When Cucumber Lost His Cool
by Michelle Robinson, illustrated by Tom Knight
Interest age: 3 to 6
Published by Scholastic, 2021
About this book
With his swaggering walk and chilled-out attitude, Kevin the cucumber oozes confidence everywhere he goes. He even has his own super-cool theme tune.
Whenever his friends need help, he’s always there with some cool advice: when Pea is feeling too shy to welcome her new neighbour, Kevin convinces her to be brave and when Carrot admits she has two left feet, Kevin effortlessly demonstrates his cool moves. Now everyone is feeling really cool! But Kevin’s advice is so good that the other fruit and veg don’t seem to need his help anymore and he feels left out.
Then something strange happens. Kevin starts to feel hot, stressed and jealous – and loses his cool! Now it’s up to Kevin’s friends to see if they can use what they’ve learned to help him "chillax" and be his usual cool self again.
Little ones can find it hard to express and regulate their big feelings. Exploring anxiety and jealousy, this laugh-out-loud story is a super fun way for children to think about emotions – both theirs and others. The rhyming text by Michelle Robinson is full of energy and rhythm – you’ll have Kevin’s song stuck in your head by the end!
From Pepper’s bushy eyebrows to Mustard’s posh moustaches, Tom Knight has brilliantly given all the foody characters their own distinctive look and personality with his zany illustrations.
More books like this
-
Barbara Throws A Wobbler
by Nadia Shireen
2 to 7 years
-
Ravi’s Roar
by Tom Percival
2 to 9 years
-
The Snappy Shark
by Michelle Robinson, illustrated by Tim Budgen
3 to 5 years
-
Counting Sheep
by Michelle Robinson, illustrated by Nikki Dyson
2 to 7 years
Lists of recommended reads
-
Books about fruit and vegetables
It can be difficult to persuade little ones to eat their greens or munch on some fruit - but books might help! We've put together a list of lovely stories that either have themes of healthy eating or feature plant-based characters. So whether you want to promote the power of avocados or learn all about a veggie vampire, you'll find books to make little tummies rumble here...
-
Picture books to support a healthy mind
We've put together a selection of picture books that can help young children to start to understand mental health and support a healthy mind. They include titles that touch on sadness, anxiety and finding courage and reassurance, and are books which can help to supply useful strategies and support a growth mindset.
-
Bookstart Pre-schooler: more great books for 3-4s
Hand-picked books that are perfect for children aged 3-4, selected to help families get more from their Bookstart Pre-schooler pack.