Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family
Hi! I’m Lucy. I’m mother to two girls aged 1 and 3, and along with my partner we recently moved from central Manchester to a lovely rural market town in Cheshire to be nearer family as the kids grow up. After having my first baby in 2015 I launched my coaching business Brand New Mum. I now work supporting women who are either starting or growing creative, independent businesses after having children.
Hi Clare! Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family
My name is Clare, I own an independent card and gift shop on Carshalton High Street called Calladoodles. When I set up the shop over eight years ago I wanted to bring a bit of the colour and the feel of Brighton to Carshalton. Although we have had to change and adapt over the years it’s stayed true to that dream in a lot of ways, but the children’s books and gifts have become more of a focus with the arrival of my children. I live in Carshalton, Surrey with my two children Chloe (5) and Zak (2).
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family
My name is Holly and live in South London with my husband, 11-month-old daughter and our two moody cats! I run creative workshops for children in museums, gardens and bookshops! I collect children’s picture books and finally have a child in the house who can enjoy them too although she is currently trying to eat most of them! I run Foxglove Forest School, a family forest school session for under5s in Forest Hill London. I love to use books and storytelling in my sessions.
What is your daughter’s favourite book?
At the moment my daughter loves ‘the Noisy Book’ by Soledad Bravi. Its great example of onomatopoeia and has bright, simple illustrations that she is hooked by. I am passionate about her enjoying books as much as I do! She also loves Spot books! We are lucky to live in Southwark which is part of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. It’s a free reading scheme for children under five, she sends you a new book for free each month. Thank you Dolly!
This is a gorgeous picture book which gives you a little window in to the lives of 5 babies and their families. From prams, swings, nappies and games to shopping, meals, pets and bedtime this lovely book shows all the things a toddler may encounter in a day.
Ivy loves pointing at the pictures and naming all the things she that she currently knows the words for.
It’s a great little conversation starter with your child and is also a nice way of showing how every family is different.
Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2CAi2nM
This one is a must for fans of the original Jolly Postman book. This time around the postman is delivering Christmas post to all of your favourite nursery rhyme characters – and eating a lot of mince pies along the way!
Along with the lovely story and the detailed illustrations you get the added bonus of being able to open all the envelopes to see what’s inside.
Ivy loves pulling out the little cards and pretending to read them.
Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2iBWBY3
A few weeks ago we reviewed ‘Each Peach Pear Plum’ and we were inundated with messages telling us we had to read PEEPO! if we hadn’t already. I promptly bought us a copy and we can definitely see why you all love it so much! If you haven’t read this to your toddler yet then I would definitely recommend it.
A baby is standing in his cot pointing. What can he see? The cut out circle on the next page lets you see a small portion of the baby’s view. PEEPO!
Turn the page for a beautifully detailed picture and a rhyme which encourages you to find lots of different things within the illustration. This set up repeats throughout the book, encouraging lots of conversation around the contents of the pictures.
It’s a real delight which can either be a quick read at bedtime or something you can easily spend an hour looking at with your child. We love it!
Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2B6F1Cv
We were recommended this one by a friend so I bought it yesterday and Ivy is already hooked.
The cute little rhyme brings together well known nursery rhyme characters and encourages you to play I-Spy as they are hidden within the beautiful illustrations. Ivy’s favourite character is Baby Bunting and she excitedly shouts ‘BABY!’ when she spots him.
Highly recommended and I’m surprised we hadn’t come across this one before!
Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2z6nkmN
Happy Halloween!
Ivy is still a little young to understand this one but she loves the illustrations and enthusiastically hums along with the song (The leg bone’s connected to the – hip bone!).
This spooky little book tells the tale of a family of skeletons who live in the dark dark cellar of a dark dark house on a dark dark street. One night the skeleton family take their skeleton dog for a walk to the park and plan to frighten someone along the way.
It doesn’t quite go to plan though – with hilarious results!
Buy it now: http://amzn.to/2A2Cl9r