Accidents can happen easily in everyday life, especially at home. As parents, we all want our children to be as safe as possible. This delightful children’s rhyme book is designed to help parents introduce simple safety rules in a friendly and memorable way.

Through fun and engaging rhymes, young readers will learn about safety in different areas of the home, including the kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, and stairs. It also offers helpful tips for staying safe around the pool, in the garden, in the car with Mummy and Daddy, at the shops, and when spending time with animals or friends.

The rhymes follow the adventures of Sam and Sue, a cheerful brother and sister, along with their loving parents, a loyal Basset Hound, a fish, and two curious cats.

Isabel and Brian Darlington met in 1986 in Midrand, South Africa and were married in 1998. In 2000 they moved to East Coast of South Africa, living in Richards Bay, where they spent four years before Brian was transferred by his company to Austria in January 2005.

Having had two granddaughters at the time, Bela and Brian decided to write the book to share some safety rules with children to prevent injuries occurring in private lives. This is where ‘Sam and Sue’ became an idea and eventually a dream come true.

Bela and Brian now have four grandchildren, three granddaughters a grandson and with one of them being named after Bela.

Bela sadly passed away before seeing the book reach the bookshelves of shops around the world, however Brian has made her dream possible and kept Bela’s legacy a reality.

Customer Reviews

5.0

11 reviews

Olga Petukhova

Sam and Sue is a delightful book to read together with children. The illustrations are bright, colorful, and immediately catch kids’ attention, making the story even more engaging. What I especially appreciated is how the book presents safety rules in a fun, rhythmic way. My son was so captivated by the playful wording that he was eager to try out every rule himself! It turned what could be a dry topic into something joyful and interactive. One chapter I particularly loved was the one about putting things back in their place. The way it connects simple tidying-up habits with real safety reasons is both clever and practical.
Olga Felder

A gentle and caring book that helps children learn about everyday safety. The stories feel calm and reassuring. They help children notice situations and make safe choices in a natural way. The pictures are beautiful and very colourful, and they really bring the story to life. A lovely book to read together again and again.
Arghavan Saljoughi-De Wit

We absolutely love this book! It teaches important safety lessons in such a simple, beautiful, and age-appropriate way. The story flows gently, and the messages come across naturally without ever feeling heavy or scary. The book is wonderfully colourful, with fantastic illustrations that immediately capture children’s attention. My 3-year-old daughter asks me to read it to her over and over again, and it never gets old. She recently gave her own little “lecture” about the safety rules to one of her kindergarten friends, which says everything about how well the message sticks :) This book has quickly become a favourite in our home. I genuinely love it and would definitely recommend it to every parent who wants to introduce safety in a positive, engaging, and memorable way.
Alisa Ruban

What a nice children’s book! Safety rules are important for all of us and with this book they can be also taught to children in a form of rhymes.
Clayton Darlington

It's amazing to see this book come alive, especially since it holds such a special place in my daughter's heart. One of her fondest memories is of her grandfather reading 'Sam and Sue' to her and her kindergarten friends.
Boris Blazhev

The story follows cheerful siblings Sam and Sue as they share simple, essential safety rules for the kitchen, bathroom, garden, car, and more – perfect for parents teaching their kids (like my 9-year-old son). The rhymes are engaging, the pictures captivating, and it sparks great family discussions on staying safe. A wonderful tribute to Bela's dream – highly recommended for every home library!
Jadwiga Soponska

"Sam and Sue" is a wonderful book that combines the warmth of friendship with the practical importance of safety. From the first page, young readers are drawn into the world of Sam and Sue, two relatable characters who make learning about safety both enjoyable and memorable. The characters are not only heart-warming, but their approach to safety rules is clear and age-appropriate. As they embark on everyday adventures, their guidance feels natural and encouraging, helping children to absorb key safety tips with ease and enthusiasm. The lessons find the book useful and entertaining. “Sam and Sue” deserves a place on every child’s bookshelf - not only for its lessons, but for the joy and kindness that radiate from all the pages.
Jolene Dalgety

Such a lovely children’s book! My daughter and I read it several times, and she absolutely loved it. The safety lessons woven into the story are so well done and easy for children to understand. After reading it, she could clearly remember the safety rules for different areas of the house and when spending time with family, which was wonderful to see. The book also supported her in the early stages of learning to read, making it both educational and enjoyable. The pictures really captivated her, and the story held her attention from start to finish. This is a beautiful book for teaching children important safety rules in a gentle and engaging way. I would definitely recommend it to other families.