As difficult as it might sound to review an outdoorsy book under the current circumstances we all find ourselves, we know that this situation won't last forever, and if there's one thing us stir-crazy housebound folk will all need once the current lockdown rules are relaxed, it's a whopping great big dose of the great outdoors.

As a family we're normally outdoorsy types, and in the glorious weather we've (sadly) been having lately, we would normally be out somewhere in the middle of the countryside indulging in the sort of adventures Mary Richard richly describes in the latest in her "Take Me To" series, "Take Me Outdoors.

Each of the five adventure chapters gives you something to aspire to once we're all allowed out again, and each is designed to help kids get excited about getting back to nature and out into the countryside or even a local park or green area if you're a city dweller. There are always adventures to be had and the journal-like approach of this book encourages a high level of interaction as kids (and their adults) explore and record their own adventures right in the book itself.

Mary's gentle fun text is brilliant for getting kids to look at their world in a different way, rather than taking even the small and seemingly insignificant things for granted.

With tons of amazing facts about nature, flora and fauna alike, this is a total win for us and we love reading it - imagining the day (hopefully very very soon) when we'll be able to use the book out there in the wild and see its full potential.

Sum this book up in a sentence: Another fab addition to the "Take Me To" series, encouraging us all to imagine the great outdoors and all the wonders it will hold for us once we get to roam free once again.

"Take Me Outdoors" by Mary Richards is out on 30th April 2020, published by Agnes and Aubrey (kindly supplied for review). 

We absolutely love these brilliant little journals from Mary Richards, and she's got you covered if you're about to start "big school" for the first time, and may have worries and anxieties.

"Take me to School" follows on from the brilliant "Take me to Museums" and "Take me on Holiday" (the previous titles in the series that were very well received).

This time there are lots of school subjects to think about, and as before, a brilliant journal to fill in as your learning journey begins.

A neatly sized book that positively invites you to write and draw in it? (Just don't do this with any of your new school books, OK?)
This innovative, interactive book is divided into five ‘adventure’ chapters. Children can start the book at any point in the school term.

Each chapter is designed to be completed in one week (though it not prescriptive), and is divided into themes that encourage them to explore their surroundings, record their thoughts and draw what they see. As they complete lists, create pictures and answer questions they are prompted to think carefully about their surroundings, engage with their friends and look at their everyday school environment with fresh eyes. With a ‘thoughts and feelings’ section in every chapter, the book encourages positive thinking and a growth mindset.

Quirky, easy to navigate and brimming with interesting facts about schools throughout history and around the world, this book is a must-have for every primary school age student – don’t leave home without it!

Table of Contents
All About This Book • Thinking About School • School Activities • School Day •
Classroom • Teacher • Friends • Mealtimes • Playground • Thoughts and Feelings
Blank section for recording notes

Sum this book up in a sentence: a fantastic pocket-sized journal that lays out your school adventure in easy-to-complete sections, stimulating your imagination and helping you along with your first tentative steps in your big school adventure.

"Take me to School: a School Journal for Young Explorers" by Mary Richards is out now, published by Agnes and Aubrey Publishing (kindly supplied for review). 

Oh, if only we'd received these for review before we jetted off to Florida recently.

However, on our return we definitely enjoyed taking a look through two brilliantly designed activity books for culture vultures or leisure lizards.

Mary Richards' awesome new series of books are designed to be scribbled in. Starting with "Take me to Museums", youngsters can chronicle and document their own trips to fabulous places full of amazing artifacts, with tons of facts and information about some of the world's most amazing museums.

Inside the book you'll find dozens of activity pages, so grab a pen and pencil, and perhaps your best colouring pens or crayons and get busy the next time you visit an amazing museum or gallery.

Let's take a look at a sample page from inside this book...


There's lots of space for your own writing and doodles and the paper is excellent quality too, a brilliant way to get kids into journaling.

There's also "Take me on Holiday" - with a similar approach to making going on holiday even more fun with an awesome holiday journal too!

This one is perfect for avid explorers, again with loads and loads of interesting little snippets of information on desirable holiday destinations - from the most amazing hotels to the most glorious beaches.

As with "Take me to Museums", "Take Me on Holiday" has lots and lots of spaces and doodle pages for you to think about your holiday at every stage.

From your packing list (books are an essential thing to take with you, of course!) to details about where you'll be staying, what you'll be eating, the people you might meet and of course loads of space to detail all your holiday activities.

We really love the approach taken with these, not making them too busy or 'in your face' but keeping the text and illustrations fairly muted so that kids can let their own journaling take over, and really make the books their own.

Let's take a look at a sample page from this one...


Both books are a handy sized and really durable, but can also be taken apart so you can add the pages to your own scrapbook, photo album or journal (and best of all they won't weigh heavy in your luggage!)

"Take me to Museums" and "Take me on Holiday" by Mary Richards are both out now, published by Agnes and Aubrey (kindly supplied for review). 

Time for a delve into art history in a stunning fact-filled new book from Thames and Hudson...