The Adventures of Portly the Otter by M. G. Leonard, illustrated by Polly Dunbar

 

2026     

Polly Dunbar          

This is a complementary story to Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. Portly does indeed meet the entitled Toad, though most of the action takes place whilst Toad is in prison. We again meet Mole and Rat and wise Badger. Portly takes a while to learn to swim as well as his siblings but it is fact his habit  a little like Toad of seeking more unusual adventures that finally enables him to acquire that skill. He also encounters the Wild Wood and has to trick the weasels as they occupy Toad Hall

At the beginning of the book is a double spread showing a map of the river bank. There are colouful pictures throughout that illustrate the story.

The text is blocked and uses a serif font and with difficult 'a's and 'g's.

This is  a book that  a teacher might  like to read to a   class. 

 The story works on its own and no familiarity with Wind in the Willows is needed. Though those who already know that text will surely enjoy this one.

Find your copy here 

Note, this is an affiliate link and a small portion of what you pay, at no extra cost to you,  may go to Bridge House Publishing.   

lymouth Young City Laureate 2026-27

 

lymouth’s next Young City Laureate. Are you between the ages of 14 and 19 years, and passionate about creative writing? We’d love to hear from you!

The selected young person will receive paid writing commissions, and act as a youth voice for Plymouth.

The Young City Laureate is open to any young person aged 14-19 who lives, works or studies in Plymouth. You will be a writer of either prose (fiction, creative non-fiction) or poetry.

Find out how to apply here

Deadline: midday on Monday 6th July 2026

The Spruce by Jeanne Davies

 

The finery of Christmas only lasts a short while.

The excitement fades and the children lose interest in the little tree.  It now longs for the life it had before.   It realises that being amongst nature even in all sorts of weather was far more rewarding that being stuck indoors.  And it would have had an advantage over the other trees; it would have remained while they lost their leaves in the autumn.

Now, though, the warmth in the house has made it shed most of its needles and it is confined to a dustbin.

Yet there is hope. One of the children finds a way of being kinder to its nature. 

RRP £6.25 

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The Lights the Dance in the Night by Yuval Zommer

 2022      

  

The text is mainly about stars with a nod to the Northern Lights which are faintly illustrated here.

As we progress through the text we meet many arctic animals and then the people who live in this northern land.

There is a mixture of double spreads, single spreads and pages containing several pictures.  

As with picture books for younger readers, the pictures tell more of the story. In fact, much more of the story is told in the pictures than in the text. The pictures are particularly colourful and full of action.

The story is told in gentle rhyming phrases though some lines don’t rhyme at all. The text is integrated into the pictures.

The text uses a simple font and has simple 'a's and 'g's.

This is quite a large format book so a nursery teacher may also be able to share with a class.  

Find your copy here  

Note, this is an affiliate link and a small portion of what you pay, at no extra cost to you,  may go to Bridge House Publishing.   

Best of All the Magical Mix That's You by Smriti Halls and Chaaya Prabhat

 

2025      

           

This book shows how we are all made up from what comes to us at birth and what we experience later.  In particular it show what happens to children from mixed-race parents.

It is particularly upbeat.  The topic may be a little complex for the early reader.  

As with picture books for younger readers, the pictures tell more of the story. In fact, much more of the story is told in the pictures than in the text. The pictures are very colourful.

The story is told in rhyming couplets that work well. The text is integrated into the pictures.

The text uses a simple font and has simple 'a's and 'g's.

Most of the text is in single lines though in the few places where there is more it tends to be centred.   

There is a short note form the author at the end of the book.  

Find your copy here  

 

 

Our Wartime Street by Fiz Osbonre and Katie Kear

2025      

This book provides information about:

·         How World War II started

·         Evacuation

·         The Blitz

·         The RAF around the world

·         War in London and Liverpool

·         Air raid shelters – four sorts

·         Wartime food

·         Schooling during the war

·         Getting by

·         Children helping out

·         Wartime clothing

·         Women during the war,

·         Families during the war

·         The ending of the war

·         Remembering the war

 Note, the Holocaust is only mentioned in passing and in the context of liberation.

As with picture books for younger readers, the pictures tell more of the story.

The text uses a smile font but has difficult 'a's and 'g's.

The text is ragged right.  

There is a very short glossary at the end of the book 

Find your copy here  

Note, this is an affiliate link and a small portion of what you pay, at no extra cost to you,  may go to Bridge House Publishing