Children’s books
♥︎made with love♥︎
Welcome to Mama Makes Books! In 2026 we are proud to be celebrating our 5th birthday as a small, independent UK publisher that creates books for children, from newborns to 8-year-olds. Our books are made with love for our children and our planet. We hope you enjoy discovering them as much as we did making them.
NEW PUBLICATION:
SNEEZES AND WHEEZES
ALL BOOKS & OFFERS
Bring some dinosaur comfort to poorly days with SNEEZES AND WHEEZES, a reassuring dinosaur book for little ones aged 2 to 4. With a funny rhyming story and playful interactive surprises, it helps children explore the feelings and fixes to feeling unwell and what to do when others are.
Rex’s four older dinosaur friends are feeling under the weather, and he’s determined to cheer them up. From a snuggly blanket for a cold, a plaster for a grazed knee, get-better soon cream for a sting and some toys to distract from chicken pox, Rex finds little ways to show he cares.
But when Rex gets the sneezes and wheezes himself, it’s his grandpa and hero, Big T, who is there to look after him. And when his friends are well again, they return his kindness.
With a “find-me” flap to lift, an “opening eye” pop-up and a big pop-up ending, this interactive board book gives little hands plenty to explore. Rhyme, repetition and playful dialogue invite children to join in, making it a comforting story to share again and again.
Through Rex’s small acts of care, the story gently encourages empathy, kindness, emotional confidence and growing independence. Whether your child is feeling poorly or wondering how to help someone else, SNEEZES AND WHEEZES makes those experiences easier to understand.
Illustrated by Paula Bowles, it’s part of the Dinosaur Guides series from Mama Makes Books, which explores everyday toddler challenges with warmth and humour. Discover Not Sleepy for happier bedtimes, The Hatchlings for becoming an older sibling, and Big Like You for healthy eating and trying new foods.
“This charming series from Mama Makes Books, illustrated by Paula Bowles, is designed to offer young children gentle, interactive fun while exploring everyday challenges.” — BookTrust
Illustrated by Paula Bowles
Meet Rex and his dinosaur crew – they’re here to help you handle everyday toddler challenges!
“The Hatchlings are hatching. Quick come and see! Three little babies just like me. Out they pop one, two, three!”
Rex is excited to become a big brother, but he doesn’t know what big brothers do. His older friends are on hand to help. They all have siblings and each one shares their experience so he is fully prepared and ready to become the best big brother he can be. He even learns how to share… sometimes!
Packed with interactive fun – a ‘find-me’ flap, an 'opening eye' pop, and a big pop-up ending - The Hatchling keeps toddlers aged 2 to 4 engaged while gently encouraging positive behaviours. The text has rhyme and repetition, playful dialogue and familiar themes, which make it a book you’ll enjoy reading together again and again.
Prepares little ones for what to expect and how to make babies happy
Builds emotional confidence and independence
Interactive features keep toddlers engaged
Ideal for shared reading and learning through play
So if you’re a family expecting one, two or three new arrivals, The Hatchlings makes it easier to talk about - and a whole lot more fun.
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Illustrated by Paula Bowles
Put the fun back into bedtime with Rex and his dino friends! They’re here to help you handle everyday toddler challenges with warmth humour and a little dino magic.
BookTrust Book of the Day - A very sweet board book that makes bedtime fun for all little dinosaurs!.
• A funny rhyming story for 2 to 4s
• Encourages a good bedtime routine
• The ‘find-me’ flap, opening eye and pop-up keep young children engaged
• Ideal for shared reading and learning through play
• Builds emotional confidence and independence
Rex sets out to discover how his friends get to sleep. One by one they show him how to brush his teeth, enjoy a relaxing bath, find (and use) his own pee-pee tree and snuggle down with a good book. Enter Big T, Rex’s grandpa and hero, to put yawning Rex to bed, reminding him that sleep is the only way to power up for another day of play!
Whether you’re finding it hard to settle at night or just want a joyful story to enjoy at bedtimes, Not Sleepy makes bedtime easier to talk about - and a whole lot more fun.
Look out for Big Like You about healthy eating and trying new foods, The Hatchlings about becoming an older sibling and Sneezes and Wheezes about feeling poorly and caring for others.
Safety tested and printed on FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) board.
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Hands are not for hitting or grabbing. They are for hugging, playing, making music and help you read this book!
Gentle Hands for Gentle Children shows young children all the wonderful things they can do with their hands – and addresses some of the things they shouldn’t do. With adorable illustrations of a diverse range of children modelling good and bad behaviours, this book encourages good behaviour and offers an explanation as to why they should use their hands for the amazing things they can help them do.
PUBLISHING FEB 2027
A dinosaur's guide to healthy eating
Make trying new foods an adventure with BIG LIKE YOU, a cute book for little ones aged 2 to 4. With a funny rhyming story, friendly dinosaurs and interactive surprises, it makes exploring new foods something to enjoy together.
