Sas' Top Ten Picture Books of 2019

Aroha’s Way by Craig Phillips

I was very excited when we finally got this book, as its initial run sold out pretty fast, and I heard nothing but glowing reviews. This book is about Aroha, and how she wards off nervousness, fear, worry and apprehension with simple mindfulness tools that can be used by both children and adults. At the back of the book there are two pages titled ‘Aroha’s ways to help with Anxiety”, as well as a third page with different websites, 0800 numbers to call, and numbers to text if you, your whanau, or your friends need help with anxiety or depression. A wonderful book that I will be recommending to everyone who has, or works with children.

Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty & illustrated by David Roberts

This is a fun picture book aimed at older picture book readers, as it is a bit long, and has a couple of concepts that might fly over younger kids heads. However it is a funny story about a girl with a giant imagination, and a thirst for knowledge. Ada is a young girl who draws on walls, makes stinky concoctions, and causes chaos wherever she goes, all in the name of science.






There’s Only One You by Kathryn Heling & Deborah Hembrook, illustrated by Rosie Butcher 

This is a book that celebrates all the things that makes a child different. A book about finding the awesomeness in your uniqueness - whether tall or short, thin or stout, outgoing, meek, no matter your skin colour, or hair type, whether you speak sign language, or with an accent, if your voice is booming, or just a squeak, if you need glasses, a wheelchair, or a hearing aid – this book is all about celebrating diversity. Top it all off with beautiful, colourful art and you end up with an excellent picture book.





I Will Be Fierce by Bea Birdsong & illustrated by Nidhi Chanani

This follows a day in the life of a young girl going to school, attending classes, making new friends, and speaking in front of the class. While this may seem like a rather plain idea for a book, it is turned into an exciting read as our young hero compares it all to a fantasy story, with her colourful dress becoming her armour, the school bus is a ‘many-headed’ serpent, and (my personal favourite) the library contains a ‘mountain of knowledge’ with the librarian as the ‘Guardian of Wisdom’. This is a clever, sweet book about a young girl with a lot of imagination treating every day like an adventure.

When You Are Brave by Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Eliza Wheeler
A beautiful story about trying to be brave when things may seem scary. My favourite line was “At times the world can seem… Too big. Too loud. Too hard. Too much.” which I think will be very relatable to both children and adults alike. It then goes on to compare courage to a light hidden inside of you, before giving a couple of techniques to find and focus on feeling brave. A lovely story that may go over younger readers heads, so it would be best to read with an adult who can help them understand.

Ruby’s Worry by Tom Percival

A wonderful story about what to do when you are feeling overcome by worry. Ruby is a typical young girl, until one day she notices she has a worry following her around. While it starts off small, it keeps growing and growing and she doesn’t know what to do about it. Thankfully she finds a friend, and the two talk about their troubles until their worries shrink. A beautiful story about the importance of friendship, and talking to people you love when you feel worried about something. A great way to introduce younger kids to looking after their mental health.


I Say Ooh, You Say Aah by John Kane
This is a super fun book that requires at least two people reading it together. It is one of my favourites to read to a class or a group of children, as it is interactive, very silly, and can become very loud! Just be warned, this book will cause any children you are reading it to to shout the word Underpants very loudly, and very often.




All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold

Set in a class room, ‘All are Welcome here’ is about the beauty in diversity, and that no matter who you are, or where you come from, all children are wonderful, and that the classroom is a safe space for everyone. – “No matter how you start your day, what you wear when you play. Or if you come from far away. All are welcome here” and a few pages later “We’re part of a community. Our strength is our diversity. A shelter from adversity. All are welcome here.”



                                                      
Bottoms! By Nikki Slade Robinson
Another great book by New Zealand children’s picture book writer and illustrator Nikki Slade Robinson. She has written some of my favourite picture books, and this one is a great one for kids who love potty humour. Filled with different types of bums (both human, and animal) it is a fun rhyming book for those who don’t mind a bit of silliness. A line that is sure to make even the grumpiest child grin is “Your bottom follows you around (and sometimes makes a little sound).”


Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack

This is the story of a young prince who finds his true love. At the beginning of the story he is told by his parents that he must find someone to marry and rule by his side, unfortunately none of the princesses his parents introduce him to are what he was looking for. One day a dragon attacks his kingdom, and the prince goes to battle it alone, until a mysterious knight shows up and helps him defend the village. The two fall in love, and the book ends with a beautiful same sex wedding as the entire kingdom cheers. It is a pretty standard fairy-tale, with a fantastic LGBT twist.

Reviewed by Sas

April Update: 101 Books to Read Before You Grow Up

Tikki Tikki Tembo
Once upon a time, a long time ago, it was custom in China to give the first son great long names. Second sons were given short names. Through misadventures involving a well, Chang, a second son, teaches everyone the ridiculous nature of this custom.

I really enjoyed Tikki Tikki Tembo. I know that some people have issues with the non traditional names used in the book but I felt like it was an enjoyable story which would be great for a read aloud.

Rosie Revere, Engineer
Rosie dreams of inventing. After an unfortunate incident where her favourite uncle laughed at her failed invention she vows to give it up for good- this is until her aunt mentions her dream of flying.

I loved the message in this book. Nothing is perfect the first time and if you keep trying you will succeed. It also has an enjoyable rhythm making it a good read aloud for 6+

Mango, Abuela and Me
Mia's Abuela is leaving her sunny house surrounded by parrots and palm trees to live in the city with Mia and her family. Mia realises that her Abuela does not know how to speak English, while she struggles to understand Spanish. Mia undertakes the challenge to help her Abuela while learning in return.

This book has a great story of love weaved through. Mia wants to connect with her Abuela and even though they can't understand each other they find ways to break through the barrier until they can both communicate.

The Giving Tree
"There once was a tree and she loved a little boy." Every day the boy would come and play under the
tree. As the boy grows up he spends less and less time with the tree and wants more and more from the tree, yet the tree still loves him unconditionally.

When I finished this book, I actually said to the others in the room, "What a horrible book!" I don't like the fact that I felt like the tree kept giving and giving until the tree had nothing left the give and the boy just kept taking and taking without giving anything in return. In my opinion it does not deserve to be on this book list. Judging by Goodreads, there are others that agree with me.

Journey
Journey follows the story of a young girl who draws a door on her bedroom wall and once she goes through it she discovers a wonderful world where amazing things happen and she is free to create what she wants and what the world needs.

I struggled with this book. It has no words, which in itself was OK but I just found myself skimming through it. I wouldn't bother reading it again.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is set in the town of Chewandswallow. In Chewandswallow, food just magically falls from the sky and provides the town with just what they need until one day they falling food becomes unpredictable and dangerous. It might just be time for the townspeople to leave and find somewhere new.

I loved the idea behind the book. It is told via Grandfather telling his grand kids a bedtime story. The illustrations were amazing and the story was interested and easy to follow. 

Wonder
Auggie is ten years old. He was born with a severe facial abnormality and has been home schooled Wonder is told in four parts from four different points of view. All four are well written and a pleasure to read.
his whole life. Now, coming into 5th grade it is time for him to go to school. Auggie must learn how to navigate all the ups and downs that come with it. Will his classmates learn to look past what they first see?

I LOVE this book. I have read it twice in the last year because it gives you all the feels. There are highs and lows and it really makes you think about other people. Auggie does seem wise beyond his years but he has spent most of his life with mainly adults to talk to. Highly recommended- I don't know of anyone who has not enjoyed this book.

Holes
Stanley Yelnats is an unlucky guy. Nothing ever goes right for him or his family and they all blame it on their good for nothing, pig stealing, great great grandfather. Stanley's latest spate of bad luck has left him at Camp Greenlake, a correctional facility for young boys. Every day, each boy must dig a hole five feet wide and five feet high. What are they looking for?

