Tell My Story Book - unique personalised story books

"Keep reading. It's one of the most marvellous adventures anyone can have." - Lloyd Alexander

Children's books are so important. Sitting on the lap of a parent or snuggled up in bed listening to a story, is where little bookworms are created. Nurturing a life long love of reading is one of the most precious gifts we can give a child, giving them the chance to escape into other worlds and other lives through the pages of a good book.

Finding books that really engage and delight children is the best way to get them into reading from a young age.

Tellmystorybook.com were kind enough to send Freddy a brilliant, personalised storybook called "Imagination" featuring his face and name throughout. Seeing him flick through the pages, he absolutely loved being the star of the book. It really made him giggle seeing his face superimposed onto the main character in the story, dressed in a variety of guises from a spaceman to a bodybuilder to a deep sea diver. It is really quite magical.

The story is a simple tale of a little boy who couldn't get to sleep at bedtime so went for an imaginary adventure to a multitude of places such as through space, under the sea, to the circus and the zoo. He imagined being a train driver, he fed giraffes, beat an alien in a race, swam with a mermaid and met a pizza making mouse! Each scenario is well illustrated in vivid colour and features Freddy's face, while the rhyming text uses his name on every page. It's a short and sweet bedtime story that helps little ones settle down to sleep with the promise of wonderful dreams ahead where they can be anyone who their imagination allows.

Each book is created in-house to a great quality and high standard and is unique to the recipient using their face and name and the book features a personalised dedication on the front page. The books have a hardback cover and measure 30cm by 20.5cm. They make amazing gifts for little ones that will be a source of joy for years to come.

I am really impressed with the quality of the imagery. The pictures are a mix of real life images and illustrations that is really effective. The pages are glossy and thick and the overall feel of the product is that it is engaging  and fun! Freddy loves it and it really, really makes him laugh seeing his face in his very own story book.

You can find out more and order your own Tell My Story Book using your child's photograph by visiting the website at tellmystorybook.com.

Little Stars - A Hetty Feather Adventure from Jacqueline Wilson

Hetty Feather has started a new chapter in her life as she embarks on the road to stardom as a glamorous music hall artiste along with her dearest friend Diamond. They dramatically escape from Tanglefield's Travelling Circus and eventually seek the bright lights of London's theatre world, dreaming of a glittering future. They become the Little Stars of Miss Ruby's show, performing alongside many colourful acts including a face from the past. But life at the Cavalcade Theatre proves dangerous for the girls when Miss Ruby's nephew starts paying unwanted attention to Hetty. She has to fight to protect little Diamond and find a good future for them both.

The book introduces new characters alongside old friends. The return of Bertie, the butcher's boy, brings some drama into Hetty's life as she struggles to understand her feelings for him. Flirty Bertie has become quite the star on the stage since they last saw one another. Hetty wonders what her future will be, thinking about husbands and settling down. Attending her first love Jem's wedding further adds to her confusion. Has she lost her one chance at true happiness?

Will the girls find a place they can call home? Will Hetty's dream of being a successful actress come true? Will Bertie ever figure in her future? These questions are explored in this thrilling tale of stardom, heartbreak, love, loss and self-discovery.

Jacqueline Wilson's style brings to life a time long ago, when Mrs Beeton, workhouses, penny farthings, music halls and frilly frocks were the norm. It gives a gentle insight into Victorian England and gives today's readers a chance to see what life was like for girls like Hetty Feather. Nick Sharratt's illustrates the front cover and adds a silhouette sketch to start each new chapter.

This is the fifth Hetty Feather story from Jacqueline Wilson, so fans of the wonderful and irrepressible Victorian girl will delight in catching up on her latest quest for adventure. The book contains some slightly mature themes and is aimed at girls aged 9 - 12 years old.

Little Stars will be published by Doubleday on October 8th in hardback for £12.99. It will also be available as an e-book.

Everybody Learns - Freddy's Progress

Freddy has been trialing the Lexia Reading Core 5 home reading course.  Doing a minimum of twenty minutes three times a week, is proving just about right for him. He remains a bit reluctant, until he actually starts a session, and then he really enjoys the word games.  He has powered through levels 3 and 4 and  is currently half way through the fifth level.  Every time he completes a level he gets a certificate, which he proudly takes to school to show his teacher! 

In addition to the certificates, I get a fortnightly progress update, giving the time spent on the program, his present position against chronological age expectations, his catch up rate and the time expected to complete the course.  I am delighted to see the rate that he is now catching up to his peers. The support team are there to also offer advice and give ideas on how to further encourage the child to maximize the impact of the reading course.

