Entertain the Kids are pleased to bring to you the November children’s books newsletter from GMC. This newsletter has more great children’s picture books and some really brilliant boardbooks for teeny tiny tots.
First we have a super Christmas themed title, We Wish for a Monster Christmas! It has some crazy illustrations and a really fun story which you’ll be retelling for many years to come. You may remember a book last year called Your Alien where a little boy befriends a visiting alien child. This time in Your Alien Returns the boy goes to visit his alien friend’s planet – a cute story and maybe a good idea for exposing children to alternative cultures even? Earlier this season we had a book aimed at 8-12 years olds called Song of the Deep, this month we bring out the tie-in picture book which retells the story of Merryn for a younger audience with pictures – Merryn’s Journey is a wonderful picture book and if you felt the children’s novel was too mature for them this is a great adventure that 4 – 7 year olds can enjoy. Lastly on picture books there’s the very funny book Where is My Butt? – the tale of a rather clueless but adorable penguin, honestly give it a try, it had me giggling and drawing strange looks from my colleagues!
We Wish for a Monster Christmas
By Sue Fleiss, illustrated by Michael Michell
Dear Santa: please bring us a MONSTER for Christmas! But having a monster in the house may not be all it’s cracked up to be… as the kids discover when he turns their playroom to rubble and causes tons of trouble. Now, what will they do? Delighted readers will sing along with the merry song.
9781454918943 – HB with jacket – £12.99 – Sterling
By Tammi Sauer, illustrated by Goro Fujita
Come along on an out-of-this-world experience! In this heart-warming sequel to the critically acclaimed ‘Your Alien’, it’s the human boy’s turn to visit the extra-terrestrial’s home planet – and to feel like an outsider. But with a little help from the very best friend in the whole universe, our young hero finds a way to fit in. Like the two irresistible characters, readers will have the ride of their lives.
What did Entertain The Kids think? You can read all about our thoughts here : Your Alien Returns Review
9781454911302 – HB with jacket – £12.99 – Sterling
Merryn’s Journey
By Brian Hastings, illustrated by Tony Mora and Alexis Seabrook
In a little cottage, where the cliffs meet the waves, lived a young girl named Merryn. Each day her father went out to sea to catch fish while Merryn tended her garden. And every night he came home and sang her a lullaby about a mysterious world that lay below the waves – a world of serpents, merrows, monsters and a sunken city made of gold. Then, one day, everything changed: her father didn’t return from the sea. When Merryn dreams that he’s in danger, she knows there’s only one thing to do: she must dive beneath the waves and save him. Based on the new ‘Song of the Deep’ video game, this magical picture book takes children on a strange and beautiful adventure. Readers can also experience Merryn’s daring journey first-hand in the new ‘Song of the Deep’ video game from acclaimed developer Insomniac Games.
9781454921615 – HB with jacket – £10.99 – Sterling
She’ll Be Coming Up the Mountain
By Kim Norman, illustrated by Liza Woodruff
In the land of the midnight sun, Polar Bear has bid farewell to her buddies, but with a promise to return. While the nine friends plan festive surprises for her arrival, Bear is planning a surprise of her own! An ideal picture book for reading – and singing along with – over and over.
9781454916109 – HB with jacket – £12.99 – Sterling
Where Is My Butt?
By Donald Budge, illustrated by Daron Parton
Do you know where your butt is? Morty the penguin has no idea! He’s pretty sure he has one, but where IS it? So he does what any reasonable penguin would do: ask. But no one in the South Pole can help. So Morty goes on a wild trip to find the answer. Do you know where your butt is? Morty the penguin has no idea! He’s pretty sure he has one, but where IS it? So he does what any reasonable penguin would do: ask. But no one in the South Pole can help – not the other penguins, not the polar bear who shouldn’t be there, and definitely not the seal who wants to eat him for dinner. So Morty goes on a wild trip – from his frozen home to the steamy South American jungle and finally to outer space — to find the answer. And Morty finally does . . . in the most unexpected way. His crazy adventures will make kids laugh their butts off!
