Technology and digital devices are now part of everyday life and most of you will have a smartphone or tablet at home.
As a parent, you might be worried about how your child is using technology and when it comes to touchscreens it can often feel that there’s conflicting advice about what is best for children.
The good news is that if it is used correctly alongside books, technology can play an…
This Spring there are three new nature art books which support schools’ biology topics and encourage children to discover nature and learn all about plants and animals living in the green spaces around them. I have used them with the London Mums Kids Club to explore Richmond Park and find out lots of facts about trees, leaves, deers, squirrels and foxes. Some of these books include boxes to…
Looking at art books is extremely important in early childhood and can help develop children’s abilities in the arts as well as strengthen parent-child bonds. Going to the museum is not always easy with young children, so art books are a great alternative. I recently reviewed a book about Miro’ which I enjoyed reading with my 9 year old son Diego who has been exposed to art since he…
If you ever wondered what your Ten Most Iconic Children’s Book Covers would be, here you will hopefully find some inspiration.
This year marks the 10th year anniversary of Penguin Random House’s Design Award and participants are tasked with re-designing the remarkable covers for A Clockwork Orange (Anthony Burgess), How To Be a Woman (Caitlin Moran), and Email and the Detective (Erich…
I might be biased this week choosing the bedtime story for the Kids Club, but meeting the lovely Nadia Shireen at the Penguin Random House HQ on the Strand certainly helped appreciate the tale of The BumbleBear. With the recent release of the new Disney’s Jungle Book, the honey seeking bear is more popular than ever. The BumbleBear is a lovely picture book for very young readers which…
When I recently met #1 bestselling author in 28 countries Sylvia Day at the Penguin Random House offices with one of the best views of London, I wasn’t sure how popular she really was on this side of the Atlantic. Sylvia is also a very humble lady and made me totally at ease so much so that I felt an immediate connection with her. The only novel I ever knew before my interview is the latest…
It is well known that arts or cultural experiences in early childhood can help children develop abilities in the arts which will be useful right through life as well as significantly strengthen parent-child bonds and engage families in their children’s learning, providing a positive focus for shared experience and communication. Going to the museum is not always easy or possible with young…
If you are looking for new books with the old fashioned look and feel, I would recommend bestselling adult novelist Jenny Colgan‘s stories Polly and the puffin and the latest Polly and the Puffin: The Stormy Day published by Hachette UK, the second children’s book featuring Polly and her puffin Neil. With gorgeous two-colour illustrations throughout, Polly is perfect for reading…
Who hasn’t forgotten the shopping list mum at least once in a lifetime? CHIMPANZEES FOR TEA! is a hilarious new picture book from author and illustrator talent Jo Empson, featuring truly stunning expressive artwork and a hilarious rhyming tale on the theme of forgetfulness and being distracted by the surrounding world.
9 year old Diego and I love CHIMPANZEES FOR TEA! published by Puffin…
2016 has been quite a year for the European Space Agency and the absolute protagonist of the latest out-of-this-world adventure is Tim Peake, ESA’s first British astronaut who has inspired kids with his regular videos from space during his mission in the past months. He is now the star of a new picture book published by Penguin Random House Children’s UK. GOODNIGHT SPACEMAN, produced…