The Fairytale Hairdresser series

The Fairytale Hairdresser

Lauren Beard

Abie Longstaff

Kitty Lacey runs a successful hairdressing salon in the Fairytale Land towncentre.  In her adventures she discovers many of your favourite fairytale princesses, solves their problems and puts them to work!  Haha!  Only sometimes...  We discovered that if you read these books in order the pictures tell many mini stories in the background of the main story which make for many satisfied repeated readings.
 

Dinosaur vs. Bedtime

Dinosaur vs. Bedtime

Bob Shea

 

If you know how to do a pretty good "Japanese style announcer" voice then read this book in that voice and you will dominate storytime.  Caveat though; you may have to read several quiet books afterward to calm them enough to go to bed.  I like the mix of photo and graphic picture style and the simple, repeating storyline is super fun. 

Opposites

Opposites

Patrick George

I'm not always a fan of the more abstract children's picture books but this one is very clever.  Each pair of opposites has a clear page between them which flips between each opposite to illustrate the concept.  Our younger child flipped the page multiple times and was fascinated at how just changing a background could "change" the shape so much.  If you enjoy optical illusions then this is a good starter for getting your kids into them too.

I am Not a Worm!

I am Not a Worm!

Scott Tulloch

 Apparently I am a sucker for cheeky chameleons because here's another goodie featuring one.  The illustrations are bright and full page and the repeated "button pushing" by the chameleon will drive your kids crazy in a good way, then the punchline is unexpected and hilarious.  Perhaps this appealed to me because it struck a little close to home... I've had conversations like this...

Watch Out for the Crocodile

Watch Out for the Crocodile

Lisa Moroni

Eva Eriksson

 This sweet story of a little girl's camping trip with her dad is pretty average but what makes it interesting are the illustrations which morph into animals as the girl's imagination runs wild.  Hopefully it will aid in your own imagination being led into fantastic places too.

Oh No! (or how my science experiment destroyed the world)

Oh No! (Or How My Science Experiment Destroyed the World)

Mac Barnett

Dan Santat

 

This book (and it's sequel: Oh No! Not Again!) are a great study in what can go wrong when you set about trying to solve a problem with science and the science kinda gets away on you.  They are humorous tales and the illustrations by Dan Santat are amazing!  Super vibrant, full page, beautiful fun on every page.

 

Maude: The Not So Noticeable Shrimpton

Maude: The Not So Noticeable Shrimpton

Lauren Child

Trisha Krauss

 

We all love to see the bad guys get their comeuppance and this book certainly has that!  Although the bad guys are not necessarily bad but just extremely self-centered.  Anyway, I won't give anymore away except that our hero Maude puts her ability to blend into the background to good use and is saved.  Trisha Krauss' illustrations are fabulously graphic and 1960's in style and I think this book is best for primary age children.

I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean

I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean

Kevin Sherry

Oh I do love a cheeky animal.  Land dwelling, sea dwelling, whatever, they always make me smile.  With an economy of lines Kevin has captured this cheeky squid's expressions wonderfully and even the twist at the end does nothing to crush the his spirits and along the way you learn some sea creatures too.  Perfect for toddlers.

The Lost Thing

The Lost Thing

Shaun Tan

 

The Lost Thing is a bittersweet story about a boy who discovers a thing and must find where it belongs.   The images are surreal, whimsical and haunting with lots of clever details waiting to be discovered upon second reading.  Read more of Shaun Tan's work for deep, serious children's books with gorgeous illustrations

 

The Official DC Super Hero Cookbook

The Official DC Super Hero Cookbook

Matthew Mead

I'm thinking about getting this cookbook for my nephews for a few reasons.  First; Superheroes, need I say more?  Second; cooking, a good skill for boys to master.  Third; the recipes are laughably easy so great for kids to be introduced to cooking without giving up halfway through the recipe and lastly; superheroes.  The photos are large and bright, the recipes super easy to make and the instructions are easy to follow and the captions will at times make you chortle and I do love to chortle.

Line Up, Please!

Line Up, Please!

Tomoko Ohmura

 

Another book with a fantastic and totally surprising punchline.  It even folds out to double pages so you get the full reveal in all it's glory.  Line Up, Please! numbers and names all the animals in the line so it's educational too.  Our toddler couldn't get enough of this book as she loves animals and it was refreshing to see lots of animals you don't normally see.  "Jaf" (Giraffe) was still the fave though.  Gecko Press does it again.

The Brief Thief

The Brief Thief

Michael Escoffier
Kris Di Giacomo

 I love it when a book has a super surprising punchline and it delights you every time you read it.  This colourful and creative story is one of these gems.  And it has a chameleon as a main character, bonus!

Frenzied Fauna

Frenzied Fauna

Michel Gagne

Now that Michel Gagne has taught you your numbers, we can go on with the alphabet.  This strange A-Z illustrates animals in a way you have not seen them before and some will disturb you (hideous horse for one).  But if you enjoy something a little different and imaginative in your education it will certainly give you that.