I Love Christmas - Reviewed by Ben

I Love Christmas by Anna Walker

Reviewed by Ben (age 7)

This book is about Ollie and what Ollie likes about Christmas. I like this book because it is easy to read. I like the same things about Christmas. This is a good book to read at Christmas time. At the end Ollie sits on the bed waiting for Santa, but he falls asleep and then Santa comes.

Mum's comments

This is a very short but sweet book about the joys of Christmas. These things include decorating the tree, doing crafts, helping to make the cake, and looking at the twinkly Christmas lights. These are such lovely delights that having nothing to do with buying up big at the shops or getting a haul of toys for Christmas day.  Most of the pages only have a few words on them so it is good for early readers but I think the book is more aimed for Kindy aged children. On most pages there is a little Christmas reindeer to find.

What the Ladybird Heard - reviewed by Ben

What the Ladybird Heard by Julia Donaldson

Illustrated by Lydia Monks 

Reviewed by Ben (aged 7)

There are animals living on a farm. Two bad men come to try steal the prize winning cow. The Ladybird hears their plan and comes to warn the animals. The animals then make a plan to stop the bad men. They pretend to be different animals to trick the bad men. The men then walk into the pond. The police then catch them.

I like this book. 

Mum's comments

This is a fun little picture book for young children and early readers.  The book presents many farm animals and their individual noises which is great for little children. There is also a glittery ladybird to find on every page. The front cover and the ladybird on every page are made with raised glitter. The colourful pictures and textured parts of the pages are great stimulation for little autistic children.

For the early reader, they will love that each line in the book ends with rhyming words. We play a game to listen for the words that rhyme together. 

The book is a British publication so there are a few words that my boys were unfamiliar with such as a panda car (police car). 

This is a hardcover book which is always my favourite for picture books.

Perfect for ages 3-6

Bugs in a blanket - reviewed by Ben

Bugs in a Blanket by Beatrice Alemagna

Reviewed by Ben aged 7

The bugs were invited to a party. They all looked different. They started asking each other questions about why were they all so different. They all realised they were all born different. It didn't matter that they were different. Then they had fun together at the party.  The book tells us it doesn't matter if you are different.

Mum's comments

They is a lovely book to teach children about acceptance. The bugs in the story had never met each other before they all attended a party. They were all shocked to discover that they were all different. Each one expected that the rest would look like themselves. They get a bit cross but then accept that they have all been born differently and then go on to have a lovely party. 

The pictures in the book are very unique and I love them. Each picture is a photo of a mixed textile artwork featuring felts, buttons, ribbons, etc.   If I had a felting machine, some time, and most importantly, some talent then I would love to recreate this story as a quilt. I think it would be great for a classroom.

Stuck! - Reviewed by Ben

Stuck! by Charlotte Calder & Mark Jackson

Reviewed by Ben aged 7

A Kite gets stuck in the tree. The children throw things up to knock down the kite but everything gets stuck. The cat jumps into the tree to try catch a bird and then it knocks everything down. But then the cat gets stuck in the tree. The cat has to be rescued. 

I like the pictures. It is a good bedtime story. I could read all the words except the names. Mum had to help me with those. 

Mums comments:

I agree with Ben that this is a lovely bedtime story book. The sentences are short simple sentences for early readers to manage on their own. The font is large which also helps little people to read. It is also a hard cover book which is easy for chubby little fingers to hold. 

This book is suitable for early readers and for younger children who like to have a story read to them.