Each level has a different fun theme from the rainforest to the Scottish cliffs, and has characters that help make the games fun. The content of the levels gets more advanced as the child progresses and the format of each section changes to make it more of a challenge. If a mistake is made, the child is taken back to consolidate their knowledge before moving on. At the end of each game, the child is rewarded by a fun animation.

Children learn to recognise and spell high frequency sight words; recognise, blend and segment phonics in words; learn sequencing of stories and learn vocabulary.  The progress of the games in the levels is clearly displayed, giving the child the incentive to keep going.

Freddy is definitely getting to grips with recognising the beginning, medial and end sounds of words. This has improved his ability to read lots of different words.  He is still a reluctant reader when faced with a physical book, but I'm sure he will make the connection between what he is doing online and actually being able to read independently.  I think a lot of his reluctance is down to confidence after his difficult first year at school because of his eyesight. The home reading course is definitely making him more interested in reading words, so it'll just be a matter of time before that translates into reading stories for his own entertainment.

I am delighted that Freddy has been moved up a group in the phonics lessons he does at school and his teacher has reported an improvement. Fingers crossed, all this extra work will help him make the leap and he will soon be a confident and fluent reader.

everybodylearns.co.uk

Help! I'm a Granny and Galaxy Quick Reads - Book Reviews

Help! I'm a Granny

Two years ago, I made the generation leap and became a granny to my adorable little grandson Ted,  my eldest son Joe's little boy.  Becoming a granny was in equal measure quite a shock (I was only 43 and it seemed like only yesterday that Joe was being peeled off of my legs by his infant school teacher because he didn't want to leave my side) and an absolute joy!  Seeing my own little boy (OK 26 isn't that little, but he'll always be my baby) becoming a father and making a life of his own in the big wide world, really puts the passing of time into perspective.  Ted's arrival into our family came when my own youngest child Freddy was only 3 years old, so I was juggling being a mum to my own little one with becoming a granny.  So I was never going to be the old school Nana, sat in her rocking chair knitting baby blankets for my grandbabies.  Instead, the generation gap blurred and we all muck in together in our big, crazy and exceptionally wonderful extended family that is filled with love and laughter!

Finding out that you are going to be a grandparent and making that mental transition into your new role can seem a bit daunting at times. Knowing how best to be supportive and offer advice without interfering can see you walking a fine line at times.  Defining your role, especially when there is another Nana on the scene, who in our case lives in the same town as my son, his fiance and Ted, who gets to see them much more than I do as I live 2 hours away, can take some soul searching. Wanting to be more involved is difficult when distance is part of the equation. But I know that the part I am playing in my grandson's life is every bit as valuable, and the relationship I have with Ted is becoming more and more rewarding as he gets older.  Having Ted and Freddy close in age gives me a special bond with my future daughter-in-law, as we can relate to being mummies together.

For anyone else going through the same experience and becoming a first time granny, the book Help! I'm a Granny may prove an invaluable companion.  Written by newspaper columist and agony aunt Flic Everett, it is a comprehensive guide to becoming and being a gran, written in a friendly, light hearted and informal way.  It's like sharing your worries, your guilt and your jealousy with a friend. The real life stories make it feel very personal.

It is laid out in easy to navigate sections with practical lists, true stories, quizzes and instructions. Some of the chapters did seem a little like teaching your granny to suck eggs, but I am still a mum to a little one so haven't forgotten how to feed a baby, tackle a tantrum or pack a changing bag.  But if it has been years since you were a hands on mummy, the bitesize advice may prove invaluable.  There is also a dummy's guide to technology that own my mum would find really useful, explaining the pros and cons of social media and apps for staying in touch.

The quizzes are quite fun.  It turns out I'm a 'Cool Gran' and a 'Rebel Granny'...I'll totally take that!

Help! I'm a Granny would make a great gift for any soon to be grandparents or would make a useful, easy reading handbook for yourself when you find yourself about to be a gran. It makes you feel like you are not alone and gives you some different perspectives on the emotions, responsibilities and joys of being a granny!

Hardback £9.99
Publication date: February 19th 2015


Galaxy Quick Reads

If you enjoy reading but are struggling to find the time to get stuck into a novel, then check out the new Galaxy Quick Reads.  Written by best selling authors, they are like their real books, but shorter. They are also excellent introductions into reading, for adults who find the prospect of tackling a full length book intimidating.

The titles are:

Dead Man Talking - Roddy Doyle

Paris for Two One - Jojo Moyes

Red for Revenge -Fanny Blake

Pictures or it Didn't Happen - Sophie Hannah

Out Of The Dark - Adéle Geras

Street Can Bob - James Bowen

Galaxy Quick Reads are bite-sized books written by best-selling authors which cost only £1. They are available from bookshops, supermarkets and online or can be borrowed from libraries across the country. They are also available as eBooks across all major eBook platforms. For more information visit www.quickreads.org.uk. 

