Monday 6 February 2017

Top five picture book picks for February

It's February (already!) and here at Walker HQ we're having an early spring clean and refreshing our bookshelves. From busy birds to accident-prone squirrels, we've got a great new selection of books out this month, perfect for updating your little one's library. Here are our top five picks!


From Mo Willems, the multi award-winning creator of the Pigeon series and the Knuffle Bunny trilogy, comes a hilarious new tongue-twister read-aloud about a little girl, Nanette, on a mission to buy a baguette. It's Nanette's very first solo trip to the bakery. But will Nanette get the baguette from baker Juliette? Or will Nanette soon be beset with regret? Set in a meticulously handcrafted-paper-modelled French village, the uniquely vibrant laugh-out-loud world of Nanette's Baguette may be Mo's best creation yet. Get set to "crack" into an irresistible tale you won't soon forget!


"If there’s a living creator of children’s books who stands a chance of occupying a cultural position akin to a Dr. Seuss, it’s Mr. Willems" The New York Times


From children's author and illustrator, Paula Metcalf, comes a witty and fun-filled story of friendship. Walter is really a very neat and tidy dog. His house is his pride and joy and he gets quite nervous when guests come round... When his best friend Pansy asks to stay, though, Walter is so excited! She's just a teeny weeny squirrel after all, how much trouble can she possibly be?! But when Pansy tries her very best to be helpful things just seem to keep going wrong! Nothing – from Walter's trousers to his curtains to his beloved brand-new teapot – is safe from accident-prone Pansy! Is she turning out to be the worst guest there ever was?





A fresh, warm-hearted story of finding new friendship from Daisy Hirst, one of the most exciting new voices in children's storytelling.
In her truly authentic and original voice, Daisy Hirst, creator of Alphonse, That Is Not OK To Do! introduces two loveable new characters to the picture book world. Hilda the pot-bellied pig lives at the foot of a hill. Life is uneventful and she is always where she expects herself to be. At the top of the hill lives a mischievous baby who is never ever where people expect him to be, which is why he is known as the Runaway Baby. But on a high-speed escapade in a pram, the Runaway Baby and Hilda’s worlds collide ... and an unlikely friendship begins.



Peck, hop, flap and make some noise in this story full of colour, rhyme and feathered friends!

Flap your wings, fly up high, open your beak and sing in this fun action rhyme story about fantastical birds by multi-award-winning author Lucy Cousins. "Can you imagine ... just for one day ... you're a busy bird? Yes, a bird! Hooray!" Can you stand on one leg like a flamingo or waddle like a penguin? How about say "cock-a-doodle-doo!", "tuwit-tuwoo" and even "tra-la-la"? What a busy day you will have! A bouncy read-aloud book to be enjoyed; beautifully illustrated with bold, bright colours and packed with all sorts of wild and wonderful birds!


What’s an adorably small canine with a big personality to do?

From Sean Taylor, the author of Hoot Owl, Master ofDisguise, and Kate Hindley, illustrator of Worst in Show, comes a hilarious new picture book comedy starring a very small fed-up dog... This dog doesn't want to be carried in a handbag (how embarrassing!) or eat heart-shaped Mini Puppy Treats (I mean, come ON!) and under no circumstances does he ever want to be called ... Choochie Pooh! If only his owner understood. All he wants to do is play with the big dogs in the park – chase sticks, jump in muddy puddles and be an ordinary, proper dog.

“Quirky, amusing and original. We have read this countless times already” – LoveReading

You can pick up all these books at your local bookshop!