Bright Horizons - Growing Readers Books of Excellence

Please contact us by email if you are a Bright Horizons nursery and you would like to order books to add to your Reading Scheme selection.

A collection of books ideal for NEW baby rooms joining the Bright Horizons group. This offers a fantastic start-up library for your room. All of the books have been chosen by your supplier, Letterbox Library, and they include many of the Books of Excellence titles selected for Bright Horizon's Growing Readers' scheme. The pack is made up of 19 titles. FULL RETAIL PRICE £93.81 BRIGHT HORIZONS PRICE £80.00 (SAVING £13.81)

A collection of books ideal for NEW toddler rooms joining the Bright Horizons group. This offers a fantastic start-up library for your room. All of the books have been chosen by your supplier, Letterbox Library, and they include many of the Books of Excellence titles selected for Bright Horizon's Growing Readers' scheme. The pack is made up of 23 titles. FULL RETAIL PRICE £143.77 BRIGHT HORIZONS PRICE £123.00 (SAVING £20.77)

A collection of books ideal for NEW preschool rooms joining the Bright Horizons group. This offers a fantastic start-up library for your room. All of the books have been chosen by your supplier, Letterbox Library, and they include many of the Books of Excellence titles selected for Bright Horizon's Growing Readers' scheme. The pack is made up of 25 titles. FULL RETAIL PRICE £186.75 BRIGHT HORIZONS PRICE £160.00 (SAVING £26.75)

A wonderful list of wonderfully inappropriate responses to a new sibling by an award winning illustrator/author team. Comic, upbeat, offbeat and bursting with child-centred humour. (Mixed race family). Things NOT to do with a baby include pegging them on the washing line, giving them to an octopus, swapping him for the school guinea pig. 'Great illustrations; swapping him for that lovely guinea pig is tempting!!' (Maggie, Former EY Adviser, LL reviewer). 'Funny and engaging do's and don'ts for new sisters and brothers; hints at the frustration older siblings can feel!' (Carey, Childminder, LL reviewer). Age 3-5 Paperback 24pp

Meet The 5 Misfits, a happy band of creatures who live happily together in their snug little home. One of them is punctured, one is folded, one is feeble, one is upside down and one is simply "a bundle of oddities". They are a happy band of creatures, living snugly together in a lopsided house...until they are visited by a stranger, the Perfect One, who is appalled by their good-for-nothingness. Will he mend their ways or will they mend his? ... An incredibly beautiful book in its art work and a extraordinarily wise book in its messages about uniqueness and individuality. 'A quirky take on difference; lots of subliminal messages- positive ones' (Eileen, Former Primary Teacher, LL reviewer). 'Themes of social acceptability, friendship, contentment and joy which can open up conversations about "misfits" without perpetuating stereotypes of them' (Darren, Teacher & Higher Ed. Tutor, LL reviewer). Age 4-9, Paperback 34pp

Meet Zibbo, a small, yellow-spotted, pet dragon with fantastic roaring and fire-breathing skills. Ibbo is a little different to the children but he is much loved and, most importantly of all, he is one little child's best friend. Together they dance under disco balls, snack and burp, sail in pirate ships. A blast of a book which celebrates imaginative play and is narrated by a fiercely active, joyful and boisterous child who also happens to be a wheelchair user. You don't get much more upbeat and positive than this! 'Fab book. Great illustrations, great central character, great diversity in the wealth of other children too!' (Meryl, EY Consultant & Trainer, LL reviewer). Age 3-6, Paperback 24pp

A delightful tale about a child who is absolutely bursting and popping with happiness. 'Very positive portrayal of extended family life (mixed race marriage)' (Children's Services Coordinator, LL reviewer). Age 4-7, Paperback 32pp Click here to see the CLPE's Power of Reading Teaching Sequence to accompany this text.

