Book review: Craft, colour and creatures with b small publishing

Small is definitely beautiful when it comes to a vibrant children’s publishing outfit with big ideas.
Craft, colour and creatures with b small publishingCraft, colour and creatures with b small publishing
Craft, colour and creatures with b small publishing

Run by Catherine Bruzzone and Sam Hutchinson, b small has been in business since 1990 and has nearly 200 titles on its list. Their speciality is bilingual books and colourful, fun activity books for young children.

This Christmas, they have a sparkling collection of inventive craft and colouring books as well as gorgeous natural world activity books to encourage little ones to head for the great outdoors.

Age 3 plus:

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The Great Extendable Colouring Book by Sam Hutchinson and Stu McLellan

It’s big, it’s full of fun and it’s just made for sharing… this fantastic, fold-out colouring book provides a brilliant broad canvas for budding young artists.

Seven huge, fold-out scenes offer hours of imaginative play and colouring whether it’s the wonderful sights of a safari trip, adventures under the sea and in the jungle, a journey into space, a stylish fashion show, sports in the sun or a fabulous arty street party.

Young artists can colour in on their own or share the 72cm wide pages with their friends or family. Each spread is perforated so it can be torn out and kept, displayed on the wall or sent to proud grandparents.

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With things to spot on every page and lots of colouring inspiration, this is a book that really goes the distance…

(b small, paperback, £9.99)

Nature Puzzles: Bugs and Butterflies and Nature Puzzles: Woodland Animals by Catherine Bruzzone and Sarah Dennis

Make the natural world more accessible for the family’s youngest members with two enchanting activity books.

These first spotter’s books come with cut-out, collectable flashcards to make nature trails into the countryside even more exciting and adventurous.

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Children will love these colourful, robust books which offer creepy crawly dot-to-dots, slippery slimy snail mazes, a furry foxy spot-the-difference and a hopping hare matching game.

Cut out the flashcards, grab colouring crayons and see which bugs, butterflies and woodland animals you can spot during a walk in the countryside. There are fascinating facts about the creatures on each page for little nature enthusiasts plus an answers section at the back of the book for the puzzles and activities.

Flashcards on the front and back cover flaps encourage children to get out and about and enable them to record when and where they spotted the bugs, butterflies and a variety of adorable woodland animals. There are also tips on where to spot the animals and insects, what to take with you on a nature hunt and how to keep your distance so you don’t frighten the wildlife.

Beautifully illustrated and bursting with educational activities, these delightful books are fun for all the family and a wonderful walk on the wild side…

(b small, paperback, £6.99)

Age 6 plus:

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Papercraft Colouring Book Written and illustrated by Clare Beaton

How about making your own toys? There are pages and pages of creative enjoyment in the innovative Papercraft Colouring Book.

All you need to get started on a super collection of papercraft toys are crayons and a pair of scissors.

The book contains over 230 projects to cut out and colour, including animals, dinosaurs, paper dolls, paper planes, ocean life and wild animals. Make a volcano, a tractor or even a paper necklace.

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Packed full of paper models for children to colour in, cut out and play with, Papercraft Colouring Book is delightfully simple and yet gives hours of good value and enjoyment as youngsters cut out their colourful creations and see them come to life.

And there are plenty of instructions, tips and a list of items needed, including crayons, sticky tape, scissors and tracing paper, to help youngsters get the most of their papercraft projects.

It’s shaping up to be the perfect gift!

(b small, paperback, £9.99)

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