Some Lovely New Children's Picture Books on Review

The Boy Who Ate Everything 

by Clemency Pearce, illustrations by Richard Watson 
Top That Publishing RRP £6.99

If ever a book was written to appeal to my 4 year old son, it was this one.  The rhythmic, rhyming text tells the story of an old man reminiscing about the "most gruesome thing" he ever did that resulted in him being grounded for 80 years!!  As a kid he was so hungry he ate everything that came his way including his brother's underpants and the lady next door!  But it was the can of baked beans that he ate which was the final straw!  With colourful, funny pictures and a text that literally causes little ones to laugh out loud, this book will get even the most reluctant readers interested in books.  It's the perfect dose of toilet humour for kids and parents with a childish sense of humour.  Freddy thinks it is hilarious and it is such fun to read aloud.

Go To Sleep Or I Let Loose The Leopard 

by Steve Cole, illustrations by Bruce Ingman
Random House RRP £6.99

Joe and Ellie are playing up for the new babysitter and refusing to stay in bed but she has some tricks up her sleeve!  After lots of seemingly empty threats about unleashing toy-munching monsters and naughty-child-nibbling plants, the babysitter plays her trump card and let's loose the leopard!

There is a lovely twist in this fun going-to-bed book, which little ones will really enjoy.  The imagery of the words from the exasperated babysitter alongside the quirky illustrations combine to make this a great bedtime story.  A fantasy comic tale, which babysitters, parents and children will enjoy and be able to relate to.  The final page is just perfect and made the whole book for me!

Fairies of Blossom Bakery - Butterfly and the Birthday Surprise

by Mandy Archer and Kirsteen Harris-Jones
Random House RRP £6.99 (available 27/02/14)

For children who love stories about fairies and enjoy baking cakes, the Fairies of Blossom Hill Bakery is a series of books that combine those two things. The beautifully illustrated books feature tales from the Fairycake Kingdom where best friends Cupcake, Cookie, Plum, Sparkle, Button and Butterfly enjoy magical adventures together.  Suitable for slightly older readers to read independently, or as a story to share, these books are filled with pretty, gentle, frilly and fancy fairy related content.  Each book comes complete with a recipe so budding bakers can bake a delicious cake inspired by the story.

In Butterfly and the Birthday Surprise, the fairies organise the best birthday party ever but Butterfly is a bit bossy trying to make the perfect day, doing everything her way.  But when things start to go wrong, Butterfly learns that celebrating with friends is the best present a fairy could wish for, as they come together to save the day with a wonderful birthday surprise.

This book includes a recipe for Butterfly's Fluttery Wings Cake, which is a lighter-than-air sponge butterfly cake, perfect for sharing!  Children can make the cake with grown-up supervision and learn new skills in the kitchen.  It's a nice idea to have the story and the recipe together.  Children will love making the cake that the fairies have made in the story.  I'll be giving the recipe a go myself...the lemon cream cheese frosting sounds divine!

My 2014 Reading List - 10 books that will change your life

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser.

I love to read.  Escaping into the pages of a good book is one of life's greatest pleasures, taking you on an emotional journey, allowing you to step into the lives of countless others and experience things through their eyes.  There is something so organic about reading a book; the smell and feel of the paper and the sound of the pages turning. My favourite books end up dog eared, with creased spines from being re-read so often. Some pages become stained with fallen tears, a constant reminder of how the book made me cry. My reading list grows longer by the day as I discover new and exciting authors or books that come highly recommended from friends or family.  I cannot resist the power of a good book!

“Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into another’s skin, another’s voice, another’s soul.”                                          — Joyce Carol Oates

A love of reading is one of the most wonderful gifts you can bestow upon your children, giving them a passport to magical places, wonderful times and unimaginable adventures.  My daughters have grown up to be book worms with a passion for reading.  I really enjoy sharing my favourite books with my girls, discovering great classics or contemporary works together, and nothing beats the moment of realisation when we discover a book that literally changes our lives, challenges a pre-conception or opens our eyes to something new.

My 2014 Reading List features the books that are life changers.  These are the books I want to read or revisit, and the books I want my daughters to read, so they too can enjoy the power of the perfectly written word.

"Read, read, read." - William Faulkner

In compiling my reading list, we visited Waterstones in the Trafford Centre to purchase one of the books on my must-read list "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak.  We love browsing the store and flicking through books, reading the blurbs and mentally compiling future reading lists.  It is a veritable wonderland for book lovers!  Their 'Now Read This' displays provide a range of modern classics giving customers the chance to find some of their best loved titles such as Catch 22, Birdsong, A Clockwork Orange and Brave New World.  

