Book picks similar to
Sir Mouse to the Rescue by Dirk Nielandt


animals
challenging-stereotypes
fantasy
friendship

Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn


Shannon Hale - 2021
    From bestselling duo Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham comes a kitty and unicorn story that celebrates the magic of friendship—and being exactly who you want to be! Kitty thinks she might be a unicorn. She feels so perfectly unicorn-y! “Neigh!” says Kitty. But when Unicorn clop clop clops over, sweeping his magnificent tail and neighing a mighty neigh, Kitty feels no bigger than a ball of lint.Can this unlikely pair embrace who they are, and truly see one another?

Dream Friends


You Byun - 2013
    They do all sorts of magical things together. But when Melody wakes up, she’s back in the real world, where she hasn’t yet made a friend. Then her dream friend inspires her to make some moves that help Melody’s dream of friendship come true.Ms. Byun's art is full of delightful details and fantastic scenes that children will want to pore over again and again.

Oh So Brave Dragon


David Kirk - 2014
    He’s so brave and valiant, he’s ready to try out his fearsome roar! But when he hears something that scares him, he turns to his forest friends to find the noise, and to help him be brave. Young readers will relate to Dragon’s fears, and delight in his quest to be brave. Bestselling author/artist David Kirk, creator of the popular Miss Spider series, has created another beautiful, meaningful picture book to follow Oh So Tiny Bunny.

The Bog Baby


Jeanne Willis - 2008
    They find a bog baby. Small and blue with wings like a dragon, the girls decide to make him their secret. I won't tell if you won't.But the bog baby is a wild thing, and when he becomes poorly, the girls decide they must tell their mum. And she tells them the greatest lesson: if you really love something, you have to let it go.

King Arthur's Very Great Grandson


Kenneth Kraegel - 2012
    On the day Henry turns six years old, he wakes up early, mounts his trusty donkey, Knuckles, and goes out in search of adventure. Along the way, he encounters a Dragon, a Cyclops, and a Griffin, but none of them will have "ado" with Henry. Desperate for a real battle, Henry seeks out the most fearsome of all the beasts: the Leviathan. But has Henry met his match at last?

Azzi in Between


Sarah Garland - 2012
    They have to leave their home and escape to another country on a frightening journey by car and boat. In the new country they must learn to speak a new language, find a new home and Azzi must start a new school. With a kind helper at the school, Azzi begins to learn English and understand that she is not the only one who has had to flee her home. She makes a new friend, and with courage and resourcefulness, begins to adapt to her new life. But Grandma has been left behind and Azzi misses her more than anything. Will Azzi ever see her grandma again? Drawing on her own experience of working among refugee families, renowned author and illustrator Sarah Garland tells, with tenderness and humour, an exciting adventure story to be enjoyed by readers of all ages.Endorsed by Amnesty International.

Imaginary Fred


Eoin Colfer - 2015
    A quirky, funny, and utterly irresistible story from Eoin Colfer and Oliver Jeffers, two of the finest children's book creators on the planet.Did you know that sometimes, with a little electricity, or luck, or even magic, an imaginary friend might appear when you need one? An imaginary friend like Fred.Fred floated like a feather in the wind until Sam, a lonely little boy, wished for him and, together, they found a friendship like no other.The perfect chemistry between Eoin Colfer's text and Oliver Jeffers's artwork makes for a dazzlingly original picture book.

The Sleepwalkers


Viviane Schwarz - 2012
    But before they go, they must conjure and train three new replacements. Who else will look after the Sleepwalking House and be there to answer the call of a child frozen with fear, trapped in a nightmare? Faced with a series of cliff-hanging dream predicaments, the three brave new heroes tackle the weird and the wild in this tale about pulling together as a team and having the confidence to stand up to your fears.

Goldilocks and Just the One Bear


Leigh Hodgkinson - 2012
    One day, Little Bear wanders out of the woods and finds himself lost in the Big City. Will he find the city too noisy? Too quiet? Or just right? And what are the chances of him bumping in to someone who remembers exactly how he likes his porridge?

This is My Rock


David Lucas - 2015
    "It's not yours," he bleats at Eagle. "Or yours," he grumbles at Bear. "Nor yours!" he shouts at the other goats. But standing atop a mountain all day and night can be lonely, especially when you have no one else to play with. . . .With simple wit and beautifully detailed illustrations, David Lucas weaves a tale about sharing and friendship.As an illustrator and writer, David Lucas finds inspiration in the beauty and magic of the natural world. His first book with Flying Eye was A Letter for Bear, published in 2013.

Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress


Christine Baldacchino - 2014
    He paints amazing pictures and he loves his classroom's dress-up center, especially the tangerine dress. It reminds him of tigers, the sun and his mother's hair. The other children don't understand--dresses, they say, are for girls. And Morris certainly isn't welcome in the spaceship his classmates are building--astronauts, they say, don't wear dresses. One day Morris has a tummy ache, and his mother lets him stay home from school. He stays in bed reading about elephants, and her dreams about a space adventure with his cat, Moo. Inspired by his dream, Morris paints a fantastic picture, and everything begins to change when he takes it to school.

The Worst Princess


Anna Kemp - 2012
    But when that Prince proves to be a bit more traditional than what she had hoped for, Princess Sue—along with the help of fiery dragon—becomes determined to find a way to get the fairy-tale ending that she always envisioned for herself. For fans of Robert Munch's The Paperbag Princess!

The Story of Fish and Snail


Deborah Freedman - 2013
    Today, Fish's story (about pirates!) is too grand to simply be told: Fish wants to show Snail. But that would mean leaving the familiar world of their book—a scary prospect for Snail, who would rather stay safely at home and pretend to be kittens. Fish scoffs that cats are boring; Snail snaps back. Is this book too small for the two feuding friends? Could this be THE END of The Story of Fish and Snail? Deborah Freedman, author of Blue Chicken, has created a sweet and playful story about friendship that truly jumps off the page.★"Right from the title page, Freedman's latest makes a splash... This marvelous metabook shines in both concept and beauty." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review"The theme of books as doorways into rich new adventures couldn't be more vividly conveyed, and the resolution of the conflict between two sweet friends provides encouragement for other "snails" to try new things." -- Publishers Weekly

Tough Guys Have Feelings Too


Keith Negley - 2015
    . . even daddies have emotions!Did you know wrestlers have feelings? And knights. Even superheroes and ninjas feel sad sometimes. In fact everyone has feelings—especially dads who love their children!Children will love recognizing their feelings in Keith Negley's bold illustrations which accompany a fun-to-read-aloud narrative.Parents can joyfully engage with children in a lighthearted discussion about emotions and how they affect us all!Keith Negley is an award-winning editorial illustrator with a penchant for emotionally driven illustration. He's been published in a wide range of major newspapers and national magazines, and is a frequent contributor to the New York Times and New Yorker. He lives in the mountains of Bellingham, Washington, surrounded by rain forests and giant spiders.

The Giant of Jum


Elli Woollard - 2015
    And the tastiest of all is a boy known as Jack! But Jack and his friends don't see a scary giant, they see a magically tall man - a man who can fetch lost balls and rescue cats from trees! Perhaps this hungry giant is softer than he seems...An incredible rhyming text and a brilliant, big-hearted twist on a classic fairy tale, this book sees the launch of a major new picture book pairing: the uniquely talented author and poet, Elli Woollard, and award-winning illustrator, Benji Davies.Also contains an important message for all: don't eat kids, eat cake!