Month

February 2018

We’re All Wonders By R.J. Palacio

Posted by - No Comments

We're All WondersAnyone who has read Wonder by R.J. Palacio or seen the recent movie adaptation will be familiar with the story of Auggie – a small boy with a facial disfigurement who enters a mainstream school. If you haven’t read it then it’s highly recommended!

This version of the book is suitable for little children and let’s them see what life is like when you don’t look like everyone else.

Auggie explains how he likes to do all the same things that other children do but because he looks different then people stare and sometimes they are mean to him. He shows you how this makes him feel and how he deals with it.

He knows he can’t change the way he looks but he wants to try and change the way people see because he thinks it will make the world a better place.

We love this one and it’s an excellent book to start a conversation with a pre-schooler about empathy and how we should treat those around us.

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2COJJ8v

Fox’s Socks By Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler

Posted by - No Comments

Fox's SocksThis is another lovely lift-the-flap book from Julia Donaldson’s Acorn Wood series.

Poor fox wakes up in the morning and discovers he’s lost his socks. He searches all over the house and it’s your job to help him by lifting the flaps to open, trunks and doors and cupboards.

He finds an assortment of different clothes in strange locations, but where on earth are his socks?

The combination of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler is always magical and this one is no exception!

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2CnUBhR

Ivy’s Guest Book: Nicola Washington AKA @toomuchmotheringinformation

Posted by - No Comments

Nicola WashingtonTell us a little bit about yourself and your family

I’m Nicola, tea-drinker and lapsed reader and I live in South London with the Mr and our two children aged 3 and 5. I was a secondary school English teacher for 12 years, so I have a deeply rooted love of books, but now I bring home the bacon through being a Social Media Specialist for small businesses. This basically means Instagram, Facebook and Twitter are treated like my third, fourth and fifth children – hence being a lapsed reader! I also blog, enjoy yoga and it makes me disproportionately happy when I open the dishwasher and it’s already been emptied.

What is your son/daughter’s favourite book?

My kids are 3 and 5 which means their taste in stories is completely different – annoying at bedtime!

My son is in the midst of a Peppa Pig obsession and loves the fact that Peppa and George are brother and sister, just like him and his sister! We’re moving house soon and all he wants to know is if he can have a bunk bed like his favourite little pigs.

My daughter’s favourite book is currently Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls and she really enjoys choosing a different story each night. That said, she has some firm favourites, so I think I could probably recite Misty Copeland’s story off by heart!

Continue Reading…

The Squirrels Who Squabbled By Rachel Bright & Jim Field

Posted by - No Comments

The Squirrels Who SquabbledWe are big fans of Rachel Bright and Jim Field so we have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of their new collaboration and we’re happy to say that it’s fab!

Cyril and Bruce are Squirrels who both have their eye on the last pine cone of the season – but for very different reasons. Cyril has partied his way through the year and hasn’t collected any food for the winter. Bruce, on the other hand, has amassed large stocks of food but is worried it won’t be enough.

An epic squabble ensues which puts both of their lives in danger. Can these two squirrels put their differences and work together to survive?

This is a gorgeous tale about friendship and sharing, with a big splash of adventure thrown in for good measure.

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2otV4Xt

Sloth Slept On By Frann Preston-Gannon

Posted by - No Comments

Sloth Slept OnToday we visited the zoo with Ivy for the first time and she loved seeing all of the animals. In the gift shop I let her pick a book for her collection and she chose this lovely one about a sloth.

Three little children are playing in their garden when they discover a strange animal sleeping in the tree. What on earth is it and where did it come from?

They try asking grown ups but they’re too busy. They look in their books but they can’t find any animals that look like him. They use their imaginations and wonder if he came from space or if he’s a hairy pirate or a brave knight.

Will they ever find out what he is and where he comes from? And if they do, how will they get him home?

The illustrations are gorgeous and the book features lots of interesting facts about sloths for your little ones to learn!

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2EQdJ9h

Firefly Home By Jane Clarke & Britta Teckentrup

Posted by - No Comments

Firefly HomeFlorence the Firefly is lost and trying to find her way home. Every time she sees a light she flies towards it in the hope it is her family but finds herself on a wild goose chase following trains and lighthouses and even the moon!

This lovely story invites you, the reader, to help Florence find her way by flapping your hands to help her fly faster and pointing to the right places in the pictures.

Can you help her get home?

Ivy loves this one but hasn’t quite mastered the word firefly. When she wants me to read this one she asks for the FlyFly book!

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2o8AziO

Big Hid By Roisin Swales

Posted by - No Comments

Big Hid‘Big Hid’ is a beautifully illustrated tale of the friendship between Big (a tortoise) and Little (a squirrel). Together they have many adventures but one day Big just doesn’t feel like doing anything anymore. He pulls in his head and his arms and his legs and he disappears in to his shell.

Little tries everything he can think of to make Big come out but nothing works. He misses his friend a lot so decides to just sit on top of him and give him a big cuddle. Could this be what Big needs to bring him back out of his shell?

This is a really simple but poignant tale about friendship.

Everyone gets sad and needs a little time alone sometimes – and when you think you might be ready to face the world again a big hug from your best friend can make all the difference.

This is currently Ivy’s favourite book. Every time I ask her to pick a book she yells ‘TORTOISE’ and grabs this off the shelf.

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2oczINg

The First Slodge By Jeanne Willis & Jenni Desmond

Posted by - No Comments

The First SlodgeThis adorable little green thing is a Slodge and she is the very first creature on earth. She watches the first sunrise and the first sunset and as she surveys the world she thinks it all belongs to her.

However one day she awakens from a nap to discover that someone or something has taken a bite out of her fruit. She soon discovers there’s another Slodge who looks just like her.

Learning to share her world proves difficult but when the two Slodges are forced to work together to survive they realise that life just might be better as a twosome.

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2o6GUuh

Blown Away by Rob Biddulph

Posted by - No Comments

Blown AwayPenguin Blue has a brand new kite and he’s very excited about flying it for the first time. Unfortunately he picks a day which is a little bit too windy and a big gust carries him away. His friends grab his feet but the wind is too strong and soon they’re all flying over the ocean – 3 penguins, a seal and a bear!

Eventually they land on a tiny tropical island. They seem to be trapped and they’re not used to warm weather.

Will they be able to find a way home?

A lovely tale of friendship and ingenuity with really quirky little illustrations.

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2BsM783

The Weaver by Qian Shi

Posted by - No Comments

The WeaverStanley the Spider finds the perfect spot for a new web and sets about weaving himself a home. When it’s finished he decorates it with lovely things which he has collected, like leaves and flowers, buttons and bottle tops. He’s very proud of his new creation but then the rain washes it away.

Stanley is very upset and tries to fix it but then the wind comes along and makes it worse. Just when he thinks all is lost he has an idea. Can he pull it off?

This is a beautifully illustrated book which teaches an importance message about resilience and dealing with loss. Nothing you love can ever truly be lost as you always carry it with you in your heart.

Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2smXTO6