As I knew exactly what I was looking for, we used the A-Z by author signage on the shelving to locate The Book Thief.  Given that it was written by Markus Zusak it was among the Z's on the very bottom of the shelf, but still clearly visible with its front cover turned to face out.  Having the shelves alphabetized makes it easy to find the authors you are looking for and see all the books they have written in one place.  

So, here is my 2014 Reading List of the books that are real life changers, which I want my children to read and enjoy and share with me.  They do not conform to a single genre because reading gives you the freedom to step outside of your comfort zone and into new literary adventures.  I never discount Young Adult fiction when choosing a book to read and have discovered some wonderful authors through my children's bookshelves.

"Once you learn to read you will be forever free." - Frederick Douglass

The Fault in Our Stars - John Green  This book will see you shed floods of tears so have the tissues ready.  It is, at its simplest, a love story between Hazel and Augustus.  But it is so much more than that.  It is about life and death and the space inbetween.  It is about rewriting your life story and embracing each and every moment as if it was your last. It is tragic, raw and breathtaking.  Long after you have finished the book, the characters stay with you, inspiring you to live life to its fullest.

"I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, then all at once." - John Green

  

Just Don't Fall- Josh Sundquist  This autobiography proclaims itself to be: 'A Hilariously True Story of Childhood, Cancer, Amputation, Romantic Yearning, Truth, and Olympic Greatness'.  Written in the voice of the author it will have you laughing one minute and sobbing the next. It describes the cruelest of childhood events and shows us that misfortune does not need to define us.  It inspires us to be the best we can be, reach for the stars and chase our dreams.  If you ever feel like you can't do something, read this book and re-evaluate your situation.  An inspirational story of human triumph which puts things firmly into perspective. 

“People who stop laughing are always the ones who get hurt.” - Josh Sundquist

The Celestine Prophecy - James Redfield  This book is a spiritual classic which takes the reader on an adventure of self-discovery.  Drawing on the wisdom of an ancient Peruvian manuscript, this fictional story reveals nine key insights into life.  As each one is grasped, we are moved closer to spiritual enlightenment with a new found optimism and energy for tomorrow.  I am not a traditionally religious person, but this book really resonated with me on a spiritual level, shining a little light into my life.  It presents a series of tools that we can use to make sense of our life and our interactions, woven into a fictional tale.  It's an easy to read dose of enlightenment and a good starting point for further self-discovery.

“I don't think that anything happens by coincidence... No one is here by accident... Everyone who crosses our path has a message for us. Otherwise they would have taken another path, or left earlier or later. The fact that these people are here means that they are here for some reason...”

- James Redfield

The Stand - Stephen King A horror title had to find its way into my reading list, but The Stand transcends this genre and takes us to a post-apocalyptic world where the final showdown of good vs evil is played out.  This is an epic story filled with memorable and believable characters on a journey of self-discovery and survival.  It draws you in and makes you question your own morality and consider the biblical magnitude of the plot and the destructive nature of mankind. It makes you think about sacrifice and just how far you would go in the pursuit of 'good'.  An awesome read.

“The place where you made your stand never mattered. Only that you were there...and still on your feet.”- Stephen King

Noughts and Crosses - Malorie Blackman  Malorie Blackman writes thought provoking books which inspire debate.  This young adult title is a stunning read which follows a doomed love story in a racially divided society, blinded by colour.  Sephy is a 'Cross' from the dark skinned ruling class and Callum is a colourless 'Nought' and part of the underclass.  Turning the tables on equality, against a background of prejudice and distrust heightened by violent terrorism and hatred, Sephy and Callum's relationship leads them both into terrible danger.  It's a heartbreaking and disturbing read which challenges our preconceptions about society and prejudice.

“People are people. We'll always find a way to mess up, doesn't matter who's in charge.”

 - Malorie Blackman

The Kite Runner -  Khalid Hosseini This shattering and soul-searching novel about a childhood friendship destroyed by betrayal, jealousy and fear is set against the backdrop of Afghanistan and its fall from a secluded oasis to a war torn battlefield. It is beautifully written with such a powerful narrative.  The main character Amir escapes to a new life in America, but is shattered by an event from his childhood which continues to haunt him, causing him to return to the country of his birth in search of redemption.  The political upheaval of Afghanistan and its descent into terror and chaos is played out alongside Amir's own downfall.  It is a challenging read and a story that stays deep inside you, making you question the harrowing power of evil and all its faces.