Rex wants to become as big, strong, fast and smart as his four older dinosaur friends. Each has a favourite food to recommend, from Iggy’s “growing” greens to Herbie’s “strongberries” and Stig’s fishy brain food. Encouraged by his friends, Rex decides to give them a try. And his grandpa and hero, Big T, is always there with love and encouragement as he grows.
Featuring flaps to lift, an “opening eye” pop-up and a big pop-up ending, this interactive dinosaur board book gives little hands plenty to explore. Rhyme, repetition and playful dialogue invite children to join in, making it a story to return to again and again.
Through Rex’s experiences, the book gently encourages healthy eating habits, emotional confidence and growing independence. For families navigating fussy eating, it offers a friendly way to start conversations about what foods are good for them.
Whether you’re encouraging a picky eater or simply looking for a cheerful story to share, BIG LIKE YOU brings warmth, humour and a little dinosaur fun to learning about food.
Illustrated by Paula Bowles, it’s part of the Dinosaur Guides series from Mama Makes Books, which explores everyday toddler challenges through reassuring stories. Discover Not Sleepy for happier bedtimes, The Hatchlings when becoming an older sibling, and Sneezes and Wheezes when feeling poorly or caring for others.
“A playful but effective way of encouraging healthy eating.” — LoveReading4Kids
Listening Ears do not shut off and ignore others. They help us learn, connect with people and express how we feel. They wake up our brains and our bodies to help us think and stay safe.
Listening Ears for Good Listeners shows young children all the wonderful things their ears will do when they switch them on and really listen.
PUBLISHING FEB 2027
Mother&Baby Awards 2027 Shortlist: Best Product for a Newborn
This high-contrast, fold-out book is the essential first book for newborn babies. Called a game-changer by new parents, it’s a go-to for tummy time, car rides and nappy changes. Designed to be spread out in front of your baby, the panorama of images are perfect for keeping a baby’s brain busy while their muscles are hard at work.
Bold black-and-white images with splashes of colour for developing vision on one side, photographs of baby faces for older babies who love looking babies. And for REAL giggles, there’s a mirror, because babies LOVE looking at themselves!
• Suitable from birth to 1 year
• Safety tested to the highest Toy Safety Standard of EN71 and carries the CE mark
• Designed for tummy time, but great for nappy changing, car rides and independent playtime
Sharing books with your child is one of the most beneficial things you can do to give them a head start in life, so why not start from birth? It’s proven to be good for them! Read our blog post: Fostering a love of books is proven to give young children an educational headstart.
There’s also Reading Time and Playtime! for more tummy time stimulaton.
Printed on FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) board.
New York Times Best Board Book for Babies (2025)
A Made for Mums Silver Award Winner (2024)
Included in Scotland’s Baby Boxes given to all newborns (2022)
A BookTrust Bookstart book (2021)
Turn tummy time into playtime!
Make your baby’s first books part of the fun with PLAYTIME!, a high-contrast fold-out baby book featuring bold black-and-white pictures, splashes of bright colour and interactive finger-wiggle holes. Suitable from birth to 1 year, it opens out and stands up for shared face-to-face play and supervised tummy time.
On one side, familiar animals come to life with a little help from you. Put your finger through the holes to make a rabbit’s ear prick up, a puppy’s tail wag or an elephant’s trunk wiggle. Add your own animal sounds as you read together, turning each picture into a playful moment of connection.
On the other side, discover the wiggle train, where your finger becomes a wiggly worm. Pop it through different holes to create little surprises, inviting your baby to turn their heads and follow the movement to build strength in the neck as well as their upper body.
The simple text offers familiar words to hear and plenty of opportunities to play with sounds and read with expression. Together, the pictures, words and moving fingers give parents and carers an enjoyable way to engage with their baby.
Made for looking, listening and playing together, Playtime! brings variety to everyday reading and tummy time. It’s an engaging first book for newborns and a thoughtful gift for families welcoming a new baby.
Discover more fold-out baby books from Mama Makes Books with the bestselling Tummy Time! and Reading Time.
**Shortlisted for The Week Junior Book Awards 2024 - Children's Book of the Year: STEM Book**
**Shortlisted for the School Library Association's Information Book Award 2024**
**Books for Topics Recommended Reads: 50 Best Books for Year 1**
**Chalkdust Readers' Choice 2023**
That's Mathematics is a maths book like no other. It's a vibrant, colourful book for young children showing them that maths is useful, interesting, fun and EVERYWHERE! They use it every day when they count, share, play, do sport, make cakes or move to music.
Aimed at children from 5 to 8 years, the youngest can enjoy it as a picture book, reading Tom Lehrer's rhyming song lyrics and looking at Elina Braslina's joyful illustrations. They will pick up a basic understanding of real-world maths and learn some core maths language along the way. Older children are challenged to 'Try This' and 'Explore This' by author Chris Smith, who is a maths teacher, musician and all-round maths enthusiast. The activities are designed to deepen their curiosity and knowledge.