Holes is just like Hatchet. Ask anyone who went to school around the same time as me and they had it as a read-aloud. By the sound of things everyone loved them both. In my re-read of the story, everything happened a lot quicker than I remembered!

Matilda
Matilda is an extraordinary young girl. Ever since she was three years old she has been working her way through the public library. Once she starts school, her teacher, Miss Honey, notices just how special she in. All the other adults in her life, her parents and her principal Ms. Trunchball, think she is trouble. Can Matilda get her
self out of a horrible situation?

As a child I loved Matilda, as an adult I see how horrible many of the adults in her life are. Matilda is a strong young women who has a golden heart. I am revisiting my love of all things Roald Dahl

March Update: 101 Books to Read Before you Grow Up

March was a productive month. I have had conversations with many people who are undertaking the same challenge which has been great! I also managed to knock a few more titles off my list but I still haven’t managed to tackle 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
I have always been a massive fan of Dr. Seuss. Not as much as an adult because reading his books out loud always involve a mass of twisted tongues and mispronunciation on my part but as a child I remember pouring over the pages of many of his stories.

Oh, the Places You’ll Go has the most amazing message anyone can give to a child (or adult who needs a bit of a boost). A reminder that everyone has the potential to be great and even though there will be bumps along the road there is a 98 and ¾ per cent guaranteed chance that you will succeed.

Where the Wild Things Are
After Max is sent to his bedroom, he imagines a world filled with wild things. Eventually he begins to miss home and begins the long trek back to his family.

Although I think the illustrations in Where the Wild Things Are are amazing, I found I did not connect to the text in the way that I was expecting. In my opinion there are many other pictures books I would rather share with others.

The Snail and the Whale
Snail wants nothing more than to travel the world and see faraway places, much to the disbelief and
dismay of all his snail companions. Thus begins the tale of two unlikely travel companions - a whale and a snail.

I absolutely LOVED the rhyme and rhythm of this book. As I was reading it, I was tapping my foot along to the beat. I can’t wait to share this book with my classes this week.

Whoever You Are
All around the world people look different, live differently have different life experiences. This book reminds the reader that although this is true, beneath it all we are all the same when it comes to our feelings.

Whoever You Are has a great message which people do need to be reminded of. It wasn’t the best picture book I have ever read but I believe it is a book to be shared widely.

The Story of Ferdinand
Ferdinand is a bull. He doesn't want to fight and butt heads with the other bulls, he loves sitting under his favourite cork tree and smelling the flowers. One day five men arrive to take the strongest, fiercest bulls to fight in Madrid. Ferdinand, stung by a bee, catches their eye and is taken be in the bull fights. Much to everyone's surprise he refuses to fight and returns home to sit under his favourite cork tree and smell the flowers.

I enjoyed this story and I really enjoyed talked to my co workers who remember this from when they were children or read it to their children. What I was most interested in was finding out about how the message of peace in this story got it banned in many countries, including Nazi Germany where it was burned.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Alexander's day starts of dismally, complete with gum in his hair, tripping on a skateboard and dropping water all down his front. The day does not get any better and the more that goes wrong the more frustrated Alexander feels. Will things start to look up?

Who doesn't have those days where nothing goes right? You really feel for Alexander even though some of his misfortune is of his own making. It is easy to see yourself in Alexander which makes this a fun read aloud and book in general.

A Long Walk to Water
A Long Walk to Water is told as two story lines following two 11 year olds in Sudan. In 2008, Nya does a four hour round trip walk, twice a day, seven months of the year to provide her family with drinking water. In 1985, Salva is forced to run from school with only the clothes on his back after it was attacked by rebels and bombed. He becomes a lost child moving from camp to camp hoping to find his family one day.

I was given it by a friend who had shared it with his 11 year old. This book is deceptive. It is small, only 128 pages but it is 128 pages that make you think, feel and remind yourself how lucky you are. There were times I had goosebumps and wanted to cry but I feel like it is a story that needs to be told. Salva is a real person and this book follows his journey across Africa and to America and his goal to help others back home.

