Learning & Development: Book Choice

'Oliver Donnington Rimington-Sneep, tossed and turned and woke from his sleep. Though Bat and Owl and Fox were there, he couldn't see Ted anywhere.' And so Oliver, in his latest adventure, sets off in search of Ted, a search that will take him, by train, past jungle, through desert and up mountains.

This is another wonderful story from an award-winning team and a highly recommended addition to a nursery's book collection. Superb rhyming text is matched by brilliant illustrations, and it will take a lot of use before the sturdy cover starts to look nibbled.

Children will be drawn in by the muted colours and their attention will be held by the mix of simple, bold spreads, fine assortments of pattern and picture sequences that add detail to the narrative.

- Zebedee's Zoo by Giles Milton and illustrated by Katharine McEwan. Orchard Books, hardback, £10.99

By day, the animals at Zebedee's Zoo snore and snooze, dream and yawn. Why? Because the minute Zebedee leaves, it's party time. On goes the music, out come the balloons and the animals are ready to boogie, eat and play till dawn, when they return to their beds to rest their weary heads - and with Zebedee blissfully unaware of their night-time antics.

Children will love the humour, pace and variety within this story. The effect is achieved through its strong rhyming text and the hectic drawings, packed full of different animals, often portrayed in vibrant purples, blues and oranges against a white background. Great for reading aloud - again and again.

- Snail Trail by Jo Saxton. Frances Lincoln, hardback, £11.99

Follow a friendly snail's silvery trail as he slides through eight modern masterpieces in search of his own 'snail-portrait'. The book features paintings by famous artists Dali, Pollock, Picasso, Rothko and, of course, Matisse's 'The Snail' ('L'Escargot'). Its use of rhyming text makes it an endearing way to introduce young children to modern art.

- A Very Strange Creature by Ronda Armitage and illustrated by Layn Marlow. Orchard Books, Hardback, £10.99

When the animals find a strange creature in a basket in the jungle, they are very puzzled. It has no tail for swinging, no trunk for washing, no fur for keeping warm. But it can wail - and smile.

This is a feel-good story with a pleasing ending that will amuse and entertain even the very youngest strange creatures.

- Farmer Joe and the Music Show by Tony Mitton and illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees. Orchard Books, £5.99

Down on Joe's farm, the hens won't lay and the crops won't grow; the cows won't graze and the pigs won't feed. So will Joe and his hillbilly band end the moping and moaning, and have the animals jumping and jiving to the rhythm of the country sound?

- Siddharth and Rinki by Addy Farmer and illustrated by Karin Littlewood. Tamarind, paperback, £5.99

Saddharth has just come to live in Britain. He dreams of the heat and colours of India and the friends he left behind. Only Rinki, his toy elephant, understands how lonely Siddharth feels. Then one day Rinki is lost.

- The Perfect Baby by Tony Bradman and Holly Swain. Egmont, paperback, £5.99

Lucy is unimpressed with her new baby brother William, so heads back to the hospital to trade him for a new one. But the succession of babies that she receives from the New Baby Department are too boring, too hairy, too noisy, even too scary. Finally, it dawns on her that baby William maybe isn't so bad after all. In fact, he's perfect as far as babies go! A touching and effective story of sibling rivalry.

- The Green Line by Polly Farquharson. Frances Lincoln, hardback, £11.99

Join in on a walk to the park through a set of child's-eye photographs. With the book cleverly never showing the child, the reader follows the child's green doodle line as they investigate a stick, a butterfly and a feather, as well as crossing the road and avoiding the cracks on the pavement. This unusual and distinctive first nature book has excellent photographs.

- First Shapes in Buildings by Penny Ann Lane. Frances Lincoln, hardback, £11.99

This shapes book with a difference features 12 buildings from around the world. Each spread is devoted to a particular shape, in two or three dimensions. Buildings featured include the Pantheon, Rome (incorporating circles) and Stonehenge (cuboids).

- Mr Pusskins - Best in Show by Sam Lloyd. Orchard Books, paperback £5.99

Emily decides that Mr Pusskins is so handsome that he has to enter the pet show. Mr Pusskins isn't keen - until he sees the trophy. He just has to get his paws on it, and nothing, not even a double-crossing poodle, is going to stop him.

- Nat Fantastic by Giles Andreae and Katharine McEwan. Orchard Books, paperback, £5.99

A supercharged sneeze at bedtime turns normal boy Nat into a miniature superhero, whizzing through the air in his amazing silver pyjamas. He's ready to tackle anything from greedy crocodiles to naughty bank robbers.