We have some fabulous new picture books to share with you. Check out our top picks below with everything from playtime rhymes to trains and diggers, we have plenty of new stories for you to discover!
The Damby David Almond, illustrated by Levi Pinfold
A lyrical, captivating and beautiful picture book by Carnegie Medal-winner David Almond, illustrated by Kate Greenaway Medal-winner Levi Pinfold.
This astonishing picture book combines themes of loss, hope and music as David Almond pays homage to all musicians, showing the ancient and unstoppable power of creativity.
“This must be among Helen Oxenbury’s most beautiful work … exquisite” The Times When Alice and Jack are out playing, they hear a strange noise. Alice wants to know what it is, but Jack is afraid. He thinks it might be the Wicked Wolf with big, bad claws and snap-trap jaws. But Alice takes his hand and they follow the noise, right into the heart of the forest… Just what will they discover there? Timothy Knapman's atmospheric narration alongside Helen Oxenbury’s spectacular illustrations skilfully convey Jack’s growing fear and Alice’s curious excitement, all the while building towards the reveal of that mysterious sound…
A story about a little digger with a very big heart, perfect for all fans of construction site stories!
Little Digger loves to work hard, digging holes all day long. “Little digger, little digger, little digger,” he hums happily as he digs. But, one day, an especially BIG hole needs to be dug, and so in comes … BIG DIGGER. He begins to dig the biggest hole that anyone on the building site has ever seen… With the arrival of Big Digger, will there still be a place for Little Digger on the building site? A heart-warming read-aloud story about the power of hard work, teamwork and positivity.
Today is a big day for little Train ... he's going out on the track, all by himself, for the very first time!
Little Train is going out on the track, all by himself, for the very first time! But before he goes, his mummy and daddy remind him: “When it’s time to come home, no matter how far you are, just follow the track all the way back, where we’ll be waiting.” So Little Train heads off into the unknown with a clickety-clack… But, when night falls and the track runs out, will he remember what to do? Taking its place beside the classic The Little Engine That Could, young readers will share Little Train’s trepidation and excitement in this uplifting and extraordinary read-aloud adventure, and rejoice in the gorgeously atmospheric artwork of illustrator Ben Mantle.
A new baby story that turns the sibling lament into a hilarious memoir. Meet the rightful heir to the throne: the big sister!
Marianna, the most beautiful, ever so kindest princess, lives happily with her mum, dad and gerbil. Happy, that is, until the new baby comes along. His Royal Highness King Baby is so smelly. He’s so noisy. And all the talk in the Land is about him – non-stop. ALL THE TIME! New York Times bestselling author Sally Lloyd-Jones’ hilarious narrative voice is brought exquisitely to life by David Roberts in this home-grown fairy tale about a little girl with a new baby brother.
Wiggly Wiggly by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Chris Riddell
Wiggle, jiggle and giggle along with this board-book of playtime rhymes.
A board-book collection of playtime rhymes from not one but two Children's Laureates. Join a band of mischievous monkeys, tigers, lions, elephants and bears as they tippy-tap, boing-boing, wiggle-wiggle and wave hello – and goodbye! The most energetic poems from the award-winning anthology A Great Big Cuddle have found the perfect new home in this friendly format. Michael Rosen has adapted his rhymes so that even the very littlest readers can join in; Chris Riddell's vibrant, extraordinary pictures fizz off the page. Pairing two of the biggest names in the world of children’s books, Wiggly Wiggly is a small book that contains a lot of action!
John Burningham and
Helen Oxenbury, two iconic children’s authors and illustrators have won the
first ever double BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award.
The BookTrust
Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates the body of work of an author or
illustrator who has made an outstanding contribution to children's literature.
John said of
winning the award: “I’m incredibly grateful to be given an award for a lifetime
of work. I’m so very flattered when I hear people now say they love my books
and that something I did 50 years ago still works and is enjoyed by their
family.”
Helen commented
“It’s particularly lovely as we have been awarded this honour jointly - and to
get an award from BookTrust who know everything there is to know about
children’s books is just wonderful.”
Deirdre McDermott, Picture Book Publisher, Walker said: “Walker Books are deeply privileged to have worked with Helen Oxenbury throughout her exceptional picture book career. Helen's instinctive ability to know what delights little children and the grown-ups that read to them has enabled her to create more than eighty picture books since she was first published by Heinemann in 1967. Her own groundbreaking baby board books and her toddlers’ first experiences series for Walker Books have influenced and shaped the imaginations of so many, many children over the years. It is remarkable to realise that all of Helen’s unparalleled achievements have taken place in the same household where another of the twentieth century’s most iconic picture book makers, her husband John Burningham, has also been writing and painting his own children’s books. In 2010, Walker Books worked with both Helen Oxenbury and John Burningham on their unique collaboration, There’s Going to Be a Baby, uniting two peerless masters of picture books together onto the page for the very first time. We congratulate Helen Oxenbury and John Burningham on their astonishing multitude of vivid and amusing picture books, and we look forward to their continued creative vision for many picture books to come.”
Nothing is sweeter, as everyone knows, than tiny baby fingers and chubby baby toes! Illustrated by We’re Going on Bear Hunt’s Helen Oxenbury, this is a beautiful 10th anniversary board book edition of a picture book classic, and the perfect gift for a new arrival!
“Delightfully exuberant, this is a simple, glorious celebration of the differences and similarities between babies the world over” Observer
All over the world, babies are different. Yet in some ways they are very much the same: each one has ten little fingers and ten little toes – to play with, to tickle, to wave. And each child is very, very special to its parents… Mem Fox’s gentle rhyming text makes this a brilliant read-aloud, and Helen Oxenbury's gorgeous art – featuring babies from a diverse array of backgrounds – will allow all children to see themselves in the story. With gorgeous golden foil on the cover and spine, this edition is one to share and treasure.
WIN!
We have five copies ofTen Little Fingers and Ten Little Toeswith posters to give away! To enter, just email your name and address to competitions@walker.co.uk with ‘Ten Little Fingers' in the subject line for your chance to win. Competition closes on 17th February 2018. Terms and conditions apply.
Pick up a copy of Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toesin your local bookshop and check out the fun read-along video below.
Mem Fox is the acclaimed author of many popular children's books including. In addition to writing children's books, she is a senior lecturer in education. Mem lives in South Australia with her husband. Find her online at memfox.com and on Twitter as @MemFox1.
Helen Oxenbury is among the most popular and critically-acclaimed illustrators of all time. Helen has won the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal twice – in 1969, for The Quangle Wangle’s Hat and The Dragon of an Ordinary Family and in 1999, for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Find her on Twitter as @HelenOxenbury.
We’re going to catch a big one What a beautiful day! We’re not scared.
Today we're really excited to kick off our blog tour to celebrate 25 years of We're Going on a Bear Hunt, by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury,on Mummy Mishaps. Jenny takes her kids on their very own bear hunt, with some amazing bear hunt party food. We've put a picture below, but visit Mummy Mishaps now to find out what they got up to. (The bear shaped bread looks delicious!)
