Very Special Friends - Little Hippo Books - Children's Padded Board Book

by Jane Chapman

Rabbit and Frog sit with Mouse while she waits. Turtle shares his picnic. It's a lovely, sunny day for waiting, but all too soon the day is almost over. Where are Mouse's special friends?

This charmingly illustrated padded board book has a soft cover making it easy for little hands to hold. These sweet children's books are perfect to give as gifts for a new baby and other special occasions such as, birthday gifts, baby shower wishing well gifts or for holidays such as Christmas, Easter or Valentine's Day.

Whether you're looking for well-known tales, tender or funny animal stories, or educational books for toddlers, Little Hippo® padded board books will become bedtime, or anytime, reading favorites!

Padded Board Book
24 Pages
7.25 inches x 7.25 inches
Ages 1 to 5

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Friendship, Childrens, Nature, Rabbits, Storytime

24 pages, Board book

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Award winning illustrator Jane Chapman graduated from university with a First Class Honors degree in illustration. Working as both Jane Chapman and under her pseudonym Jack Tickle, she has had more than 75 titles published in more than 20 countries. Jane is perhaps best known for her illustrations in Karma Wilson's 'Bear' books, an internationally bestselling series which has garnered a string of awards including the Oppenheim Platinum Book Award for 'Bear Snores On'.

Jane's favorite thing to paint? SNOW!

Jane is married to children's author / illustrator Tim Warnes. They live in the South West of England with their 2 boys.

Reviews

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kustannus Mäkelä, Jane Chapman ja kuvakirjan päähenkilöinä on eläimiä - taidatte jo arvata kuinka tämä kirja-arvostelu jatkuu?

Olen aivan haltioitunut tällaisista kuvakirjoista, en mahda itselleni mitään. Tätäkin kirjaa lukiessa pysähdyin monesti ihastelemaan yksistään aukeamalla olevia kauniita yksityiskohtia. Onneksi kuopus oli aivan yhtä haltioissaan erilaisista ötököistä ja eläimistä, mitä kirjan sivuilla oli.

Tämä kirja on hellyyttävä ja lämminhenkinen katsaus ystävyyteen ja hetkessä oloon.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mouse goes down by the river to wait for her very special friend to arrive. While she waits Rabbit and Frog sits with while she waits. While still waiting Frog comes along and shares his picnic lunch and decides to wait as well for Mouse's very special friend to arrive. As the day passes, Mouse has waited long enough and decides to leave, but before she leaves she tells Rabbit, Frog, and Turtle something special.

[Madison Persinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that this book is a good read for a beginning reader. Jane Chapman's word choice allows children to visualize what is happening even without illustrations. She also uses repetition which gives the story predictability, which children enjoy.

[Erin Buhr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is like a cozy hug. There is no great action or hilarity, just a nice Spring time story about animal friends. The illustrations are warm. The words delicious. The friendships easy and pleasant. The gentle surprise at the end makes this simply delightful.

[Francine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ik heb deze stiekem op werk gelezen shhh niet tegen mijn werkgever zeggen.

Erg schattig boekje over vriendschap. Sommige tekeningen voegden niet echt iets toe aan het verhaal, het had ietsje strakker gekund qua redactie. Maar de tekeningen zijn wel erg mooi en ik geniet van de moraal. 3/5 sterren.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book that has me wishing for very special friends for my kids.

[Keely DeRiggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book because of the different animal friends that each other makes.

[Asher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like when Asher spends time with his friends.

[Julianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morgan's Review 9yo- I liked this book because I could fill in the blanks with my name and a friend's name. It made it so fun to read.

[Sarita · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Cute!

[HappyGay Bakunzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect read

[ن‌گ‌ا‌را · Rating 5 out of 5]

پنج ستاره رو به خاطر تصویر پردازی عالی کتاب دادم

[Raquel Curvacheiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorei este livro infantil! Não só a história é um mimo, mas as ilustrações são, também, de uma pessoa se perder na criança que vive dentro de nós.