9781454916970 – HB with jacket – £12.99 – Sterling
Just My Luck
By Jeff Anderson
Zack Delacruz is back – and eager to meet Abhi, the new girl at school. But things get off to a rough start when he accidentally knocks her to the ground during a game of dodgeball. And whenever he tries to make amends, she just ignores him. Nothing works, not his friends’ advice or his ‘lucky’ cologne. In fact, he just seems more and more cursed! Then, at the Fall Fiesta-val, Zack finally learns the real reason behind Abhi’s cold shoulder… but not before total chaos erupts. With a runaway train, exploding confetti-filled eggs and Abhi’s terrifying older brother, will Zack ever get a chance to talk to his crush? In the end, Zack learns what it means to believe, to listen and to be a good friend. This dynamite sequel is the second in the ‘Zack Delacruz’ series.
9781454920670 – HB– £9.99 – Sterling
Camouflage
By American Museum of Natural History
Can you spot what’s hiding in the wild? From the smallest animals to the largest, underwater and on land, creatures all over the world can blend with their environment to stay ‘invisible’. Lift the flaps to meet six of these incredible creatures, including a caterpillar, zebra and octopus, all showcased in stunning photographs. The simple text and engaging facts are vetted by the unmatched experts at the Museum of Natural History.
9781454920793 – Board book – £6.99 – Sterling
What I Love About Christmas
By Maryann Cocca-Leffler
This irresistible board book – with a pop-up, pull-tabs, flaps to lift and wheels to turn – captures both the excitement of Christmas and the joys of being with family for the holiday. There’s a festive flurry as a bear family makes presents, bakes cookies, decorates their tree and visits Santa, but most important of all: “What I love about Christmas / is time with YOU!” Every spread has at least one interactive element and a beautiful final pop-up shows the bear family snuggled together.
9781454918202 – Board book – £8.99 – Sterling
Time for a Bath
By Phillis Gershator, illustrated by David Walker
Spring, summer, autumn and winter: bath time is all year round! In this follow-up to ‘Time for a Hug’ little bunny goes through the year splashing in puddles, rolling in grass and dirt, dripping a banana split and doing art projects. This sweet story shows young readers it’s OK to get grimy – because it’s always time for fun in the bath!
9781454920694 – Board book – £6.99 – Sterling
Moo Moo! What Are You?
Illustrated by Elliot Kreloff
Children will enjoy playing peek-a-boo and making fun animal sounds with this adorable interactive book. Die cuts allow toddlers to peep through to the next page and guess the animal. The touch-and-feel elements throughout encourage them to moo, oink and bark along.
9781454920847 – Board book – £6.99 – Sterling
Little Traveler’s Library
Four Adventures in Eight Languages
By Abigail Samoun, illustrated by Sarah Watts
Travel the world with your favourite animals and learn basic phrases in eight popular languages! This adorable boxed set features the first four ‘Little Traveler’ books: ‘How Hippo Says Hello’, ‘How Gator Says Good-Bye’, ‘How Tiger Says Thank Yo’ and ‘How Penguin Says Please’. Every phrase is translated and has a pronunciation guide, and the last spread of each book offers an illustrated map of the animal’s journey, so readers can follow along. Perfectly sized for little hands, and packed in a convenient Velcro case with an easy-to-hold plastic handle, these board books are a wonderful introduction to different cultures and places.
9781454920069 – Board book – £12.99 – Sterling
Write-On Wipe-Off Cursive Writing
By Flash Kids Editors
This write-on-wipe-off card deck features reusable surfaces so kids can easily practice their work, wipe it away, and start again. Writing in cursive is an important skill, even in our digital age. Using the included dry-erase pen, children can master upper- and lowercase letters, as well as words and sentences. And with 40 cards in the box, there’s plenty of space for kids to write, which encourages repetition and success.
9781411478909 – Card Deck – £10.99 – Sterling
Write-On Wipe-Off Print Writing
By Flash Kids Editors
This write-on-write-off card deck features reusable surfaces so kids can easily practise their printing, wipe their work away, and start again. Having good handwriting is an important skill, even in our digital age. Using the included dry-erase pen, children can master upper- and lowercase letters, as well as words and sentences. And with 40 cards in the box, there’s plenty of space for kids to write, which encourages repetition and success.
9781411478916 – Card Deck – £10.99 – Sterling
