Monday, 7 March 2011
The Stray Kitten
Labels:
Gavin Rowe,
Judy Waite,
Little Tiger Press,
The Stray Kitten
Regular readers of this blog might remember our review of "Mouse, Look Out!" by Judy Waite and Gavin Rowe. A dark tale that seemed slightly menacing for younger readers, but with a fairly happy ending that lifted it somewhat.
The Stray Kitten is a very similar tale, this time detailing the young life of a lost moggy as it learns to live out in the wild where every day is a fight for survival, and a learning process.
The lovable kitten is cautious, wise but sadly always hungry.
Mid-way through this book, the story takes quite a dark twist (as did "Mouse, Look out!"). Probably not suitable for the very young but certainly eminently suitable for children who have inquiring minds and like to read about characters and situations that are anything but fluffy and fancy-free.
Charlotte's best bit: The kitten vs the bulldozer "is scary!"
Daddy's favourite bit: Wondering what happened to the world mid-way through the book.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Muchas Gracias, Abingdon Blog
The fantastic Abingdon Blog recently covered Mostly Books and World Book day. Mostly Books is an important independent Abingdon bookshop, one of two in the town (the other being The Abingdon Bookstore). Both shops stock a varied selection of adult and children's books that fall outside the normal chain-store 'big publisher' stock.
The coverage also included a link back to this humble blog so many thanks to the Abingdon Blog for the coverage, and a warm welcome to all new visitors finding their way here.
As a catch-up, ReadItDaddy is a children's book blog with a view to covering a varied selection of books every week, most of which are borrowed from the excellent Abingdon Library - which has a brilliant children's section.
Comments and feedback are most welcome as are new followers!
Friday, 4 March 2011
What shall I make?
Most children love playing with Play Doh or Plasticine, but what about dough? A child's flights of fantasy are triggered when his mum gives him a lump of chapati dough while cooking. The little boy busies himself making all sorts of animals and characters, until they get the better of him!
A big-print hardback book with plenty of illustrations (which can be used to teach children how to make their own characters - better still there's a very easy to make recipe for Chapatis at the end too!)
Charlotte's best bit: Making a cat
Daddy's favourite bit: Making a snake
Rating: 4 out of 5
Mog's Amazing Birthday Caper
Silly old forgetful Mog is one of the most endearing cat characters in books. Judith Kerr's feline fusspot is the perfect subject for a rather innovative and whimsical look at ABCs. Each page of the story is peppered with words beginning with each letter of the alphabet (though Kerr uses a bit of poetic license with some of the trickier letters, naturally).
Rhythmic storytelling is coupled with illustrations of Mog's rather strange dreams. Do cats dream of more than just chasing mice? Find out in the book!
Charlotte's best bit: Jugs of Jelly
Daddy's favourite bit: Indians and Ice-Cream
Rating: 4 out of 5
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
Mr Bloom elbows Mr Tumble aside...
Labels:
Ben Faulks,
CBeebies,
Earworm,
Mr Bloom's Nursery
Uh oh, there may be trouble ahead. Charlotte seems to have completely fallen in love with "Mr Bloom's Nursery", a new Cbeebies programme. When asked the other day whether she liked Mr Bloom or Mr Tumble best, she answered "Mr Bloom". Never thought I'd see the day.
Although this is a book blog it's nigh on impossible to ignore the influence certain television programmes have on our youngsters. Even the most holier-than-thou parent on the planet would probaby admit to sneaking the kids off to watch TV while they get on with any number of tasks that present themselves during a busy day.
So Mr Bloom - new hero for a generation of toddlers who aren't content to put up with the normal toy-selling licensed programmes from across the pond. Home grown children's television (certainly on CBeebies) has never been better.
With its roots (pardon the pun) in a touring stage show, Mr Bloom's Nursery is the first major project from the BBC's new Salford-based studios. Handy for Mr Bloom's star, Ben Faulks who lives a few minutes down the road from the specially constructed allotment used in the programme.
Local children are brought in to assist Mr Bloom with his gardening duties, and it's the instant identification with the children in the programme, coupled with the (extremely) catchy music and vegetable characters that make it such a hit with youngsters.
Excellent stuff but if I can get through a day without humming "meet the veggies"...
(P.S Don't worry Justin / Mr Tumble, I'm sure it's just a passing phase for Charlotte!)
I Love You Daddy
Amongst the presents for my recent 43rd birthday (maaaan I'm getting old!) was this book. The perfect snuggle-up book to read to a lovely daughter, I Love You Daddy tells the tale of a little toddler bear's first foray into the big wide world, ably assisted by his loving daddy.