The 13-Storey Treehouse
Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton live in a treehouse as they write an illustrate books together. They
both managed to forget their latest book deadline and now have only 48 hours to produce a book to Big Nose, their manager, or they will be sent back to live in the money enclosure at the zoo. Of course, nothing goes to plan including procrastination, sea monkeys who are actually sea monsters and sea monkeys who are actual monkeys, flying yellow catnaries and a giant banana eating gorilla.

I was a big fan of Andy Griffiths when I was younger and after reading this book, I remembered why. He is a great author to recommend to get anyone to pick up a book and read and you will always have a good giggle.

Frindle
Nicholas Allen cannot sit still, he has an idea and he runs with it. He has just entered the fifth grade and he has heard how strict his new teacher, Mrs Granger, can be. She is in LOVE with the dictionary and after a time wasting stunt goes wrong, Nicholas is forced to do some research about the dictionary and how words come about. Thus begins a war between Nicholas and Mrs Granger over the new word for a pen - a frindle. This is a story about how an idea can become bigger than just one person.

Who hasn't sat down an pondered who decided that a chair would be called a chair. Why can't it be called a fork!? This book perfectly captures the curiosity that is in all of us and the power that friendship and an idea and a great teacher can have.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Dorothy lives with her Aunt and Uncle in Kansas until, during a tornado, she is transported, along
with her house and dog Toto, to Oz. To find her way home she must make it to the Emerald City to visit the wonderful wizard of Oz. Along the way she makes friends and some enemies. Will she be able to make it home?

I have never read the book or seen the movie before so I was in for a surprise. Quite possibly, everyone is my workplace has heard my rant about how dark this book is in places. If you don’t believe me just read about how to tin man became the tin man. Otherwise, the book ticked along nicely for a quick read.

Hatchet
Brian’s parents have recently divorced and he is on his way to spend the school holidays with his dad. As they are flying, in a one man plane, over the remote Canadian wilderness, the pilot suffers a heart attack. The plane crash lands in the middle of nowhere and with no way to know how far away help might be Brian must learn to survive with only a hatchet gifted to him by his mother before he left.

Hatchet is a book that was read aloud to me while I was in school. I remember loving it and over the past month I have had many discussions with others who had the same experience. Not one person said “Oh yeah, we read Hatchet and I hated it!” I think it says a lot about the content and story line that it is a book that is still remembered 15 or 20 years on.

Reviewed by Kristen

There is Never Enough Poo

I am sure that reading a book ALL about poo is sometimes cringe-worthy, stomach-churning and even a bit awkward. For children it is often, quite simply, the funniest book they have EVER heard. Once you have taken the plunge and decide to delve into the endless stream of poo, fart and wee related picture books there is NO GOING BACK. Check out some of our favourites- all of which are guaranteed to keep adults and children alike in stitches. 

Poo Bum by Stephanie Blake 

Once there was a rabbit who could only answer “poo bum” whenever he was spoken to. One day the rabbit meets a hungry wolf. Will the little rabbit be his usual rude self, or will he learn his lesson once and for all?

Poo in the Zoo by Steve Smallman

There’s too much poo in the zoo- and little Bob McGrew is the one who has to scoop it all up. One day, a mysterious glowing poo appears! Could it be alien poop from outer space?

The Story of the Little Mole who Knew it was None of His Business by Werner Holzwart

When Little Mole looks out of his hole one morning…PLOP! Something lands on his head. Whodunit? Mole must visit all his animal friends so they can prove their innocence.

Harvey the Boy Who Couldn't Fart by Matthew John

Everyone can fart. Everyone except Harvey. No Matter how hard Harvey tries, he can’t manage even a squeak. Harvey was beginning to feel pretty sorry for himself until Grandad came up with an interesting solution.

Baa Baa Smart Sheep by Mark Sommerset

Little Baa Baa is bored so he decides to play a practical joke, telling Quirky Turkey that the pile of round, brown things on the ground are “smarty tablets”.

