Science Words for Little People

Written by Helen Mortimer and illustrated by Cristina Trapanese

Age 3+

Get ready to meet some science words you can use every day!

Created by the language experts at 51黑料网, and informed by the Oxford Corpus of Children鈥檚 Language, these little books provide just the right words to explore science with even the littlest learners and to build their confidence with scientific vocabulary.

From the weather to space, discover and share all the words, facts, and meanings you need to talk about these fascinating topics together.

Win Big Words for Little people: Weather

To celebrate the publication of Weather, the latest Science Words for Little People book, we鈥檙e giving away all four books in the series to one lucky winner!

For your chance to win the books, head to the Oxford Owl Facebook page and comment on the competition post with your favourite weather emoji.

UK residents only. Entry closes at 11.59pm on Sunday 28th January 2024.

About the book

About the Author and Illustrator

Helen Mortimer has always loved words. After graduating, she placed her foot on the bottom rung of the publishing ladder and enjoyed every step of the climb until she had a fine view of the world of picture books!

Cristina Trapanese started studying illustration at the Italian School of Comix and later at the IDEA Academy in Rome. She loves painting and how it helps her learn how to manage colours, later discovering her passion for telling stories through images.

More from Oxford Owl

• The wonder of words: How learning new words can help your child (Blog)
• Building a strong vocabulary: How to help at home (Blog)
• Science for fun: Six super science activities to try at home (Article)
• Children’s Word of the Year 2023: Climate Change (Blog)

A love of books is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child.

Studies have shown that children who read for pleasure are more likely to do well at school 鈥� and the earlier you start, the better. But how do you choose from the huge number of wonderful books available? Children鈥檚 librarian Greta Paterson shares her top tips for choosing books for ages 3鈥�7.

1. Let your child follow their interests

Some children will love scary stories, others prefer funny stories, and many love to follow a series or favourite author. Some children prefer factual books. Children who struggle with reading may prefer comic books or short stories. There is no one correct type of reading material!

If your child likes fantasy stories,听Harriet Muncaster鈥檚 top 10 magical books听or听Matty Long鈥檚 top 10 fantasy books for under 5s听might appeal. These听books to inspire your young scientists听are great for non-fiction lovers, and the higher end of the age range might like our听picture books for older readers.

2. Make sure they are age-appropriate

Younger children will love board books and picture books, bright colours, repetition of words or rhymes, or books that invite you to touch, scrunch and prod!

Beginner readers like short stories with pictures and children around age 7+ will be ready for short chapter books. Some books have helpful age guidelines on the back. However, you should always remember that is just what they are:听guidelines. Whilst it is important to select age-appropriate books, many children will be better suited to books aimed a little above or a little below their actual age.

3. Make sure they suit your child鈥檚 ability

Are the words used appropriate for your child鈥檚 reading ability? Many teachers advise that if there are more than five hard words on a sample page in early reading books, the book is too difficult. It鈥檚 not a good idea to push your child to read books they are not ready for yet 鈥� that could put them off reading for good.

To find books carefully levelled to suit your child鈥檚 age and ability, take a look at our new听Read with Oxford听series.

鈥淐hoose books you think your child will enjoy, or better still, let them choose. And remember, your child doesn鈥檛 have to finish a book if they discover they don鈥檛 like it. Reading should be fun.鈥�

4. Look at the book!

Does the cover make your child want to pick it up? Does the blurb make you or them want to read it? Is the print clear and well spaced on the page? Are the pictures bright and colourful? Is the story easy to read aloud?

You could ask your child to read a page at random to see if they like the style. If you鈥檙e picking a bedtime story for a younger reader, try reading it aloud.

5. Seek out recommendations

Talk to other parents, children and teachers, or ask your local bookseller or librarian. Newspapers and magazines sometimes have reviews of children鈥檚 books and specialist children鈥檚 book magazines can be an excellent source of information.

