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Advantages: Amazing words with beautiful pictures
Disadvantages: None

...night-time.Fear of the dark and can't sleep. Big Bear has had a day playing with Little Bear and is looking forward to having some quiet time to read his Big Bear Book. Little Bear is tring to sleep but his fear of the dark is stopping him-Does this sound familiar? The story looks at different measures to reassure Little Bear that there is nothing to be afraid of.The pictures enhance the feel of the book.The words are written beatifully.A book ... Read review

Advantages: Lovely story that a child can join in with.
Disadvantages: none

***Background*** There are quite a few books in this Little Bear series by Martin Waddell although he has written many other books too. Illustrated by Barbara Firth, this series is particularly popular with young children. ***The Story*** The story starts with a big bear and a little bear walking in the woods until eventually it is time to go back home. "PLOD PLOD PLOD went Big Bear, plodding along. Little Bear ran on in front, jumping and ...
...Bear stopped and he listened and then he turned round and he looked." The reason Little Bear stops is because he has heard a plod plod plod noise and is convinced a Plodder is near but Big Bear explains that it is his feet making the noise in the snow. They carry on but once again Little Bear hears a noise and this time things the dripping sound must be a Dripper following them. Again the Big Bear explains that it is the ice dripping into the ... Read review

Advantages: Funny, witty and great to read aloud!
Disadvantages: None!

I have just read a book at work that really made me giggle! In fact I’ve shown it to everyone who I’ve seen since, so I’m afraid it’s now YOUR turn. Let me tell you about Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems! ~~~THE AUTHOR. Mo Willems is a cartoonist, scriptwriter and animator, famous in the US for such wonders as Sesame Street, Sheep in the Big City and The Off-Beats. He has won six Emmy Awards and his simple, yet very expressive, ...
...is married with one daughter and lives in Brooklyn. ~~~THE PLOT. The plot of this book is very simple but very funny. It involves a bus, a bus driver, a pigeon and YOU! The bus driver leaves you in charge of his bus for a while with one simple instruction. Despite all the pleading and wheedling you must not on any account let the pigeon drive his bus. Will you hold out and be strong, or will you crack and let the pigeon take charge? ~~~WHAT I ... Read review

Advantages: Lovely simple picture book
Disadvantages: None

You and me little bear Anyone who has "met" Big Bear and Little Bear before will thoroughly enjoy this the third story about the two bears. If you haven't read the previous two books, not to worry- this is a stand alone story and not dependent on previous knowledge of the bears. ~~Story and Illustrations~~ The story focuses (not surprisingly) on a big bear and a small bear. We meet our two main characters on the first double page spread when little ...
...Vole and His Brothers Can't You Sleep Little Bear ~~Verdict~~ A lovely book with a theme which children will find it easy to relate to- asking an adult to play and then waiting till it happens! The whole situation is very cosy,and children are sure to notice details such as the half eaten apple core on the bedside table. When they are outside, the scene is quite idyllic, and children may comment (as I have known) that on one picture the leaves ... Read review

Advantages: Nice story and pictures
Disadvantages: - - - - -

~~~~ Once there were giants ~~~~ Once there were giants is written by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Penny Dale and published by Walker. ~~~~ Martin Waddell ~~~~ Martin Waddell lives with his wife Rosaleen. He is twice winner of the Smarties Book Prize (for Farmer Duck and Can't you sleep little bear?), he has also won the Kurt Maschler Award (The park in the dark) and the Best book for babies award (Rosie's babies). ~~~~ Penny Dale ~~~~ Penny ...
...illustrating her own stories (these include Bet you can't!, The elephant tree and Wake up Mr B!). For this book she asked her friends and neighbours to model for the illustrations and then imagined what each person will look like as they age. ~~~~ Other books by Martin and Penny ~~~~ ~ Night night, cuddly bear ~ Rosie's babies ~ When the teddy bears came ~~~~ The cover ~~~~ 'Once there were giants' is written in large letters down the front ... Read review