This book is fantastic for inspiring kid’s art. Two cute kids put on their painting smocks and take turns transforming paint splotches into pictures. There’s loads of examples kids can have a go at and fantastic, simple tips to inspire more creative art, like really taking notice of your surroundings and the shapes of things.…
I am so excited about this book! There’s loads of games in here I’d totally forgotten I’d played, which will be perfect to teach my kiddos. Then there are other games I’ve never heard of which we can all try out together – even if technically I may have already grown up! 😀 There’s 101…
The Empty Stocking This was an awesome library find. I picked it up because I admired the illustrator’s work and when I read it and discovered it was about twins, I was delighted. And actually, I’d stuck gold, because one twin is naughty all year and Santa doesn’t leave her ANY presents! But then she…
I had so much fun reading this book aloud to my twin girls, 9. If you have a daughter, you must put this on your Christmas shopping list and then read it to them. It is wonderful in so many ways: The story is interesting. The heroine, Bronte, has just found out her parents have…
Ahoy me hearties! Put down yer cutlasses! This ‘ere book comes with a magnifying glass so ye can seek out pirate booty – and there’s loads to discover. Pirates Magnified is a search-and-find book, filled with detailed illustrations of pirate ships at sea and in port and all the activity that goes with them. It’s…
This book is stunning. Every turn of the page reveals another dramatic illustration stretched across both pages, pulling you into the story of the classic ballet, Swan Lake. Just like a ballet, the book has been divided into acts. The words are limited to just one page at the start of each of the three…
My daughters were perplexed when they heard this story. They just couldn’t comprehend why there were such inequalities facing civil rights activist Rosa Parks, both when she was growing up in Alabama and as an adult. I love sharing this type of story with my children. I think it’s important they have some understanding and…
This is a fantastic read aloud. It’s laugh-out-loud funny and giggle all the way through once you’ve heard it once and you’re sharing it with someone new. Little Baa Baa is bored and when Quirky Turkey comes along, Little Baa Baa feels mischievous… I love it best when my twins read a character each, although…
This book has the most beautiful illustrations of forest creatures. And kids (or adults) can make them even lovelier by etching away at the black to uncover more colour. You can use the included stylus to create simple or intricate patterns, or even erase all the black. The creatures are enchanting, with a touch of…
The countdown to Halloween is on. If you’re looking to put an Aussie spin on this celebration, check out my review of Emu’s Halloween, over at Reading Time, the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s site for children’s book reviews. Emu’s Halloween is written by Victorian Anne Mangan, illustrated by South Australian David Cornish and published…
My girls are constantly singing. They’re in the school choir together, but they prefer to practice their songs separately – but at the same time. I’m sure you can imagine how that sounds!! Thankfully, when all the kids come together, they sound beautiful. The choirmaster in this book doesn’t have such luck. He’s quite an…
As soon as I saw this book, I knew my eldest, 9, would love it. She’s a fantastic speller and so inquisitive about words. She and her twin have been poring over it together – sharing funny sections and asking each other the puzzles. It’s magic to watch. The book is clever and funny and…
This book is amazing. Its striking, bright cover means children (and adults) can’t help but pick it up. Once you open the book and discover the special viewing lens nestled against the inside cover, you won’t be able to stop yourself from running it across the pages to see how it works. This book has…
What girl doesn’t dream about being a mermaid? I know my 8-year-old twins certainly do. Well, in this book, the mermaids get to spend time as humans, on land with legs! It’s a kind of coming of age tradition, so they can see what it’s like and return to the sea content, knowing that underwater…
Playful endpapers set the scene for this story, showing a mailman hauling a giant dino egg wrapped in brown paper and marked fragile. Behind him is a sign shouting that eggs are on sale. A little boy looks surprised when he receives his huge parcel, but luckily this book is a guide to looking after…