There are supporting online activities to continue the fun, plus notes for parents to encourage you to get involved and help you discuss topics covered and keep the learning going after the book is closed.
Good for
Introducing real-world maths to young children
Reading together - the main text is a rhyming song illustrated with busy images and lots to spot and talk about
Family fun – the whole family can get involved with the challenges
Introducing maths vocabulary, ideas and knowledge, giving your child a head start at school
TO HEAR THE SONG SUNG BY TOM LEHRER AND TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE BOOK CLICK HERE
FOR THE ONLINE ACTIVITIES CLICK HERE
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A Fun, Colourful Maths Activity Book for Ages 7-9
Give your child a maths confidence-boost with this vibrant, hands-on activity book designed to make real-world learning fun. Designed for children aged 7-9, it turns everyday situations - like cooking, sport, shopping, birthday parties and daily routines - into engaging maths challenges.
What’s Inside:
Number writing and number-order puzzles
Seek-and-find counting activities
Shopping and mental-arithmetic games
Pattern-spotting and problem-solving tasks
Full-colour, joyful illustrations by Elīna Brasliņa
This fun-packed activity book is based on lyrics by mathematician and musician Tom Lehrer and shows children that maths is useful, interesting and truly everywhere.
A perfect choice for parents looking for playful, meaningful maths practice at home.
Award-Winning Companion Title That’s Mathematics was chosen as a Best Book for Year 1 by Books for Topics and shortlisted for both The Week Junior Book Awards and the SLA Information Book Award.
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It’s never too early to read with your baby.
Share the joy of books from birth with READING TIME, a high-contrast baby book filled with bold pictures, familiar first words and a soothing nursery rhyme. With its fold-out format and built-in mirror, it’s a lovely choice for tummy time, nappy changes and shared bedtime reading.
This double-sided board book opens out and stands up, creating a colourful display for your baby to look at during supervised tummy time. Fold it back together to enjoy the pictures and gentle words while cuddling up with your little one.
Black-and-white images with splashes of bright colour introduce familiar objects such as a cat, car, book and teddy. There’s plenty to point to and name as you explore together, making Reading Time an inviting first words book for babies.
The rhythmical text is based on the familiar nursery rhyme “I see the moon, the moon sees me”, giving your baby a gentle rhyme to hear in a voice they know and love.
At the end, a special mirror makes reading time personal. Look at your reflections together and add Mummy, Daddy, Grandpa or another familiar name to the rhyme:
“I see Mummy. Mummy sees me.
Say, ‘Night, night, Mummy. Night, night me.’”
Whether you’re sharing a quiet moment or adding something interesting to look at during tummy time, Reading Time offers opportunities to look, listen and enjoy being together. It’s a thoughtful newborn gift and a welcoming introduction to books.
Discover more fold-out baby books from Mama Makes Books with Tummy Time! and Playtime!
Give a child the gift of self-belief and the power to shine brightly every day.
Sow the seeds of self-belief in your child at an early age with this transformative board book of daily affirmations designed to build self-worth, resilience and confidence in young children.
I shine like the Sun.
I am precious like the Earth.
I am gentle like the Moon.
I am mighty like the wind …
More than just phrases – they are the seeds that grow into beliefs that can be returned to in times of self-doubt. A child who believes they are 'mighty like the wind' will face challenges with positivity and fearlessness.
The beautiful collage artwork introduces children to the most powerful elements around them – including the Sun, the Earth, fire and water – and by asking them to repeat the accompanying affirmations, you are embedding self-esteem and a connection to the natural world.
The highlight of the book is its built-in mirror to reflect your child saying the most uplifting affirmation of all: 'I love myself. I love my world. I am happy to be me!'
• This is a positive tool for adults who want to impart in children a sense of self-love and love of the planet
• Low self-esteem impacts every area of a person’s life. Introducing the idea of self-talk and self-love at an early age will help to establish positive mental health and the resilience to cope with life’s challenges
• An affirmation mirror will make the phrases more impactful and the messages more powerful
Printed with eco-friendly inks on FSC paper.
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BABY LOOK! It’s your very first book. And you’re going to love it!
This multi-sensory playbook is a book to grow up with through each developmental phase from 8 months up to 2½ years. There is a surprise at every page turn — something to touch, slide, or see — to develop coordination and fine motor skills. The thick board pages and robust mechanisms are designed to withstand enthusiastic handling, and it's a fun way to learn counting, colours, parts of the body, and lots of new vocabulary.
210 x 210mm, board book with 8 pages, including touch-and-feel textures and embossing, a mirror, die-cuts, sliders and a cover wheel
Good for
6 months to 2½ years
Developing fine motor skills & vocabulary
Learning colours, counting, parts of the body, animal sounds, actions, emotions
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Baby say ‘hello’ to this very first word book, with bumpy pages, flaps, finger trails and tabs for easy page-turning.