“And that's the thing about people who mean everything they say. They think everyone else does too.” - Khalid Hosseini

The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger  Holden Caulfield is the classic cynical adolescent at the heart of this novel.  A high school drop out negotiating the perils of growing up in a world filled with 'phonies', adrift in an uncaring society.  The wry observations of teenage alienation create a feeling of empathy in the reader as we recall our own  teenage angst and insecurities. The question of whether Caulfield is actually an innocent trying to cope in a cynical world turns the theme on its head and makes you question the very essence of the book.  A true classic.

“What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it. That doesn't happen much, though.” ― J.D. Salinger

The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery  This short children's book is translated from French.  It takes a short time to read but stays in for heart for a lifetime.  A pilot is stranded in the desert with a limited supply of water and no way to fix his plane.  He is visited by a Little Prince who tells him stories about his home and about the planets he has visited on his way to Earth, each with their own unique beauty and problems. The beautifully enchanting story personifies childhood innocence and the worlds seen through the prince's eyes provide a greater metaphor for life.  You cannot fail to connect with the story and you will never see things the same way again.

“All grown-ups were once children... but only few of them remember it.” 

― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

The Field -  Lynne McTaggart This book made me re-assess my view on reality and provided me with a framework for my beliefs based on a core of Quantum Physics.  It is not a work of fiction as such, but is a very readable text, bringing the works of many research scientists and parapsychologists  together in a very accessible and conversational format.  Some of it is quite mind-blowing and makes you question conventional wisdom.  A great read that makes you think.

“The excitement that science possess is its ability to answer the big questions.”

― Lynne McTaggart

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Mark Haddon This exceptional murder-mystery story is narrated by the detective: Christopher, a fifteen year old, fact obsessed boy with Asperger's Syndrome.  When the neighbour's dog is found killed, he sets off to discover what happened and in doing so messily unravels a lot of secrets surrounding the incident, his family and the past.  Christopher's world and daily struggles are perfectly portrayed but we never feel pity for him, only deep respect and admiration.  It opens our eyes to the subject of disability and our own preconceived notions.  It is an excellent read.

“Everyone has learning difficulties, because learning to speak French or understanding relativity is difficult.” ― Mark Haddon

Number 11 on this list is the new book I bought from Waterstones, so am yet to read:, 

The Book Thief - Markus Zusak  I am assured that it is a life changer, and having seen a thread on a friend's Facebook wall where this book was discussed, I won't be disappointed.  Here is the blurb: 

"1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier.

Liesel, a nine-year-old girl, is living with a foster family on Himmel Street. Her parents have been taken away to a concentration camp. Liesel steals books. This is her story and the story of the inhabitants of her street when the bombs begin to fall."

Death itself is the narrator of this book, which sounds like a very interesting angle.  I'm looking forward to snuggling up on my sofa with a blanket over my knees for some wonderfully thought provoking reading!

“Picking five favorite books is like picking the five body parts you’d most like not to lose.” — Neil Gaiman

There are so many books that could have made this list:  The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom, Geek Love by Katherine Dunn, Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsch, Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men and George Orwell's 1984 to name a few.  It's impossible to pick a favourite because different books suit your individual needs at any one time.  To me, that is the true beauty of being a reader...you are never alone with a good book in your hand!

What books do you consider have been life changing for you?

What books do you want your children to read?

Are there any books on your 2014 Reading List that you'd like to share with me?

Please leave me a comment - I'm always on the look out for new must-read titles!

Reading as part of the Bedtime Routine

Fairy Non-Bio, with the help of Timmy Time, have come together to discuss the importance of reading to your little ones at bed time to help them sleep.

According to new research commissioned by Fairy, 8 out of 10 mums read to their children every night at bedtime.  The survey of 1,000 UK mums (with children aged up to seven) took an in-depth look at bedtime routines.  Whilst dads are playing a much bigger role in parenting, this research uncovered that bedtime is still mostly the woman's domain. (Although in my house Daddy is solely in charge of bed times and gets Freddy off to bed every night.  He still enjoys sharing a book with him at bedtime though!)

Working Mums Make Bedtime Work

61% of working mums said that they have to rush through the routine in order to get their child into bed on time, but that bedtime reading remains a priority for them. In fact, 16% of mums would shorten bath time in order to have time to read with the average amount of time spent reading to their children being 11 minutes.

Reading clearly plays a key role in establishing successful bedtime routines and is helpful when settling down children for the night. Other reasons given for reading to kids at bedtime include aiding their development, encouraging an interest in books and bonding with children.

Bedtime Routine: Successful or Stressful?

35% of parents said that their child tends to settle down quickly and easily most nights, with a further 43% saying this is the case 3 or 4 nights of the week.  Unfortunately, bedtime isn't always easy and some parents struggle with the nightly routine. 1% of mums find this part of the day is stressful, and 2% admit to dreading bedtime.

