Archives

The Antics Of Mrs Paws by Christine Gregory

Jul24

Wonderful

The Antics Of Mrs Paws by Christine Gregory is a wonderful collection of six stories for the under fives, about a delightful bear called Mrs Paws.

The book fires up the imagination of both children and adults, who are reading it, alike. Mrs Paws is brought to life under the masterful pan of the author.

All the stories are warm and welcoming, about everyday things that are easy to imagine – going on holiday, baking etc. They are told in the third person as the reader is drawn into the tale.

The book is beautifully illustrated. Mrs Paws is delightfully round and just crying out to be loved and hugged by all.

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Edward Bear Stories by Ruth Beavington

Jul24

Delightfully Charming

Edward Bear Stories by Ruth Beavington is an absolutely delightful book for young children or for anyone who is a teddy bear addict – that’s me!

There are ten stories around a range of subjects from a new baby to a beach trip to winter. All the stories are totally charming, appealing to all. I could not choose a favourite.

Every page has a photograph of Edward Bear wearing various appropriate outfits and in different poses and places. Each photo is accompanied by a sentence of writing, sometimes in rhyme. The photographs are packed with detail, giving you lots to talk about with your children.

Either at the beginning or the end of most tales there are questions or activities. Sometimes it is a choice – what do you like out of…? Sometimes it is hunting for a particular object on each page – for example, a yellow duck.

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The Primrose Railway Children by Jacqueline Wilson

Jul6

To The Moon And Back

The Primrose Railway Children by Jacqueline Wilson is a wonderful modern re-telling of E. Nesbit’s The Railway Children. It is perfect for ages eight years and over and is sure to delight whatever your age.

I am a huge fan of the 1970 film but have never warmed to the original book. However The Primrose Railway Children captured my attention and my heart from the start. It follows similar but slightly different storylines to the original and is absolutely charming.

The action is told via ten year old Phoebe in the first person. She is realistic, likable and easy to empathise with. I ‘travelled’ through the novel in her shoes. She has a fourteen year old sister Becks and an eleven year old brother Perry, who has autism. We witness the ups and downs of sibling relationships. They basically love each other with the occasional spat.

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The Adventures Of Flora Bee: Saving Ruth Bee And Other Stories by Rhodri Davies

Jun28

A Pure Delight

The Adventures Of Flora Bee: Saving Ruth Bee And Other Stories by Rhodri Davies is an absolutely delightful book for young children.

There are four individual tales which are totally charming and cleverly thought out. Adults reading the tales will raise a smile as we recognize several play-on-words. I particularly liked Red Bee Racing and also the fact that the whole of Wales was singing just one song all the time – Delilah by Tom Jones! That tale was hilarious.

The winning formula of double page spreads with six illustrations and six rhyming couplets continues to delight young and old alike.

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