As you know I love reading picture books for my own self as much as with my bairns! And as we unwrapped our advent books this year I dis...

Picture Books that Share the Spirit of Christmas

Sunday, December 23, 2018 BookBairn 2 Comments


As you know I love reading picture books for my own self as much as with my bairns! And as we unwrapped our advent books this year I discovered we had four wonderful books that really capture the spirit of Christmas. 


One Christmas Wish by Katherine Rundell & Emily Sutton


Christmas is one of the times of year where we really do put family and friends first. We make time for them. We spend time together. But for Theo, it's Christmas Eve and he has been left at home with a babysitter whilst his parents are working. He sees an odd-looking star out of the window and he decides to make a wish. He wishes that he has some friends to keep him company. Moments later their Christmas decorations begin to disentangle themselves from the tree and wreak a little havoc. But they also create a little magic for Theo, magic that was missing. And perhaps they get a message through to his parents after all! With incredible illustrations (of which I won't share the most spectacular because I don't want to take away from the wonder when you see it for this first time!), this is a lovely book about spending time together to wreak a little havoc and create magic in the little things!


Last Stop on the Reindeer Express by Maudie Powell-Tuck & Karl James Mountford


Sometimes Christmas can be hard. For people on their own and for children separated from their parents. We laud that Christmas is about family but what if your family is apart? In this book, Mia's dad can't make it home for Christmas so she wants to find a way to at least get a card to him via a mysterious postbox. And off she is whisked on an unforgettable adventure but will she reach her dad in time? And little readers can join in the journey via peek-through pages and hidden flaps! This is a festive adventure that evokes all the magic of Christmas but at it's centre is a little girl who wants to be with her father - she doesn't need the gifts, she just wants to wish him a Merry Christmas. And I love that! Thank goodness technology exists that bring us closer to family all around the world. But this is a poignant reminder for us grown-ups that our kids just want us and our love and attention at this time of year. And you can see from the cover that it's beautiful! Intricate illustrations and rich colours make you feel like Christmas is just jumping off the page! 


Pick a Pine Tree by Patricia Toht & Jarvis


This is a beautiful poem about the joys of choosing a pine tree, taking it home an decorating. It might seem simple but that's the joy of Christmas isn't it - finding the fun in the simple rituals! And decorating tree is one that is wonderful. The illustrations in this book just bring to life the fun of picking a pine tree and adorning it with all the wonderful decorations.
Jolly Santas.
Dancing elves.
Wooden reindeer.
Jingle bells.
Lacy snowflakes.
Paper dolls.
Candy canes and
bright glass balls.
With loops of thread
or wire hooks,
hang them all in 
little nooks.

It has a retro style which I adore and brings back memories of Christmases-past as well as enjoying Christmas present and thinking of Christmases future. 


Grandpa Christmas by Michael Morpurgo & Jim Field


What Christmas traditions do you cherish? In Mia's house they love to gather around the tree and read the letter her Grandpa wrote her one Christmas. In it he tells her of the joyful childhood he watched her enjoy, appreciating all the world around her. But he also tells of the worries he has for the future of our planet and how the world is changing. How we are damaging it, taking it for granted. His letter is a heartfelt wish for a better world for Mia to live in. A hopeful and timely story about looking after our planet and making a better world for future generations. A rather stirring message to hear it Christmas-time perhaps but one that I think is worth remembering! And the illustrations are beautiful! I love the style that makes the characters appear timeless and the spreads which feature scenes of nature are a spectacular ode to our magical planet!


Four books that are wonderful to enjoy reading with children - they are great stories and share captivating illustrations - but also for taking the time to appreciate ourselves as adults. For reminding us of the spirit of Christmas.


Merry Christmas to you all!
Kim and the bairns xx

Disclaimer: these are all our choices. Some were sent from publishers (others are books that I have bought myself) but they were not sent in connection with this post. Their inclusion here is my choice. Because I really do think they are great. Please read our Review Policy  if you want to know more. 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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***Sorry for the delay in posting this - we have another poorly baby in the house which means I wrote this and never got to add the ph...

