Bathtime for Little Rabbit + Giveaway!!

One of the books that we have most been looking forward to being released this year was 'Bathtime for Little Rabbit' by Jorg Muhle. BookBairn and I (and Daddy) fell in love with Little Rabbit in his first book - 'Tickle My Ears' where you help Little Rabbit get read for bedtime.

And we are delighted to see the release of this prequel (bathtime before bedtime, right?). In a similar style to the first book, young readers are encouraged to participate in the story by following simple instructions that make-up Little Rabbit's bathtime routine: from rubbing the shampoo into his ears, to protecting his eyes from soap suds, to blowing his fur dry and rubbing in his lotion. For children who are struggling with bathtime routine this is a great interactive book to help ease their fears or discomfort. I like the inclusion of the rubbing in his lotion as BookBairn has eczema so we always put lotion on her skin and it reinforces for her that this is part of the routine. BookBairn (and Daddy's) favourite part is when the hairdryer button doesn't work and they have to literally blow Little Rabbit's fur dry - they both huff and puff and have a great giggle trying to get him dry! It makes me giggle just watching them.

A post shared by BookBairn and Mummy (Kim) (@bookbairn) on Mar 30, 2017 at 5:34am PDT

In our review of the first book, I described Little Rabbit as "truly adorable" and it's just as true in this book. His little buck-toothed smile is just enchanting, and his distressed face when the bubbles get in his eyes are just what you would see with a toddler at bathtime. Again in this book there are no backgrounds and the details are relatively simple, usually revolving around the object you are interacting with like the shampoo bottle or hairdryer. All this simplicity allows little ones to focus on the instruction that the children are trying to follow! It's simply genius!


My only quibble with the book is that it skips teeth brushing - something that I would think most parents would want to see part of the bathtime or the bedtime routine but it features in neither book.

Nonetheless, BookBairn loves this one as much as the original and it has pride of place on her Favourites Shelf!

*UPDATE* This competition is now closed and the winner has been notified!
***We have a spare copy of Tickle My Ears by Jorg Muhle to giveaway (to read our review click here)! If you would like to win a board book edition of Tickle My Ears, please comment below. (Additional entries will be available so keep an eye out by following us on Twitter, Instagram and on Facebook.) UK residents only please. Competition closes 8.4.17.***
*DISCLAIMER* I was given our book for free for review purposes, however, all words and opinions are my own.

Boolino Friend

I Can Sing A Rainbow!

Why are there so many songs about rainbows and what's on the other side? BookBairn loves rainbows - she loves to spot them as they swoop across the sky; she loves that our front door creates little prisms that spread rainbows across the walls and floor if the sun shines through at just the right angle; she likes to sing the rainbow song; she likes to play with her rainbow colour wheel; anything rainbows and she's sold!

So it's no surprise that she thoroughly enjoys the story 'How the Crayons Saved the Rainbow' by Monica Sweeney with illustrations by Feronia Parker Thomas. This is the story about the Sun and Clouds who were best friends, working together to make those rainbows that make us all smile at their colours! But one day the Sun and the Clouds have a big fight and they stopped being friends and wouldn't be in the sky together any longer. And that meant no more rainbows and without the rainbows the world started to lose it's colour until the Earth was only black and white. Except, that is, for one little forgotten box of crayons. These beautiful and brave little crayons set out to restore colour to the Earth by save the rainbows. So they draw rainbows everywhere, they draw them bigger and bigger and bigger until they made the biggest, brightest, most colourful rainbow the world had ever seen. Soon the Clouds and the Sun notice the marvellous rainbow and they apologise to each other, becoming friends again, creating lots of rainbows and restoring colour to the world.

BookBairn's synopsis of this book is much shorter but very sweet. It goes something like this: "Sun and Clouds in sky. Sun and Clouds make rainbows. Sun and Clouds not friends, make big noise. No rainbows. Rainbows gone. Crayzons. Red crayon. Green crayon. Lellow crayon... Draw rainbows. Very big rainbow. Sun and Clouds friends. Very really big rainbow. The end."

A post shared by BookBairn and Mummy (Kim) (@bookbairn) on Mar 20, 2017 at 6:57am PDT

As you can see she has grasped the storyline even at two years old. And what a great way to talk about working together and friendship with her at a level she can understand!

The illustrations in this book are also wonderful! The whole thing looks like it has been drawn in crayon which, artistically appeals to me and to BookBairn it looks sort of like her drawings. The Sun, Clouds and crayons are very expressive and incredibly sweet you certainly believe in their characters beyond simple objects. Clearly, the use of colour in this book in incredibly important and the pages that are simple black and white are not without their charm but it's the rainbows that really are the star of the show. As it should be!

As we see more Spring sunshine and April showers over the coming months BookBairn and I will be out spotting rainbows and hopefully doing some lovely rainbow artwork together to brighten up the house with beautiful pictures!

