Latest news with #SleepTightDisgustingBlob
Wall Street Journal
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
Children's Books: ‘Everyday Bean' by Stephanie Graegin
Stephanie Graegin uses observant lines of text and affectionate, detailed illustrations to tell 10 short stories about a tiny hedgehog named Bean in 'Everyday Bean.' Most of the tales in this humane and beguiling collection for children ages 3-7 run no longer than a handful of lines over three or four pages. In one, Bean has great success in spooking other forest creatures by pretending to be a ghost: 'I'm much better at this than I expected,' she thinks. She is looking forward to making her grandmother jump, too, but day turns to night and still Grandma (who is also a hedgehog) has not emerged from the house. Bean eventually shouts her hope that the old lady will come outside. 'Absolutely not!' Grandma shouts from inside. 'There's a ghost out there!' A ghost figures in the cavalcade of horribles summoned at bedtime in the humorous rhyming pages of Huw Aaron's 'Sleep Tight, Disgusting Blob.' In most respects, this lullaby for readers ages 4-8 runs according to type, with a parent ushering a child through the stages of evening ritual—teeth-brushing, bath-taking, pajama-donning—and saying tender things at tuck-in and lights-out. The difference is that the protagonists here are heaps of green slime (with googly eyes and cheery smiles) and the characters the narrator enlists are not winsome animals or cute human children but creepy creatures such as minotaurs, mummies and vampires. 'Closed is the Cyclops's glowering eye. / Steady is the Brain's gentle throb,' we read. 'Settled and snoring is the Beast of the Moor. / Shush now, my horrible Blob.' It will not be to every parent's taste for an author to make light of demons and evil, as Mr. Aaron briefly does here, but the less finicky are likely to relish this entertaining variation on an old nursery staple. A stormy confrontation leads to domestic bliss in 'The Fierce Little Woman and the Wicked Pirate,' a revival of Joy Cowley's 1984 text with new illustrations by Miho Satake. The fierce little woman, as we see her, is a redhead who lives in a house at the end of a jetty. During the day she knits and plays bagpipes. At night she enjoys listening to 'the sea breathing in and out under her door.' When a wicked pirate asks to be allowed into her home, the fierce little woman refuses to admit him. (In earlier editions, this fellow was haughty, pale and Captain Hook-ish; here he is a brawny sea dog with a dark complexion and a big gold earring.) Only when the pirate confesses his fear of the dark does the woman relent, and in short order the two are married. Happy scenes of the husband and wife later gamboling with their three children ('who are never fierce, and only sometimes wicked') give warmth and charm to this picture book for readers ages 4-6.
Scottish Sun
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
From mysteries to a genius doctor and robots, ten great children's books to thrill your kids this half term
Books help improve the development of your children's brains: from speech and language to memory PAPER CHASE From mysteries to a genius doctor and robots, ten great children's books to thrill your kids this half term THERE is nothing like getting stuck into a good book in the holidays, no matter your age. But research has found kids reading enjoyment has plummeted to its worst level in almost two decades. Advertisement 11 There is nothing like getting stuck into a good book in the holidays, no matter your age Credit: Getty That is despite the National Literacy Trust studies showing reading for pleasure benefits empathy, confidence and wellbeing. Children's author Adam Kay, whose new book Simon Gets Sneezed comes out in July, told The Sun: 'Not only does a love of books award you a lifelong membership to an infinite world of stories and adventure, reading for pleasure is crucially important for children. 'It literally improves the development of their brains: from speech and language to memory and attention.' So here, books editor Veronica Lorraine brings you ten of the best new children's books for half term. Advertisement Puppy's Wobbly Bottom by Kit Frost JOIN Puppy and friends for a colourful, fun and hilarious rhyming adventure – can you follow the actions and do the Wobbly Bottom dance? (Farshore, Preschoolers, £6.99) 11 Puppy's Wobbly Bottom by Kit Frost Credit: Supplied Oh No, Flo! by Catherine Cawthorne FARMER does all the jobs on the farm, and she does them perfectly. Advertisement When Farmer falls ill, her loyal sheepdog Flo must come to the rescue. 11 Oh No, Flo! by Catherine Cawthorne is about Farmer and her dog Credit: Supplied (Templar books, age 3+, £7.99) Sleep Tight Disgusting Blob by Huw Aaron A DELIGHTFULLY disgusting, utterly unique rhyming tale. Advertisement Man starts personalised children's books company after being made redundant and it's expected to turn over £1.3 million this year It's bedtime for Blob, although they just might need some persuading . . . 11 Sleep Tight Disgusting Blob by Huw Aaron is a delightfully disgusting, utterly unique rhyming tale Credit: Supplied (Puffin, age 3-7, £7.99) Dadbot by Jack Noel FULL of robots, puns and dastardly dad-napping, this hilarious graphic novel series is perfect for fans of Bunny Vs Monkey and reluctant readers. Advertisement (Piccadilly Press, age 7+, £8.99) 11 Dadbot by Jack Noel is a graphic novel full of robots, puns and dastardly dad-napping Credit: Supplied Beano Betty And The Yeti by Hugh Raine BETTY isn't supposed to have a yeti living in her room, but what the grown-ups don't now won't hurt them? Will it end in disaster or will Betty and the Yeti become friends? Advertisement 11 Beano Betty And The Yeti by Hugh Raine Credit: Supplied (Farshore, age 6+, £9.99) Dexter Procter, The 10-Year-Old Doctor, by Adam Kay DEXTER started speaking at four seconds old. By the age of three, he had 87 A-levels. Advertisement 11 Dexter Procter, The 10-Year-Old Doctor, by Adam Kay Credit: Supplied And by ten, he was working as a paediatrician at the hospital. (Puffin, age 6+, £7.99) Words Can Fly by Donna Ashworth POETRY collection serves as a compassionate guide through the journey of childhood, crafted with wisdom and warmth by the author. Advertisement (Templar Books, age 7+, £16.99) 11 Words Can Fly by Donna Ashworth is a poetry collection that serves as a compassionate guide through the journey of childhood Credit: Supplied Serial Chillers: The Witch In The Woods by Jennifer Killick HAZARD is an ordinary town where strangeness is a way of life. When Travis, Zayd, Siline and Danielle start a school project, it changes everything. Advertisement 11 Serial Chillers: The Witch In The Woods by Jennifer Killick Credit: Supplied (Farshore, age 9+, £7.99) Heir Of Storms by Lauryn Hamilton Murray BLAZE, a Rain Singer, is born into one of the most powerful fire-wielding families in the empire. Then she is thrust into battle – and the limelight. Advertisement 11 Heir Of Storms is about Blaze who is born into one of the most powerful fire-wielding families in the empire Credit: Supplied (Penguin, Young Adult, £9.99) Rival Darling by Alexandra Moody VIOLET is left heartbroken by the captain of the ice hockey team and vows never to date a jock again. Then meets the captain of the Ransom Devils… Advertisement 11 Violet is left heartbroken by the captain of the ice hockey team and vows never to date a jock again in Rival Darling Credit: Supplied (Electric Monkey, YA, £9.99)
