An unseen work written by the celebrated novelist Vita Sackville-West for the miniature library of Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House has been published today (16 October 2017) for the first time by Royal Collection Trust.
A Note of Explanation was originally written in Vita Sackville-West’s own hand on pages no larger than postage stamps. It has…
Just when I had a hate moment against all technology, I came across an interesting book called IRRESISTIBLE: WHY YOU ARE ADDICTED TO TECHNOLOGY AND HOW TO SET YOURSELF FREE recently published by VINTAGE paperback (Penguin UK). I enjoyed reading it due to the focus on technology and childhood.
As psychologist Adam Alter says:
‘Kids aren’t born craving…
I love books about London and London things. The Rusty Old Postbox is my picture book of the week and has a London theme as well as a Christmas theme so it will be of particular appeal in the search for gifts for children aged between 5 and 8, and their parents who will read the story to them. It is also a book gift idea for those grandparents who would buy the title for the illustrations and…
I read and review a lot of books every year. I reckon in the region of 100 between novels, manuals and picture books. The book market is growing at an exponential level particularly children’s titles. There’s a book with a very unique interactive content and approach that has particularly struck a chord with me, and that is Good night stories for rebel girls. So much so that I have…
September is Roald Dahl’s birth month, and each year on phizz-whizzing Roald Dahl Day on 13th September, the annual, global celebration of the world’s number one storyteller, there are special events and publications. This year there’s a new release of the classic BILLY AND THE MINPINS (published by Penguin), illustrated for the first time by Quentin Blake which completes Dahl and…
If you want your children to stop using swearwords make them read The Ultimate Insult Generator filled with over 60 Million Hilarious Zingers and Stingers
published by Laurence King in August 2017.
The Ultimate Insult Generator is a zany new insult-generating flipbook by the hilarious comic writer and children’s author, Mike Barfield. My 11 year old son could not put it down for the…
Today’s children are often bombarded with videos and cannot easily focus on reading a paper book. I have recently discovered the magic effect of audiobooks on my 10 year old son. Diego and I have been recently listening to The Railway Children a lot. This audio gave us the chance to talk about this classic novel in a new mature way considering the historical moment, the way children lived…
Jeremy Strong has done it again! The King of Comedy has written a brilliantly funny new book, My Brother’s Famous Bottom Makes a Splash, which is the perfect summer read! I have had a chat with him recently to talk about his writing career, his latest book, to ask him tips for aspiring authors and to find out what he is working on at the moment. Just a quick WARNING for when your kids (or…
The Summer is great but children need lots of entertainment and it cannot always be video games or outdoor playing. A good book is always a blessing especially if it inspires children with ideas for creative activities. My favourite ones have to be My London: Colour Draw, Explore and My New York: Colour, Draw, Explore by Majel van der Muelen.
Majel van der…
The media are all about science and technology and there are really inspirational science books for kids out there. No wonder so many kids want to be scientists these days.
My 10 year old son Diego picked two of the best ones for his Summer holidays. Be prepared to have plenty of household junk available for the experiments.
Being a scientist isn’t just about wearing a lab…