TES Book Review - My Name is Victoria

So for the first time in our experience of reading books and writing reviews for the TES class review, the children and I got a book that we were not as keen on. Ever the professionals, we read on and wrote a balanced review, which you can read here:

https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-views/tv-historian-takes-liberties-victorian-history-class-book-review

A Little Bookworm's Bedtime

When Claire from 'A Little Book Habit' asked me to write about our bedtime routine for a series she is featuring on her blog I couldn't say no! Firstly, I love her Instagram feed and am a regular reader of her blog and of course we share a passion for children's books. But also I found it fascinating to write about our bedtime routine and how it has emerged and changed over time (and will no doubt change again when baby number two arrives!).

If you would like to know our nightly bedtime routine, and the important role that books and storytime play as part of the routine pop over to A Little Book Habit's post here:

Mummy and BookBairn Book Group - Jack Frost

At the beginning of the year, Mummy and BookBairn Book Group, sharing stories with a similar theme, plot or character and enjoying the idea that we were both reading books along similar lines. For all the reading is often a solitary past time, it can be incredibly social too and for children it mostly is. They enjoy reading with others and discussing the pictures and the characters. I like to discuss the books I've read too, hence why I share our reviews on this blog!
I started a little

This month we have both been reading books starring the character of Jack Frost! As part of my online #kidlitreaders book group, we have been reading 'A Girl Called Owl' by Amy Wilson. This is a fantasy novel aimed at 7-12 (so-called Middle Grade readers) about a girl called Owl who finds out that the missing father-figure in her life is actually the seasonal imp Jack Frost. She then sets out on an adventure to find him and spend time with her father to understand some of the magical things that are happening to her. Of course, she comes across a few other interesting characters along the way and realises that the elements of nature might not be as well-balanced as she thought. I enjoyed parts of the story but ultimately I found it a bit to fantastical for me. I'm still looking forward to discussing this one with the other kidlitreaders as they often persuade me to change my opinions through our discussions. If you would like to join in the chat click here for details. Perhaps a better book group link with your little one would by 'The Snow Child' by Eowyn Ivey: I adored this book and it has the same magical elements of the story (though no Jack Frost).

BookBairn has been reading a book by one of our favourite illustrators, Kazuno Kohara. We have read several of her books, including 'The Haunted House' which we reviewed here. But 'Here Comes Jack Frost' is even better! Featuring primarily blue and white illustrations this book is a beautiful image of a frosty day. It tells the story of a lonely boy who fed up without his friends who are hibernating becomes fascinated by the strange patterns on the window. Racing outside, he meets the white figure who is busy covering his house with frost and ice. The figure introduces himself as Jack Frost and then runs off into the woods, the boy chasing behind him. Jack and the boy skate, and sledge and play throughout the wintery world that Jack is magically creating. Until the boy spots the first sign of Spring - a snowdrop - and the spell is broken. This is a magical tale, bringing to life an impish yet friendly Jack Frost that will have children fascinated by the patterns on their windows and on the world outside. As we move to Spring I'm disappointed that we didn't have this book all winter to enjoy! I'm already looking forward to sharing it again when Jack Frost returns to spread his magic on the world!

We would love to hear of any books you recommend for us to share! Mummy is currently finding herself earlier and earlier to bed and falling asleep in the pages of her book now that Baby BookBump is only five weeks away from joining us. You can follow what I read on GoodReads and BookBairn is always sharing her favourites on our social media feeds (linked at the top of the page).

I am Unique!

So BookBairn has turned two! My little girl is growing up way too fast. But I'm so proud of her! She has become a little independent person with a strong-will and a mind of her own. Yes, it annoys me sometimes when she digs her heels in and refuses to follow my lead but part of me also knows that she is testing the boundaries, learning to make her own decisions. And that's good (most of the time).

BookBairn: You are completely unique. And I wouldn't change you for the world. I want you to dance to the beat of your own drum, keep singing your own song, be yourself!

We've been reading some books recently that stand out from the crowd and boldly declare "I am what I am! I am my own special creation!" and we want to give them a round of applause to go with the ovation!

Odd Dog Out by Rob Biddulph

Leaping Lemmings! by John Briggs and Nicola Slater

Elmer by David McKee

A picture book classic, most people will already know the story of Elmer: the brightly coloured patchwork elephant! You'll have seen him - he doesn't exactly blend in. He's not elephant colour. He's all the colours of the rainbow. And he's an absolute joy! He makes all the other elephants happy, he makes them laugh, he makes them smile. But the strain of being different was difficult for Elmer - he began to wonder if the other elephants only laughed at him because of his patchwork skin. He sneaks off into the jungle and finds a bush covered in elephant-coloured berries and proceeds to cover himself in elephant-coloured make up. On his return Elmer blends in with the other elephants, unnoticed. But something is wrong. The other elephants are standing so still, being so silent, and serious. Elmer wants them to smile and laugh and so he shouts in his loudest voice "Boo!". And they laughed and laughed. When Elmer's concealer is all washed off by the rainstorm, the other elephants realise his trick and decide to celebrate by painting themselves in bright rainbow colours and having a parade!