One of the things we've really enjoyed is seeing C playing, now that the slight pressure of entrance exams and the snowball of homework has shrunk a bit, it's just good to see her easing off the throttle and just being a kid again.
Normally she loves nothing better than tucking herself away with a good book when she has spare time, but with a trio of brilliant new items from Laurence King, we've been rediscovering our love of games.
First up is "Super Happy Families" - a colourful and brilliantly designed card game from Aidan Onn, illustrated by Kirsti Davidson.
You're probably familiar with the old card game Happy Families, but imagine what it would be like to play a version where everyone has superpowers!
Team up magnetic Maggie and anti-gravity Felicity from the Quantum family or unite Fiammetta and Lolly Elemental. Collect illustrated cards of 44 super-powered goodies and baddies and place them into superfamily groups. Whoever gets the most groups first wins! It's quick to master, but very competitive and fun for 2-4 players.
"Super Happy Families" is available now from Laurence King.
More games please! We do love a game of Dominoes, but why should tiny tots be left out...!
"Dino Dominoes" with illustrations by Caroline Selmes is a great fun simplified version of the well-loved tabletop game.
Instead of matching up numbers, kids can enjoy matching up different types of dinosaurs (and if they're VERY clever, they can have a go at naming them as they do so!)
 |
| Dinos and Dominoes! What a great mix! |
Super-colourful illustrations and sturdy domino pieces are perfectly made for younger players, and this is a fab fun game for 2-4 players - yep even adults can join in!
"Dino Dominoes" is out now, from Laurence King.
Last but not least, a gorgeous book with a ton of excellent play value...
"Fairy Tale Play by Julia Spiers is more than just a storytelling book, it's a pop up book with 10 different scenes - and 100 cardboard characters to use in each scene to make up your own stories.
Children really love toy theatres and interactive storytelling play, and this book offers zillions of possibilities for taking well-loved fairy tales and acting them out, or doing what we love doing, mashing them all together in a truly brilliant and chaotic mix of different fairy tales all clashing hilariously!
The pop-up sections are really nicely done, sturdy but not too fussy for smaller hands.
The card characters are also brilliantly recognisable and beautifully illustrated, perfect for storytellers everywhere to put on their own productions for mum and dad.
"Fairy Tale Play" by Julia Spiers is out now, published by Laurence King.
(All items kindly supplied for review).