BABY SAYS is a touch and say book, introducing babies and toddlers to first vocabulary. By seeing and feeling the embossed images, and hearing someone say the words, young children are using three senses to acquire language and make an association between picture and word.
Each spread has a theme: animals, family, park, mealtime and on the road, with lots to spot and say.
210 x 210mm, thick board book with rounded corners, tabs, 10 pages, flaps, embossing and embossed finger trails
Good for
1 to 3 years
Learning first vocabulary
Word-picture association
Developing fine motor skills
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These Choose Your Mood Board Books are a fun, interactive way for young children to recognise their emotions and develop their emotional vocabulary, using animal associations, decision-making and mood-lifting suggestions. Teresa Bellón’s animal characters brilliantly visualise the moods and feelings to help children identify their own. The double-sided ‘You Choose’ puzzle pieces offer different ways for children to play with the book and offer parents and carers a tool to open conversations to foster good mental health through play.
Happy as a Lamb focuses on emotions – 10 physical, reactive emotions, HAPPY, GRUMPY, EXCITED, SAD, SAFE, SCARED, JOYFUL, ANGRY, PROUD, EMBARRASSED.
So, are you as HAPPY as a lamb or as GRUMPY as a goat? Look at the illustrations, choose your mood, and if you’re grumpy, jump around the room like a spring lamb to lift your mood. This uses role-play, exercise and humour. So try it with your child when their grumpy. You’ll be laughing at one another soon enough!
Other suggestions include breathing techniques, mindfulness, or seeking help or comfort.
Good for…
Children 2 to 5
Focusing on 10 emotions, such as joy, sadness, excitement, embarrassment
Enabling children to identify their feelings and develop their emotional vocabulary
Tried-and-tested strategies to help turn negative feelings into more positive one
A fun and physical way for parents and carers to open up conversations
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These Choose Your Mood Board Books are a fun, interactive way for young children to recognise their emotions and develop their emotional vocabulary, using animal associations, decision-making and mood-lifting suggestions. Teresa Bellón’s animal characters brilliantly visualise the moods and feelings to help children identify their own. The double-sided ‘You Choose’ puzzle pieces offer different ways for children to play with the book and offer parents and carers a tool to open conversations to foster good mental health through play.
Brave as a Lion focuses on feelings – 10 long-lasting but often hidden feelings, BRAVE, WORRIED, CUDDLY, LONELY, CALM, JUMPY, BOLD, SHY, STRONG, LAZY.
So, are you as CUDDLY as a KOALA or LONELY as a LEOPARD? Look at the illustrations, choose your mood, and if you’re feeling lonely, find your best bear or human and tell them that you need a hug - hugging yourself feels good too. This encourages children to seek comfort and reassurance from a trusted person to make them feel better. So suggest it to your child for those times when they feel lonely.
Other suggestions include breathing techniques, exercise, humour, role play and mindfulness.
Good for…
Children 2 to 5
Focusing on 10 feelings, such as scared, tired, angry or upset
Enabling children to identify their feelings and develop their emotional vocabulary
Tried-and-tested strategies to help turn negative feelings into more positive one
A fun and physical way for parents and carers to open up conversations
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BABY LOVE is a touch-and-feel book that is ideal for bedtime. It follows the night-time routine, from tickles at changing time to snuggles at bedtime, with a gentle text that leads you through the book.
Inside are both gorgeous photos of babies and cute illustrations, providing lots of conversation cues to encourage speech and develop vocabulary.
It is also built to withstand lots of enthusiastic handling, with thick board pages, textures
and flaps that babies will love.
210 x 210mm
Board book with 5 spreads including touch-and-feel textures, glitter and flaps, FSC board
Good for
6 months to 2½ years
Bonding with your baby
A sensory and play-filled reading experience
Developing vocabulary
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Bright, bold and built for little hands, this sturdy flap book is a fun, interactive way to introduce the first 100 words in a child’s vocabulary, from the usual tractor and trains to spaghetti, swimsuit and superhero!
BABY’S FIRST 100 WORDS has five themed double-page spreads, each one with flaps to lift and a tab for easy page-turning. The themes are around the home, getting dressed, vehicles, animals and mealtime. The images are bright, colourful and inclusive, and the flaps are integrated (not stuck on), designed to be strong enough to withstand enthusiastic handling.
BABY’S FIRST 100 WORDS is the fourth book in our internationally successful Baby Sensory series for children 8 months up to 3 years old. Other titles are BABY LOOK!, BABY LOVE and BABY SAYS.
Each book is designed for children who like books that DO things with thick board, rounded corners, and so much inside to keep their attention. There are textures to stroke, wheels to turn, finger trails to follow, mirrors to look into and lots, lots more.
