Books in the Child's Play Library series

Nipper hates being left alone all day while his best friend Richard is at work. But when he realizes one morning that Richard has left his lunchbox behind, Nipper sets off on a difficult journey to deliver it. Will Nipper find Richard in time?

A little rhino charges around his house and school. Everyone reminds him to be more careful, but his clumsiness continues. Will he remember to be gentle when it's most important?

When Polonius the pit pony escapes from the coal mine he's worked in all his life, he joins a family of Travellers. Although he enjoys the freedom and the fresh air that their lifestyle offers, he wishes he could give something back to the family in return. When the chance arrives for him to do something to help, he rises to the challenge!

A visit to the local play area becomes an exciting adventure thanks to the transforming powers of a child's imagination. Familiar landscapes turn into exotic and mysterious worlds to discover and explore.

King Leonard is so rich that he can buy whatever he wants. Anything old or broken is thrown onto the growing pile of trash outside his castle. But one day something breaks that can't be easily replaced. And what's worse, King Leonard can't find anyone who knows how to fix it.

A group of friends wanders out into the meadow to play a game of hide-and-seek on a beautiful summer's afternoon. Children will delight in spotting the hidden creatures on each page as the little girl tries to find them. A charming, richly illustrated book, with a gentle hint of suspense and a satisfying twist at the end.

Fox, Chipmunk, Marmot and Bear are such good friends that they decide to build a home and live in it together. But when winter comes, Chipmunk, Marmot and Little Bear take to their beds. Fox can't wake them up at all. Fox is lonely and confused, especially when parcels start to arrive for the other three animals. What on earth can be in them?

Little Bird loves his home, where he's surrounded by his favourite things. Why would he ever want to change, even when his brother tells him that they must?Discover how Little Bird ends up finding happiness in his new home from home in this beautifully illustrated picture book. Perfect for all children who love home, however many they may have.

On my way to bed, I play with a tiger, a lobster and a bear - and lots of other creatures too. But why are they so familiar? In this celebration of imaginative play, a young child is surrounded and enriched by an extended and diverse family. Inclusive and playful, this is the ideal bedtime read.

Errol loves gardening, but he doesn't have a proper garden. Although his home is full of beautiful plants, he longs for an outdoor space where he can grow things. A chance discovery leads to a solution, but Errol can't do everything on his own. Luckily, help is near at hand!

When Bif finds a big red rock blocking his way, he decides it has to go. But how? Nothing he tries will move it. Bif's friend Bop knows some monsters who might be able to help. When none of their ingenious methods work, they all have to decide what to do next - with surprising results! A simple and comic tale about teamwork and problem solving.

Ssh! Listen. What's that noise? What can we hear when we're really, really quiet? A toddler enjoys the range of sounds they hear as their busy day comes to an end, from the bustle and chat of dinner time, to the quiet hush of their father's voice at bedtime.

Cats spend the whole day asleep in a chair. Or do they? This hilarious look at what felines might get up to when we leave the house is full of humorous and wild possibilities. You'll never look at cats in quite the same way again!

Piggy lives in a large house with Thomas. Thomas knows exactly what Piggy needs. But a chance meeting with a wild pig changes everything, and Piggy finds out what lies outside the four walls, beyond the fence. A gentle book about freedom and friendship.

How can any little monster possibly go to bed when their tail isn't even tired? And when their knees still have plenty of bounce in them? And when their arms still want to fly like a jet plane? Bedtime is surely a long way off! Luckily, Big Monster has a strategy to outwit Little Monster, with the inevitable result!

Mr Moon always sleeps. He naps during hide-and-seek, passes out on puzzles and dozes during adventure stories. But what would happen if Mr Moon ever woke up? Would he lead us to hidden, dream-like worlds, filled with fantastic friends and exciting games? And if he did, would we remember in the morning?

When a Traveller family experiences a run of bad luck, an imaginative boy called Yokki lifts their spirits with tales of a magical white horse. A traditional Traveller-family folk tale which inspires hope and celebrates creativity. Told by a Romani storyteller together with a picture book author to positively reflect Travelling cultures.

A Traveller girl creates her own musical instrument from a willow branch and lots of recycled objects. She plays it enthusiastically, but it sounds terrible! Ignoring warnings not to awaken the ogre in the hills, Ossiri goes there to practise playing her instrument.

When Ice's mother tells her that they're going to move to an exciting new place, Ice isn't so sure. She likes her home and her friends. The journey takes forever, and their new home is very strange. Everything is different - the weather, the food, the people and the language. Will anything happen to help Ice feel more at home?

The Jar of Happiness is a heartwarming tale penned by Ailsa Burrows. Published in 2015 by Child's Play International Ltd, this book is a delightful addition to the genre of children's literature. The story revolves around a magical jar that holds the essence of happiness. Burrows, with her enchanting storytelling, takes the reader on a journey of joy, sorrow, and the discovery of true happiness. This book is not just a story, but a life lesson wrapped in a beautiful package of words and illustrations. It's an ideal read for children and adults alike, reminding us that happiness can be found in the simplest of things. So, get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey of joy with The Jar of Happiness.

Travel deep into the forest - what elusive and fascinating creatures will you find there? Delicate, colourful and distinctive, Julia Groves' illustrations introduce us to the animals that live in this precious and endangered habitat.

The boy in this debut picture book is fascinated by bees, and is puzzled and saddened when they disappear one rainy day. What can have caused them to leave, and is there anything he can do to get his bumble back?

This is the story of an acrobat who leaves the circus in search of a new audience. He tries to attract the attention of passers by, but no one is interested. Then something extraordinary happens to change his luck. Written and illustrated by a fresh new talent, this gentle and humorous story will appeal to everyone who loves a clown.

Harold is an amazing mimic, and can imitate the sound of everything in his home. Tired of repeating the same old noises, he yearns to find out what other voices there are in the big, wide world. But what happens when he suddenly realises that he doesn't yet have a voice of his own?

More and more children are encountering dementia and its effects on their families. This touching story, told in Oscar's own words, is a positive and practical tale about the experience. The factual page about dementia helps children talk about their feelings and find new ways to enjoy the changing relationship.

Tilly's friends are all going to exciting places for their vacations, but she is staying at home. Mum says they'll have a great time together, but Tilly thinks it's impossible to have any vacation fun at home! Or is it? Read Gillian Hibbs's debut picture book to find out exactly what Tilly's mum has in mind.

What better thing to do on a grey day than collect some colours? Cat decides to do just that, but where will she find them? A charming, deceptively simple story about making the most of the world around us, and giving something back in return.

Debut picture book about a rabbit artist who vanishes, but lives on in his work.

A mysterious red boat and George the dog help Posy cope with moving house.

Cat was small and Dog was big, and whatever Dog did, Cat did too... Dog is fed up with Cat copying everything she does. But when Cat stays away, Dog realises that playing alone is not nearly as much fun. A charming story about friendship, sharing and play.