Entries Tagged as 'books'

"reading corners for kids"

Now that Anya is learning to read, I am thinking about ways to encourage this.  One of the things I want to do soon is create a cosy little reading corner in her room.  A reading corner will probably encourage most kids to read a bit more if it’s a snug little space and if their books are easily accessible.  It doesn’t have to be very big, in fact I think the smaller and cosier, the better.

"kids reading nooks""kida reading nooks"

There are loads of different ways of doing this but one of my favourites is creating a little hideout with a teepee or a tent. The teepee could even be placed in a corner of another room like the living room.  Another easy idea is a simple mattress or some floor cushions placed in one corner of the room surrounded by bookshelves or even book-filled wooden crates on the floor.  I also like the idea of having a statement lamp to add a bit of fun to the space like that adorable miffy lamp.  There are lots of ways to make a reading corner really special and inviting.  The above are four spaces I really liked and found inspiring so hopefully they will inspire you too.

{Image credits: top photo by Mokkasin (a blog you HAVE to check out if you don’t know it); 1.  Vivi & Oli…  2.  Weekday Carnival…  3.  Binti home…  4.  Mini style blog.}

The Day The Crayons Quit

February 18, 2014

"the day the crayons quit""the day the crayons quit book"

Each time we buy a new kids book I can’t decide who’s the most excited… me, my husband or Anya!  I know I can never wait to read it and neither can Anya so we usually read it within minutes of her coming back from school.  Last week we bought The Day The Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and we both loved it.  It’s such a sweet, fun and unusual story about a pack of crayons that decide they’ve had enough.  The drawings by Oliver Jefferes are colourful and childlike adding to the charm of this lovely book.  We liked it so much that we’ve already bought another copy to give as a gift.

"Claudia Boldt illustrations""Melvin the luckiets monkey""odd dog by claudia boldt"

I recently came across this book – Melvin the luckiest monkey.  I checked out the author Claudia Boldt and found that she creates the cutest drawings in soft colours that aren’t just for her range of kids books but they’re also used to create adorable stickers, place mats and other stationery.  The stories look like they’re fun to read and often have messages on life lessons like friendship or creating your own luck or beauty being in the eye of the beholder.  I especially love the illustrations in Odd Dog which is all about a dog who prefers apples to bones.  You can get Claudia’s books on Amazon

Feeling green…

May 17, 2013

"green kids room decorations"Yesterday my daughter had a play date with another little girl and they got hooked on the colour green.  The two girls kept saying ‘green’ louder and louder and then bursting in to fits of laughter.  They then started adding an extra word and coming up with things like ‘green toast’, ‘green dog’… the idea being to pair it with something that most definitely isn’t green.  This produced more laughter and eventually the inevitable bathroom humour ensued followed by the loudest giggles ever!  I don’t know how 4 year old minds work but I do know this little game tickled them pink!  While I didn’t take part in the game, it did get me thinking of the colour green and I realised I’d never done a green post.  I always think that green isn’t a colour I’m naturally drawn to but then again there are so many shades of it that there really is a green for everyone (my personal favourite is mint green) and so I thought it would be fun to look for a few things in different shades of green and here’s what I found:

1.  green linen sunsuit by wolfechild…  2.  minty green toddler duvet set by garbo & friends…  3.  forest green firs pillowcase by fine little day…  4.   shades of green bird poster by silke bonde…  5.  ice-cream green playhouse by lucky boy sunday…  6. dark green book called Grandpa Green by Lane Smith.

Happy weekend all and see you next week!

"a long piece of string"

I always feel that I don’t share enough books on my blog and this year I would like to change that.  I’m a big fan of kids books and can’t stop buying them for my daughter.  So every time I come across a book that I think is a must have I will share.  This was a book I bought a year ago and we really love it.  Originally published in 1963, it made a comeback in 2010 and I’m not surprised.  It’s a simple book where you follow a long piece of string that takes you from one wonderful illustration to another all ordered from A to Z.  While it’s an alphabet book, it uses illustrations instead of letters to show the alphabet.  It’s fun for kids to guess what the drawings are and I love looking at the simple but delightful illustrations.  A Long Piece of String by William Wondriska is a must have in any kids library.

mama & baby…

November 1, 2012

"sad santa book for christmas"

This week’s picks for mama and baby… with Christmas coming, let mama decorate with these colourful glass baubles while baby reads all about *Sad Santa

It’s 1st November so I think it’s time to start talking Christmas.  I will be bringing you lots of gift ideas for kids over the coming weeks but for the first time I will also be sharing some gift ideas for mama’s.  Apart from gifts, you’ll also find some fun Christmas crafts and lots of pretty decorations in the next few weeks.  I hope you enjoy them all.   In the meantime, you can always browse previous years Christmas gift ideas.

