As this is my first children's picture book, I'm constantly on the look out for inspiration and to see what my fellow authors have written.
As much as I would love to mention the great works of Julia Donaldson (to name one), there are equally fantastic books out there being released every day by new and emerging writers *cough cough*. And through my late night scrolls on instagram these are the books I've found that either pull at my heart strings or make me laugh. We definitely need to give these books a boost into the mainstream.
(I never know to either start at 1 or do a suspenseful countdown...)
5. Witches don't wear flip flops by Freya Charlotte | Isabelle Woody
It was the beautiful cover illustration by Isabelle Woody that first caught my eye and the story is just as unique and beautiful.
This picture book follows a young witch that wants to forge her own way of doing things! But her grandmother, a more traditional witch, may not be so keen on her grand-daughter's style. A must read for any parent that wants to encourage their children to feel confident in themselves and what they want to do. There's nothing wrong with just you being you.
Also who doesn't love a bit of magick involved?
4. Wolf Girl by Jo Loring-Fisher
Having a tattoo of a wolf and believing that if I had a spirit animal it would be a wolf does not make me bias in favour of this book. It's simply fantastic.
As a child I was very shy and I personally wouldn't speak in class in fear of saying something wrong.
Wolf girl follows Sophy, a little similar to that except, unlike me, she finds her voice with the help of the howling wolves in this magickal forest she's whisked off to where she encounters a big angry bear. This helps her find her courage to speak out.
I love this book and the illustrations are something like art in themselves.
3. The Love Letter by Anika Aldamuy Denise
I think I have an obsession with wintery forests or it's just the snow getting to me, none the less, this adoring children's book is one for the heart strings.
I've always been a firm believer in that, if everyone did loads of little gestures of love the world would be a better place rather than a few giving great, big, grand gestures.
This is what this story teaches us. And how that one little action like a love letter can go on to benefit so many others you probably didn't intend to affect like the hedgehog, the squirrel and the bunny in this enchanting children's book. But the world is a web and we're all connected. So an act of kindness to one person benefits the next person they may show an act of kindness to.
I really don't want to give the plot away to this one but honestly it's a great read for any child but I'd probably say it's one for a child a bit older as it explores complex emotions but ultimately full of heart <3
2. The Invisible by Tom Percival
This one ever so closely was no.1 but it didn't quite get there for personal reasons (to be continued...) but it is a truly special, special book inside and out.
The title of this is blog is: Books I wish I'd written - but I could never write this book. It truly comes from the heart of the author and this story needs to be given so much more coverage than it has.
It teaches not only children but the adults that read it, that every life matters. Poverty can hit anyone, especially as we've seen in this pandemic and lockdown. It teaches that we cannot take anything we have for guaranteed and in these times if we can, we really need to work as a community to help everyone. But like the main character in this book, it teaches us to WANT to help rather than NEEDING to.
Beautifully drawn and outworldly written. The Invisible is a book for now and all the generations to come.
No. 1
by Jordan Scott and Sydney Smith
So the personal reason I mentioned before is that my brother was born with Autism (one of the twins if you've seen on my insta) and he didn't speak until he was 6 years old. He was entirely mute and then one day out of the blue that was it! It was one of the happiest phone calls I ever received (I was 18 and just started university).
But as we know Autism isn't something with a solution. It's something a person has to live with and a child with it can face all kinds of horrible challenges in school.
I talk like a river is a book that makes children aware that quiet, other children in their class that may seem a little different aren't weird or abnormal. But having complex issues is a normal part of any life its just some people's are more outwardly than internal.
The main character in this book has a stutter and finds it hard to speak but he learns to understand his speech impediment rather than thinking he can be fixed or that he needs fixing.
A book that pulled at my heart and I truly wish I had enough imagination to pen this absolutely stunning children's picture book <3
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