If your child has a favourite author or is addicted to a series of books then choosing is easy, but what happens when they have read them all? Your local children鈥檚 librarian or bookseller will be able to suggest similar books, or you can try some of these websites:

• : The UK鈥檚 leading children鈥檚 book magazine. Its issues are free to download from the website and include book reviews, author interviews, and lists of recommendations.
• : Recommendations from the UK鈥檚 largest children鈥檚 reading charity. Its Bookfinder feature is extremely useful for discovering books by theme or interest.
• : Created by the National Literacy Trust, this site includes book recommendations from birth to 11 years.
• : Published three times a year, this subscription magazine has up-to-date reviews on all kinds of children鈥檚 fiction, as well as in-depth interviews with authors and illustrators.
• : With a vast library of over 300,000 books, you鈥檙e bound to find something to satisfy the pickiest of readers on this recommendation site.

More from Oxford Owl

• How to choose a book for ages 7鈥�11
• Your local library 鈥� a forgotten treasure trove

The Wild

Written and Illustrated by Yuval Zommer

Age 3+

Everything found a place in the Wild, and the Wild welcomed all鈥�

Discover renowned illustrator Yuval Zommer鈥檚 latest magical creation, which delivers a powerful modern fairy tale about how our environment needs us just as much as we need it.

The Wild explores concepts of healing, wellbeing and our relationship with nature through mesmerising illustrations, to offer a hopeful message for readers big and small.

Win one of three copies of The Wild

Want to get your hands on a copy of this beautiful book? We鈥檙e giving away three copies! Plant a tree 馃尦 emoji in the comments on the competition Facebook post for your chance to win.

UK residents only. Entry closes at 11.59pm on Sunday 26th November 2023.

About the book

About the Author

Yuval Zommer graduated from London鈥檚 Royal College of Art with an MA in Illustration. He then worked as a creative director at many leading advertising agencies but his passion for picture books won, and he is now the author and illustrator of highly acclaimed children鈥檚 books, including the internationally bestselling The Big Book series for Thames and Hudson.

More from Oxford Owl

• (Video)
• Talking about Climate change at home (Blog)
• Fun outdoor learning ideas (Blog)

Thunderboots

Written by Naomi Jones, Illustrated by Rebecca Ashdown

Age 3+

Join Trixie, a little, but VERY loud, girl, as she realises that what makes her different is what also makes her unique!

Thunderboots is an empowering story about starting school with dyslexia, inspired by the author Naomi Jones鈥檚 own experiences growing up. It uses a fun story and energetic illustrations to draw awareness to the challenges and strengths that little learners with dyslexia might experience.

We鈥檝e developed this book with a school that specialises in teaching children with dyslexia to make sure it helps spread awareness about dyslexia in a positive way. It opens with a personal letter from Naomi that will encourage little ones to embrace their individual superpowers.

Win one of three copies of Thunderboots

Learning differently is Trixie鈥檚 superpower. What鈥檚 your child鈥檚 special superpower that makes them unique? Comment with your answer on the competition Facebook post for your chance to win one of three copies of Thunderboots.

UK residents only. Entry closes at 11.59pm on Sunday 29th October 2023.

About the book

About the Author and illustrator

Naomi Jones worked in children鈥檚 publishing for eight years before leaving to pursue her dream of becoming a writer. She is the acclaimed author of the picture book The Perfect Fit (OUP); its sequel One More Try, How to Catch a Rainbow (OUP), How to Make a Story (OUP), and The Odd Fish (Farshore). She lives in Cornwall near the sea.

Rebecca Ashdown studied illustration at Westminster University and Central Saint Martins, working as a graphic designer, vector illustrator and motion graphics artist, before becoming a full-time illustrator. Her books have been shortlisted for several awards including the Sheffield Book Award, the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal, the Portsmouth Book Award and Hillingdon Picture Book of the Year.

More from Oxford Owl

• Supporting struggling readers

For young children, practise is key to keeping their emerging understanding of how numbers work at their fingertips.

In this post, I have pulled together my top 5 games, collected from a variety of people and places, and tried and tested on my own children!听If played regularly over time, they will help your child get to know their number facts.

