Just before Christmas, the government announced that it would be withdrawing funding from Bookstart, which aims to inspire a love of books in every child. I think this is a real pity. I appreciate that we are in a recession, and that Mr Cameron and his team are trying to reduce the deficit and so on, but this seems to be a fairly short-sighted strategy. It’s not just about books, you see. A love of books also means being able to read and write. It means spending quality time together with parents reading stories. It requires imagination and ideas. It’s a comfort, a challenge, an inspiration. There’s always room in your pocket for a book (or the more high-tech Kindle thing.) And you don’t even have to buy books. You can read them for free at your local library. Books are so much more than words on pages.
Fortunately I am not the only one who thinks this way: on Friday, Nova shared some of her tips for encouraging your children to read as part of the Friday Club Carnival. The 23 comments are all in favour of reading with children. Likewise a few weeks ago, I wrote, again as part of the Friday Carnival, about my love of reading, which started when I read with my parents. Reading with your children really seems to be one of the best ways of spending time with your children, as well as giving them so many skills that will be useful throughout their lives. With that in mind, I have three Charlie and Lola Board books to give away to one lucky blog follower to read with their children. They are super books, filled with the sort of images and writing that you would expect from Lauren Child. Threeva adores the bright colours and idiosyncratic words that Lola uses as she talks about Colours, Numbers and Animals.
This competition is now closed but there will be a new giveaway in March. See blog posts for details.
OOoh we love Charlie and Lola!! My favourite books as a child? Mmmh? I remember reading my father’s Asterix & Obelix and Lucky Luke!!!
Have Tweeted (@redtedart)
Have Google befriended
Thank you for lovely giveaway!
Maggy
We have lots of favourite books for lots of different reasons. The baby loves “Rainbow Rob” for it’s bright colours, feely pages and funny rhymes, Toddler loves “Beegu” for the lovable character and “Sir Charlie Stinky Socks” for the adventure and Mummy loves reading “Guess How Much I Love You” because they’ll never know until they have children of their own
I’m now following your blog
Oh!!! Pick me! Pick me! I’m the bookworm to end all bookworms and would love my girls to inherit my love of the written (or indeed drawn) word. And I absolutely really do love Charlie and Lola.
As for favourite book to read with them… L is working her way through Winnie the Pooh at the moment and moved me to tears (“So they went off together. But wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place on the top of the Forest a little boy and his Bear will always be playing.”). Actually it’s doing it again now. So at the moment that. Although the little ones are very into “Hippo Hat” (Nick Sharratt and Julia Donaldson) but they vary.
Could go on for hours. Will stop. Don’t tweet, but have become a follower.
Here I am saying I’m following you (always sounds a bit like stalking don’t you think?)
I’m a stalker… have been for a while
our favourite book at the moment is the gruffulo, it is so well written!
i have tweeted too @ashlallan
i am also follow with google x
We love to read the hungry caterpillar
tweeted comp @jessies_online
following with GFC
thanks
Helen
x
I love reading Room on a broom to my little ones. Anything by Julia Donaldson goes down well. @susankmann
I’m a new follower on GFC. I’m not sure why I’m new I really thought I was following you. Sorry about that. x
Hello! I have so many favourite books but at the moment I am really enjoying reading my old vintage ladybird books from the 70s to ny 4 year old (Piggley plays truant is the current fav) and my old Famous Five to my 7 year old.
have tweeted as @superamazingmum
I am now following your blog!!
Thank you
I love reading is Winnie the Pooh
I follow your blog as Marzena
I tweeted as @marzutek
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