Little Loves - November

Saturday, December 22, 2018 BookBairn 2 Comments


***Sorry for the delay in posting this - we have another poorly baby in the house which means I wrote this and never got to add the photos until now. Nevermind! Our December little loves will be up soon!***

Well, November has been and long gone so I'm going to make this a quick one but I didn't want to break the streak of having a Little Loves post for every month. BookBairn and The Wee Page Turner both had chickenpox and BookBairn has a really bad case of it and thanks to a wonderfully vigilant and caring GP we managed to avoid a hospital visit. But it also meant lots of cuddles and curling up together so it wasn't too bad!





BookBairn read two books on repeat when she was poorly: The Sound of Magic: Cinderella by Sanna Mander and The Story Orchestra: Four Seasons in One Day by Jessica Courtney-Tickle. The Sound of Music: Cinderella is a retelling and shortened version with a slightly more modern ending - the Prince and Cinderella become friends for a few years before getting married and living happily ever after. The illustrations are lovely and soft with a beautifully soothing colour palette and feature characters of all colours and ethnicities. Using the magic wand, you and your little readers can wave it around and when it lands on the musical notes on each page the book plays beautiful little tunes to enhance the story! Just magical! And BookBairn adores it! Similarly BookBairn also adores listening to the musical elements in The Story Orchestra: Four Seasons in One Day. Featuring beautiful illustrations and a lovely story about a little girl who travels through all the seasons on an adventure with her puppy and starring the beautiful music of Vivaldi's Four Seasons, this book is absolutely magical! 


The Wee Page Turner has become absolutely obsessed with I Am Bat by Morag Hood and he can now say the word bat. He chooses it every bedtime! Without fail. The illustrations are created through crisp clear printing style with simple colours and plain backgrounds really make the elements of the story stand out. It also means that there is no where to hide so the story has to be charming. And this one is. It's about a bat who likes cherries and does not want anyone, including you and your reader, to steal them. But they start to disappear. Reading this book requires a great sense of humor and some exasperated and exaggerated expressions but it's just so much fun! And The Wee Page Turner has given it his seal of approval.


I'm not sure how to choose a favourite read this month as I read several really good ones! I think I will go for The Unexpected Guest by Agatha Christie which I enjoyed reading cover to cover in one sitting on the train journey home from London. It was short and (not so sweet) but was thoroughly thrilling! As with all Christie's stories it had twists and turns and had me asking all sorts of questions as I read. I'm going to read lots more of her books next year. (I've lent my copy of this to my mum so I hope she enjoys it too!)

I have become quite addicted to Call the Midwife this month, in fact I'm watching it as I type! I love the characters and the stories of each episode. I can't believe I haven't watched it before.  And the kids have been enjoying Sarah & Duck. They both love it and I love hearing The Wee Page Turner quacking along when he sees duck on the screen.


Both The Wee Page Turner and BookBairn have new winter jackets that have been absolutely wonderful. Both are thickly padded meaning they are super cosy and have lovely bright patters on them. But the best thing? They have mittens attached! So no lost gloves for us this year. And The Wee Page Turner doesn't seem to mind wearing them. But when he does occasionally slip them off when out and about I don't need to worry about them getting lost!







How do you keep a three year old (and her two cousins) entertained at a family dinner? Grabolo has become a true favourite since we got it last week. We must have played a dozen times daily. But three little four year olds played all by themselves whilst waiting for their meals, even though there was a magician, they wanted to play this! It’s a very simple, but incredibly fun game, you roll the dice and reveal a colour and an item and you have to be the fastest to grab it! So much fun!




BookBairn and I enjoyed making salt dough Christmas decorations for the tree. It was great fun and took ages as we had to paint each side a bit at a time but I love seeing them on the tree and she is so proud of them! Something to treasure for years to come.



I'm not sure I have ever mentioned that we have a piano? Because I'm not very good at playing it. But I can play little ditties here and there and I have been practising Christmas tunes. It's some thing I would really like to learn more. But The Wee Page Turner is a natural! He loves bashing away on the keys. And he plays so much better than me - which such reckless joy and abandon!


We are all set (and now half-way through opening) our advent books for this month. BookBairn loves opening her story and occasionally she lets her little brother open one. It's so nice to curl up and read together a lovely Christmas story.

I have also been working away on Christmas gift guides for you all and now have a list (rather like the man in red) and you can read them all here. As well as starting an Amazon shop page which has all my recommendations on it. I just wanted to take a minute to say thank you for supporting me through these amazon links - I now have reached the threshold to get a payment (£25) and whilst it will be delayed until February it's nice to think that I have been able to but my husband's Christmas gift with money that I have earned myself rather than from his salary whilst I'm on career break. That means a lot to me. So thank you!