Finding the right bedtime routine that works for both parent and child is important and incorporating reading is a great way of helping children to settle.  Snuggling up under a blanket and sharing a good book is a lovely, calming way to end the day.

Fairy's Timmy Time on pack promotion

Fairy knows how important reading is - it is an important step in a child’s development, boosting speech and vocabulary and teaching essential literacy skills.

To encourage parents to read to their children, Fairy has renewed the partnership with Timmy Time, which includes an on-pack promotion offering a free bedtime book with every purchase of Fairy Non Bio or Fabric Softener.  The colourful paperbacks featuring  Timmy's Bedtime Tales are perfect for reading together.

You and your little one can share the exciting adventures of Timmy, the little lamb with a lot to learn! 

For more information on Fairy visit www.softeningyourworld.com or for more information on Fairy partnership with Timmy Time please visit www.timmytime.tv/fairy

The Fairy range is proud to have been reviewed by Allergy UK and awarded their British Allergy Foundation Seal of Approval.

We have been sent some Fairy Gel and Timmy Time books from Fairy.

Harper Collins Books for Summer

There is nothing like enjoying a good book while enjoying the summer sunshine outside.  Reading in the garden, by the pool or on the beach is such a wonderfully relaxing thing to do.  It is something I like to encourage my children to do too and they are never too young to enjoy a good story book.  Harper Collins has lots of lovely new releases for the summer months and here are two titles, perfect for youngsters to read alone or share with a grown-up.

Ruff and the Wonderfully Amazing Busy Day

Meet Ruff, a rather busy but very lonely little dog.  That is until one eventful day when Ruff is working in his garden.  He discovers that someone else lives there too.  They then meet another creature looking for friendship.  Ruff, Hubble and Lottie are no longer alone!  This is a delightful and charming tale of friendship which paves the way to further fun-filled adventures featuring Ruff and his new friends!

RRP £6.99 PB

Published July 4th 2013

Beauty and the Beast

This classic fairy tale is brought back to life by Michael Morpurgo's brilliant way with words and new talent Loretta Schauer's loveable illustrations.

Kind hearted Belle agrees to live with the beast in return for her father's life, but soon sees through his fearsome exterior as she discovers his kind and gentle ways and they fall in love.  Belle returns home to ask her wise father's permission to marry the beast, promising to return to the palace in one week, but her plans are thwarted by her jealous sisters.  Their trickery keeps Belle from the beast and breaks his heart. When she finally returns he is as still as death.  Will true love be enough to save him?

This story of love, danger and heartbreak is beautifully written for confident readers in this lovely new edition of a much loved tale.  The ending shows forgiveness and the triumph of love, and shows children that beauty is more than skin deep.  It is a lovely tale to share.

RRP £6.99 PB

Published June 2013

We were sent preview copies for review.  

Learning to Read with Reading Eggs

Freddy is 3 and a half years old and eager to learn.  He isn't very keen on writing or drawing, but he loves playing educational games on tablets, phones and laptops.  So when I heard about Reading Eggs, an online program that teaches children to read, I was very interested in giving it a try.

Reading Eggs makes learning to read interesting and engaging for children, with great online reading games and activities which are fun to play.  It is suitable for children aged 3-7.  (Older children aged between 7 and 13 have Reading Eggspress which takes reading to a new level.)  There also apps available for little ones to play and learn on the go.

I was given a free trial to Reading Eggs (anyone can sign up for a two week trial to give the site a go with their child) after that it costs £39.95 for annual subscription which gives you access to games, activities and printable activity sheets, plus it monitors the child's progress and calculates their reading age.

Reading Eggs has a host of fun characters that lead the child through the lessons with songs, sound effects, praise and amusing graphics.  Children also have access to a great Playroom where they can enjoy some games to improve their skills.  The accent used in the speech throughout the game is British which is something that I was very pleased about.  A lot of phonics based games and apps are American and I find that it can confuse children to hear the letters and words pronounced with an American accent.

Both lower and upper case letters are included as children explore the sounds, picking out the letter from words and finding it on a wordsearch grid.  They can even make their own virtual letter book featuring words beginning with each letter.  As they progress, children begin to explore first words, building the foundations for reading.  There is loads of unlockable content to work towards which keeps the game fresh and challenging.

Freddy has taken to Reading Eggs with enthusiasm   He is very good at using the touch pad to drag and drop, click on and draw letters.  He loves the Playroom games and can explore the site map independently.  It is very user friendly, intuitive and safe.  Parents have their own area where the child's progress can be monitored.  Freddy loves the characters and really enjoys working through the lessons.  It is definitely helping with his letter recognition and it is lovely seeing him take these first steps towards being a confident reader.