Good for…
• Children 1 to 3 years old
• Any toddler’s bookshelf
• Word-picture association is essential for developing vocabulary and speech
• Flap books are great for gross and fine motor skills
• Built for enthusiastic little hands: thick board pages and sturdy integrated flaps
• Page tabs make page-turning easier
• The words included are not just nouns, but include verbs and adjectives – carefully selected as the first words in a child’s vocabulary
• Diverse and inclusive
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From one tiny seed to a meadow full of life.
Follow the journey of a dandelion seed in FLUFFY, FLYING SEED, a beautifully illustrated science picture book for children aged 4 to 8. Carried by the wind, one fluffy seed lands in a sunny meadow and begins an extraordinary journey of growth, survival and reproduction.
As the story unfolds, children discover how a dandelion germinates, grows, protects itself from frost, produces flowers and transforms into a delicate ball of seeds ready to travel on the wind once again.
Alongside the easy-to-follow narrative are fascinating facts about germination, photosynthesis, seed dispersal, parts of a plant and food chains, helping young readers understand how plants grow and why even familiar wildflowers can be important to the animals and insects around them.
The book uses two levels of text: a clear main story for emerging readers, plus additional factual captions for more confident readers or shared reading. This makes it ideal for children developing their reading skills while still offering plenty of extra science to explore.
At the end, a large six-page fold-out world map shows the temperate regions where dandelions thrive, alongside an illustrated life cycle and a fun I-Spy game that encourages children to return to the pictures and find the animals hidden within the meadow.
Part of the Start Small, Think Big series, Fluffy, Flying Seed combines beautiful storytelling with high-quality non-fiction content and supports KS1 science learning at home or in the classroom.
Perfect for:
Children who love plants, nature and wildlife
Learning about the life cycle of a plant
Exploring seed dispersal, photosynthesis and food chains
Discovering meadow habitats and biodiversity
Supporting KS1 science and independent reading
Recognition: Selected for BooksForTopics’ 50 Best Books for Year 1.
Build your own life-cycle library with the Start Small, Think Big series, including Small, Sparkling Raindrop, Small, Speckled Egg, Little, Brown Nut, Tiny, Floating Coral and Small, Shiny Dung Beetle.
From one little nut to one of the tallest trees in the Amazon rainforest.
Follow the remarkable life of a Brazil nut tree in LITTLE, BROWN NUT, a beautifully illustrated science picture book for children aged 4 to 8. Beginning on the rainforest floor, the story shows how one small seed depends on a surprising animal helper before it can begin growing into a towering tree.
Inside a hard fruit lie around 20 Brazil nuts. One little nut must wait for an agouti, a rainforest rodent with powerful teeth, to break open the casing and carry it away. If the nut is buried and forgotten, its extraordinary journey can begin.
Through a carefully structured story and additional factual captions, children discover germination, seed dispersal, pollination, photosynthesis, plant growth and the different layers of the rainforest. The book also explores how Brazil nut trees fit into the wider Amazon ecosystem and why rainforests are so important to wildlife, local communities and the planet.
The main narrative is written for children developing their reading confidence, with extra information for more advanced readers or shared reading.
At the end, a large six-page fold-out brings the learning together with a map of South America, a life-cycle diagram and a fun I-Spy game, encouraging children to return to the illustrations and spot the animals they have discovered.
Part of the Start Small, Think Big series, Little, Brown Nut combines engaging storytelling with high-quality non-fiction content and supports KS1 science learning at home or in the classroom.
Perfect for:
Children who love animals, plants and nature
Learning about the life cycle of a tree
Exploring germination, seed dispersal and photosynthesis
Discovering the Amazon rainforest and its ecosystems
Supporting KS1 science and independent reading
Recognition: Selected for BooksForTopics’ 50 Best Books for Year 1.
Build your own life-cycle library with the Start Small, Think Big series, including Small, Sparkling Raindrop, Small, Speckled Egg, Tiny, Floating Coral, Fluffy, Flying Seed and Small, Shiny Dung Beetle.
TUMMY TIME! • READING TIME • PLAYTIME!
A special offer for our friends, online customers and Mama community, our three tummy time books for only £15 (RRP £20.97). Now your babies really won’t get bored during tummy time or nappy changing time because you can mix it up – look, read, play!
ONLY AVAILABLE HERE WHILE STOCKS LAST
SMALL SPECKLED EGG • LITTLE BROWN NUT • TINY FLOATING CORAL
A special offer for our friends and online customers, our three Start Small, Think Big books for only £22 (RRP £32.97). Expand your child’s world with these beautiful science-based books that focus on life cycles but open out to a world of discovery! Easy-to-read, narrative non-fiction for curious young children with two text levels – the main text for newly emerging readers and reading together. The caption text is for able readers and little David Attenboroughs who are fascinated by the natural world.
