Archives

Daisy Daydream Bus Rhymes And Jokes by Sue Wickstead

Aug20

Fires Up The Imagination

Daisy Daydream Bus Rhymes And Jokes by Sue Wickstead is an absolutely wonderful book for both young children and early readers. I think it would be just perfect for the under eights.

The nursery rhymes are based on traditional ones including Humpty Dumpty and The Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe. Sue Wickstead has updated them whilst maintaining all the charm. I think adults would enjoy this book too as we can appreciate the wording in the rhymes.

Daisy Daydream is based on a play bus from 1987 as revealed at the end of the book.

Daisy Daydream is a fun-filled bus that awakens the imagination in children.

Continue reading →

Every Tree Has It’s Place by Zach Wilson

Aug5

Simply Beautiful

Every Tree Has It’s Place by Zach Wilson is a beautiful book for the under fives. It is based on Ephesians 2:10. “For we are God’s handiwork. Created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

The story has a simple message – we were created for a purpose, to help others and each one of us is special. This is reinforced throughout the book. The story is easy for little ones to follow and to join in.

The characters are Paw Paw Bear and his grandson Bridger. We see the unique relationship built across the generations, united by love and shared experiences.

All the book is beautifully illustrated by Mutiara Arum. The bears are appealing to all with their friendly faces. Each page is simply drawn but detailed that enable us to have discussions with our children.

Continue reading →

All Creatures Come & Sing by Kristina Schoette

Jun10

Simply Beautiful

All Creatures Come And Sing by Kristina Schoette is a simply beautiful Christian book for the under fives. I think adults would appreciate its beauty too.

The story surrounds the hymn All Creatures Of Our God & King by William Henry Draper. It is a hymn that I am familiar with which enabled me to sing along in my head.

The message of the story is that we need to share our praises with all. It reminded me that Jesus said to go into all the world to make disciples, and also to not hide our light under a bushel.

We have the Good News of Jesus and it is too good not to share. We need to give the hope we have to a world in desperate need of hope and good news.

Continue reading →

The Stories Grandma Forgot And How I Found Them by Nadine Aisha Jassat

May23

Ripples

The Stories Grandma Forgot And How I Found Them by Nadine Aisha Jassat is a charming contemporary novel that is perfect for ages ten years and over. I am considerably older than the target market but I loved it.

The novel is about family, roots, love and grief. A twelve year old searches for her father whom she was told had died, but she is not convinced. With a new found friendship, she pieces together the clues of his life.

Children can be cruel. We witness the antics of Harry who bullies the lead character. She shows a maturity beyond her years in her approach to him.

Grief can last a lifetime. We witness a mother who is carrying on life for the sake of her daughter, after her husband died. The family unit is still made up of three members as they now look after the grandmother who has Alzheimer’s. “Alzheimer’s … it feels like… the person is slowly walking away.” The twelve year old has the ability to care for her grandmother and draw her out of herself as we glimpse who she once was. “It’s like having her fully back. Like she’s left Alzheimer’s in another time.” Grandmother and granddaughter are united by a secret.

Continue reading →