Author Shirley Hughes has written a book about all the real things that children first experience such as rain, standing, colours, a whole variety of different things. She has put them into a story featuring siblings Katie and baby Olly to create a book that children can enjoy, recognise, and learn from.

All Around Me is split into five different chapters – Opposites, Counting, Colours, Shapes and Sizes and Sounds. The words are kept to a minimal and describe each item which will help a child that is learning to read. It is also written in a rhyme which makes the words flow and easier to work out.

At the beginning of each chapter, there is a short activity for children to complete. Throughout there are colourful illustrations that have a traditional feel to them. Each item has it’s own illustration which perfectly captures what is happening.

The book also teaches young children about life, such as it’s rude to push, when to stop at a crossing, it’s unkind to tease, and plenty more things that they need to learn.

It is so lovely to see a book featuring siblings that obviously love one another and show them just going through life, from fun times to family times and also bedtime. This is an adorable book that would be perfect for a child just starting to learn to read.

About the Author

Shirley Hughes is the illustrator of more than two hundred children’s books and has won many prestigious awards, including the Kate Greenaway Medal twice. She is the author-illustrator of DON’T WANT TO GO! and OLLY AND ME 1 2 3. She lives in London.

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