Reading Eggs are offering readers of Inside the Wendy House the opportunity to extend their free trial from 2 weeks to 5 weeks if they sign up now using the code UKB24MBT.  I would definitely recommend it.

Find out more and sign up for a free trial at Reading Eggs.

Harper Collins Books for Christmas

Lovely new books always find their way under our tree at Christmas.  Giving books to the children encourages a love of reading that will hopefully last a lifetime.  My older girls are avid readers and I hope my younger children will follow suit.

This year Harper Collins have some gorgeous new titles and I have been lucky enough to receive three lovely books to review.

Diary of a Christmas Wombat

Mothball the wombat is a beautifully illustrated character that we have fallen in love with.  The slow and simple animal seems to have one thing on its mind....carrots!  This means that Santa's reindeer have a fight on their hands if they want to enjoy the carrots that have been left out for them by children on Christmas Eve. 

The wombat's eye view is such a quirky way of conveying the story.  The text is really simple and the pictures add so much to the storytelling that even the youngest children will enjoy following Mothball's Christmas adventure.

RRP £6.99 paperback

Hello Kitty Annual 2013

Christmas isn't Christmas without an annual or two to enjoy.  Packed full of fun, activities and games they make a fabulous Christmas gift.  This official Hello Kitty Annual features Kitty's advice on all kinds of topics: your superstar style, making perfect cupcakes, growing pretty flowers, creative colour matching, making perfume and more.  It's a perfect companion for girls.  The pages are colourful and busy, filled with hello Kitty fun on every page.

RRP £7.99 hardback (but keep an eye out for bargains on annuals!)

The Octonauts

Fans of the hit TV show The Octonauts will be thrilled to bits to find this big, gorgeous book under the tree on Christmas Day.  The crew of eight cute animals love to explore the big blue ocean from their underwater base, the Octopod.  There is always fun and excitement on their adventures.

The Octonauts are researching underwater habits around the world when Tunip the Vegimal starts to wonder where he came from.  So the Octonauts go on an underwater adventure on a quest to find Tunip's true home.  The nautical adventure will delight fans and the glow in the dark pages will add a real element of fun to a bedtime story.  Inspiring a whole new generation of marine biologists, this is a lovely book full of intricately detailed illustrations that little Octonauts fans will love.

RRP £12.99 hardback

Find these titles in all good children's books stockists.

Aldi Special Buy Books

Aldi have some fabulous products in store for the little ones to enjoy when the Summer Holidays are wet and grey!  A selection of books including Sticker Books, Activity Books, Noisy Books and Busy Books are available from just £1.99 while stocks last.

Freddy was sent a couple to try out, Miaow and What's Kitty Up To?

Miaow is a Noisy Board Book with fun animal sounds and an engaging story about the cute cat's day.  It is chunky for little hands who will love pressing the button to hear the cat miaow! (£1.99)

What's Kitty Up To? is a busy book which includes a play mat and twelve little plastic cats so the story can be acted out.  The rhyming story and use of clocks to tell the time makes this really entertaining for little ones.

Freddy loved the play mat and kitties and enjoyed having an imaginative game with his big sister involving the kittens having an adventure in the house depicted on the mat.  Afterwards it all packs back into a section in the back of the large sized board book.  It's great value at just £4.99.

Keep your eyes out for Aldi's special buys for lots of excellent bargains for all the family.  Find out what is coming up in store by checking out the website here!

Ghost Gang Review

New Children's Series of Books: Ghost Gang by James Parkin

James Parkin is a self-published children's author who has written a series of books for 8-12 year olds about the "Ghost Gang".  We were asked by the author to review the first book in the series.

The Ghost Gang are a group of friendly young ghosts who reside in the old abandoned West Tower at Claire Rock Primary.  During the day they float around, braintalk with each other and look out for any children who are unhappy.  At nighttime they can enter a child's dream and try to help them with any problems they have.

The "New Ghost" tells the story of Winston, a young boy who drowned following an argument with his family on a day out at the park.  On becoming a ghost, he wants to become the sixth member of the gang, but his quick temper and habit of calling others cruel names gets him into trouble.  Will he sort out his problems and be accepted by the others?


Both Kizzy and I read this book so we could give both an adult's and the target audience's perspective.  
Kizzy was actually slightly uncomfortable by the premise of the story.  At first she thought it was "a little bit distressing" having a story about dead children, however, she did like the idea of the ghost children helping other children with their problems in their dreams and enjoyed the book. Winston's story was actually quite heartbreaking and from the opening line "'It was about half past three on a Sunday afternoon when my life as a child ended and my life as a ghost began" you feel sympathy for the main character.  Death is not something generally written about so graphically in a children's book, so I think it may take a little getting used to. I couldn't help but  think about all the broken families left devastated by the death of the children who are now in the Ghost Gang.

