Flower Seeds
By Kim Ho-jeong, Campsie : Big & Small, 2026
Postman Bear has to cycle across a barren, dry plain every day, delivering the post to a nearby village. He dislikes the situation and decides to do something about it. He plants just a few seeds every day. Over years, he makes flowers bloom where there was once only dust. This is a beautifully illustrated and inspiring book about perseverance and bringing about change.
Little by Little
By Amber Stewart, illustrated by Layn Marlow, Oxford University press 2008
This is a book about small steps. It also has charming pictures of an adorable looking otter. The point of the book is that, initially, the otter is scared of swimming but gradually learns by taking very small steps. Or you might say small strokes and dives!
At the start, he knows he can mud slide well and make very good sandcastles, but he cannot swim. At first he simply wishes he could. Then he hops along the riverbed, keeping his toes off the bottom for just a tiny bit longer each time. The next day he does higher hops but with plenty floating and holding on in between. After that, he manages a little kicking and then a lot of kicking! Then he manages to swim across the river. By the end of the week he is even jumping off the rock into the pool and realises that he really can swim. Little by little he has achieved his purpose. The vivid detail of each mini achievement will appeal to children.
The Dot
By Peter H. Reynolds, Walker books, 2004
This book is about how all anyone has to do is start! A child thinks she can't draw but her teacher encourages her to make just one mark and sign it. The teacher even frames it and hangs it above her desk. In response, the child decides she can do better. She eagerly begins to make dots in all different colours. There is an art exhibition, and a boy tells her she is a wonderful artist, but he can’t draw. The girl encourages him to draw just one line and asks him to sign it! She passes on the message that yes, he can achieve.
A pea called Mildred
Margot Sunderland, Speechmarks Publishing 2000
I found this book quite hard hitting in places. I had expected quite a cute book about a pea. However, she worries about ending up in someone’s fish and chip dinner. What I liked about the book was that Mildred had lots of dreams about doing exciting things with her life.
The plot is that she has told to give up on her dreams because she is just a pea. She tells her dreams to go away. However, they don’t go entirely. They wait until she might need them again. Mildred has to work for her escape. She jumps off a lorry at a house with a nice looking front garden. As she sits, she starts feeling terribly lonely and thinks of giving up. Close by are some brightly coloured flowers. They tell her that green peas can be as varied as they are, but on the inside. This inspires Mildred to remember her dream of opening a tea shop. She ignores the negative comments playing in her brain and sketches what she would love it to look like. The owner of the house helps her to open one!
