What Jimmy is reading: January

We've been heading to the local library recently, in an effort to get out of the house and find some new books, and possibly attend the Thursday morning children's thing. An added bonus is that the library is air conditioned, which is a lifesaver on really hot days – which have been a little too frequent lately (hello summer…).

It’s not that we don’t have a lot of books in the house to have a varied rotation, but it’s nice to read new books and find new favourites. First up is The Wrong Thing by Isobelle Carmody and illustrated by Declan Lee.

This sweet tale of a cat following an intruder around his home is so beautifully illustrated that half the telling is in the artwork. Hurricane, the cat, investigates, watches, and after a little reflection he comes to a thoughtful conclusion about the Wrong Thing that results in a happy ending for all. It's magic and Jimmy was captivated, both at bedtime and during the day. Each time we read it, he would point out something in the illustrations he hadn't noticed before. Carmody and Lee have created a work of art and I will be looking for it again.

This book is just lovely. The River by Hanako Clulow might be focused on a northern hemisphere location but it is so beautiful, a charmingly told story accompanied by captivating illustrations. It takes in the some amazing landscape and changes in scenery from icy rivers to a sunny beach. Not only does it provide a good sample of North American flora and fauna but it is also an introduction in the biology of salmon. I've always been drawn to story books with lovely illustrations and this one is no exception.

Wendy Binks' Where's Stripey? is a wonderful introduction to emus and their behaviour, and Australian animals in general. When Stripey goes missing, his dad, Crickey, goes searching for him – after making sure that Stripeys brothers and sisters have babysitters. This book provides a sound introduction into Australian animals and some Australian lingo, while having a fun at the same time. Binks' illustrations are lively and perfect for young children and the story is fun to read over and over. We've borrowed this one a few times in the last 6 months and it's a firm favourite.

We're always on the lookout for new(er) books, so please leave any suggestions in the comments!

Other books we've enjoyed in the past:

This book!
This book!
What Jimmy is reading...
17/52 – oh those cheeks!