1. Count all and Count on

These games can help your child practise counting up to 12.

For Count all, you will need two dice with spots. If you don鈥檛 have any, you can adapt a numbered dice by putting stickers over the numbers and drawing dots from 1鈥�6.听Take it in turns to roll the dice and count the spots to find the total.听This will help your child to recognise patterns and to accurately count items that cannot be moved.

Once your child is familiar with this, you can try Count on.听You will need to use two dice: one dotty die, and one die with numbers.听Take it in turns to roll both dice. 听Start with the numbered dice, then count on the number of spots shown. This will help your child connect the number symbols with the quantity they represent.

For more help with counting, why not try this simple Numicon activity:

2. Bunny Rabbit Ears

This game will help your child learn the number bonds within 10.听It is ideal for two or more players (my twins used to love playing this in the car!).

The first player says, ‘Bunny rabbit ears鈥�’ and then a number between 1 and 10.听Both players then make that number using their fingers as quickly as possible and put them on their head 鈥� like ears 鈥� to show the other players.听For example, ‘Bunny rabbit ears five’ could result in the combinations 0 + 5, 1 + 4, 2 + 3, or the reverse.

As children get used to playing, encourage them to play without looking, keeping their hands in position. This encourages them to visualise and develop mental calculation skills.

3. Memory for 10!

This is a game for two or more players, and it practises adding within 10.

You will need these playing cards: one Ace (to use as a 1), one of each number card 2鈥�9, and two 5s.听Shuffle the cards and place them face down on a table in two rows.听The first player turns over a card and says what number is needed to make a total of 10, before turning over another card.

If the total makes 10, they keep the cards. If the cards do not total 10, turn both cards back over and the second player has a turn.听Continue playing until all the pairs to 10 are found.听The winner is the player with the most cards when they have all been picked up.

4. What鈥檚 in the bag?

This simple game for two or more children practises adding and subtracting within 10. You can extend the range up to 20 if your child is good at it!

Put 10 of the same item (for example, building bricks, stones, or small figurines) in a bag or under a piece of cloth.听One player takes out some items and puts them on the table for the other player to see. They then have to work out how many items are still in the bag.

Put some of the items back in the bag. Say how many are in the bag now.听Take it in turns to take items out of the bag, with the other player saying how many are left.

5. Place Value Uno

Play this game with Uno cards (or normal playing cards with the face cards removed).

Each player has 2 or 3 piles, depending on if you are working on 10s or 100s. They must turn over the top card from each pile.听The players must all say the resulting numbers out loud. For example, for a 6 and a 3, the player would say ‘sixty three’.

The player with the highest number wins the cards.听For a fun variation, allow players to use the cards they turn over to create the highest possible number.

More from Oxford Owl

• Web page: Fun maths games and activities
• Web page: Numicon guide for parents
• Blog: Five ways to improve maths home learning
• Blog: Times tables: Practise makes perfect
• PDF:

Wys to Say I Love You

By Madeleine Cook, illustrated by Fiona Lee

Age 2+

Just in time for Valentine鈥檚 Day, discover this warm and cosy picture book that explores the many ways we express love.

An ideal gift for families looking for an inclusive love-themed title and perfect bedtime reading, this book is full of family togetherness to help you share precious moments with your little ones. It鈥檚 one that you鈥檒l treasure through babyhood, the toddler years, and beyond.

Win Ways to Say I Love You

For your chance to win one of three copies of Ways to Say I Love You to share with your loved ones, comment on the competition post on the Oxford Owl Facebook page with a heart 鉂�锔�

UK residents only. Entry closes at 11.59pm on Sunday 26^th February 2023.听

About the book

About the Author and illustrator

Madeleine Cook has authored several picture books, including My Granny is a Queen, No More Peas, No More Babies, and The Turkey That Voted For Christmas.

Fiona Lee worked as a science illustrator before she began illustrating children鈥檚 picture books. She enjoys mixing traditional and digital media to create her illustrations, and is the illustrator of Eat Your Peas, Julius! (Cameron & Company Inc) and Thank You, Tree (Storey Publishing LLC).

