Competition winner

Congratulations to Abigail from Crownhill who made BB laugh with this joke:

Why do elephants have big ears?
Because Noddy wouldn’t pay the ransom.

A copy of Manfred the Baddie by John Fardell is on its way to Abigail.

Keep an eye out for our Christmas competition coming soon.

Book review – Milo Armadillo by Jan Fearnley

Tallulah really wanted a pink fluffy rabbit for her birthday and her Gran decide to knit one for her…but instead she knitted a pink Milo Armadillo!

It wasn’t the rabbit she was hoping for, but she didn’t want to hurt Gran’s feelings, so Milo Armadillo would have to do. Milo wassporty, played funky tunes and he and Tallulah played lots of games together, but he knew he wasn’t really wanted and sadly he crept away.

Too late Tallulah knew that he was not only very cute, but really cool too, brilliant at everything, a fantastic playmate and most importantly of all, a steadfast friend.

Does this story have a happy ending? You’ll have to borrow it from your library to find out!!!

Competition – Send us a joke

The shortlist has been announced by Booktrust for the Roald Dahl funny prize an award that celebrates humour in books for children and families to share.

The younger age category features some BB rib tickling favourites such as Allan Ahlberg, Mr Pusskins and the marvellous Great Dog Bottom Swap.

Little Britain megastar David Walliams has been nominated for the older award for The Boy in the Dress. The judges include the award’s inventor Michael Rosen and Hobbity comedian Bill Bailey.

We have one copy of previous Funny Prize shortlister Manfredd the Baddie by John Fardell to anyone who sends an e-mail with Funny Prize in the subject field to cityinfo@plymouth.gov.uk and a joke that makes a small blue bear laugh out loud.*

The competition will close on November 9 the day before the award winners are announced!

*To win you must have a Plymouth UK postcode.

French for Pitchouns

Join us in the Central Library for fun French sessions for the Under 5s.

Saturday 10 and 17 October: 11.30am to 12 noon

Book review – Can you see a little bear? by James Mayhew and Jackie Morris

A beautifully illustrated board book that takes you travelling with a circus through a cold and beautiful far away land.

The rhyming text encourages you to explore contrasts, colours and opposites while all the time searching for where the bear is hiding. Is he standing on a ball, or trying on a shoe, or even standing on his head?

A book you could read again and again and make new discoveries every time!

Find a copy of Can you see a little bear in your library.

Celebrating National Bookstart Day

Friday 9 October is National Bookstart Day and we’ll be celebrating all week with special rhymetimes. Take a look at the library website for all the dates and times.

We’re also looking for Plymouth’s favourite nursery rhyme. Tell us yours and you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win a fabulous bag of picture and board books. Pick up an entry form in your library.

Book review – Big Smelly Bear by Britta Teckentrup

Big Smelly Bear never washed or brushed. Big Smelly bear was followed by a big smelly stink wherever he goes!

He is determined to stay smelly until one day he has an itch he cannot reach to scratch.

Luckily for him, a big fluffy bear comes along and kindly offers to help. But first she wants him to do something – take a bath. A fun-filled story with a sweet smelling ending.

Find a copy of Big Smelly Bear in your library.

Booktrust Early Years Awards

The winners have been announced. They are:

Baby Book Award – Chick by Ed Vere

Pre-school Award – Oliver who travelled far and wide by Mara Bergman

Best Emerging illustrator – Box of Tricks by Katie Cleminson

All are available to borrow from your library. Just click on the links to find or reserve

Book review – This Little Baby by Tony Bradman and Jenny Williams

When my son Matthew was a baby, this was his favourite book!

The story takes you through a typical day of “This Little baby”. Even before Matthew could speak, he loved to choose which toys to play with on the pages and particularly which food to eat, which he would pretend to do.

This little baby has a penguin and Matthew would sit with his “Pingu” also listening intently. It was a particularly special cuddle up story for both of us and I’m sure that every little baby and every Mum and Dad will love it as much as we did!

Find a copy of This little baby in your library.

Book review – The Perfect Prince by Paul Harrison and Sue Mason

Princess Isabella was expected to meet a handsome prince and fall in love, but she didn’t like any of them. They were either too tall, or too small, too clever or too stupid, too foolish or too boring. They were never the perfect prince.

One day while walking she met a frog and she knew that if princesses kiss frogs, with a bit of magic, the perfect prince appears. So she kissed the frog….and I won’t spoil the story for you, except to say that Isabella started looking a little green in the face and developed a taste for flies!

Find a copy of The Perfect Prince in your library.