The settings, situations, dialogue and characters are all really familiar and children will relate to them.  The only difference is that the children in the gang are dead.  They are like a Deceased Famous Five on a mission to help other kids with their day to day problems involving friendship and family.  There are some important life lessons within the pages of the book and the overall message of finding solutions to problems is a good one.  The use of the 'ghosts' in such familiar settings is an unusual twist.  I could almost imagine this as a CBBC series!

You can read a short story and purchase the first three books on Kindle and paperback over at the website bigredsock.com.

Make Story time Magical with a Story Buddy

Hallmark is making story time all the more magical with a new range of new and exclusive Story Buddies.  Using exciting, innovative playback technology, each soft, cuddly Story Buddy interacts when the story is being read, with trigger passages prompting the toy to speak and join in.  A new response is revealed with each new page bringing the character and the story to life.  Reading becomes a more engaging and entertaining pastime, which is perfect for children who are not as keen on sitting still for a story.

We were sent Cooper to try, a gorgeous soft and cuddly teddy bear who comes with his own story book "Big Bear Hugs".

Pressing a button on his ear activates Cooper and he is then ready to listen to the story.  Certain sentences, coloured in red in the text, trigger Cooper to respond.  He has a lot of different phrases that he says, keeping the experience fresh and exciting.  I am such a soft touch...I've spent far too long saying "I love you, Cooper!" so he will reply "I love you too!"  It is very cute!!

Cooper is joined by Watson the Inquisitive Raccoon and Jingle the Husky (a limited edition for Christmas) who both have their own story books.  More Story Buddies are due to join the crew in the New Year.

At just £19.99 a Story Buddy would make an excellent Christmas gift for a young child.  Pre-readers will enjoy listening to the story and will delight in their Story Buddy's responses.  Children who can read independently will love to trigger the phrases themselves by speaking the words aloud.

Hallmark have developed a free down;loadable app suitable for iPhones and iPads to accompany the range which includes a short animated story, as well as puzzles and games.

You can buy Story Buddies from Hallmark.co.uk for £19.99 which includes the toy and a book. Batteries are included (big thumbs up!!)  Additional books cost £5.99.

By combining a traditional and important pastime such as reading, with the latest technology, Hallmark have come up with a new and exciting story time experience that the whole family will enjoy!

Also available are recordable story books where you can read aloud each page of one of seven beautifully hand illustrated books and record your voice.  As the book is read by the child they will hear your voice reading the story to them.  You never have to miss a bed time story again.  Perfect for Grandparents or distant relatives to buy for loved ones, they cost just £14.99 from hallmark.co.uk.  I think this is a lovely idea for those who can't be there all the time to share a story with a child.

Listography...5 Books for Toddlers

What a cute theme for a list!  I've had 22 years of baby book buying and have spent a fortune with the Book People and Red House.  I love baby books so much.  I love the pictures.  I love the sing song text. I love sharing them with my littlies and see them run their chubby little fingers along the words as they come to realise that the strange squiggles actually mean something!  I love it when the older children read to the younger ones and pass on favourite stories.  Books play a big part in our household, we have a Tidy Books Bookcase that I won just before Christmas.  It is filled with board books, lift the flap books, noisy books and story books.  Freddy sits down and pulls a book out and usually exclaims "Oh Wow!" as he opens the pages.  I hope his love of books continues and that he becomes a book worm like his sisters.

Sharing a story with Daddy.

Here are my pick of the top 5 books for babies that have received my kids' seal of approval!  We've enjoyed many an hour pouring through these books.

1:  Bears in Pairs is over 20 years old now and is still much loved with its rhyming couplets describing the bears on their way to a tea party.  "Tall Bear, Small bear, Hairy bear, Scary bear!"  The pictures are charming and my children have enjoyed trying to find all the bears on the final page showing them all at the tea party.

2: With a daughter called Megan, we had to buy the whole set of Meg and Mog books.  The quirky illustrations and the funny stories have had my children riveted.  We particularly like the one where they visit the vets.  

3: Animal Pants will help nurture a love of toilet humour in even the youngest child.  We learn that skunks have smelly pants and a chameleon's pants change colour!  The brilliant illustrations are bold and bright.  It's a real favourite in our household!

4: Elmer the colourful elephant is such an appealing character who wants to look like everyone else so he rolls in berry juice.  I'd be glad to sport my patchwork colour scheme if I was Elmer...it's a funky Boho look!

5: The Ravenous Beast was Freddy's first favourite book that he shared over and over again with his Daddy.  The animals all try to out-hungry each other until the ravenous beast comes along and scoffs the lot of them!  Love it!