More from Oxford Owl

• (Facebook Watch)
• Top tips for reading bedtime stories (Blog)
• Stories from the road less travelled 鈥� children鈥檚 books that celebrate diversity (Blog)

The Worry Jar

By Lou John, illustrated by Jenny Bloomfield

Age 2+

Enjoy one of The Sunday Times Best Children鈥檚 Books of 2022, out now in paperback.

The Worry Jar is a heart-warming and confidence-building story about learning to manage worries. With beautiful illustrations to bring Frida鈥檚 feelings to life and offering a practical way to manage fears in everyday life, this is the perfect book for parents who want to talk to their children about anxiety in a reassuring way.

Win The Worry Jar

For your chance to win one of three copies of The Worry Jar, comment on the competition post on the Oxford Owl Facebook page with a hug emoji

UK residents only. Entry closes at 11.59pm on Sunday 29th January 2023.

About the book

About the Author and illustrator

Lou John currently works in publishing and has done so for many years. The Worry Jar is her debut picture book and was inspired by her love of collecting pebbles at the beach and by her daughter.

Jenny Bloomfield graduated with distinction from the MA in Children鈥檚 Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art in 2019. She is an avid sketch-booker and draws every day.

More from Oxford Owl

• (PDF)
• What to do if you鈥檙e worried about your child鈥檚 mental health (Blog)
• Mindfulness and mental health in children 鈥� five top tips for parents (Blog)

The Friendship Bench

By Wendy Meddour, illustrated by Daniel Egn茅us

Age 2+

The perfect reassuring back to school read, The Friendship Bench is an uplifting story about moving house, starting school, and making new friends.

Brought to you by the author and illustrator team behind Lubna and Pebble, it celebrates imaginative play and kindness, with stunning illustrations that bring Tilly鈥檚 relatable emotions to life for children and grown-ups.

Win The Friendship Bench

For your chance to win one of three copies of The Friendship Bench, we want to hear your child鈥檚 top tip for making new friends.听

Comment on the competition post on the Oxford Owl Facebook page with your child鈥檚 answer to enter.

UK residents only. Entry closes at 11.59pm on Sunday 25th September 2022.

About the book

About the Author and illustrator

Wendy Meddour is an internationally successful children鈥檚 writer, with books translated into 18 languages, including Lubna and Pebble which was selected by TIME Magazine as one of the 鈥�10 YA and Children鈥檚 Books of 2019鈥�.

Daniel Egn茅us is a world-renowned artist who has been nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal three times.

More from Oxford Owl

• (Watch on Facebook)
• Blog: Getting ready to start primary school
• Blog: Top 8 books about starting school

Martha Maps it Out

By Leigh Hodgkinson

Age 2+

Introduce your child to the wonder of maps with Martha as their guide!

This picture book with a difference is packed full of details and fun facts that will absorb them in Martha鈥檚 world, with more to discover with every reading.

The lively maps will help them explore the many ways we鈥檙e connected to our communities, giving them a sense of how we use maps and scale to understand our world, and inspiring them to dream big!

Win Martha Maps it Out

For your chance to win one of three copies of Martha Maps it Out, we want to know the special place your child would map out like Martha. It could be their home town, a place they鈥檝e visited, or somewhere from their imagination.

Comment on the competition post on the Oxford Owl Facebook page with your child鈥檚 answer to enter.

UK residents only. Entry closes at 11.59pm on Sunday 28th August 2022.

About the book

About the Author

Leigh Hodgkinson has written and illustrated picture books for Orchard, Bloomsbury, Nosy Crow, and Simon and Schuster. She has been shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize twice, and longlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal four times.

Leigh is co-creator and art director of CBeebies animated preschool series Olobob Top. Martha Maps It Out is her first book for 51黑料网.

More from Oxford Owl

• Blog post: Writing non-fiction for fun
• Blog post: Four tips for getting the most out of non-fiction