Review: The Dinosaur that Pooped the Bed

It's been 10 months since we reviewed the other Dinosaur that Pooped books and they still make an appearance on a daily basis, Noah (4) especially loves them, I often find him curled up under the covers with them in bed when he should be asleep.  He was super excited when I told him Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter has released a new one - The Dinosaur that Pooped the Bed.

Review: The Rough Guide to The Lake District

It seems ages ago I was telling you all about my budget holiday, and I suppose it was - way back in February, what with moving house and work and blogging it has just flown.

This week I've got a few days off coming up and we've been trying to work out where to go and so I dug out my holiday stuff, guide books, maps things like that and remembered I'd not told you about a lovely book DK sent me in February.  I'd mentioned to them about going on holiday when they send me the fabulous Factivity books to review and they tucked some bonus treats into the box for me and the kids, among these was "The Rough Guide to The Lake District".

This book was so helpful both planning on holiday, as it is set out in a really easy to read format and covers all the popular touristy parts of the Lakes.

Books for Sale or swap

I've done it.... have taken a big de-cluttering step and cleared out my bookcase.

Some of these books are well loved, some brand new.  Some hardback, some paperback.

All for sale at 50p each + p&p (this will depend on size/ weight of book), payment via paypal.   Alternatively will swap - I'll link my book 'wish list' up when I've done it.

If you live in/ can get to Sheffield then happy for collection in person.

Moving House: Books for kids

As I mentioned in my post about preparing children for a house move (here) one of the ways is to read stories with young children as a way to discuss their feelings and concerns.
My boys are HUGEEE Topsy and Tim fans so when we discovered "Topsy and Tim Move House" it was an instant addition to our collection.

Topsy and Tim: Move House (Ladybird)
Join Topsy and Tim as they prepare to move house with Mummy and Dad. In Topsy and Tim Move House, the twins are moving house but there is a lot of work to do. There are curtains to take down, toys to pack and pets to look after. It is an exciting time for Topsy and Tim, but Kitty, their cat, isn't quite so sure about the move...

But this got me thinking - what other books are there around?
Here's some of the ones we found - perhaps you have some other tried and tested suggestions?

50 books that every child should read by 16

At the beginning of the month, to celebrate World Book Day, a survey of 2,000 readers by Sainsbury's found that the classic books parents grew up with are popular choices to read to their own kids.  It's certainly true in this house with Magic Faraway Tree, Famous Five, Flat Stanley and Roald Dahl tales already hitting our read pile before Ben is even 7 years old.

Something that really shocks me - where are the Mr Men, Thomas the Tank Engine or Topsy and Tim books?  I lived on Babysitters Club and Sweet Valley Kids/ Twins/ High/ University books and Naughtiest Girl in the school series shame none of them have hit the top 50.  What favourites did you have that are missing from the list?

How many have you read or are planning on reading with your children?  

I have taken the list and rearranged it but if you want to see the original order it's here.

Best Book for ...... Reading as an adult when it is designed for children

The award for this one has to go to Harry Potter by JK Rowling.

If you haven't heard of it (who am I kidding) Harry Potter is an orphan who starts his journey as an ordinary 10 year old boy with magical powers living in a 'Muggle' or non-magical world.  He finds out on his 11th birthday that he is in fact a wizard.  As a wizard he was invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where much of the 7 books take place.   As the books progress, each one documenting a year of his life, we see Harry and his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger grow up and develop magically as well as socially and emotionally. They face all the challenges teenagers face such as changing friendships and exams, and some not to ordinary - the greatest challenge of all, Voldermort.

Chickywiggle's Bookshelf - 2015

I have decided to make better use of my Bookspot tab so am going to keep my ongoing list of what is on (and off) my bookshelf here.

Yes my list has reduced considerable, and noo you're right I've not read them all.  But I figured a lot of them have been there for 5 years or so and if I've not read them by now then lets be honest I'm not going to now.  

I have my favourite authors with books I've still to read and kept a few extras that I might read, but otherwise I'm going to try and sell or swap them.... so if you fancy taking a look.....

The Chapter Book Challenge 2015

Last year we really enjoyed joining in with Child-Led Chaos' 300 Picture Book Challenge, it really made us think about just how much we were reading.  However it took a long time to keep track of everything and. as you will have noticed, we forgot to record it quite a bit.

This year the boys are a bit older and we are moving onto bigger books, that's not to say we won't be reading Thomas, Topsy and Tim, Elmer, Puddle Lane and all our other favourites (Noah is still only 3 after all) but it does mean we can crack on with some of out Chapter (or books with lots of various stories in) books.

My aim is to read at least 26 of these with the boys, initially I was going for 52 but that's pushing it a bit as quite a few would take longer then a week to read.
I've made a start with the list from those that are already on our shelves but it's not complete yet as I want to leave room for ones they might choose themselves or ones we may encounter on our journey this year.

e-books vs tree-books

Don't get me wrong I LOVE the idea of an e-book.  I've often considered buying an e-reader or tablet and putting the app on it.  I have read the odd few pages of e-books on my android smartphone but it is so small that I could never read a whole book on it... we do read e-books on the internet occasionally (small few page ones),  and of course when you want to read 'that type' of book on a bus load of people an e-book is so much less embarrassing :).

Reading Bingo 2014 (updated 14.7.14)

This year I am going to attempt the Random House's 2014 Reading Bingo Challenge. 

What is the Reading Bingo challenge I hear you ask?   well basically you have a gamecard (below)available from Random House's website.  The aim is to tick off as many books from the card as possible (if your book covers more than 1 square, bonus!).

Zoe and Beans by Chloe and Mick Inkpen (book review)

Wow i cannot believe how long it has taken me to finally sit down and write this (didn't help I have clearly saved the original photos I took in a very well filed folder on my laptop and now can't find them).

Right back at the beginning of March my boys were lucky enough to win 2 signed copies of Zoe and Beans books from Macmillan Children's twitter competition.

Why my family love Usborne children's books

To celebrate Usborne Day they are running a competition (until Midnight on 5th October) to win £300 of fabulous Usborne books.

To win you need to e-mail and tell them what it is you like about Usborne Children's Books ....... what you LIKE - it would be easier to say what we DIDN'T like*

But I figured...... why stop at an e-mail when I could tell the WORLD how fantastic their books are.


Usborne have been producing their stunning children's books for 40 years now (that's older then me!) which means not only did I have have them when I was younger but they were an instant hit with my children and will continue to feature in their childhood.

Blog A Day - 29th September 2013 - my goals for October

Day 29 - My goals for October

What do you hope to achieve?
do you want to master a skill?  go somewhere?  finish a UFO?  make something creative?  Cook something new? Blog about something in particular?

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I'm going to try and set a goal for each aspect of my life for October.

A blog a day in september - 6th September 2013 - Share my favourite book

Day 6 - September 6th........ National Read A Book Day: Share your favourite book.

It's National Read A Book Day (well in America at least) as Julia Hart explains in her blog here

so what better chance to share and recommend your favourite book........ can you pick just 1??   I know I can't!!

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I LOVE books, as you can probably guess from my Bookspot tab.

My bookshelf is overflowing, chick lit, romance, real life stories, hardback, paperback, factual...... and then there is Terry Pratchett's discworld series.