A special edition of a well-loved classic makes for a timeless Christmas gift. Below, are some of the latest titles I’ve received which bring classic tales to life in new and surprising ways. Please – draw me a sheep. I blinked. The voice belonged to a charming little prince. The characters of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's … Continue reading Classics for Christmas
I’ll be honest, I am a huge Chris Riddell fangirl so I am always going to love anything he’s illustrated. However, if you pair his illustrations with the the masterful writing of award-winning author Kevin Crossley-Holland and thrilling Arthurian legend. Well, then you have something really rather special! ‘The definitive retelling of the legends of … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘Arthur the Always King,’ retold by Kevin Crossley-Holland, illustrated by Chris Riddell.
We are a house of mega Lego fans so you can imagine the huge levels of excitement when the new edition of the Lego Minifigure visual history arrived during lockdown! The exclusive orange spaceman Minifigure encased in the cover was a highly sought-after prize! ‘Celebrate the epic journey of the LEGO® minifigure. Features an exclusive … Continue reading ‘Lego Minifigure – A Visual History,’ written by Daniel Lipkowitz, from DK Books.
Sometimes it’s nice to read a Christmas book which reflects on the meaning of Christmas beyond flashy lights, Santa and baubles. This heart-warming story is one of those... It’s Christmas morning. Esme and Bear have opened all their present except for one last red-wrapped gift hidden beneath the tree. When they read the gift tag, … Continue reading Christmas Advent – Day 11 ‘The Most Wonderful Gift in the World,’ by Mark Sperring, illustrated by Lucy Fleming.
There’s something rather magical about cracking open a brand new encyclopedia and immersing yourself in the knowledge within. Although people can now find any answer they want with a click of a button, I think there will always be a place for wonderful books like this - they contain worlds of possibilities and undiscovered wisdom … Continue reading Blog tour: ‘Britannica All New Children’s Encyclopedia,’ from Britannica Books, edited by Christopher Lloyd.
There comes a point on Christmas Day when all the tinsel and fairy lights can be a little much and you just want to snuggle up somewhere warm with a beautiful book. Animals are perennial favourites with readers of all ages so I have a selection sure to delight everyone. ’Goodnight Ocean’ by Carmen Saldaña, … Continue reading Gifts for Animal Lovers
I am always on the look out for classic stories retold in a simplified style and I’ve got two gorgeous ones plus a classic song for you to enjoy in picture book form. Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie, retold by Caryl Hart, illustrated by Sarah Warburton (Nosy Crow) This is an absolutely stunning re-telling of … Continue reading Picture a Classic…
I have recently been sent an excellent series of board books from Caterpillar Books which are designed to teach babies and toddlers key vocabulary and concepts in various scientific topics. Children always love to learn a tricky scientific word - they’re never too young to start! Babies can learn about the world’s greatest buildings, learn … Continue reading Baby 101: Welcome, class! from Caterpillar Books
Perhaps you’re looking for a gift that’s a little bit different. Perhaps you want to introduce your own child to fantastic new books and activities each month. Or perhaps you love children’s books and want to treat yourself. Whatever the case, you could try a fabulous books subscription from The Happy Book Company who provide … Continue reading The Happy Book Club
Well according to the calendar, Spring has officially sprung and we can look forward to some glimmers of sunshine and possibly some Easter chocolate. If you are looking to give something a little longer-lasting and better for your teeth than an Easter egg, how about one of these bookish treats...? The First Egg Hunt by … Continue reading Spring has Sprung!
I think mums might be the least acknowledged group of superheroes on the planet. They walk among us without flashy costumes or theme music playing, but constantly perform heroic deeds without even realising and without applause. This book, from Timothy Knapman and Joe Berger, is an ode to all those Superhero Mums masquerading as regular … Continue reading ‘Superhero Mum,’ by Timothy Knapman, illustrated by Joe Berger.
Unicorns are a major trend at the moment, with every self-respecting child (and adult) of a certain age are clamouring after everything sparkles and rainbows. Throw in some crafty colouring too and you have pretty much their perfect book. When this fabulous book arrived in the post, I knew the perfect group of testers - … Continue reading ‘Press Out and Decorate Unicorns,’ by Kate McLelland.
Christmas (or any other time) is the perfect occasion to give someone a beautiful new edition of a book they love. This stunning 3D version of the beloved classic ‘Beauty and the Beast’ would be an absolutely ideal gift for any fan to find under their Christmas tree this year. The glistening foil highlights hint … Continue reading ‘Beauty and the Beast – a magical 3D fairy tale,’ by Dinara Mirtalipova.
So I've shared some of my top picture books choices for this Christmas, now it's the turn of chapter books. I absolutely LOVE picture books for readers of ALL ages, not just the little ones but sometimes you just a longer book to sink your teeth into or delay bedtime for a few minutes longer. … Continue reading Festive Chapter Book Fancies
One of the greatest things about running a book blog is the regular deliveries of books dropping through your letter box. This is never truer than in the run-up to Christmas when little festive treats are delivered to me by the book elves. My 'to be read' pile is suddenly awash with gold, red, green … Continue reading Have a Picture (book) Perfect Christmas
I've shared the picture books that my nearest and dearest can expect to receive this year, now here are my purchases for older readers... Santa Claude by Alex.T.Smith My favourite dog and his sock sidekick, Sir Bobblysock, are back in a festive adventure. Upon hearing a strange noise in their chimney, Claude and Sir Bobblysock … Continue reading Cracking Christmas Reads!
I thought you might like to have a sneaky peek at the picture books my Christmas elves will be delivering to my family and friends this year. There are so many brilliant new releases out there, it was hard to decide what to buy but I finally decided on these! Otto the Book Bear in … Continue reading A Picture Perfect Christmas
Are you looking for some great Christmas reads this year? Well, you could follow the Twitter hashtag #bookelves16 or take a look at my festive purchases so far (a more in-depth blog post to follow):
Another awesome idea for the month of December – The fabulous Book Trust organisation launched an on-line advent calendar featuring a different author everyday. It may be from last year but it’s packed full of fantastic titles. Follow along at home if you need some festive inspiration!
Challenge yourself to try an new author and find a festive favourite!
Follow the link below for details:
Library Girl.
Library Girl and Book Boy 