Tiny Jenny
By Briony May Smith Walker Books
October 2024, pp48, £12.99
9781529526806
Reading age: 3+ years
Readers will absolutely love this gorgeous yet moving coming-of-age tale, following Tiny Jenny, the wingless fairy who hatches from the egg of Mr and Mrs Wren. Tiny Jenny enjoys living and playing with her Wren family. However, when it's time for her to fledge, Tiny Jenny starts causing trouble in the woods, blocking mole hills and digging up the nuts carefully hidden by squirrels. Tiny Jenny doesn't seem to fit in, and the woodland creatures are not pleased with her behaviour. So she sets out to try and find other fairy-like creatures who look and behave more like her.
These other fairy-like creatures are beautiful, friendly, welcoming – and they can help Tiny Jenny get her wings! However, Tiny Jenny soon discovers that not all is as it seems, and she has to decide who she is really and what kind of wingless fairy she wants to be.
This book is a lovely depiction of not blindly following others, but standing up for who you are.
Beautifully illustrated, this fabulous book will no doubt provoke rich conversations with readers.
Becoming Real: The True Story of the Velveteen Rabbit
By Molly Golden
Illustrated by Paola Escobar
Clarion Books
February 2025, pp48, £12.99
9780358681540
Reading age: 4+ years
This is a beautiful retelling of the life of the Margery Williams, author of The Velveteen Rabbit, made accessible for young readers. The story follows Margery from her early days living with her father, to travelling to America, and then living in Paris with her husband but needing to leave due to WW1. She then returns to London to write The Velveteen Rabbit, with her family.
Despite exploring loss, fear, war and refugees, the text is gentle and simple, covering these heavy themes in a light manner.
The illustrations are a real highlight; visually stunning with incredible details. They immerse readers in the text, conveying emotion as well as Margery's imaginative world.
This will make a lovely introduction to history and biography for young readers, and the book finishes with a bibliography and further information about Margery's life.
It will also support emotional development and communication and language for readers.
One Little Leaf
By Molly Littleboy
Illustrated by Bryony Clackson
Little Tiger Press
September 2023, pp14, £9.99
9781801044615
Reading age: 3+ years
This is a beautiful and robust board book, perfect for readers who are keen to discover more about leaves and trees. Each double page looks at a different aspect of trees – their leaves, seeds, as well as the habitats they consist of and how trees help us to grow (through fruit trees). There is a lovely double page all about how trees look in the different seasons.
Young readers will love to pore over each page, with simple yet informative text containing appropriate vocabulary and short bursts of information. Highlighted facts are also included to stretch more confident readers.
Lovely colourful and accessible illustrations support the text, and a real highlight is the ‘lift-the-flap’ element where further information and answers to simple questions can be found. This makes the book engaging for readers, encouraging curiosity and an interest in discovering more about the topics.
This book would be perfect for any setting wanting to encourage a love of nature and support readers to discover more about the world around them.