I hope you have a lovely festive season!
Hope you've had a lovely month.
Mummy and the bairns xx



Little Loves Coffee Work Sleep Repeat


Disclaimer: I was sent Grabolo for  free for review purposes by the toy company and The Sound of Magic: Cinderella was sent from the publishers.. Words and opinions are my own. If you click on the title or image of the book 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 20-70p 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 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 Our Readers' section.

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Last year I wrote a wish list featuring some of the books that we would like to add to our collection. I know we are very lucky to get...

Our Picture Book Wish List

Monday, December 17, 2018 BookBairn 2 Comments


Last year I wrote a wish list featuring some of the books that we would like to add to our collection. I know we are very lucky to get sent lots of books by publishers, and to be able to request review copies but even with that there are always a few books that I'm left craving! I often browse the bookshop and take some photos to share as #bookshoptreasures sharing books that I would love to bring home with us but I couldn't justify buying at that moment in time; usually for one of three reasons: 1. my husband is shopping with us and has given me the glare; 2. I've already got a bundle of books that I am actually buying; 3. we don't have any shelf space at home! But nonetheless here are nine books that I'm wishing for (and Santa if you read blogs please consider this our Santa letter!): 

Fearless Mirabelle by Katie Haworth & Nila Aye


I read about this one on Acorn Books's blog and it just sounds so delightful! Mirabelle and Meg Moffat are twins and their mum and dad are famous acrobats. Mirabelle is fearless. She promises to be the most topsy-turvy, upside down acrobat of all. Meg does not. In fact, Meg is afraid of heights. Is Mirabelle afraid of anything? And what will Meg do in the show? I love the sound of this story and the illustrations and bright design look like a joy! I can't wait to read this one!

Mixed by Arree Chung



After I saw this in our local bookshop I knew that it would be a perfect addition to our bookshelf. BookBairn loves books like The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers and Crayon by Simon Rickerty where characters are represented by colours and concepts of friendship and cooperative are explored, so I know she is just going to love this. In Mixed, The Blues, Reds and Yellows lived in harmony. Reds were the loudest, Yellows the brightest and Blues were the coolest. However when one of the colours proclaims they are the best, discord breaks out and eventually the colours decide to live in different parts of the city. Then one day a Yellow befriends a Blue and they become inseparable, discovering a world of different possibilities and colours. Doesn't it just sound delightful?!


On last year's list I had The Secret Garden by Mandy Archer and Jane Newland and when we got a copy BookBairn absolutely loved it! It became one of our absolute favourites last year and even inspired BookBairn and her Papa to plant some seeds and bulbs in the garden. I don't think that Alice in Wonderland needs much explaining but these new Storybooks are a great way for preschoolers to meet some famous literary characters at a level they can understand! Easy-to-follow, engaging text combined with original quotes and beautiful artwork create a book to be treasured through childhood and beyond. 


This book was on our list last year and I still haven't got a copy! This is one of the biggest books I have seen in the bookshop. And I have flicked through it's pages and can definitely say that the striking graphic style of the illustrations in this book are stunning! The retro style and bold typography absolutely has me keen to add this to our bookshelf (although it's too big to fit on the shelf so it will need to have a special home!). I will get a copy of this gorgeous book!


I have seen so many people raving about this in the world of Bookstagram and it even received a Bookstagram Choice Award and that makes me really really want a copy of this beautiful book! Starring a brother and sister who go to the zoo, see kangaroos and baboons, and get to bring home balloons! Told entirely in words that contain a double o, this playful story is a great choice for emerging readers. It appeals greatly to my teacher-nature as well as my desire for beautiful books!

The Case of the Red Bottomed Robber by Richard Byrne


As I said before we love some of the crayon-character stories and this one looks like so much fun! The young chalks are busy at the chalkboard but someone keeps stealing their drawings . . .Mrs Red calls Sergeant Blue to investigate but when the culprit is caught, he absconds in a cloud of chalk dust. The chalks find another way to lure the suspect into their hands and it is only then that they discover they've misjudged the poor chalk rubber all along... With a stunning graphic look on a chalkboard-black background, this is a fun story where readers truly participate in the investigation: looking for the clues, assessing the line-up of suspects, and closing in on the culprit. Doesn't that sound like so much fun?