Small Speckled Egg - the life cycle of an Arctic tern, which covers core KS1 subjects, such as polar regions, migration, food webs and more
Little Brown Nut - the life cycle of a Brazil nut tree, which covers core KS1/2 subjects, such as the Amazon rainforest, food chains, pollination and more
Tiny Floating Coral – the life cycle of a coral on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, which covers core KS1/2 subjects, such as coral reefs of the world, oceans, food webs and more
ONLY AVAILABLE HERE WHILE STOCKS LAST
Click here for free online activity sheets for EGG
Five little eggs, five little chicks… but one is a little bit different!
Join the fun at Funny Farm with CLUCK, CLUCK DUCK, a farmyard counting book for toddlers aged 18 months to 3 years. With flaps to lift, surprise pop-up chicks and a funny rhyming story, it introduces early counting skills while celebrating family, difference and belonging.
Mama Hen is sitting on five eggs. One by one they hatch into fluffy little chicks… except one. She’s bigger, quackier and she can swim!
As the story unfolds, little readers can lift the flaps, count the chicks and discover the surprise fifth hatchling. The interactive pages make counting part of the fun, while the warm-hearted story gently shows that families come in all shapes and sizes.
When the duckling begins to realise she is different, her brothers and sisters are there to support her, and Mama Hen loves every one of her babies just the same. Even the grumpiest farmyard animals learn that there is nothing stronger than a family that sticks together.
Illustrated by Rachael Saunders, CLUCK, CLUCK DUCK is the first book in the Funny Farm series, where every story combines humour with an early-learning concept.
Perfect for:
Learning to count and developing early maths skills
Animal-mad toddlers
Shared story time
Talking about families, differences and belonging
Developing an understanding of farm animals and the natural world
Also available in the Funny Farm series: Tractor Tractor, an opposites book about an old tractor and a new tractor who become the very best of friends.
FREE ACTIVITY SHEETS HERE
From one tiny egg to an extraordinary journey across the world.
Follow the remarkable life of an Arctic tern in SMALL, SPECKLED EGG, a beautifully illustrated science picture book for children aged 4 to 8. Beginning with a small, speckled egg in the Arctic, the story shows the life cycle a chick as she hatches, grows, learns to feed and fly, and eventually sets off on one of the longest animal migrations on Earth, before returning to lay her own egg.
Carefully written for children who are beginning to read independently, the main story is supported by extra factual captions for more confident readers and shared reading. Along the way, children discover how Arctic terns grow, care for their young, feed on the wing and navigate across vast distances.
The book also introduces polar regions, seasons, food chains and migration, helping children understand how animals are adapted to their habitats.
At the end, a large six-page fold-out brings the learning together with a world map, life-cycle diagram and I-Spy game, encouraging children to return to the illustrations and spot the animals they have encountered.
Part of the Start Small, Think Big series, Small, Speckled Egg combines engaging storytelling with high-quality non-fiction content and is designed to support KS1 science learning at home or in the classroom.
Perfect for:
Children who love nature and animals
Learning about the life cycle of birds
Exploring migration, seasons and polar habitats
Supporting KS1 science topics
Developing reading confidence with two levels of text
Build your own life-cycle library with the Start Small, Think Big series, including Small, Sparkling Raindrop, Little, Brown Nut, Tiny, Floating Coral, Fluffy, Flying Seed and Small, Shiny Dung Beetle.
One big tractor, shiny and new.
One small tractor, rusty and blue.
TRACTOR TRACTOR is a farmyard opposites book, perfect for tractor-mad toddlers. There are flaps to lift and sliders to make the tractors move, along with a humorous rhyming story to make reading together fun.
The story begins when a new tractor arrives to help out with the harvest. Red is new, shiny, fast and strong. Blue is an old faithful, small and rusty but wise and calm. Lift the flaps and slide the sliders to see what happens in this warm-hearted story that shows, despite being opposites, young and old can make a great team and be the best of friends.
Ideal for children aged 1 to 3
Good for
18 months to 3 years
Fun story time for toddlers
Introducing the concept of opposites, teamwork and friendship
Young and old, it’s a great book for grandparents to share with their grandchildren
Also available in the Funny Farm series, Cluck, Cluck Duck, a counting book starring a duckling born into a chicken family. It’s a funny scenario, true to real rural life, but the underlying message is of family love, loyalty and acceptance.
FREE ACTIVITY SHEETS HERE
From one microscopic coral larva to a vast underwater coral city.
Dive into the Great Barrier Reef with TINY, FLOATING CORAL, a beautifully illustrated science picture book for children aged 4 to 8. The story begins with a tiny coral planula drifting through the ocean, searching for the perfect place to settle, grow and become part of the world’s largest coral reef system.
As the story unfolds, children discover what coral is, how it feeds, how a colony forms and why reefs are home to so many sea creatures. The book introduces fascinating ideas including coral life cycles, metamorphosis, marine food webs and fluorescence, while showing how reefs support life beneath the waves.
