Category: Book Reviews

This book review is in collaboration with : The Kids Book Club

Title: Big Bear

Author: Patricia Hegarty

Illustrator: Carmen Saldana

About:

“Down in the forest as bear has a doze, a small stripy bug came and sat on his nose….”

Poor sleepy bear finds a bothersome bug on the end of his nose.

Bear tried to ignore the bug with lots of warm fizzy fur the bug has decided to stay, much to bears annoyance.

Bear tries everything to get the bug to go away.

Wise owl hears the commotion and offers a solution.

Making sloth and bug new best friends.

I read this adorable story to Hamish who loved the cute animal illustrations and laughed each time bug annoyed bear.

We spoke about how to act when things annoy us and how there is a best friend for everyone …even the people who bug you.

A sweet tale that we will refer back to often.

Disclaimer : All books are sponsored unless stated and the opinions expressed within the review are my own.

This book review is in collaboration with : The Kids Book Club

Title: Once upon a Bush school

Author: Joy Husted

About:

Join the animals at Umhlali Bush school, the place where differences rule.

You’ll meet Zanzele the Zebra who is good with her letters and Andy the rhino who can add any digits.

Edgar the ostrich makes fried lettuce on toast as Mbali the elephant plays soccer.

Each of the creatures celebrate each other’s strengths and learn from teacher owl, that there is no need for jealousy because every animal is unique.

This beautifully illustrated book captures a child’s attention through familiar animals, with relatable characters.

A story written to encourage your child’s social and emotional development, with a double page of extra learning activities in the back of the book to assist you to help your child see that everyone is good at something.

Disclaimer : All books are sponsored unless stated and the opinions expressed within the review are my own.

This book review is in collaboration with : The Kids Book Club

Title: Rosie’s Travelling Takkies

Author: Melanie Rosetienstein

About:

It’s Rosie’s birthday and she receives a  pair of enchanted travelling takkies from her grandpa.
These magical shoes can transport Rosie anywhere she wants to go.

Her and Grandpa take to the skies and explore some of the wonderful places in South Africa.
From Table mountain in Cape Town to surfing in Durban, Rosie and grandpa’s journey reveals some of South Africa’s best kept secret places and shows us you are never too old to travel.
This book warmed my heart as Hamish at 3 now identifies his beloved Table mountain and could point out his grandmother’s lives in Durban.

I showed him the photos of when he too visited the point where oceans meet and photos of him at Hole in the wall.
A truly South African book and a lovely introduction to geography for little ones.

Disclaimer : All books are sponsored unless stated and the opinions expressed within the review are my own.

This book review is in collaboration with : The Kids Book Club

Title: Duck says Don’t!

Author: Alison Ritchie & Hannah George

About:

This beautifully illustrated book will bring the pond alive as your child meets the critters that live around the clear, sparkly pond.

Goose leaves Duck in charge when she goes away. Duck is very pleased and feels increadible important knowing what a responsibility it is to keep the pond clean and safe.

He promises to do his best.

The water creatures go about their day enjoying the water for all sorts of fun activities and one by one frog erects big signs forbidding anything noisy and fun.

Soon the creatures weren’t able to buzz, dive, splash, fish, race, jump,run or swim.

They were not very happy at all and go off to play elsewhere.

Duck hears how his friends think he is bossy and notices no one wants to be at the pond and so he sets about to fix his mistake.

A gentle reminder on how to be a good friend and not to be too bossy for our children.

This book comes with a CD read by Anna Crace.

Disclaimer : All books are sponsored unless stated and the opinions expressed within the review are my own.

This book review is in collaboration with : The Kids Book Club

Title: Dangerous

Author: Tim Warnes

About:

This adorable picture book is a suprise tale of friendship.

As little mole goes about his way labeling everything he finds a lumpy- bumpy thing with snippy -snappy teeth.

Mole was quite frightened and hides behind a bush typing up another lable to let people know this lumpy- bumpy thing is quite dangerous.

But mole wasn’t fast enough to lable the dangerous thing before it woke up flashing giant teeth and started to eat all the lables.

An angry mole huffed off only to be followed by the dangerous creature.

Will it eat mole or will they become friends?

Hamish loves this cute story and we had great fun discussing the ending and what he thought would happen.

A lovely way to explain tolerance, diversity and friendship because we can find a friend if we just look past our differences.

This book comes with a cd full of witty narration and original music and sound effects. There are page turner prompts for emerging readers to read along.

Disclaimer : All books are sponsored unless stated and the opinions expressed within the review are my own.

This book review is in collaboration with : The Kids Book Club

Title: Bella the Bunny

Author: Phillipa Morassi

About:

The Author who brought you Sammy the Starfish and Fred the fox has done it again with a beautiful tale of looking at life through joy and gratitude.Bella the Bunny is a hop hop happy bunny full of joy and wonder. She meets up with the angry Bentley badger and shows him how to turn his frown upside down.At first he really struggles but soon he begins to focus on the positive and sends out happy vibes.I love that the feeling friends books teach children how to manage big emotions and introduce positive behaviour steps your child can learn to use if a big emotion is in their path.The cute characters are drawn by Megy and there is a page on this topic, for parents by Paul Bushell, Psychologist and author.

Disclaimer : All books are sponsored unless stated and the opinions expressed within the review are my own.

This book review is in collaboration with : The Kids Book Club

Title: Turn and Learn Baby Animals

Author: Priddy Books

About:

This sturdy interactive board book if bright and uses real animal photos to keep your child engaged and learning.

The turning wheel is made of strong card and tough enough for many hours off toddler’s turning.

Hamish finds it quite hard to turn so I often turn the wheel and he yells STOP when we find the correct missing animal.

Full of small pieces of information that are easy for toddlers to absorb and remember.

A lovely book that I often pop into a bag to keep Hamish busy when we are out.

Disclaimer : All books are sponsored unless stated and the opinions expressed within the review are my own.

This book review is in collaboration with : The Kids Book Club

Title: Charlie eats a Rainbow

Author: Karen Bishop

About:

Charlie is a little boy who loves mountain biking. He spends all day doing tricks with his friends and enters a big bicycle race.His excitement is short lived, when a few days before the race, he falls ill. Not wanting to go to the doctor his mom suggests he eat a rainbow to chase the nasty flu away.Charlie learns all about the rainbow of fruit and vegetables he can eat to stay healthy and fight off any germs and sickness bugs.Hamish loved this story and could relate to Charlie, he also asked me to make him a rainbow plate to eat.Whilst I don’t struggle to get Hamish to eat his fruit and vegetables, this beautiful book would assist in encouraging young children to eat healthier and educate older children on how to eat to stay healthy.Written in rhyme it makes a wonderful first reader and there’s an informative section for parents at the back.

Disclaimer : All books are sponsored unless stated and the opinions expressed within the review are my own.