Winner Little Rebels Award 2013 A smashing, Amnesty-endorsed, story of a family's escape from war and their journey to a strange new country (probably the UK). Realistic and positive. Told in a super child-friendly, comic-style, format. Age 7-11, Paperback 36pp

The younger-reader edition of Michaela DePrince's highly moving memoir, Hope in a Ballet Shoe. DePrince is a Sierra Leonean-American professional ballet dancer. Brought up in an orphanage in Sierra Leone during the civil war and then, aged 4, adopted by an American Jewish couple, DePrince became one of America's most eminent ballerinas, winning awards and attracting media attention around the world. This early reader biography, written by DePrince and her adoptive mother, manages to convey this extraordinary story in the most child-friendly of ways while never glossing over the essential facts. Warm and bright illustrations (the ones of a young DePrince doing grand jeté leaps in a fluffy tutu are joyful!) and a straightforward text which also introduces lots of interesting dancing terms. 'This is such a lovely little book; it rings with a quiet truth' (Eileen, Former Primary Teacher, LL reviewer). 'I love this book. It has everything in it- truth, purpose, pain, determination, hard work and triumph. Inspiring on every page!' (Meryl, EY Consultant & Trainer, LL reviewer). An incredible role model, named one of The Times' 'Top 25 Under 20' and one of Elle UK's 'Top 30 Under 30' in 2014. Age 6-9, Paperback 63pp

A nature-loving child with a special passion for bees, logs and records each and every buzzzz. And then, suddenly one day, with the arrival of rain and frost, all of the bees disappear. Bereft and despairing, he tries all manner of things to encourage them back- from dressing up in a bee suit to creating a special beehive hotel with free wi-fi. To no avail. And then, just as suddenly, with the coming of Spring, the bees fly back! An endearing story about losing your bumble and getting it back! Follows the passing seasons and weather patterns. Excellent bumble bee back notes provide a wider context on the value of bees to our fragile eco system. Age 4-7 Paperback 28pp

A brilliant, much needed, early years book on internet safety, recently selected by a nursery group we work with for Child Safety Week. This picture book starts out happily enough with a chirpy little chick who stumbles on the farmer's computer. It then sounds a note of caution as chick starts to enjoy a little online shopping. Finally, loud alarm bells ring as chick posts a picture of herself online and arranges to meet a stranger offline- at which point the text ends. Willis has a real knack for exploring tough and challenging subjects with a completely appropriate lightness of touch and a directness which makes her work perfectly suited for an adult/child discussion. 'I liked this. There is wonderful humour in the rhyming text. A good starting point for opening this subject up at school' (Eileen, Former Primary Teacher, LL reviewer). Age 3-6, Paperback 23pp

Art Class is no fun for one quiet child, sat on her own, with a fuzzy black cloud hovering over her...but a patient and fun-filled little girl resolves to find a way through the fog...Multicultural, casual images of disability, a winning text and exceptionally imaginative illustrations. Age 4-8, Paperback 27pp

"There's a Saltopus strutting, swaying to the beat / Hoping and bopping and taping his feet". With a repeated chorus to join in with- "Come on everybody, shake a claw!"- this will be a real pleasure for dinosaur fans. Strong rhythms and rhymes, bright and swishy illustrations, a CD with animations and dino sing-alongs, a brilliant 'Who's Who' of dinosaurs on the backpages and a detailed, illustrated guide to the ages of the dinosaurs, from the Triassic era right up until the current, Quarternary era. Add to this a representative group of children- including a child with a hearing aid and one with a walking (or should that be boogie?!) frame- who step up to the beat in dino-matching costumes and you have Dino Love as a complete, child-friendly, package. 'Lovely, bright illustrations, lots of movements, CD with roars to dance to, inclusive disability images. Yes!' (Maggie, Former Early Years Adviser, LL reviewer). Age 4-7, Paperback 30pp

Errol has plenty of green fingers. But his flat doesn't have nearly enough space for all of his seedlings and pottings. But then, he discovers the roof at the top of his tower block and an idea begins to germinate, in every sense of the word. He just needs a little bit of help from his friends. A great, positive boost of a story as a hugely diverse community come together to create something very beautiful which then spreads across the skyline... The strawberries look delish! 'Lovely to see a creative approach to gardening in the city and the power of working together' (Rosalind, Workforce Dev. Officer, LL reviewer). 'This book's illustrations and story made my smile' (Meryl, EY Consultant & Trainer, LL reviewer). Age 3-6, Paper27pp

