So last year was pathetic for reading. Again. I promised myself that reading Spike a bedtime story every night (with duplicates throughout the year) would mean that I read at least one-two new picture books a week, so I set a target of 104 books on goodreads. I hoped that would allow for at least 30 YA books for me to enjoy. I failed that target. I think I managed 8. Which I guess is better than the year before. But still. My goodreads target still wasn’t met though as I kept forgetting to add the picture books to my read list… or couldn’t find them at all. I finished…
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Stick Man – Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler
“Stick Man lives in the Family Tree With his Stick Lady Love and his stick children three.” Stick Man is living a great life, until one day, when out for a run, he comes into contact with a four legged-friend. There begins an adventure he will never forget. But he’s one determined Stick Man and he won’t rest until he’s back at his family tree! *** I have always heard amazing things about Julia Donaldson’s books. They are raved about by many parents. We got the Gruffallo before Spike was even born and I’ve read it many times. Room on the Broom and The Snail and The Whale were bought…
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Truth or Dare – Non Pratt
“What truth must she face? How far will he dare to go? One Story. Two Sides.” How far is too far when it comes to the people you love? Claire Casey hates being the centre of attention. But if it means getting Sef Malik to notice her, it’s a risk she’s happy to take. Sef is prepared to do anything to help his recently disabled brother. But this means putting Claire’s love – and life – on the line. Because when you’re willing to risk everything, what is there left to lose? *** I love Non Pratt’s books. They never fail to capture me and make me love each and…
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This is the Story of You – Beth Kephart
“Blue, for example. Like the colour the sun makes the sea. Like the beach bucket he wore as a hat, king of the tidal parade. Like the word I and the hour of nobody awake but me. I thought blue was mine, and that we were each ourselves, and that some things could not be stolen. I thought the waves would rise up, toss down, rinse clean, and that I would still be standing here, solid. I was wrong about everything.” Haven is a six-mile long, half mile wide island. Mira and her friends are a handful of a smaller community of year-rounders on the holiday island. They have…
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Give the gift of reading with Scholastic
Looking for the perfect book for a loved one this Christmas? Why not give the gift of reading? It will open up a whole new world, or if your loved one always has their head in a book why not expand that universe even more, with the next book in the series? Or the latest from their favourite author? I always, always make sure Spike gets at least one book even birthday and Christmas. There’s nothing like reading in our house and we both love the stories and adventures that we get to go on because of the piles of books strewn across the place! (Sometimes literally strewn!) So when…
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Good night, Sleep tight – Kristina Andres
“Fox and Rabbit live quite far away, in a bight little house beyond the molehills. One night Rabbit came racing home across the fields and up to the door, which Fox had locked because it was almost midnight.” And so begins the first of 11 and a half stories in which Fox and Rabbit try to find new ways to sleep and say good night… *** This little collection of stories is the perfect bedtime treasury for a tired little girl or boy who just needs to hear their parents’ voice as they drift off to sleep. Spike loves a bedtime story, but as she’s so little, she…
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Wolfy – Grégoire Solotareff
“There was once a rabbit who had never seen a wolf… …and a young wolf who had never seen a rabbit. The young wolf’s uncle decided to take him out for his first ever hunting trip. But that day, the old wolf was in such a hurry, he crashed into a rock and fell down dead.” Wolfy and Tom meet and become good friends. Tom the rabbit teaches the wolf to play marbles, read, count and fish. Wolfy teaches Tom to run very, very fast. But eventually their friendship is tested by the classic game Who’s-afraid-of-the-big-bad-wolf? Can the little rabbit and the young wolf remain best friends in all…
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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre
We were very lucky to have hit the theatre in London last week to watch the fantastic and highly anticipated Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. As many of you may know, I am very, very into Harry Potter. I loved the series when I read it. I love the movies. I dress my child and myself in Harry Potter themed clothing and I even have a Harry Potter bedspread. So needless to say, I was very much looking forward to the stage show. I read Harry Potter and the Cursed Child last year, not long after the book came out. I wasn’t overly impressed with the story, but I did…
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Kings of the Castle – Victoria Turnbull
“’Be back by dawn!’ George didn’t want to waste the night moonbathing He wanted to build a sandcastle” When George sets out for a night of sandcastle building, he doesn’t expect to be met by a sea creature by the name of Nepo. As the two try to understand each other, and Boris the dog gets in the way, a true friendship forms. Together they are magical, together they can do anything. Together they can be Kings of the Castle. *** What a beautiful story and what stunning images! You will need to see this book in person to understand its true beauty. It’s the reason I picked…
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Winnie The Pooh: The Great Heffalump Hunt – Giles Andreae & Angela Rozelaar
‘Piglet trotted happily beside his best friend Pooh, Talking about nothing much, as best friends often do. When suddenly Pooh stopped and said, “I’ve got a Grand Idea, I’m going to catch a Heffalump. I’ve heard they live round here.”‘ When Winnie the Pooh sets out to catch a heffalump he finds himself in a sticky situation. But thankfully his best friend Piglet will always be there by his side. *** For as long as I can remember I’ve always loved Tigger from Winnie the Pooh. I never cared much for Pooh but I loved the stories for Tigger and the other characters. However looking back I think…