Little bear learns how to climb trees, how to bother bees and lots of other things in between. Kristina Stephenson's lovely cuddly illustrations are excellent. There are a ton of very similar books on the market but this one (from Marks and Spencer) is very charming and touching.
Nice pressie mummy!
Charlotte's best bit: Toddler bear and the bees.
Daddy's favourite bit: Daddy tickles!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Bridget Fidget
Labels:
Bridget Fidget,
Joe Berger,
Puffin Books
Bridget Fidget is like every single toddler you've ever met. Full of seemingly boundless energy, more curious than a cat, and with a wild imagination that produces an endless sense of wonder.
Joe Berger's books are as busy as their central character. When a mysterious (and huge) parcel turns up at Bridget's house, her flights of fancy lead her to believe that her parents have ordered her a surprise pet.
What happens when Bridget dives into the gigantic cardboard box and polystyrene snow? What does she find?
You'll have to read and find out yourself, of course. The book fizzes with energy and is perfect for children who are chock full of wonder and enthusiasm.
Charlotte's best bit: Bridget's 'pet'
Daddy's favourite bit: Slightly dim mummy character.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Topsy and Tim go to the Dentist
Despite the absolute terror Charlotte expressed the last time we visited my lovely dentist, she maintains a healthy obsession with all things dental and medical. Topsy and Tim go the the Dentist is one of a series of 'life lesson' books by Jean and Gareth Adamson, with illustrations by Belinda Worseley.
Published by Ladybird Books, Topsy and Tim books feature likeable characters, bold and clear illustrations and easy to follow text so they're great for young readers as well as great books to read to fidgety toddlers.
In the book, Topsy and Tim both learn the importance of proper tooth brushing, the mysterious qualities of the infamous 'pink drink' and how a tiny little hole in your tooth can turn into a nasty great big hole in no time at all.
It's all fairly gentle stuff and is purposely designed to put children at ease. The book has a neat little puzzle at the end, and a great map of Topsy and Tim's home town. Likeable stuff and it's probably worth tracking down the other books in the series, covering common themes such as new baby brothers (or sisters), swimming lessons and first days at school.
Charlottes best bit: Topsy and Tim's friend who ate too many sweets.
Daddy's favourite bit: The excellent map at the end of the book.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Monday, 14 February 2011
Jinnie Ghost
Apologies for the short hiatus in reviews but now we've got over our colds, and have managed to get to Abingdon Library again, we're back in business.
Starting off with a book that, by rights, should scare the pants off Charlotte, ghosts and monsters are delicately woven into this tale of a roving ghost. Visiting children in the town in turn, Jinnie Ghost peppers their dreams (and nightmares) with visions both surreal, menacing and serene.
It's definitely not a book you'd want to read a toddler at bedtime. Too many instances of 'things crawling under the bed' and a reference to the Bogeyman which could make youngsters slightly squeamish.
And yet...
Perhaps Charlotte does take after me a little, particularly given that her favourite film / CD soundtrack AND popup book of the moment is Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" (much to the exasperation of my long-suffering wife!).
There's something intriguing and attractive to youngsters in books of this ilk, where the fantastic, the slightly scary and the paranormal mix with normal everyday children and their lives.
Of the six books we grabbed in our library trip this week, Jinnie Ghost has proved to be the most popular by far and that's partly due to the gently poetic story, and partly due to the superb artwork by Berlie Doherty.
Recommended, but during daylight hours.
Charlotte's best bit: Naturally, the fact that the first child that Jinne Ghost 'haunts' is a girl called Charlotte who wants to be a princess.
Daddy's favourite bit: The dreamlike feel to the artwork and the lovely floaty Jinnie herself
Rating: 4 out of 5
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
What's inside? The Alphabet Book
There are a thousand and one ABC books on the market, but Satoshi Kitamura brings his own quirky style to "What's inside?"
Each page precedes the next two letters of the alphabet, with lots of objects in each illustration for inquiring toddlers to wrap their developing brains around. Kitamura's scratchy illustrations are chock full of detail so don't expect the usual A is for Apple, B is for Bear stuff here.
We've read quite a few of Kitamura's books which are always a delicious mesh of westernised urban life suffused with an underlying current of pure fantasy.
A novel approach to getting your young ones to learn their ABCs.
Charlotte's best bit: I is for Iguana, J is for Jack in the Box.
Daddy's favourite bit: The rat's cute little house.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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