An Anty-War Story by Tony Ross


I saw this shared on KidLit TV a while back and then I saw it in the bookshop. It looks like a very powerful and moving book (but probably not suitable for young readers like my two - which is why it's on our wish list rather than on our shelf!). The only ant with his own name, Douglas is born into the wonderful Antworld and dreams of one day joining the line to hunt out food. But his superiors have other plans for him: Douglas is to be a soldier. They tell him his job is all about parading, waving flags and wearing a uniform, but Douglas is about to discover that there is no glory in war. A very humbling story indeed.


We love the Press Here series of books by Herve Tullet and BookBairn adores interactive books so I just know this will be a hit! There are lots of ways little hands can make music. Each page of this interactive book invites readers to strum the guitar, slide the trombone, crash the cymbals, and more--no instruments required! With a delightful rhyming text and engaging illustrations, this book is full of instruments waiting to share their sounds. The only thing this band needs is YOU! Just use your imagination, turn the pages, and Play This Book! And our shelves need this book!


I love the look of this book so much and the message behind it sounds like the sort of thing that I just want to share with BookBairn. Inspired by the 5 million people (many of them children) in 82 countries who participated in the 2017 Women's March, Andrew Joyner has given us a book that celebrates girls and women and equal rights for all! It is a clever story that follows the journey of a pink hat that is swiped out of a knitting basket by a pesky kitten, blown into a tree by a strong wind, and used as a cozy blanket for a new baby, then finally makes its way onto the head of a young girl marching for women's equality. With themes of empathy, equality, and solidarity, The Pink Hat is a timeless and timely story that will empower readers and promote strength in the diverse and active feminist community. And it is out in paperback mid-next year!

So there you have it! Nine books that I want to add to our shelves in 2019! Maybe you might want to add them too?! What do you do when you spot a book that you want but can't buy at that moment? I keep an Amazon wish list so that I can check the prices every so often and if they go into a sale or discount then I can grab them quickly!

Happy book-browsing!
Kim

Disclaimer: these are all my choices. Some were sent from publishers but they were not sent in connection with this post. Their inclusion here is my choice. Because I really do think they are great. Please read our review policy if you want to know more. If you click on the title or image of the book 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 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 Our Readers' section.

        

2 comments:

Picture books open up a marvelous world for children but as grown ups we often read them over and over again too. So I wanted to write ...

Picture Books for Grown Ups

Saturday, December 15, 2018 BookBairn 2 Comments



Picture books open up a marvelous world for children but as grown ups we often read them over and over again too. So I wanted to write a blog post rounding up some of the best picture books for grown-ups (much like I did in a previous post). I wanted to share books which not only appeal to children but also to the grown ups reading them and that have messages which resonate with us too. These books are special because whilst they do appeal to children, and there's no doubt that they were written with children in mind, they also have a special magic that make them a delight to read for grown-ups too. And maybe they resonate and teach us something too.

The Girls by Lauren Ace & Jenny Lovlie


When I read this new picture book for the first time, my eyes welled with tears because it really captures my experience of friendship. It tells the beautiful story of four girls who "were are different as they were they same" and how they were best friends. It shows them developing their own personalities, interests, characters but how they also stuck together through thick and thin. How they celebrate each other's successes, and support each other when things go wrong. And as they grow older, this story follows them from childhood to adulthood, they change and grow but their friendship remains steadfast. "Together and apart, the girls went on becoming who they were going to be." The careful wording and thoughtful illustrations in this book are absolutely heart-warming. They show girls, who become women, from different backgrounds, with different interests, with different challenges and successes but who stick together through it all. Because love binds us, holds us together. The illustrations are so touching and they really show the spice and variety of life! I really cannot speak highly enough of this story. 

The Garden of Hope by Isabel Otter & Katie Rewse


This incredibly beautiful book looks at ways of supporting children with parent absenteeism or loss, dealing with child anxiety and worries. And it’s soft, supportive and subtle. After Maya has lost her mum, she struggles with worries and anxiety finding the gap in her life to be a gaping black hole of confusion, anger, grief and heartache. Fortunately for Maya she has a wonderfully supportive father who understands and tries to help her find ways to cope with her emotions. With incredibly beautiful illustrations of a garden blooming back to life this is a truly beautiful book. The illustrations in this book are beautifully soft and subtle and show the small changes in the garden, and in Maya, over the passage of time. The incredible blooming of the garden is spectacularly captured and will delight readers as much as it does the characters.