Class One share a much loved toy, The Everywhere Bear, so called because every weekend he goes home with a different child. Disaster strikes when Matt, on his splashy walk to school, bends down to pet a kitten, leading Bear to tumble out of his rucksack and into a puddle! Can he get back to the classroom? By a much loved author/former Children's Laureate. (n.b.: Class One includes a wheelchair user and a child who wears a hearing aid). Age 4-7, Paperback 30pp

Isabel's best friend, Simon, moves away very suddenly leaving her feeling angry and then lonely. Having decided to enjoy her isolation, she shuns company, excepting...the parrot on her head. But then Chester moves in next door and convinces her that it might be a time for a new playmate. A charmingly off-the-wall picture book which captures the zaniness of children's playtime and the worlds they create together. The narrative moves along through Isabel's changing emotions which are themselves carried by a familiar passage of the seasons from Autumn- marking Simon's departure- to Spring- announcing Chester's arrival. For more confident readers there are some real depths of emotions to explore here with Isabel literally externalising her feelings through a complex system of boxes and storage. 'Totally loved this innovative text with its superb illustrations. Very tactile paper and a great palette. Brilliant, humorous, quirky- immense!' (Kate, Children's Centre Coordinator, LL reviewer) Age 4-8, Paperback 31pp

From India to Iraq to Rwanda to Spain, meet babies from 17 cultures around the world. Dazzling photographs and a simple text create a joyful global celebration. Age 0-2 American Import Boardbook 16pp

Well, grandparents inducting children on their vegetable plots seems to be a recurring theme! Here, Billy is by his grandpa's side throughout the growing season. Teaches everything anyone would need to know to get started on their own allotment. Fantastically detailed backnotes furnish stacks of additional veg-growing information. Ages 4-7, Paperback 38pp

SLA Information Book Award Under 7s 2011 Winner The most joyful and inclusive book of the year! A glorious, multicultural celebration of contemporary family life. Includes lesbian/gay parents, single parents, adopted/fostered children and people from different economic backgrounds. All wrapped up in delightful illustrations and great dollops of humour! Age 4-8, Paperback 32pp Themes: Families, LGBTQ+

"Nippy-nappy / Nippy-nappy / Nap, nap, nap...Ippy-uppy / Ippy-uppy / Up, up, up". With such a dream team, the current and a former Children's Laureate, this was always going to be a bit of a treasure. A big bold collection of what Rosen and Riddell do best- rhymes which drum, drip and tiptoe; rhythms which lull, bounce and startle; words which rush out to tumble and play; accompanied by illustrations which fill and trip over the pages with their sweeps and strokes. A collection which deserves all those set-to-be-a-classic predictions. We could say lots about its suitability for extending vocabulary, early explorations of rhymes, patterned phrases but, for now, we just want to tell you about the lickingly lovely glorious FUN of it: "Bendy Man, Bendy Man / He's a long leggy man. / Bendy Man, Bendy Man / In a baked-bean can." "I went to Lapland / I saw a reindeer on the loose / I went to Canada / I saw a chocolate mousse." (cue Riddell's standing upright, chocolate-munching, golden, smug moose...). Joint winner (with Crossan's One) of the . Age 3-7, Paperback 73pp

Nobody has ever been able to catch The Great Googly Moogly - a giant and terrifying fish of legend. But Stella aims to do just that. Armed with fishing gear and differing baits, she sets out every day to realize her dream, whatever the weather. But what will she do if she succeeds? Courtney Dicmas's latest book features a spirited character determined to achieve her goal, but it also reflects our responsibilities to other creatures, and our place in the natural world. Age 4-7, Paperback 27pp

Part of an interactive series on 'real tasks' for toddlers which has an informal, chatty, tone. This one shows a child learning all about growing plants -from sowing to weeding to munching. Munching, not mulching! A delightfully active and energetic grandparent is also on hand. Birth to 3, Paperback 23pp

A gentle exploration of bereavement through lilting, poetic text and joyful, sweeping brushstrokes of oranges, pinks, reds and yellows. A child takes her granddad's giant hand and journeys through the seasons with him exploring the first signs of spring, discovering the astrological properties of a racing track (!), capturing dreams with a rainbow pencil in a book of crinkly leaves, storytelling with snake puppet socks. When her beloved grandpa dies, she collects scattered memories from his room and then starts to write them down in the notebook he left for her, made of spring-petal paper and Indian string. A very moving story- the sadness made somehow bearable by the exquisite relationship between child and grandparents and the narrative faith in memories which gradually heal like balm. (Mixed- Asian/Black- Race Family.) Age 4-8 Paperback 28pp

A bind-up of two stories, based on the irrepressible and hilarious Charlie and Lola characters: 'Snow Is My Favourite and My Best' and 'I Really, Really Need Actual Ice Skates'. Perfect winter frolics! Age 4 to 7, Paperback 64pp

"But I must hug my pup!" "And I must tuck you up!" Mum says it's time for bed. But her daughter is far too busy kissing kangaroos, cuddling hippos, flying with geese and nuzzling whale tails. A fantastically lulling bedtime story full of all sorts of bed-delaying tactics while cleverly soothing any child to sleep with wonderfully warm illustrations and rhymes which hug like the softest blankie. "Reassuringly cosy" (Maggie, Former Early Years Adviser, Letterbox Library reviewer). (Asian family) Age 2-5, Ppaerback 24pp

31 poems celebrating festivals from around the world, beautifully illustrated and including fascinating information about each festivity. Wonderful school resource or gift book. Age 7-10, Paperback 56pp

Lulu has practised story time; she has her water bottle; she has laid her clothes out neatly... all ready for the big day. Unusually for starting school books, this one stars a child who is full of excitement about her first day, showing a level of confidence which will boost child readers about to make their transition to Big School. Wonderful. Age 3-6, Hardback 24pp

"Lulu, Lulu, extraordinary / How does your garden grow?" Lulu never fails to delight, enchant and tickle our Letterbox Library reviewers. Here, inspired by Mary Mary, Lulu decides she wants her own flower garden. As ever, everything she needs to know can be found in a book- from planting the flower seeds to nurturing them, to making the necessary accompanying cupcakes for the flower garden party she holds! 'Lovely colourful illustrations telling the story of Lulu and her garden' (Carey, Childminder, LL reviewer).'Engaging and positive characters...Great storyline linking to outdoor play, poems & rhymes & reading, healthy eating, creativity and sharing. I like the links to the website for extension resources. Delightful illustrations and a proper story!' (Kate, Children's Centre Coordinator, LL reviewer). Age 3-6, Paperback 24pp

Raffi is a shy boy who doesn’t like noisy games and is often teased at school. But when he gets the idea of making a scarf for his dad’s birthday he is full of enthusiasm, even though the other children think it is girly to knit. Then the day draws near for the school pageant, and there is one big problem - no costume for the prince. And that’s when Raffi has his most brilliant idea of all - to make a prince’s cape. On the day of the pageant, Raffi’s cape is the star of the show. Age 4-7, Paperback 40pp

It's a great day for sport-loving Max as his school wins the fun tournament. Expressive, multicultural illustrations enhance this effortlessly inclusive book. Age 3-7, Paperback 24pp

"Because a T-Rex is ferocious And his manners are atrocious". One child's bedtime routine, elaborated through leaping rhymes and sensible advice on dealing with sharks, bisons and dinosaurs. Absolutely delightful! Age 3-6, Paperback 30pp

Oliver only wants chips. Grandpa sets a challenge: Oliver must eat whatever he digs up in the vegetable patch until he finds the potato plants. Oliver happily binges on fresh fruit and veg...ending with a bowl of fresh-from-the-garden chips! Age 4-7, Paperback 24pp

