language used is appropriate for younger children with no big confusing words.  With a variation in font size to help the reader give emphasis to the story, this is also a great book for older children to read to their younger buddies. 

Another great monster book a for bed-time read-aloud.  Kids will love the rhyme and the awesome illustrations.  I love these types of picture books ... they give kids a great introduction to poetry, and the joy that can be found in word-play, as well as showing kids that monsters don't have to be scary things.  Books are to be enjoyed, and they can come in all shapes, sizes and genres.

I got my copy of Tamara Small and the Monsters' Ball from the Taradale Primary School library where I work. 

Oops!  I wasn't able to find a copy at Napier Libraries.

#365PictureBooks 51. Adorable Alice by Cassandra Webb, illustrated by Michaela Blassnig

Webb, C., & Blassnig, M. (2014). Adorable Alice. Frenchs Forest, Australia: New Frontier.

ISBN: 9781921928017
Pages: 32
Age Level: Early Childhood 0-6
Genre: Picture Storybook
Rating: 4 stars

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Alice loves to keep herself entertained in all sorts of creative ways, and everyday she likes to do something different.  With the help of her Teddy Bear, this week she is using her senses and wonders what it would be like to not speak, hear or smell.  And on Friday she covers her eyes and tries to recognise the people and places around her home using all her other senses. 

Webb uses language appropriate for younger children, and she has lots of descriptive language which is especially good for literacy in the junior primary school and with pre-school children.


Each of the senses that Alice uses is easily recognised or able to be explained to young children and can be made into an activity for them to try for themselves.

Blassnig's illustrations are beautifully done.  Done in soft watercolour, each page clearly shows Alice and her daily 'sense' adventure.  Her Teddy Bear has been depicted as a living bear and is always there giving Alice support and love.  The facial expressions on Alice and her family are realistic.  Young children will be able to relate to what is being read by using the visual clues in each image.

This is just an adorable book.  What a simple and clever way of explaining to children about their senses, or helping them understand other people with disabilities.  A great addition to your home or school collection.

I got my copy of Adorable Alice from the Taradale Primary School library where I work. 

You can find a copy at Napier Libraries.

#365PictureBooks 28. How to Babysit a Grandma by Jean Reagan, illustrated by Lee Wildish

Reagan, J., & Wildish, L. (2014). How to Babysit a Grandma. London, UK: Hodder Children's Books.

ISBN: 9781444918120
Pages: 32
Age Level: Early Childhood 0-6
Genre: Picture Storybook
Rating: 5 stars

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Oops, sorry ... this is going to be a speedy review, as I have a 19th wedding anniversary dinner to attend - mine!  Like ... NOW!

"When you babysit a grandma, if you're lucky it's a sleepover at her house!  With the help of this funny and heartwarming book, you're guaranteed to become an expert grandma-sitter in no time.  Be sure to check:

How to play with a grandma

Things to do at the park

What to do at bedtime.

Grab your pillow and get ready for some special grandma time!"

This is a follow up to How to Babysit a Grandad.  These books are a twist on the traditional babysitting routine where the kids are babysitting the Grandies.  They are bright.  They are funny.  And they take a topic that many young children don't like, are scared of, or just think is plain dumb to a new level.  This may make kids more keen to be babysat by their grandparents.  It gives kids an impression that they have ownership of the babysitting.  Full of lists on how to help babysit your Grandma, kids will be able to relate to many of these situations.

Wildish's illustrations are lovely.  They are bright and almost three-dimensional.  If you look closely at the faces they look like one of those raised stickers you can get.  With a mix of full page illustrations and illustrations fitting around the text, this is an interesting book to read.  There are so many things to see (and learn!).  The end-papers are great too.  They are a photo montage of the young girl and her Grandmother and some of the activities they get up to.

There are so many cool things to read and see in this book that I could go on for ages.  However I really truly have to dash or my hubby will tell me off :-)

This is a great book to have in you collection for when you have 'Grandparents day' at school.  The Grandies will enjoy reading it just as much as the young kids.  I know our junior students get a whole lot of enjoyment out of How to Babysit a Grandad.

A great book to celebrate grandparents.

I got my copy of How to Babysit a Grandma from the Taradale Primary School library where I work. 

You can find a copy at Napier Libraries.