The main narrative is carefully written for emerging readers, with additional factual captions for more confident readers or shared reading. This two-level approach makes the science accessible while giving curious children plenty of extra information to explore.
The book also introduces some of the challenges coral reefs face, including the effects of climate change, warming oceans and non-native species, helping young readers understand why healthy reefs matter.
At the end, a large six-page fold-out brings everything together with a map showing coral reefs around the world, an illustrated life cycle and a fun Animal I-Spy game that encourages children to return to the pictures and find the reef creatures they have discovered.
Part of the Start Small, Think Big series, Tiny, Floating Coral combines engaging storytelling with high-quality non-fiction content and supports KS1 science learning at home or in the classroom.
Perfect for:
Children who love oceans and sea creatures
Learning about the life cycle of coral
Exploring coral reefs, food webs and marine habitats
Introducing environmental issues and ocean conservation
Supporting KS1 science and independent reading
Build your own life-cycle library with the Start Small, Think Big series, including Small, Sparkling Raindrop, Small, Speckled Egg, Little, Brown Nut, Fluffy, Flying Seed and Small, Shiny Dung Beetle.
Follow one tiny raindrop on an extraordinary journey through the water cycle.
Discover how water connects mountains, rivers, seas, people and wildlife in SMALL, SPARKLING RAINDROP, a beautifully illustrated science picture book for children aged 4 to 8.
Beginning high in the clouds, the story follows a small sparkling raindrop as it falls to Earth and travels through the landscapes and waterways of Southeast Asia. Along the way, children discover how water moves through its never-ending cycle and why it is essential for every living thing.
Set around the Mekong River, the book introduces key primary science ideas including the water cycle, states of matter, erosion, rivers, wetlands and watery habitats. It also explores how clean, healthy rivers support both people and wildlife, including threatened species such as the Irrawaddy dolphin.
The main narrative is carefully written for emerging readers, with additional factual captions for more confident readers or shared reading. This two-level approach makes the science easy to follow while giving curious children extra facts to discover.
At the end, there are comprehension questions, an animal I-Spy game, a world map showing major rivers, a glossary and a water filter activity.
Part of the Start Small, Think Big series, Small, Sparkling Raindrop combines engaging storytelling with high-quality non-fiction content and supports KS1 science learning at home or in the classroom.
Perfect for:
Children who love nature and science
Learning about the water cycle
Exploring rivers, wetlands and watery habitats
Understanding why all living things need water
Introducing environmental issues such as pollution and overfishing
Supporting KS1 science and independent reading
Recognition: Selected for BooksForTopics’ 50 Best Books for Year 2.
Build your own life-cycle and science library with the Start Small, Think Big series, comprising Small, Speckled Egg, Little, Brown Nut, Tiny, Floating Coral, Fluffy, Flying Seed and Small, Shiny Dung Beetle, available in hardback with a giant fold out map.
WINNER OF BOOKS FOR TOPICS’ BEST BOOKS OF 2021: BEST CURRICULUM SUPPORT KS1
“A wonderful celebration of nature and the inspiring and diverse contributions that species make to the world we live in.” – Professor Helen Roy, member of the British Ecological Society
“Engaging and understandable for newly independent readers, and the style makes for a fabulous non-fiction read aloud.”– @MissNCleveland, teacher and book blogger
“I hope every primary school in the land buys a copy – they really should!” – Dr George McGavin, lecturer, scientist, explorer and BBC presenter
In this beautiful picture book, endorsed by the British Ecological Society and illustrated by award-winning Hannah Bailey, a teacher challenges her class to decide which is the most important animal of all. Seven children champion a different animal for the top spot.
Is it bees as master pollinators, or elephants who shape their landscape and spread seeds? Or tigers who keep populations in balance? Also included are beavers, bats, sharks and krill.
Learning why these animals are important develops an understanding of ecosystems and the interconnectedness of everything. With lots of information about these and other super-animals, this is a positive and gentle primer to the worrying issues of habitat loss, endangered species and climate change for young children.
Good for
Encouraging inquiry, discussion & critical thinking
Cross-curricular primary science
Learning about animals and their contribution to the planet
FREE SCHOOL RESOURCES AVAILABLE HERE
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Love Reading 4 Kids (10% off and school donation) • Waterstones • Bookshop.org • Amazon
There’s always something happening at the Funny Farm…
TRACTOR TRACTOR and CLUCK CLUCK DUCK are companion books about the humorous goings-on at the Funny Farm – ideal for toddlers from two up to four years old. CLUCK CLUCK DUCK is a sweet book about family love and loyalty that introduces the concept of counting. TRACTOR TRACTOR is all about teamwork and finding friendship in unlikely places, introducing the concept of opposites
The rhyming stories are fun to read, and there are big flaps for little ones to lift and sliders to slide, so they can make the chicks pop up out of their eggs or the tractors go forward and backwards to harvest the hay. There are little animals to find on every page, too.
