BookBairn

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The bairns are back to school and I’ve got the perfect kids books to get them inspired for the year of learning ahead!

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Has the current heatwave got you feeling hot and bothered? Then I’ve got the perfect book for you.

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Have you ever had a book that you know will stay with you, long after you have closed the last page?

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“The most stylish children’s book of 2022 award goes to: Wild Animals of the World.

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Looking for a gift for a little STEM learner?

Then this collection from MIT Kids Press and Walker Books has so many great titles to choose from! I’ve picked out three I thought looked fascinating.

Ada and the Galaxies by Alan Lightman, Olga Pastichiv and illustrated by Susanna Chapman is a beautiful intergenerational story about a little girl’s trip to stay with her grandparents. She can’t wait for nightfall to see the dazzling array of stars in the sky which are so much clearer on their little island than on the big city. She waits all day until eventually it gets dark but the fog has rolled in. So instead Ada and her Poobah look at some photographs in his books. Will the fog clear? You’ll have to read it to find out.

This is a lovely narrative nonfiction which is littered with facts throughout the story. But it also blends real photographs from the Hubble telescope into the glorious illustrations. It is magical story telling and a perfect gift for little stargazers.

I’m a Neutrino by Dr Eve M Vavagiakis and illustrated by Ilze Lemesis is a dazzling picture book which introduces young readers to the smallest bits of matter known to exist. Despite their small size they matter! (Get it?!)

This is a brilliant read it’s written in rhyme but feels more like poetry than traditional picture book storytelling (that being said the neutrinos are telling your their story but it’s also very scientific. In an accessible way. In fact, this is an arrestingly clever book as well as being visually beautiful.

Become an App Inventor by Karen Lang & Selin Tezel is perfect for the next big budding tech kid! Using free online programming tools, this is The guide to how to design, build and share apps. No experience necessary. Just bring your passion and this book provides a guide to everything else. From how to create a maze game, a translation app, and even a personalised chat app, it’s a stepping stone to designing bigger and brilliant things. Chock-full of colourful graphics and easy-to-follow instructions, readers will also learn about young inventors who have created apps of their own!

Perfect for the stockings of STEM minded kids!

Happy gift giving and book devouring this festive season!

Kim and the bairns x

Many thanks to Walker Books for sending us these books as part of a bundle of STEM related titles!

Disclaimer: If you click on the image of the book below you will be sent to Amazon.co.uk using an affiliate link. This means that if you choose to purchase on Amazon.co.uk, I will receive a small sum (around 20-90p per book) from Amazon at no extra cost to you. I understand that you may not want to use an affiliate link, but if you like reading our blog post please just think of it as a small tip for a tip-off to an awesome book. And know that your support means I can buy more books! For more information check out our For Readers Section.

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The Wee Page Turner could not have been more excited for this book! Jon Agee books are ones that we read over and over.

And this new title is no exception, My Rhinoceros by Jon Agee was immediately read several times and then packed to go on holiday with us (as well as three other Jon Agee books). An instant hit!

But why does he love them so much? Well, because he adores the humour in them; the way the words (i.e. the adult reading them) are saying one thing but the illustrations (i.e. the child reading those) are implying something totally different. It’s like the author lets only the children in on the secret whilst the adults are in the dark. And why wouldn’t a kid love that feeling? A feeling of being more knowledgeable than the grown ups!

This newest release is the story of a main character who decides to get a rhinoceros for a pet. But he’s left feeling a little disappointed when it won’t chase a ball or a stick or a frisbee. In fact, according to the experts, a rhino only does two things: pop balloons and poke holes in kites. But the boy’s rhinoceros doesn’t even seem interested in doing that. What good is a rhino for a pet? Well, I won’t spoil it for you (although the big reveal is in the images below!) But it’s pretty darn cool!

Again this book tickles my bairns’ funnybones. Where again the adults in the story are left looking sheepish and silly when the child reveals the truth about his rhinoceros.

If you haven’t read any Jon Agee books I urge, no compel you to seek them out. The Wall in the Middle of the Book is a perfect one for teachers and could be read to classes of all ages. And his others (Life on Mars is one of my favourites!) will have you sniggering with each read - I've linked some of my previous posts below. The joke and the reveal never seem to lose their appeal! One for kids and adults alike and the stories you won’t tire of reading!

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Happy reading and giggling!

Kim and the bairns x

Many thanks to Scallywag Press for sending us this new book as well as other Jon Agee books over the years. They’ve made for many happy story times!

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Time to share a very random fact about me: I carry a rock around in my coat pocket. I’ve had it for two years and originally picked it up for skimming stones but as I ran my thumb over it’s smooth surface I knew I’d never skim it. So now it’s a little (although somewhat heavy) treasure I keep in my pocket!

This is a hard post to write because this book is so close to the reality for many and a growing number of people as we go deeper into the financial crisis. With families facing food and fuel poverty this winter, I wanted to share this incredibly important story - The Invisible by Tom Percival - about remembering to look and really see those around us.