"Oh for Heaven's sake, there must be a site somewhere that does this!" I exclaimed in frustration as I searched in vain. I was looking for a book. A friend of mine had just had a baby and I wanted to buy a book each for a new baby and his older brother as a … Continue reading Where did the idea for Storybook Names come from?
Celebrity sports authors – the best and worst
Having waded through many celebrity author books (although thankfully before either Marie Kondo or George Galloway have published theirs - I'm not kidding, although if I were, I'm not sure I could improve on that combination), I have sub-divided them according to their day jobs. Here are my thoughts on all of them, whether of … Continue reading Celebrity sports authors – the best and worst
RIP Terry Jones
Although of course I was very sad to hear of Terry Jones' death the other day, I was at least cheered that much of the coverage mentioned his output as a children's author. Erik the Viking arrived too late for my own childhood, but I often used his books in the classroom, and they never … Continue reading RIP Terry Jones
Recommended reading from early Autumn
I managed to read a few more long ones more recently - and at least I had a bit more choice having finally posted the celebrity authors article I had been working on for ages! (find it here at: https://storybooknames.co.uk/2019/07/30/celebrity-authors-my-top-ten/ ). But on to new stuff.... Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery ...well, new … Continue reading Recommended reading from early Autumn
Recommended reading from July
Another cracking month with the odd tear-jerker in amongst the general silliness. My Worst Book Ever by Allan Ahlberg, illustrated by Bruce Ingham An entertaining book about the process of writing, illustrating and publishing itself. This would be a great book to introduce children what goes into producing a book, but is equally enjoyable in … Continue reading Recommended reading from July
Celebrity authors – my top ten
I have been intrigued by the (relatively) recent phenomenon or authors-who-aren't-actually-authors. Are they any good? Can any patterns be observed with them? And so my quest began - to find the celebrity authors whose books are actually worth reading. Here is the run-down of my personal top ten: Number 10 - Matt Millz by Harry … Continue reading Celebrity authors – my top ten
Recommended reading from June
Read the Book, Lemmings! by Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Zachariah OHora A very entertaining picture book with adorable illustrations, based on the premise that lemmings don't hurl themselves off cliffs...but has anyone let the lemmings know that? There are positive messages about the power of teamwork and the importance of literacy, but they underpin the … Continue reading Recommended reading from June
11 reasons to love Where the Wild Things Are
1 It is timeless Where the Wild Things Are was written in 1963 but barely seems to have dated. Wolf outfits will always be in demand. Parents will always have moments where they are at the end of their tether. And some children will always behave appallingly, even to cute little dogs. 2 The text … Continue reading 11 reasons to love Where the Wild Things Are
Recommended reading from May
What Ever After: Sink or Swim by Sarah Mlynowski An entertaining read, this would be a good addition to the 'Fractured Fairy Tales' genre for those who have grown out of Laurence Anholt's Seriously Silly Stories series. This one is based on The Little Mermaid, whilst others re-tell Snow White, Cinderella and others. Through The … Continue reading Recommended reading from May
Foxes – friend or foe?
Foxes are often chosen as an animal protagonist in a children's book. Cunning, quiet and carnivorous*, they are often viewed as the enemy. But is this always the case? Let's examine a few and discover whether foxes are friends...or foes. *Actually, foxes are omnivorous rather than carnivorous, as they eat fruit and vegetables as well … Continue reading Foxes – friend or foe?
Stories to make you feel clever
Of the many delights when sharing a book with a child, one of the greatest is experiencing that moment when they realize that they have got one up on the protagonist/ villain in the story. Often, this is provided in a picture book by the words telling one story and the pictures telling another. As … Continue reading Stories to make you feel clever
