Through fairytales and storybooks children can travel in their minds to magical and far away places. This in turn gives them great learning tools for their general educational development.
In recognition of "book week" let's take a look at five alternative book recommendations.
1. Giraffes can’t dance by Giles Andreae, Illustrator: Guy Parker Rees 
Giraffes can’t dance is a children’s book with wonderful rhymes, large, colourful illustrations and great narration.
The book’s main character is Gerald the giraffe with a long neck and skinny legs who longs to dance. Unfortunately all the animals laugh at his unsuccessful attempts so at the Jungle Dance when the lions begin to tango and the chimps cha cha Gerald is feeling sad and alone. However there is one small and wise creature that persuades Gerald to take the leap and believe in himself! Will Gerald finally manage to sway to his very own sound?
This story is an amazing way to show children that nothing or anyone should stop you from pursuing your hopes and dreams. Even though you may seemingly not fit in there is nothing better and more satisfying than showing your true capabilities. A great and simple story book for parents to read to their children and for early readers to read for themselves!
2. Percy The Park Keeper (Series) by Nick Butterworth
The Percy the Park Keeper series of books is about a very loving park keeper and his special friendship with the talking animals in the park. Each book is about a wonderful and fun adventure they all experience together with pictures beautifully illustrated by the author himself and sometimes secret flip flaps to hold the young reader’s interest.
These storybooks offer a great opportunity for children to learn about the seasons, parks, nature and animals and how important it is to take care of and respect them. Also the language used is simple but allows children to enrich their vocabulary by learning exquisite new words.
Percy The Park Keeper Series:
- One Snowy Night (1989)
- After The Storm (1992)
- One Blowy Night (1992)
- The Rescue Party (1993)
- The Secret Path (1995)
- The Cross Rabbit (1995)
- The Treasure Hunt (1996)
- The Badger’s Bath (1996)
- The Hedgehog’s Balloon (1996)
- Percy the Park Keeper: A Classic Treasury (1996)
- One Warm Fox (1997)
- Four Feathers in Percy’s Park (1999)
- Percy’s Bumpy Ride (1999)
3. Room On The Broom by Julia Donaldon, Illustrator: Axel Scheffler
Room on the broom is a story about a kind witch and her cat flying joyfully on her broomstick when a blustery wind causes them to make many stops. During these stops they make new friends who join them on the broom. While not having a lot of room on the broomstick the real adventure begins when they face a very hungry dragon! Will the kind and charming witch and her small company of friends finally be saved?
This book is an amusing rhyming picture book which, through repetition, is a great way to encourage early readers’ confidence at reading aloud to an adult. It shows the importance of sharing and being kind and generous to others while the pictures are very sharp and colourful keeping the children’s interest and allowing them to get involved in the story.
4. The Little Red Hen by Ronne Randall
This story is about a little red hen who finds a grain of wheat and decides to plant it and eventually make a loaf of bread. With a lot of work and care she manages to plant the seeds, then harvest them and before she begins each task she asks for help from her other farm animal friends but always gets a negative answer. When finally the little red hen completes her work but without any help from her lazy friends she decides to eat the bread herself.
Through The little red hen children can learn that with team effort anything can be accomplished in less time and in an enjoyable way.
5. I Spy (series of books of picture riddles) Riddles by Jean Marzollo and photographs by Walter Wick
I Spy is a fun book full of photographs and riddles to enable the young reader’s imagination to develop by association. Reading the I Spy book also allows them to build up their vocabulary by learning new words.Each page contains a photograph with objects in it and is accompanied by a riddle stating all the objects that must be found by the reader.
The I Spy Book Series:
For All Ages:
Classics:
- I Spy (1992)
- I Spy Christmas (1992)
- I Spy Fun House (1993)
- I Spy Mystery (1993)
- I Spy Fantasy (1994)
- I Spy School Days (1995)
- I Spy Spooky Night (1996)
- I Spy Treasure Hunt (1999)
Challengers:
- I Spy Super Challenger! (1997)
- I Spy Gold Challenger! (1998)
- I Spy Extreme Challenger! (2000)
- I Spy Year-Round Challenger! (2001)
- I Spy Ultimate Challenger! (2003)
- I Spy Super Extreme Challenger! (2009)
For Beginning Readers:
Paperback Readers
- I Spy Funny Teeth (2003)
- I Spy a Dinosaur's Eye (2003)
- I Spy a School Bus (2003)
- I Spy a Scary Monster (2004)
- I Spy a Candy Cane (2004)
- I Spy Lightning in the Sky (2005)
- I Spy a Pumpkin (2005)
- I Spy a Penguin (2005)
- I Spy Santa Claus (2005)
- I Spy a Balloon (2006)
- I Spy a Butterfly (2007)
- I Spy Merry Christmas (2007)
- I Spy I Love You (2009)
- I Spy a Skeleton (2010)
- I Spy an Egg in a Nest (2011)
- I Spy an Apple (2011)
- I Spy Thanksgiving (2011)
- I Spy School (2012)
Phonics and More
- I Spy Phonics Fun Boxset (2007)
- I Spy A to Z (2009)
Have a nice summer!!!
Natasha Athanasopoulou
Native English Teacher