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Advantages: great story and illustrations
Disadvantages: none

...four and three quarters! Sleep Tight, Little Bear is one of the many wonderful Big Bear, Little Bear stories written by Martin Waddell and illustrated by Barbara Firth. I think we must have read them all about a hundred times each so both these characters are very familiar to my daughters and feel a bit like old friends! Also, on the first page of each of the books, you get the same words: Once there were two bears, Big Bear and Little Bear. ...
...the little bear. One day... This very familiar beginning is so good for little children because it means that they can start joining in with the story right from the beginning. In this story, Little Bear finds a cave and decides he is going to live in it. He kits it out with all sorts of things and makes it very cosy. He cleans it and tidies it and also plays in it. (This is so reminiscent of my daughter playing in her play house with her baby!). ... Read review

Advantages: Very funny book with a highly comical character
Disadvantages: None - I love it.

...written a few of these Scaredy Squirrel books now but I think this one was her first one. As well as writing these stories she also illustrates them and has worked with other authors such as Sharon Jennings and Margaret Carney. These books feature a cute squirrel who is a little bit wary of the outside world but learns that taking chances are sometimes good. ***The Story*** "Scaredy Squirrel never leaves his nut tree. He'd rather stay in his ...
...always going to get points for that. ***Other Scaredy Squirrel Books*** Scaredy Squirrel At The Beach Scaredy Squirrel Makes A Friend ***Price & Availability*** This hardback is available at the publishing price of £9.99 but is available from Amazon for only £5.99. ISBN No. 1905117280 ... Read review

Advantages: Heart warming story
Disadvantages: None

Webster J Duck A heart warming book by a well known children's author STORY AND ILLUSTRATIONS We start with a lovely double page spread showing a lake, and close to the lake, surrounded by reeds is a little blue egg, which holds Webster J Duck "all folded up so he could fit inside". When Webster stirs, the egg begins to crack, and out he comes- actually he falls out. Undeterred, he stands up, and so begins his quest to find his mum. He wanders ...
...large and friendly looking dog, Webster of course, quacks. In reply, the dog goes "Bow- wow". On the strength of this and being an intelligent kind of chap, Webster J Duck deduces that the dog is not his mother because of course, his mum would make the same sound as him. He does however now think of the dog as the Duck with the waggledy tail. In this way, he meets a sheep, and a cow. The sheep, in Webster's mind, becomes the woolly duck and the ... 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

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