100 Bears

There are a great many more than 100 reasons why you should add 100 Bears by Magali Bardos to your collection but here are 10 to start you off...

1-  A more visually arresting book you'll be hard pressed to find - printed in vivid gem like block colours has this book has such a rich silken physicality it almost feels like you own the only copy in the whole world. 

2- Magali has created an engaging and supremely mischievous band of bears - turning the page is almost irresistible to the reader as chaos and mayhem ensue. 

3- The gentle and subtle progression of the visualisation of the number 1 on a page to 100 builds with an increasingly entertaining velocity to the point where your eyes dart across the page frantically counting a myriad of objects including bees, toes and colouring pencils.   

4- Parents and children alike will relish in this anarchic adventure across town and countryside, and there are infinite opportunities for reader engagement as you compete to spot minute details.

5- Numeracy in books for younger readers has a familiar monotonous and rarely ventured away from format and this breaks down every barrier incorporating storytelling and joy in bucket loads. 

 

6- Magali is an insightful and charismatic artists with an intuitive relationship with shape and colour. 

7- The visual depiction of the 'Fattest Bear' weighing in at a hefty 96 Kilos is quite frankly something of comical masterpiece. 

8- Who wouldn't want to see several slightly out of control bonkers burly bears triumph over a band of moustachioed Bavarian hunters whilst guzzling 20 delicious deserts?  

9 - It is a steal at only 13 of your English pounds and would make an incredible gift for a dear friend.. or yourself. It is an affordable work of art in book form.

10- The publishers of 100 Bears - Flying Eye Books have such a deep seated integrity and commitment to creating reassuringly satisfying books that simply the logo on the spine is certification enough that the book you have in your hand will be 100% satisfying in every aspect. 

A book to 'Paw' Over on a rainy day

Find out more about French artists Magali Bardos 

by visiting her website 

Thoroughly Modern Miffy

Can you believe a creature so fresh faced, relevant and contemporary as beloved Miffy could possibly be 59 years old!? It is quite incredible isn't it. 

In recent months Simon and Schuster have sensitively re- packaged and re-imagined some of Dick Brunas classic Miffy titles with the help of rhyming wordsmith delightful Tony Mitton. Tony has risen to what must have been a daunting challenge with grace and flair and the updated versions read like a dream. 

As clever, charming and inclusive as they were when they were first published. The Miffy brand will forever more be a staple on children's bookshelves across the world. Essential reading for small bunnies everywhere. 

Three cheers to Miffy and another 50 fabulous years!

With huge thank to the S&S team for inviting us to their memory making Miffy extravaganza. We had the best time and ate more cup cakes than we ever imagined possible. 

The Yes by Sarah Bee and Satoshi Kitamura

 

A creature of an unspecified identity embarks on a unique journey across a visually stunning abstract landscape in this epic and unexpected addition to our bookshelf.

A hopeful tale of mindfulness, determination and hope begins as The Yes is born into a cosy, safe and happy environment, but The Yes has a yearning which becomes impossible to ignore and leaves to make a pilgrimage to ‘Where’.

It slowly transpires that The Where is a place inhabited by No’s, big one’s and smalls ones but each and every one of them persistent and unforgiving. 

The yes is big and strong and determined – will the Yes overcome the No’s and succeed in making it to the Where.

This thoughtful and imaginative text written by Sarah Bee is beautifully complimented by Satoshi Kitamura’s subtle yet powerful illustrations.

 

ABOUT SARAH: 

 

Sarah Bee was born by the Thames and lives in east London with a big dog and an even bigger eucalyptus. She mostly writes at night, mostly. The Yes is her debut picture book. 

Follow Sarah on Twitter - @sarahcrbee

and visit her website here  

With THANKS to Andersen Press who kindly sent me this book for review  

Orion and the Dark

Publishing in May 2014 'Orion and the Dark' by Emma Yarlett is a book which encapsulates the potential for a story to be beautiful, engaging, clever, thoughtful and funny all wrapped up in an exquisite physical package. 

Orion is just an average little bobble hatted chap with everyday common or garden fears, tartan / wasps / girls / sheds, This hilarious list continues and also includes haircuts. 

Smaller readers will absolutely relate to Orion's biggest most terrifying fear, the one which makes him quiver in his boots and his tummy shake... Orion is scared of the dark.

With a breathtakingly ingenious and deceptively simple die cut page, Orion is taken by the hand by his biggest fear and invited along for the adventure of a lifetime. 

Reminiscent of The Snowman in the most complimentary way, Orion is gently encouraged by the dark to conquer his fears one by one with his new friend by his side. The spine-tingling adventure continues as we are whisked into star speckled outer space for a moment of peace and reflection before returning home. 

Orion and the Dark  is a tear-jerking heart-stirring triumph. This book projects the very essence of freedom, mindfulness, adventure and the value of true friendship in it's purest form. An impossibly perfect bedtime story to be cherished.  

Simply stunning.

(TOP TIP - Take a sneak peek beneath the dust jacket of the hardback for a visual feast of epic proportions!)