The Whizpa Bookshelf: July Book Recommendations

The summer holidays are finally upon us. With not many places to go and different issues going on, we all need heartwarming, family-friendly and close-to-home adventures which bring us to our picks for the month of July:

Me and My Dad by Robin Shaw
Whimsical and heartfelt

Who knew that a simple walk to the neighbourhood bookshop café could be full of crocodiles, dinosaurs, princes and princesses, sea and space? Me and My Dad tells the story of an imaginative little girl’s quality time with her creative dad. Illustrated by the animator of the much-acclaimed We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, the illustrations will have young children spend hours getting lost in them.

Perfect for: dads and their little angels. Adults and young children alike will feel the specialness of the ordinary in this book.

Cyril and Pat by Emily Gravett
Funny and thought-provoking

Cyril the squirrel, who used to be all alone, thinks that Pat the rat is just like him. They like the same games. They both like bread. They can both outrun Slim the dog who likes to chase them. Until one day, a few animals tell Cyril that his friend is in fact, not a squirrel, but a rat! They stopped playing together. Cyril felt alone and scared, especially when bad dog Slim chased him into the city. Fortunately, he found a true and loyal friend in Pat who saved him from savage Slim. Does it really matter if Cyril is a squirrel and Pat is a rat?

Perfect for: parents who would like to talk to their children about friendship and race.

About the Author

Beverly Sace is the founder and principal literacy specialist at Books and Brains Literacy Services, Quarry Bay.