Ladybird Books

Sometimes I think there should be a 12 step program for people like me who love books and are keen to pass on that love of books to our children.  We have books everywhere round the house, the boys have a bookcase in the conservatory, one each in their rooms and one on the landing too.

So when I was asked to be a Gurgle Girl and offered some lovely  ladybird books, I did a great big jump and said yes please.

Ladybird books have come on a lot since I was younger, but saying that I still love them and do collect the old ones from charity shops when ever I see them and I have some from my childhood too.

Reading Topsy and Tim - A real blast from the past

We were sent a selection of age appropriate self readers and also Topsy and Tim go to school sticker book and Topsy and Tim go green.  Mini adored the Topsy and Tim books, they were a great big hit and I would recommend them to anyone.

In fact we loved all the Ladybird books, I especially liked the Read it Yourself range which has traditional titles like The Gingerbread Man and Jack and the Beanstalk and Maxi read all of them with ease.  Mini loved listening to the story's and also read some of the level 1 book himself, but as they are well know story, he could pick up any of the books and tell us the story from looking at the images.

Ladybird books have moved with the times and have bright and bold illustrations and a great weight to them, but they are traditional enough to really appeal to parents and grandparents buying them and reading them with their children.  

I liked the fact that the Read it yourself books all had a page of questions about the story, so you can tests your child comprehension of the story.

A real great addition to any child bookcase.

Penny and the Pirates

Penny and the Pirates is a book which is is produced by Guernsey Post and tells the story of Penny The Positie and what happens when she comes across a strange old post box.

I have to say that both the boys really enjoyed this, it might not be the best written children's story book, but Maxi enjoyed reading it, although it does have a couple of tricky words in it (island and Fierce), he managed to read it all and loved the treasure map and then was delighted by the Guernsey stamps at the end of the book (which you can use).  I am not sure if there is such a thing as a bad book as long as it encourages children to read and enjoy reading.

 

My boys love anything to do with pirates, maps and stamps at the moment, so this was perfect timing for them.  Mini has recently been to the post office, sorting office and posted a letter home, so was very apt for him too.

There is also some sheets you can download to colour available on the website.

Review from a free sample

ZingZillas The Album - A MiniMad Dance along

Right before I start, I just wanted to answer a few questions with regards to review  and blog becoming too commercial, which have been raised amongst a number of the craft blogs at the moment.

Yes I do reviews, especially if they fit in with my blog and my family.  We do not have lots of money at the moment and reviews do make a difference with the household budget.  We get things we wouldn't have normally purchased, but no one can buy my opinion.  I am a tactless honest northern mother, I tell it as I see it and I will always give an honest review.

I actually think that reviews by real people can be invaluable and have become involved in The Great Toy Guide this year and become a Toys R Us Toyolgogist because I actually used The Great Toy Guide to help purchase toys for the boys last Christmas.  It helped me stop making expensive mistakes and please don't think that we keep everything because we certainly do not.  I am keen for the boys not to become spoilt and they know they are review toys and they have them for 2 weeks.

Any way what I am trying to say is that if people think that my blog is too commercial that that is their issue, not mine.  I started this blog as a record of family and my crafting and the boys artwork and it has changed and grown just like my family has.  The small income I have gained has been invaluable in keeping us afloat during hard times.

Anyway on to the main event, which is MiniMad as it should be.  We were given an advance copy of ZingZillas the Album on Monday and this clip is Mini's first time listening to it.

Since then it hasn't been off, in fact it is playing this morning as I type this and will be going in to the car for our Sunday Family trip out.  It is a children's CD which we all like, which is says it all really.

Edited to add - I am now stuck singing ZingZillas songs and the CD is in MadDad's car - I bet he listened to it again this morning!

Quality Time with Mini - Face Painting!

Mini and Maxi usually got to football practice on a Saturday morning, but mini has a bit of a cold after starting school, so we decided that we would spend the morning together and let MadDad and Maxi go off to Saturday Club together, whilst we had some quality time together.

So we got out the face paints we had been given as part of the TRU Toyologist programme and had a morning of painting and fun.

Mini decided that he wanted to try out some different ones for Halloween, so I give you the skeleton and vampire looks.

But before you think I got out of this scot free, just being the painter, then think again.  Mini decided that it was only fair that he have a go at painting mummy..............  So let me present Mrs Mad the wicked witch of the North.

The paints are so easy to use and watch off very easily and I removed Mini's first design with baby wipes.  We had such a fun morning.  Plus we are going to look really good at this years Halloween Party.

Review

We were provided with a set of boys Snazaroo Face Paints from Toys R Us which retail at  £9.99.  They are really easy to use and the accompanying booklet gives you loads of ideas for images which you can copy and step by step instructions.  The only issue is the booklet uses both the girl and boy pains which contain different colours and paints.

The pack comes with both a sponge applicator and also a brush and both are very easy tiouse, as you can see from the photo of me, which Mini did all my himself from the book.

TopThat Publishing

I love books, let me say that again for effect, I love books.  I adore the smell, feel and joy you get from books and I am hoping to instill that in both the boys.

I am lucky that both the both the boys adore visits to the library and having books read to them, but even better they are both really starting to enjoy the ability to read themselves too.

So when Top That! publishing got in touch asking if the boys would like a couple of books I jumped at the chance.

We received Magnetic Mission to Space (£6.99) and Learn with Neddy Teddy and His Phonic Friends. (£5.39)

The first thing I notices is how wonderful and firm the books feel, which really does make a difference where children are concerned, They are well made and are bright and colourful too.

Magnetic mission to the stars really captivated Maxi, he loved naming the planets (even though the names are not in the book), whilst Mini had loads of fun turning the rocket through the pages. 

This book has been picked up again and again since we received it.  A wonderful boy to received and give.

Neddy Teddy and His Phonic fiends is a great book for any child starting to learn phonetically, but it is a little easy for my boys and didn't hold there attention once they had read it once. But saying that it is a wonderful concept for a book with spiny wheels which reveal words and images which link to the phonic sound and then a poem which uses all those words that the child has revealed.

It supports UK national literacy standards and contains all Reception age high frequency words and also includes year 1 and 2 key words too.

Would we buy from Top That! Publishing? - yes I would, they are lovely books, something to really treasure and enjoy.

Peter Rabbit Organic Juices

The nice people at Peter Rabbit Organics sent us some of their fruit juices for the minimads to try.  Now I don't have the resources to often buy prepackaged drinks, so this was a real treat for the boys and we took them with us when we travelled to Bucklebury for the TRU Toyologist meet up.

The juices come in three flavours Apple & Grape, Apple & Blackcurrant and Pear and are a blend of water and organic fruit juice, with no added sugar or other artificial nasties.  They come in 150ml sized tetra pak cartons with a mini expandable straw.

After giving the boys Peter Rabbit pasta and sauces in the past I held out high hopes for these juices, but I have to say that the boys just didn't like them.

The main complaint was that they were too watered down for them.  I tried them too and found all bar the Apple & Blackcurrant very weak indeed.  The thing is both the boys will drink water with no issue and also drink diluted fruit juice and squash, but they just wouldn't drink the Peter Rabbit Organic Juices.

Maybe they will be better for a younger child who's palate has not yet been exposed to other fruit based drinks.

I actually have 2 Blackcurrant and 1 Apple juice drink left and the first person to comment that they would like it, I will post them out too.