Every day, Birt and Etho take their cardboard boxes all the way up Sudden Hill to play for hours and hours, enjoying their special, "two-by-two rhythm". But then, one Monday, a small child called Shu appears with his own box, wanting to join in...Can their friendship take a new addition? A new, three-by-three rhythm? A superb celebration of imaginative and creative outdoor play. It is also a gentle story which will resonate with lots of children as a group of boys negotiate a new friendship group with thought, empathy, mutual respect, care and real kindness. How good to see a bunch of boys allowed to express emotional intelligence. Age 4-7, Paperback 30pp

Bumptious bountiful fun. Prince Pip has every kind of pairs of pants imaginable: starry, dotty, leopard-spotty. So, on his birthday, he wants to choose his pants very carefully. But when he opens his treasured pants drawer, they've all gone! Prince Pip rushes round the palace asking after his pants, growing more and more anxious. Can anything save the day? 'Good fun illustrations and a story that will amuse young children throughout. Fast and furious with an appealing central character of colour' (Meryl, EY Consultant & Trainer, Letterbox reviewer ) 'Yes this has child appeal! A book about pants! I love the queen's corgis!' (Eileen, Former Primary Teacher, LL reviewer) Age 4-7, Paperback 26pp

Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2014 A street thief in a "mean and hard and ugly city" nearly snatches a woman's handbag...the woman tells the child she can have the bag if she makes a promise in return. It's a promise she keeps and its consequences bring about her own and her environment's transformation. A picture book which explores our relationship with nature and offers a vision of a new harmony. Little Rebels Judge, Kim Reynolds, said: 'This gorgeous picture book features a young urban thief who becomes a guerrilla gardener of mythic proportions. The poetic prose underscores the vital connection between humans and nature and encourages young readers to believe that, despite the gloomy news about climate change, they can make a difference through small actions. Laura Carlin's atmospheric illustrations movingly follow the change from grey, grim cityscapes to vibrant cities in bloom'. Ages 5-8, Paperback 38pp

Part of a series focusing on 'real tasks', this uses conversational text as two lively children ask their parents how to sort items of recycling, which seeds to plant and the price of second hand objects. Age 2-5, Card Pages 23pp

Posy has just moved home and is bursting with anxieties. But a magical red boat at the bottom of the garden becomes a vehicle for some fantastic imaginative role play which soon soothes Posy's fears...A super book for exploring first time nerves and transitions as well as being, quite simply, a good story. 'Warm and humorous, this book explores a child's fears of the new and unknown' (Kate, Children's Centre Coordinator, LL reviewer); 'charming and humorous' (Primary Inclusion Manager, LL reviewer). Age 4-7, Paperback 29pp

A lovely tale about grandfather Lolo and grandmother Lola and their respective love and loathing for sardines. Luminescent seascape illustrations show Lolo and Lola fishing, a gleaming lighthouse, jumping sardines and an octopus called Jeff. Grand, 'old-fashioned' storytelling with a nod to Jonah and the Whale. Age 3-6, Paperback 32pp

Greenbackboy wants to play a game called "K'Ching" which involves cutting down all the forest trees and catching all the ocean fishes. Can Snowboy save the day? A smart tale linking environmental destruction to monetary greed. Age 4-7, Paperback 29pp

A group of children hold up a range of shapes- circles, squares, triangles and lines- from which they are then inspired to draw skyscrapers, seascapes, and park parties. Bold, bright, rhyming, rhythmic and full of energy! Comes with a CD of animations and join-in, catchy tunes. (Includes one child who wears a leg splint.) Age 3-6, Paperback + CD, 22pp

A group of children (multicultural) blast off into space in a multicoloured rocket , discovering the solar system, shooting stars and meteors along the way. A celebration of space travel with a cumulative text and a jolly chorus for children to join in on. Comes with a watch and sing along CD and plenty of fascinating backnotes on astronauts and space explorations. Age 3-6 Paperback + Video CD 27pp

One of our reviewers' favourite (mixed race) characters -the always buoyant Anna- takes to the seaside with her extended family. The waves want to splash with someone. Anna wants to splash with someone. But Anna's aunties and grandparents and cousins are simply too busy braiding, texting, chatting and snoring. In the end, the waves and Anna decide to get on with splashing each other...before long, everyone rushes down to the beach to joins Anna in her splashy fun. Age 4-7, Paperback 34pp