170 x 180mm, 10 pages with flaps and sliders
Good for
18 mos +
Fun rhyming story time for toddlers
Introducing early learning concepts, opposites, counting, teamwork, family and friendship
Great books to enjoy with your children, grandchildren or in nursery settings
Meet one of nature’s strongest but smallest recyclers. And they don’t just live on the African savannah. They are in a field near you!
Discover the extraordinary life of a dung beetle in SMALL, SHINY DUNG BEETLE, a beautifully illustrated science picture book for children aged 4 to 8. Set in the Serengeti, it follows a female dung beetle as she meets her mate on a fresh pile of elephant poo and begins an action-packed journey involving fights, theft, star navigation and a lot of hard work.
As the story unfolds, children discover how dung beetles feed, reproduce and develop through their life cycle. They’ll also learn about the parts of an insect, metamorphosis, grassland food webs, predators and decomposers, and why these small creatures play such an important role in keeping ecosystems healthy.
Dung beetles do far more than clear up poo. By breaking down and burying dung, they help recycle nutrients back into the soil and support habitats around the world.
The main narrative is carefully written for emerging readers, with additional factual captions for more confident readers or shared reading. This two-level approach makes the science easy to follow while giving curious children plenty of extra facts to explore.
At the end, a large six-page fold-out brings the learning together with a map of Africa, an illustrated life cycle and a fun I-Spy game, encouraging children to return to the pictures to find and name the savannah animals they have seen.
Part of the Start Small, Think Big series, Small, Shiny Dung Beetle combines engaging storytelling and high-quality non-fiction content, making it a brilliant choice for KS1 science learning at home or in the classroom.
Perfect for:
Children fascinated by insects and unusual animals
Learning about life cycles
Exploring metamorphosis, food webs and decomposition
Discovering African savannah habitats
Understanding the role of recyclers in healthy ecosystems
Supporting KS1 science and independent reading
Build your own life-cycle library with the Start Small, Think Big series, including Small, Sparkling Raindrop, Small, Speckled Egg, Little, Brown Nut, Tiny, Floating Coral and Fluffy, Flying Seed.
Age: 4 to 8 years
Format: 28-page hardback including a 6-page fold-out
Dimensions: 230 × 230 mm
Production: Printed on FSC paper with eco-friendly inks
Featured in BookTrust's Great Books Guide 2025-2026
Meet the planets and discover why Earth is so special in this heart-warming story about our solar system.
Somewhere in our vast universe floats a little blue dot. This dot is Earth and she is surrounded by lots of impressive planets – Saturn with his ice-crystal rings and 146 moons, fiery Mars with his huge storms and volcanoes, bright and beautiful Venus... Earth feels small and insignificant, until the other planets tell her why she is the envy of them all. And then a child also has something important to say…
🌟 “This is an absolutely brilliant start to a child’s understanding of space, planets and the solar system… a joy to read.” Children's Librarian and Reviewer @erinlynhamilton
• A perfect introduction to the solar system for 4 to 8 year olds
• A fun story that delivers lot of information about the planets in a way that is easy to understand
• Features all the planets with their vital statistics and key facts
• Includes a subtle message about celebrating difference and reassuring those that may feel unimportant next to others
• Longlisted for the School Library Association's Information Book Award 2024
Sustainably produced - printed on FSC paper, with eco-friendly inks and varnish, laminate-free
To buy from your favourite retailer: Amazon • Love Reading for Kids (a percentage to a school of your choice) • Bookshop.org • Waterstones
Happy as a Lamb and Brave as a Lion
"Bright, fun, interactive board books perfect for helping children explore their emotions" - LoveReading4Kids
“Really clever board books … enabling communication about feelings, which feels fun and has a toy-esque quality that children will love.” - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, BookTrust
Perfect for children 2+. Spark emotional intelligence with these playful books that:
• Help your child to develop their emotional vocabulary so they can tell you how they are feeling
• Have fun animal characters that cleverly visualise the feelings so children can identify their own
• Include suggestions for turning unwanted feelings into more positive and healthy ones - with breathing techniques, exercises, mindfulness and play
• Puzzle pieces which turn the books into a game and encourage play
Use both titles and address the different needs of basic emotions and complex feelings:
Happy as a Lamb includes 10 emotions: happy, grumpy, excited, sad, safe, scared, joyful, angry, proud and embarrassed
Brave as a Lion includes 10 feelings: brave, worried, cuddly, lonely, calm, jumpy, bold, shy, strong and lazy
SPECIAL OFFER: Buy both books from Mama Makes Books, a small, independent children’s books publisher, and get FREE p&p! Use code FREEP&P2024 at checkout.
BROWSE OUR CATALOGUE
UK 2027, trade catalogue
MAMA’S BLOG
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The Great Science Share Debate 2022
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Children’s books
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