O Coelho encontra o Rato, que lhe diz estar à espera dos seus "Amigos Especiais" e decide fazer-lhe companhia. De seguida chega o Sapo, que ao saber o porquê de os dois amigos ali se encontrarem, se oferece para ficar com eles. Por fim chega a Tartaruga e, também ela, se junta aos grupo. E, assim, enquanto esperam os amigos especiais do Rato, os 4 animaizinhos passam uma tarde excelente, junto o rio, em alegres brincadeiras, piqueniques partilhados e silêncios gozados em grupo. Nisto, sem aviso, o Rato levanta-se e anuncia que se vai embora. Os companheiros tentam dissuadi-lo, afirmando que, com certeza, os seus "amigos especiais" estão a chegar. E é então que o Rato explica: os seus amigos especiais são eles os 3!

Um livro amoroso, que nos ensina que os verdadeiros amigos são os que se dispõem a estar sempre ao nosso lado... Mesmo quando não sabem porque o fazem!

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was a bit cheesy, though cute. For me it was predictable, but I still liked it. A nice feel-good book for kids. My favorite and I think best part of the book were the illustrations. They were warm and cozy, like the story. And there were details that either showed where the story was going or where the story had been. I found myself looking back and forth between pages to see the non-textual story progress. I enjoyed that and it makes for a good lap-read or read-alone. This could be cute in a storytime. Just fine for preschool age. For toddler it would depend on the size of the group and their attention spend on whether you read the text or summarized. It's not too text heavy, but it could get a bit long. But the imagery is great for all ages.

More of a 3.5.

9/23/13: The kids liked the pictures, but this started to get too long for the toddler age that I've been getting at Movement storytime.

[Karen Treacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chapman creates a beautiful story within a few pages in her book ‘Very Special Friends.’ This story cleverly examines the importance and excitement of friendships. It tells the story of a day in the life of Mouse who is waiting for her Special Friends. As Mouse waits she meets some other animals Rabbit, Frog and Turtle who all agree to wait with Mouse until her Special Friends arrive. As they wait they enjoy each other’s company playing along the riverbank and enjoying a picnic. However the day is drawing to a close, but where are Mouse’s Special Friends?

This is a lovely book to have in your Early Year’s classroom to read to them as a group along with using the beautiful illustrations as the book is quite large. The illustrations are bright and colourful and they capture the story excellently. Very Special Friends is also a book which could be an independent reading for those who are nearing the end of Early Years.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mouse went to the edge of the river to wait for her Special Friends. While she was waiting, Rabbit, Frog, and Turtle came along and joined her. At the end of a lovely day, Mouse got ready to leave, and the others asked her why she didn't wait longer for her Special Friends to arrive. She said, "But you're all here!"

The author's lovely illustrations of river bank, meadow, and trees are essential to the story, as the friends play and picnic together. A simple, quiet picture book for ages 3-5.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another sweetly illustrated story about friendship from Jane Chapman. Mouse is waiting for his very special friend to show up and spend the day with him. As he waits his other animal friends show up to wait with him. Never has waiting around for something been so much fun! Books about animals are always exciting for children. This would make a great read aloud, bed time story, or anytime story. Kids will want to read again and again.

[Krystyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chapman is one of my favorite authors, particularly with the Bear books, but the illustrations are my favorite part of all of her works and I recognize her artwork anywhere. This is another sweet story on friendship.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alice thought this book was good. She loved the mouse and the duck and the bunny. Mostly, she likes looking at the other book covers on the back and really liked the illustrations. Not a memorable story, but it came in a kids' meal.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will work well in storytime.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

As mouse waits by the river for her special friends to arrive, she is joined by other animals who wait with her. Good for toddler or preschool storytimes.

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very sweet story about friendship with beautiful illustrations. Nothing terribly unique or unexpected, but cute and enjoyable.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

simply adorable!

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this to my kids who thought the pictures were the cutest ever. What a great story about the value of friendship.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

We meet Mouse who is waiting for her very special friend As all her friends come and wait with her, we find out that they were all the very special friends she was waiting for.

[Haley]

Cute story and lovely illustrations :)

[Meghan Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very sweet book about friendship. I absolutely LOVE Jane Chapman's illustrations. I will use this book in a preschool storytime.

[Lacy | literary_lacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This adorable book is about friends. Making friends and spending time with them. It’s cute, and both of my kids enjoyed it. It’s a good, short, fun read that my kids both enjoyed!

[Emily W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet story about friendship for babies and toddlers