Posted by Jane McMorland Hunter on January 6th, 2022

To celebrate the beginning of my series on children’s books I’m going to write about some of my favourite picture books – less well-known titles by famous authors.

Julia Donaldson and David Roberts, Tyrannosaurus Drip Julia Donaldson is deservedly famous for her books about The Gruffalo but I have to confess that my favourite of her books is Tyrannosaurus Drip, with illustrations by David Roberts. The story is told in Julia’s brilliant verse and concerns a Duckbill Dinosaur, possibly the most charming species of dinosaur to have lived (or not). Unfortunately he comes up against a family of grim and grisly Tyrannosauruses who are horrified that, as well as being weedy, he appears to be a vegetarian: ‘A PLANT!’ yelled Mum in horror, and Dad said, ‘Get a grip!’ His sisters found a name for him: ‘Tyrannosaurus Drip!’ As the rhyme continues we learn that the weedy Drip is actually a brave and heroic Duckbill Dinosaur and that the T family get their comeuppance.

Emma Chichester Clark, Bears Don’t Read Emma Chichester Clark has written many wonderful picture books about the Blue Kangaroo, the Three Little Monkeys and Melrose and Croc but of all her characters my favourite by far is the George the Bear. While he enjoys living in the wild and doing ‘bear’ things, he is certain there must be more to life. When he finds a book in the wood he thinks his problems are solved; he decides to go to the nearest town, find the owner of the book and learn to read. He is charmingly unaware of the chaos a bear can cause arriving at a library with such a seemingly simple request. Obviously there is a happy solution.

Eric Carle, Mister Seahorse The Very Hungry Caterpillar is loved by almost all children but the equally wonderful Mister Seahorse often gets forgotten. The story tells the surprising life-cycle of a seahorse, with the colourful Mr Seahorse taking his responsibilities very seriously as he floats through the sea meeting other sea creatures along the way. Colourful semi-transparent overlays subtly alter the pictures with reeds, coral and seaweed revealing surprises in the depths of the ocean.

Sam McBratney, You’re All my Favourites Mummy and Daddy Bear live happily with their three cubs but one day the cubs start to worry whether their parents love one more than the others. Do they really love one without white patches? Or the girl bear? Or the littlest? When the cubs ask their parents they are reassured to hear that white patches or not, girl or boy, or size don’t matter; they are all the favourites. This delightful story by the author of Guess How Much I Love You was introduced to me by a customer who used it to stop sibling rivalry – so as well as being a sweet story it is also useful.