* Via Design work Life

I want my hat back

June 1, 2012

"I want my hat back"I am completely besotted with this kids book called ‘I want my hat back’ by Jon Klassen.  It’s a story about a bear looking for his hat and while it sounds simple, there’s a clever message in there reminiscent of children who do something wrong and then try and cover it up with excuses and lies.  The story is told in a few words with beautiful illustrations that have humour and wit and there’s a wicked little twist at the end.

"i want my hat back"I bought this book yesterday with some others and this is definitely my daughters favourite and mine.  I think we’ve already read it five times but it’s been a pleasure since  I want my hat back is a delight for both adults and children and deserves a place in every little kids library.

"christmas gifts books for children"

Books are one of my favourite things to give and receive.  I can’t imagine not giving ebabee no.1 at least a couple of books every Christmas, birthday and many, many times in between.  Children’s books are magical and you can never have enough.  For this year’s book gift list I’ve picked out many children’s books that we’ve enjoyed and there are a few that I have yet to buy, but they’re on my Christmas list too.  All the books offer something special either for their clever stories, beautiful illustrations, creativity or even their quirkiness.  Here’s the list of books mainly for 2 year olds to around 6 year olds:

1.  ‘The Life of Mr Mustache’ by Studio Violet.  Charming and oh so creative is this book from Fine Little Day. (no longer available)

2.   ‘My Friends’ by Taro Gomi is a sweet and simple book and is a firm favourite in this home.

3.   ‘100 Things’ by Masayuki Sebe is a happy book that gets the little minds counting and observing.

4.   ‘The Book with a Hole’ by Herve Tullet –  I haven’t got this yet but it looks rather cool and quirky.

5.   ‘A Bit Lost’ by Chris Haughton is a cute story with really beautiful illustrations in the most wondeful colours.

6.  ‘Beware of the Frog’ by William Bee is an entertaining read with a great twist and some retro-esque illustrations.

7.  ‘Not a Box’ by Antoinette Portis.  A book about a box that’s not a box… it’s a car, a house or whatever you child’s imagination wants it to be.  We all know kids adore boxes and this book captures the magic of the humble box so well.

8.  Made to Play!: Handmade Toys and Crafts for Growing Imaginations by Joel Henriques.  A book full of fun, simple and beautiful toy making crafts by talented dad Joel.  I haven’t got this yet but I know Joel’s work well and he is one super imaginative and talented guy.

9.  ‘The Blue Pebble’ by Anne-Gaelle Balpe.  A sweet story with a little moral that has been drawn out in beautiful pictures that have a bit of a old fashioned feel.

10  ‘Animal Alphabet Circus’ by Tupera Tupera (a couple of Japanese illustrators) – no longer available.  The entire alphabet is illustrated through circus animals beautifully drawn.   All the words are in Japanese and English.  This is a real feast for the eyes and one I can’t wait to get.

You can lots see more Christmas gift ideas here: Wooden toysgifts for newborns and babies, paper gifts and soft toys.

Olivia, the pig.

September 13, 2010

"Olivia the pig book"

I’ve just bought my first book about Olivia the pig.   This book’s really high up on my top toddler books list.  The black & white drawings with splashes of red are so, so lovely.  Olivia’s little antics are super entertaining and the other characters are all very recognisable like the annoying little brother and the mother who tries to be strict but fails miserably.  Remind you of anyone? And the best bit – the books happy and fun without any annoying wetness. The Olivia the pig hardcover book costs £8.68 with free delivery from amazon.  There are several in the series but this hardcover book is perfect for under 2’s.

Pretty Pru

August 18, 2010

books for toddlers pretty pruI recently came across this book by Polly Dunbar and loved it so much I bought, it even though ebabee no. 1’s a bit young.  It’s one in a series of ‘Tilly and Friends’ stories but I haven’t yet bought the others.  This ones about a handbag thief on the loose and Pretty Pru’s the victim.  The handbag of course contains make-up, after all which lady wouldn’t have make-up in her bag? Pretty Pru’s no exception! The illustrations are superb and compliment the text very well.  The best bit though, is this book manages to be happy and cheerful without any annoying over – sentimentality.  This is definitely up there in my list of gifts for older toddlers.  The hardcover one costs £6.39 with free delivery.

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