Set in ancient Japan, when wrestlers were celebrities and little boys wanted to be just like them. Skinny little Kaito dreams of being a famous Sumo wrestler and decides to try his luck at the famous wrestling tournament in Kyoto. On the road, he meets Hana, a girl with great physical strength and wisdom who declares Kaito far too 'weedy' to compete and then offers to train him up herself. Several bowls of fish stews and several boot camp sessions later, a small but tough wrestler is fit and ready for competition! Lovely humorous storytelling- and the real star is, of course, Hana , based on the legendary strong women of Japanese myth. "'A very welcome strong woman portrayal" (Jane, Inclusion Manager, Letterbox reviewer). Age 5-8, Paperback 27pp

A group of toddlers greet the sun, grab their sunhats and lotion, play in the sun's rays and later its shadows and then, finally, say goodbye. A wonderful tribute to outdoor imaginative play and paddling pools. A delightful, multicultural series which also has images of disability (in this case we see a child with Down syndrome, children wearing a protective helmet and eyepatch and a child signing). See also Rain, Snow and Wind in the same series. Age 1-3, Boardbook 10pp

Charming, rhyming text and glorious illustrations celebrate the diversity of babies from around the world. Age Birth-3, Boardbook, 36pp

First published in 1967 by a (now) big name author, back as a brand new edition- and it hasn't dated at all! Two giants live in an idyllic world with a beautiful landscape and beautiful climate. And then one day, they both spot a pink shell- and both want to own it. An argument becomes a fight becomes rock-throwing...with consequences for their once perfect world. A seemingly uncomplicated tale which can be used to explore lots of very big themes connected with transitions and change: friendships broken and reformed, peace & conflict and even, very simply, the changing weather and seasons. Age 4-7, Paperback 29pp

The epic journey of one tiny bird transfigures itself into an epic discovery for a single toddler. A sparrow flits around a takeaway puri stand at a truck stop in India. It starts pecking at the rice bags on a truck which then drives off across paddy fields and into town to offload onto a liner which journeys south to a nameless, Western, city... where the bird flies out to dart around a toddler called Edie in a pram in a café, which causes a dog to leap up which causes an ice cream cone to fly into Edie's lap who then makes the most momentous of discoveries: the taste of vanilla! The story ends with a gleeful portrait of a toddler covered in ice cream. This is trademark Bob Graham. There are minimal words and some pages are entirely wordless. A huge journey and a life changing moment are evoked primarily through a sequence of soft, watercolour illustrations, sometimes in full page spreads, sometimes following a comic book sequence of several boxed images to a page. The bird's eye views of shifting vistas are lovely. A fantastic read for children who enjoy big ideas but are hesitant around text-heavy books, preferring comic strips or graphic books. Ample opportunity to discuss cause and effect, unusual connections and the attention we should pay to the smallest of moments. Endorsed by Amnesty" because it reminds us that we should all enjoy life, freedom and safety". Age 4-7, Paprback 36pp

Based on the lyrics of the song made world-famous by Louis Armstrong. A child basks in the delights of the natural world and wonders at the magic of humanity. The illustrator was inspired to do this book by a memory of learning the song while he was at school. Comes with a CD with the song performed by Armstrong himself. 'What a joyful and beautifully illustrated book' (Carey, Childminder, Letterbox Library reviewer.) Age 2-7, Paperback + CD 28pp

A lively jackdaw swoops over different landscapes-sea, woodland, fields and town- inviting all sorts of related animals-octopi, piglets and ferrets- to his party...but no one seems to understand him! What's going on? A clever rhyming, rhythmic book about friendship, with some BSL signs to learn along the way! Written by a former Children's Laureate (who herself has a hearing impairment) and with deaf children via the charity Life & Deaf. Comes with a CD which has the story read aloud alongside a British Sign Language video. Age 2-5, Paperback 26pp