Part 1 of the Newsletter contains 7 book titles. Now to start to put Part 2 together leaving no stone unturned.

Nothing beats sitting down with a good book, no matter what age you are. In this age of “e-technology” it is important to ensure our children have a hobby away from the PC, iPad, etc : what better way than with a colourful book?

Here at Entertain the Kids we were privaledged to receive the November & December children’s books newsletter from GMC Distribution. This Christmas newsletter is a bumper edition combining both months titles and there are some great books for all interests. Due to the number of featured books in the newsletter, we will spread this across a few separate pages for your convenience.

William (age 6), Chief Tester at Entertain the Kids is currently ploughing through some of the titles featured and we will aim to pass on his review comments as soon as possible.

The titles covered in this article :

Ten on the Sled By Kim Norman; illustrated by Liza Woodruff

Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast By Josh Funk, illustrated by Brendan Kearney

Monster Trouble! By Lane Fredrickson, illustrations by Michael Robertson

A Pirate’s Twelve Days of Christmas By Philip Yates; illustrated by Sebastia Serra

Elwood Bigfoot… Wanted: Birdie Friends! By Jill Esbaum, illustrated by Nate Wragg

Arctic Animals By Tad Carpenter

Ten on the Sled

Ten on the Sled By Kim Norman; illustrated by Liza Woodruff

A favourite children’s song (“Ten on the Bed”) gets a delightfully slippery, slide-y twist! In the land of the midnight sun, all the animals are having fun speeding down the hill on Caribou’s sled. But as they go faster and faster, Seal, Hare, Walrus, and the others all fall off . . . until just the caribou’s left, only and lonely. Now, a reindeer likes flying—but never alone, so . . . all the animals leap onto the sled again! This beloved story is new in paperback, and it’s ideal for reading, counting, and singing along with, over and over.

9781454916833 – Paperback with flaps – £5.99 – Sterling

Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast

Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast By Josh Funk, illustrated by Brendan Kearney

A thoroughly delicious picture book about the funniest “food fight” ever! Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast have a beautiful friendship—until they discover that there’s ONLY ONE DROP of maple syrup left. Off they go, racing past the Orange Juice Fountain, skiing through Sauerkraut Peak, and reeling down the linguini. But who will enjoy the sweet taste of victory? And could working together be better than tearing each other apart? The action-packed rhyme makes for an adrenaline-filled breakfast . . . even without a drop of coffee!

9781454914044 – Hardback with jacket – £11.99 – Sterling

William’s opinion (Entertain the Kids Chief Tester)

William simply loved the book. He said the pictures looked yummy and he wanted to eat them all up. William thought the book was really funny and he enjoyed telling me the story, complete with actions. We think this book will delight many young readers.

Monster Trouble!

Monster Trouble! By Lane Fredrickson, illustrations by Michael Robertson

Nothing frightens Winifred Schnitzel- but she DOES need her sleep, and the neighbourhood monsters WON’T let her be! Every night they sneak in, growling and belching and making a ruckus. Winifred constructs clever traps, but nothing stops these crafty creatures. What’s a girl to do? (Hint: Monsters HATE kisses!) The delightfully sweet ending will have every kid- and little monster- begging for an encore.

9781454913450 – Hardback with jacket – £11.99 – Sterling

William’s opinion (Entertain the Kids Chief Tester)

William (age 6) is a bad sleeper and often has “nightime terrors“. After reading “Monster Trouble” together we agreed he would blow kisses before screaming for mum… “it worked“.

This is a delightful book for young readers and a great book to read together. William laughed out loud throughout and he thought the pictures were “ACE“.

A Pirate’s Twelve Days of Christmas

A Pirate’s Twelve Days of Christmas By Philip Yates; illustrated by Sebastia Serra

On the first day of Christmas, a gift was sent to me: a parrot in a palm tree! Ahoy mateys—Christmas is coming, and even pirates celebrate the holiday! This follow-up to the hugely popular A Pirate’s Night Before Christmas offers a witty reimagining of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”—with a sly buccaneer twist. A brave cabin boy receives marvelously mysterious gifts for each of the 12 days he is left alone to guard the pirate ship: 12 cannons blastin’, 9 mermaids singin’, 6 Jolly Rogers, and so on—but who are they from? With impeccable rhythm and a lively sense of fun, Philip Yates and Sebastià Serra create a delightful world all their own.

9781454916826 – Paperback with flaps – £5.99 – Sterling

Elwood Bigfoot

Elwood Bigfoot… Wanted: Birdie Friends! By Jill Esbaum, illustrated by Nate Wragg

Elwood Bigfoot is big, clumsy, LOUD… and lonely. It’s hard for him to make friends, especially with the tiny, delicate birdies he loves so much. Each flash of their feathers, each chirp and cheerful song helps him feel less alone. But whenever a birdie swoops by, and Elwood hollers at it to STAY, the scared creature flies away. He tries everything: sitting on a branch, having a housewarming party, even building an amusement park with snacks and pools. But nothing helps, until Elwood finally learns how to make his bird dreams come true.

9781454908791 – Hardback with jacket – £11.99 – Sterling

William’s opinion (Entertain the Kids Chief Tester)

William (age 6) hasn’t really read the book yet but he has looked through the pictures. A wonderfully inviting book for young readers with a very good message. Highly recommended.

Arctic Animals

Arctic Animals By Tad Carpenter

He has big antlers, runs fast on hoofed feet, and likes to eat plants. Who’s that? Is it a polar bear? A seal? No—it’s a reindeer! Children will love guessing which arctic animal they’ll find beneath the flap, including a walrus, fox, and snowy owl. A final spread features all the creatures included in the book having a polar party.

9781454912279 – Boardbook – £5.99 – Sterling