Yellow Kayak by Nina Landen & Melissa Castrillon


The cover is stunning, with an added bonus that the binding is incredible and the illustrations inside are truly spectacular. A wonder for sure. And of course the poetry of the text matches the beauty of the illustrations too. I love this slow story, long poem about a journey across the ocean and adore the creatures that the pair come across. This is quite the delight to enjoy with a child or on your own.


Joy by Corrinne Averiss & Isabelle Follath


This is truly a joyful book! It tells the story of Fern whose Nanna has been feeling rather grey of late and Fern is determined to catch some joy to put back into her Nanna's life. But joy isn't quite so easy to catch as you would think! This is such a delightful story that is bound to make you smile. It gently touches on ways to tackle unhappiness and the idea that we are not happy all the time. It's also a story about family, happiness and teaching little ones about empathy. It's also one of the most beautifully illustrated books that we have on our bookshelves! The use of colour, pattern and creativity gives this story the real flourish that it deserves. 

The Dog That Ate the World by Sandra Dieckmann


This story is a modern day fable about over-consumption and greed and finding the light in the darkness. When greedy dog eats everything around him, his world becomes dark, where as the animals and world he had consumed create a community inside. The illustrations are dark but packed full of incredible detail and if you are a fan of darker fairytales then this new fable is perfect for your bookshelf. 


Power to the Princess by Vita Weinstein Murrow & Julia Bereciartu



If you  enjoy a princess story but prefer your women to have a bit more gravitas then this book is perfect! It stars mighty girls who are modern, feisty and reflect the roles that women have in society today! I really enjoyed the updated versions of the story and loved the diversity of the illustrations. It's lovely to see these traditional stories updated in such a successful way and to give the message of finding a different way of tackling a problem and ultimately that not every story that has a 'happily ever after' needs to have a prince and a wedding. We can choose our own happily ever afters! 


Happy by Nicola Edwards & Katie Hickey


As you know, I enjoy a book that helps children to explore their motions and the world around them. With beautiful poetry on each page, this book explores a range of emotions that most children (and adults) have experienced with supporting illustrations that will take you on a journey to a place of happiness and calm. Each page also has a prompt for practising mindfulness. As awareness of mindfulness grows I expect we will see more wonderful books on this topic but this one is an exquisite book and utterly beautiful.

Drawing Together: Forty-Five Illustrators, One Europe 


This a glorious celebration of where I stand politically and how I feel about that catastrophe that is Brexit. I simply do not understand it. This book makes me wonder how we will explain to our children and grandchildren this decision we (though not all of us and a majority of younger people did in fact vote against) made to remove them from all the opportunities that being part of the EU provides. I just hope they will forgive us and travel across Europe showing a tolerance and friendship that our generation did not. And the illustrations are truly spectacular!


In some ways I love this book because it reminds me of two old jigsaw puzzles I had growing up: one of which showed the globe with animals from all over and the other which featured world landmarks. But this book is the epitomy of illustrations as artwork. Using a muted colour palette and natural tones each page features a country from around the world and highlights some of it's wonderful features from it's wildlife, to landmarks, to agriculture, traditional costume, musical instruments, artists, and notable citizens and historical figures. There is very little text so it is a visual wonder as it conveys so much information through it's clever illustrations. 


Ever wonder how a picture book gets made? And how sometimes things just go wrong. This is a hilarious story about just that. Allan Ahlberg has written hundreds of wonderful books so he knows exactly what he is talking about and Bruce Ingham's such an experienced illustrator that he's come across all sorts of hilarious slip-ups in the creation of a picture book. You will laugh out loud at this one!


I hope you enjoy some of these lovely picture books either with your little one or on your own!

Happy reading,
Kim - self-confessed picture book fanatic and proud of it. 
After all picture books are for grown ups too! x

Disclaimer: these are all my choices. Some were sent from publishers but they were not sent in connection with this post. Their inclusion here is my choice. Because I really do think they are great. Please read our review policy if you want to know more. If you click on the title or image of the book 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 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 Our Readers' section.

         

2 comments: