2015
The Singing Mermaid by Julia Donaldson & Lydia Monks
The Singing Mermaid is the perfect read for a time of year when we’re dreaming of seaside holidays. This beautifully illustrated, tactile, rhyming story demonstrates that even the biggest problems can be solved with a little help from your friends.
Learning with Picture Books – Making Storysacks
We are huge fans of storysacks and they promote lots of learning and discussion. A storysack includes a book and visual aids that are linked to the story (or the subject if the book is non fiction), it can also include relevant worksheets, activities and games. Storysacks are lots of fun to make and are a great…
The Moomin stories – Comet in Moominland by Tove Jansson
I read most of the Moomin books as a child (I wonder where those books are now!) and my daughter really enjoyed Comet in Moominland which is the second book about the Moomin family who live in a blue house in Moominvalley. The first Moomin story, The Moomins and The Great Flood, was first published in 1945 so,…
Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals by Camilla de le Bedoyere, Rob Colson, Elizabeth Gray & Steve Kirk
Dinosaurs, their origins and how they became extinct have not been topics that we’ve discussed much in our house but that changed when we started reading Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals. This fascinating, beautifully illustrated book is packed full of information and my daughter has been very keen to show the book to friends and visitors.
A Gold Star for George by Alice Hemming & Kimberley Scott
It’s the time of year for school sports days and although some schools now have non competitive sports days, others don’t. A Gold Star for George is a great book for showing children that winning isn’t everything and that other qualities are also important.
‘We’re Going On A Book Hunt!’ – Book Quiz
A book quiz is a fun way for a child to think about the books that they have read and also for them to discover new books, especially in their local library or in the school classroom. They are also a great activity for a rainy day in the school holidays or a classroom time filler. I love creating book quizzes,…
Crunch! by Carolina Rabei
Crunch is a lovely story about friendship, sharing and new discoveries. The cover illustration immediately intrigued us – a guinea pig eating a watermelon – we just had to read more!
The Enchanted Wood by Enid Blyton and Jan McCafferty
Although I enjoyed many of Enid Blyton’s books as a child, including The Famous Five, Malory Towers and St. Clare’s, I didn’t read The Magic Faraway Tree stories. I had no idea what was so special about the tree and its many inhabitants but once my daughter and I started reading we were both hooked, not…
Miffy’s Birthday by Dick Bruna
Happy Birthday Miffy! Miffy the rabbit is celebrating her 60th birthday today and Miffy’s Birthday, which was first published in 1970, has been republished in celebration.
I Want My Daddy! by Tracey Corderoy & Alison Edgson
I Want My Daddy! would make a lovely present for Fathers’ Day, it portrays a wonderful relationship between a father and his son.
