Zoe and Beans: Hello Oscar- the fifth in the series of Zoe and Beans, this book is written by the brilliant children's illustrator Mick Inkpen and his daughter Chloe. It tells the story of a hole in the garden fence which is letting some very exotic creatures through. But where are they coming from. Dimples loves this book- the graphics, as with all Inkpen books, are fabulous and appealing to all ages, and the story-line really helps foster … [Read more...]
Search Results for: a few good reads
A few good reads
So it may not have escaped your attention- if you follow me on twitter, Facebook or Instagram, that I have been on holiday in Italy this last week. The weather was unseasonably cool for the time of year, though still far warmer than the wet grey London we left behind, but I still had lots of time on the beach with the children. But when we were tucked away in our beautiful temporary home at ValleCoppa, there was plenty of time to catch up on a) … [Read more...]
Five products that make travelling easier this summer
1. Cheeky Shoes are the perfect travelling footwear: soft, comfortable and lightweight. Made from neoprene they also allow for foot swelling that you sometimes get on planes, and the fabric also keeps your feet warm in the temperature-controlled environment. I was sent a pair for review and have used them camping, travelling and also carried them in my handbag to replace heels at the end of a long evening. So impressed was I that I ordered a pair … [Read more...]
How to encourage a love of reading in children
I was recently privileged to attend a talk by Marilyn Brocklehurst on Creating Readers. And I do mean privileged. To be honest she didn't look much, sitting at the front of the school hall, bobbed hair and glasses on a chain round her neck looking for all the world like a Librarian, which she is by training. But when she started talking? Golly I was captivated. She spoke with such unending enthusiasm about reading and children's books, of which … [Read more...]
Using Decals to decorate a girl’s bedroom
You would be forgiven for thinking that we moved house to avoid a) having build work and b) decorating The Girls' bedroom. I promised LBG a long time ago that she could get her bedroom redecorated when Dimples moved in with her. The move, ironically, led to them being separated- and us having build work- so now I have two bedrooms to decorate. In fact a whole house to decorate. I started small with the Guest Loo makeover, the wallpaper for … [Read more...]
Five things I want you to know about your father.
The Friday Club is back. I missed this one by a long way, but wanted to write nevertheless. “There’s something like a line of gold thread running through a man’s words when he talks to his daughter, and gradually over the years it gets to be long enough for you to pick up in your hands and weave into a cloth that feels like love itself.” Source I always get emotional when I address things to you, my darling Girls. I always feel that, as I … [Read more...]
We Love #Lollibop
I frankly don’t know where to start. We’ve never been to a festival before, even before children. I was completely blown away by Lollibop. The highlights for us were seeing Rasta Mouse on stage, getting a shout out from CBeebies’ Sid, the giant sandpit, the man who climber inside a ball (just so wrong) and the massive amounts of dancing we did. The park was incredibly well laid out: there were seating areas every few metres, it seemed. Some … [Read more...]