Picture Books

A retelling of the traditional fairy-story, by British children's fantasist, Jenny Nimmo.

Little Hen was sad. All the other hens in the chicken house had won prizes because they were special. All except Little Hen…Little Hen asked how she could be special too, but the others told her she was too small and ordinary. So Little Hen made up her mind to do something wonderful, and when she returned to the chicken-house many days later with five little chicks walking behind her, the others had to agree that she’d done something wonderful too.This simple, warm and reassuring text engages the reader in a tale of the triumph of quiet determination over arrogance. Debbie Boon’s bold palette and quirky characterisation reflects the charm and simplicity of Jenny Nimmo’s story.AGE 2-4

Esmeralda is the strongest girl in the world. But she wants to be an acrobat or a tightrope walker, not a circus strong-woman. She might be able to lift her parents high in the air but she'd prefer to be able to play with the-children-next-door who are scared of her size and strength. They shout at her and run away, not realising that she is really gentle and kind-hearted. Then one day, she rescues their baby sister and in the process loses her strength. Only the friendship of the-children-next-door can make her better. Described in the Observer as 'a book for children with nerve as well as imagination...a lovely, moving book about the sweetness of friendship and about bad times becoming good.'