Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family
I’m Rebecca Stevens and I live with my three kids aged 5, 6 & 8 and husband in SW London. We all love reading! I recently retrained as a nutritionist after many years in the world of healthcare PR and work freelance to fit in around the needs of my family. I wrote and illustrated my own picture book a few years ago that I gave to friends and family as a gift. From this I have an appreciation of just how much time bringing a story to life takes.
What are your children’s favourite books?
This is such a difficult question to answer! My youngest has always loved Jack and The Flum Flum Tree by Julia Donaldson and David Roberts. I think the rhythmic text combined with the story of solving problems with everyday objects resonates with him. He knows all the words and likes to build/make random things from objects he finds around the house.
Which book do you most like reading to them?
Another tricky question! I love books that have an element of humour for both adults and children, tell a lovely tale and/or share a message. Beautiful or bold illustrations also win me over. To be more specific, The Princess Knight by Cornelia Funke and Kerstin Meyer conveys the importance of perseverance and equality for girls. It was given to my daughter as a Christening present so it also has sentimental value.
What was your favourite book when you were a child?
I really loved the Brambly Hedge series by Jill Barklem – beautifully illustrated stories that my sister and I read over and over again. My parents gave me a few of my old books recently including some by Jill Barklem and I’ve enjoyed reading them again to my kids.
Who is your favourite children’s author ?
All three of my kids love Roald Dahl. His stories are classics, a joy to read and inspire creativity and use of children’s imagination. We also find the audio books are fantastic for tired kids after school or on long car journeys.
Do you have a favourite children’s bookshop?
We are very lucky to have a local bookshop called The Barnes Bookshop. The staff are very knowledgeable and always provide good recommendations for children and adults alike. I also like The Alligator’s Mouth in Richmond which is a specialist children’s bookshop with helpful and friendly staff.
About Nourish and Nurture Nutrition
I work freelance as a registered nutritionist running healthy eating and weaning workshops. I also provide nutrition support and healthy eating advice on a one:one basis. As my background is communications I also support nutrition-related companies with content development or PR support.
Instagram @nourishnurturenutrition