Baa Baa Smart Sheep has to be followed by I Love Lemonade where Quirky Turkey gets his revenge. 

Father Christmas Needs a Wee! by Nicholas Allen

Father Christmas enjoys drinking and eating all the goodies left out for him on Christmas eve. Before long, he really, really, really needs to wee! He rushes home, to make sure he avoids embarrassment, except poor Father Christmas has lost his house key!

I Need a New Bum by Dawn McMillan

Oh no- What do you do when your bum if broken? Will your new

bum be blue or yellow- will it be a rocket ship or a robo-bum? Wait… do other peoples bottoms have cracks in them too?

There is a Monster under my Bed Who Farts by Tim Miller

Everyone always says, “It wasn’t me! But what if it REALLY wasn’t you? What is it was a monster who lives under your bed? How much trouble can one little monster cause, really?

The Dinosaur Who Pooped a Planet! by Tom Fletcher

One boy, one space rocket and one VERY hungry dinosaur. How will Danny get home once his dinosaur eats their rocket?

Must be followed up by:

The Dinosaur that Pooped the Bed!

The Dinosaur that Pooped the Past!

The Dinosaur that Pooped Christmas!

My Top Ten Picture Books (in no particular order)

Picking only ten picture books is a form a medieval torture! Because of this I am sure you will see more of my lists coming your way. These are all books that I have used with many groups of children (sharing them with only one group is just not an option). From babies to teenagers, these titles were enjoyed by all.

1. The Book With No Pictures by B. J Novak

Who would have thought that a picture book with no pictures would be so enjoyable and appealing to children (and adults) of all ages? Caution: This book will make you say and do silly things so be ready to channel your inner child!

2. The End (Almost) by Jim Benton

Donut is your average bear, excited to star in a story all on his own. I bet you didn’t expect the story to be over in two pages and one burp? Neither does Donut. Follow and laugh along as Donut desperately begs and pleads his case with the author, to varying degrees of success.








3. The Day Louis Got Eaten by John Fardell

Louis and his big sister, Sarah, are walking through the woods one day when poor Louis is gobbled up by a Gulper. Desperate to get Louis back, Sarah sets off on an adventure which puts her in the path of many hungry beasts.









4. This Is A Ball by Beck and Matt Stanton

You know how grown-ups are right all the time? This is the book that will drive kids crazy! Caution: This is the book that has caused many children to ask if I can even read! Am I crazy? And am I just darn right stupid?









5. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson

A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood. A fox saw the mouse and the mouse looked good. A long-time favourite story about mouse convincing the other creatures not to eat him. He weaves a story about a fictional monster, the Gruffalo, but…what if he’s real?!









6. The Three Little Fish And The Big Bad Shark by Ken Geist and Will Grace

A retelling of the classic three little pigs but, as the title suggests, there are fish, not pigs, and a big bad shark, not a wolf. Kids love this book as they know the story but it has a funny little twist.








7. I Really Want To Each A Child by Sylviane Donnio

Achilles is a baby crocodile who LOVES bananas. Imagine his parents dismay when he refuses bananas because he really wants to eat a child. Who has ever heard of such a preposterous idea?









8. Ugly Fish by Kara LeReau

Ugly fish is big, and mean, and ugly. He loves his driftwood tunnel and his special briny flakes. Imagine his annoyance when a new fish appears in his tank. Will he begin to make friends or does he need to learn to hard way?









9. If You’re Cheeky And You Know It by P. Crumble

Have you ever needed an excuse to get up, act like animals and dance around the room? Well, here it is! Sing along to the cheeky version of if your happy and you know it











10. Open Very Carefully: A Book With Bite by Nick Bromley and Nicola O’Byrne

Imagine your panic (and horror) when you find a crocodile hiding out in your copy of the ugly duckling!  Maybe if you rock him to sleep you can stop him from eating all the words and sentences? This book is a real crowd pleaser.