Children's Books for Pre-Readers

Mr Darcy

Alex Field (author)

Peter Carnavas (illustrator)

New Frontier Publishing, Australia: November 2011

ISBN: 9781921042836

Genres: picture book

Issues: friendship

'Mr Darcy lived by himself on the edge of Pemberley Park. It was a place where the trees blossomed and the lake sparkled. Mr Darcy loved Pemberley Park, but sometimes he felt lonely.'

Button Boy

Rebecca Young (author)

Sue deGennaro (illustrator)

Scholastic Press, Australia: June 2011

ISBN: 9781741697971

Genre: picture book

Issues: community, differences, friendship

Banjo loves to collect buttons. Being an observant child he finds them in the most unlikely places, including hidden in garden beds, in the gutter and on his way to the park.

Prudence Wants a Pet

Cathleen Daly (author)

Stephen Michael King (illustrator)

Scholastic Press, Australia: September 2011

ISBN: 9781741699654

Genres: animals, picture book

Prudence really wants a pet but her parents are full of reasons why that's not a good idea. Prudence finds some creative alternatives – a branch, a twig, a shoe, a car tyre – but somehow they don't quite fill the hole in her heart. After all, a shoe can't lick your face or greet you when you come home from school. Will Prudence ever be allowed to have a pet?

Willbee the Bumblebee

Craig Smith & Maureen Thomson (authors)

Katz Cowley (illustrator)

Scholastic, NZ: September 2011

ISBN: 9781869439439

Includes CD

Genres: picture book, humour

'Up in early in the morning till the evening hour, flying around from flower to flower...' That's Willbee Bumblebee, the busy little insect with the black and yellow jersey who gathers pollen and fertilises the flowers of the garden. But what will happen when Willbee's jumper comes unravelled? How can he gather pollen when he's cold?

Ben & Duck

Sara Acton (author/illustrator)

Scholastic Press, Australia: August 2011

ISBN: 9781741699142

Genre: animals, picture book

Ben goes to the park and meets Duck. Duck... isn't like other birds. Duck is persistent. And greedy. And determined. And he follows Ben home. What is Ben to do? Make a new friend, of course!

The Great Expedition

Peter Carnavas (author/illustrator)

New Frontier Publishing, Australia: 2011

ISBN: 9781921042812

Genres: adventure, humour, picture book

Issues: imagination

A group of young explorers have been given the task of delivering a valuable parcel. 'The journey would be punishing. It would test the resolve of the brave young explorers. Most of all it would provide us with a pair of unlikely heroes to admire and remember for many years to come. This is their story.'

All Set For the Big Wet

Mandy Foot (illustrator)

Lothian Children's Books, Australia: October 2011

ISBN: 9780734411969

Genres: animals, picture book

'The ants come scurrying one by one...' Watch out, because the Big Wet is due any day and ten different Australian animals are boarding the Ark in increasing numbers. But will it ever actually rain?

Waiting for Later

Tina Matthews (author/illustrator)

Walker Books, Australia: May 2011

ISBN: 9781921720055

Genres: picture book, realistic fiction

Issues: family, identity

Shortlisted for the 2011 Qld Premier's Award

Later. That seems to be the only answer Nancy, the youngest, seems to get whenever she asks someone else to spend time with her. So she finds a place to wait for later. A place where she can watch her family. A place that always has time for a girl who's at that in-between age when some days she feels small and others she feels big.

Homer the Library Cat

Reeve Lindbergh (author)

Anne Wilsdorf (illustrator)

Walker Books, UK: Australian release October 2011

ISBN: 9781406336566

Genres: picture book

Homer is definitely a stay-at-home cat of quiet and peaceful habits. Mice play with his ball; he purrs when he hears or sees a bird. So when there is a loud CRASH, Homer is terrified – the more so when his frantic dash for safety leaves him stranded, desperate to find the quiet human who shares his house. How can Homer possibly find her amidst the noise and bustle of the city around him?

There are No Cats In This Book

Vivane Schwarz (author/illustrator)

Walker Books, UK: Australian release August 2011

ISBN: 9781406316896 

Genres: animals, humour, picture book

Tiny, Moonpie and Andre are not really in this book. Okay, you can see them on the opening page but that's only because you happened to catch them before they leave. They're off on a big adventure – if they can break free of the page, that is. Can you help?