Possum Magic

“Once upon a time, but not very long ago, deep in the Australian bush, there lived two possums. Their names were Hush and Grandma Poss. Grandma Poss made bush magic…” This beautifully written and illustrated tale from the Australian Bush is an eternal favorite amongst the young and old. The two main Characters are Grandma Poss and Hush the Baby Possum. Grandma makes Hush invisible to protect her from the dangers of the Australian Bush, and there starts the journey of Grandma and Hush for the search to reverse the spell and make Poss visible again. They travel the beautiful country of Australia in search of a cure, and along the way they encounter wonderful friends and animals and an array of delicious "Aussie" foods. Possum Magic captures children in exciting rhythm and suspense.

• Publication Date: 1983 
• Genre: Children's Picture Book 3-7 yrs
• Language: English 
• Author Mem Fox 
• Illustrator: Julie Vavas

Wombat Stew

Wombat Stew! Wombat Stew! Gooey, brewy, yummy, chewy, Wombat Stew!

When Dingo finds a round and plump delicious Wombat down by the billabong he decides to make a meal of Wombat. This intricately illustrated picture book takes the reader on an adventure like no other. All the animals rally together to entice Dingo to make a delectable stew by adding different ingredients into a stew that will make wombat all the more delicious. However it's the ingredients that greedy Dingo doesn't realize will make a horrible stew and therefor save the day for Wombat! Wombat Stew will capture young and old readers alike with it's beautiful rhyming and sing song verse. Children will pick this book up again and again and marvel at the clever bush animals who out smart the greedy Dingo.

• Publication Date: 2009
• Genre: Children's Picture books 5-7 Yrs
• Language: English
• Author: Marcia Vaughn
• Illustrator: Pamela Lofts

Green Eggs and Ham

It is the wonderfully quirky character of Sam-I-am that creates the astoundingly crazy ride Dr Seuss leads us on in this early reader picture book. Sam-I-Am is very persistent in trying to convince his grumpy grouch roommate to eat a plate of Green Eggs and Ham. The riotous rhyming of Dr Seuss follows Sam-I-am in tempting the Grouch in all different locations with all different characters to eat the Green Eggs and Ham. The Story was written on a bet and the bet was to create a story with as little as fifty early reader words. The success of Dr Seuss's bet is the culmination of one of the best Children's picture books every written. In fact it is the fourth best selling picture book of all time!


The 50 are: a, am, and, anywhere, are, be, boat, box, car, could, dark, do, eat, eggs, fox, goat, good, green, ham, here, house, I, if, in, let, like, may, me, mouse, not, on, or, rain, Sam, say, see, so, thank, that, the, them, there, they, train, tree, try, will, with, would, you.

• Publication Date: 1960 
• Genre: Children's Picture Book 2-4 yrs
• Language: English 
• Author: Dr Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel)
• Illustrator: Dr Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel)

Goodnight Moon

Goodnight red ballon, Goodnight kittens! This lovely book is a classic all time favourite of many a child, the reader follows Bunny's bedtime routine as he says goodnight to all the wonderful things in the room. The magic of the book is not only in the simple rhyming poem but the beautiful secrets revealed in the book. A young reader can notice the little mouse that is present on every page, as the light in the room grows dimmer the clock on the wall slowly changes time and the moon rises in the window. Goodnight Moon is a must for bedtime memories and will always be a child hood favourite.

• Publication Date: 1947
• Genre: Children's Picture Book 3-7 yrs
• Language: English 
• Author: Margaret Wise Brown
• Illustrator: Clement Hurd

Tikki Tikki Tembo

Tikki Tikki Tembo-no Sa Rembo-chari Bari Ruchi-pip Peri Pembo, sounds like a mouthful but it is surprisingly easy to chant along with in this beautiful Children's book. Despite it's controversial history, this beautiful story is about two brothers one with a really long and important name and one brother with a short and simple name. The story follows the brothers as they fall into a well and try to save each other and the trials of having a really really long name hinder their rescue. Children will love singing the long Tikki Tikki name out and it is sure to become a favourite.

• Publication Date: 1968
• Genre: Children's Picture Book 3-7 yrs
• Language: English 
• Author:Arlene Morsel
• Illustrator: Blair lent

Where the Wild things Are

I think we have all been a little naughty at one time in our lives, and it is with this in mind that the intriguing tale of Max begins. After being sent to his room without supper Max travels to a wild far away land Where the Wild Things Are. Max conquers the monsters and is the most fiercest of them all. However it isn't much fun when you get homesick. Children will easily associate with Max  and his temper, in fact this is what perhaps makes this book such an endearing favourite amongst all children, who are all really good underneath...really they are! HONEST!  

Publication Date: 1963 

Genre: Children's Picture Book 3-7 yrs

Language: English 

Author: Maurice Sendak

Illustrator: Maurice Sendak

We're going on a bear Hunt

We're going on a bear Hunt, We're going to catch a big one! Children everywhere love the excitement and rhyming of this amazingly fun picture book. The adventure follows a dad and his little tribe of children going on a bear hunt! They can't go over it, they can't go under it, they have to go through it! They story takes the family over grass plains and through mud until they arrive at a deep dark cave and find a.... The rhythm of the story is exciting and fast paced, as young readers will love to chant out the story in reverse. Yes reverse and at a speed that will astound parents everywhere, intrigued? Grab a copy fast at your local library!

Publication Date: 1989 

Genre: Children's Picture Book 3-7 yrs

Language: English 

Author Michael Rosen 

Illustrator: Helen Oxenbury

The Giving Tree

The Giving Tree is one of the most sad and yet uplifting children's book ever written. It is the story of a young boy that takes from a tree and he takes and takes until there is nothing left. The tree always provides the boy with every thing he needs a branch to swing from an apple to eat, shade from the hot sun and finally wood... Children and adults alike enjoy this wonderful book. The Giving Tree creates wonderful topics for discussion on issues such as selfishness and selflessness.

• Publication Date: 1964 
• Genre: Children's Picture Book 5-7 yrs
• Language: English 
• Author: Shel Silverstein
• Illustrator: Shel Silverstein

Willy the Wimp

Sometimes if you try hard enough dreams really can come true. Willy the Wimp is a delightful tale of a little chimp that is picked on and bullied by the Gorilla Gang. The story follows Willy as he enters a body-building competition and he really does succeed in making his dreams come true. This story is endearing for young and old, the illustrations conjure up all types of emotions in the youngest of readers, as we all love to back the underdog whilst laughing all the way.

Publication Date: 2000 

Genre: Children's Picture Book 3-7 yrs

Language: English 

Author: Anthony Brown

Illustrator: Anthony Brown

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The Very Hungry Caterpillar celebrates it's 40th anniversary in 2012 so it is with great honour we discuss this beautiful book as our first post. We follow the life cycle of a tiny egg on a leaf as it hatches and is very hungry. The little caterpillar adventures out over the garden and eats his way through wonderfully illustrated foods as he goes on his journey through to a cocoon. The adventure is very hands on as the pages collect and the holes multiply ending in a triumphant double page butterfly. The book has been in print for so long many a grandmother will have read it and past it on to the next generation. Timeless books such as this don't come along every day. Enjoy this book any time and anywhere.

• Publication Date: 19649
• Genre: Children's Picture 5-7 yrs
• Language: English 
• Author: Eric Carle
• Illustrator: Eric Carle