Monday 22 April 2013

Kid Lit Blog Hop #14: Post Office Book Review #5 Blast From The Past

Welcome back to the Kit Lit Blog Hop #14

Well, to explain the title of this post, for anyone who didn't link in last hop, I have a confession. Sometimes I buy cheap books for Gigi from our local post office. They aren't exactly literary genius and occasionally the stories don't make any sense at all. Now that I am a permanent hostess on the hop, I was joking with Renee our illustrious CEO and master of all that is blog hop, that if we get desperate to make it to our target 100 links I may be forced to do a Post Office Book Review.

Well, today I have a blast from my past for you.
So I had to travel back to my home town last week for an unexpected visit. There was some sadness, but of course it could be relieved with a good dose of Sushi Train and a visit to the publishers warehouse in my mums local shopping centre. So confession, this is no technically a post office book review but I do have some gold for you.

Does anyone remember these.


Circa 1985.My parents have kept some of our vintage toys so Danny and I had a blast playing with these.

Plus, I found some old books that are pure genius.

Check this out. To go with my vintage cabbage patch dolls that Gigi has already claimed, we have this little beauty. 











 
This was much loved for me as a child but the hilarious part is, if you take notice, my hand writing was better then than it is now. LOL


And here is a total memory lane trip. I got this book from my Sunday school end of year party, in 1984. This was my favourite book as a child.


 
So, you are wondering where the Post Office Book Review is. Well, as I said, this is technically not quite a post office book review, but I did manage to get a load of discounted books, to keep my post office reviews coming.  Check these out....



  We cant wait to read these. Well, we have already read On The Road a million times, so stay tuned, we may have a reading for you some time soon...

 And In Closing
 Our blog friend Mia over at  http://www.pragmaticmom.com/2013/04/spine-poetry/

Posted this great Spine Poetry, so we decided to give it a go. 


 Happy Hopping Folks
Welcome to the 14th Kid Lit Blog Hop. I thought it would be a good time to remind new folks what we are all about. The Kid Lit Blog Hop takes place on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month. We decided to start up this Hop to develop a dynamic and engaged community of children's books bloggers, authors, publishers, and publicists, as well as parents seeking out their next great read. So, you are more than welcome to link in and take some time to make some new friends. Before we get on with the Hop I do want to remind you that the sign-ups for the Kid Lit Giveaway Hop, co-hosted by Mother Daughter Book Reviews and Youth Literature Reviews is NOW OPEN. The Kid Lit Giveaway Hop is taking place to honor Children's Book Week (May 13 to 19, 2013). Children's book or teen literature bloggers, authors, publishers, or publicists looking to share copies of a fabulous book are welcome to link in a giveaway for fabulous children/teen's books, gift cards, cash, or other prizes. What better way to celebrate Children's Book Week? Click on the poster below for more information. kidlit book giveaway hop  
Happy Hopping everyone and enjoy the Hop!
Kid Lit Blog Hop
<div align="center"><a href="http://motherdaughterbookreviews.com/category/kid-lit-blog-hops/" title="Kid Lit Blog Hop"><img src="http://motherdaughterbookreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Kid-Lit-Blog-Hop-Button-Sep-2012-e1349976901756.jpg" alt="Kid Lit Blog Hop" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
 

Wednesday 17 April 2013

Kid Lit Blog Hop #14 Paw Prints On The Magic Sofa

Welcome back to the Kid Lit Blog Hop #14

Today I am sharing a fabulous new release with you.

Paw Prints On The Magic Sofa
by Sarah Mounsey and Jade Fang 

Description: 
Bump, bump, bumpity, bump! Eddie's sofa is so much fun that all the animals jump right on as they travel around the world! Eddie, William and Oscar go on a magical journey that is perfect for inspiring a child's imagination.

 My Review:

Eddie and Oscar and their clever friend William embark on an exciting adventure, this time on a magic sofa. Together they travel to exotic locations collecting unlikely friends along the way; a lion, a turtle, a monkey and a camel, until they have a flying, floating, sand boarding, swinging sofa. They can not possibly fit another friend onboard and find themselves plummeting back the their living room, safe and sound, but as William says, "in so much trouble."

Once again a delightful tale, that captivated my 21 month old with its beautiful illustrations and engaging story, peppered with rhyme and repetition that young children respond so well to.

I loved the way each character expressed themselves and it reminded me a little of Mem Fox's Hattie and the Fox.

I highly recommend this for children aged 2-6

 Other books:


Check out my previous review:
Gigi Love Love Loves this book and Paw Prints on the Sofa is just as good even better. She already asks for it daily.
About Sarah


I have always loved to write for children and I have had a lot of fun writing the Paw Prints books. I am an Australian and I grew up in Brisbane, although it has not been my home for over a decade. After spending eight years in London I now live in Singapore with my husband and my three young sons.

I have always loved to read and write and credit my Mum for this lifelong passion. I remember getting into trouble as a child for sneakily reading books under the table at school and for staying up late at night writing diaries and stories!

I am a primary school teacher and I have always loved sharing picture books with my classes. I also love it when my boys ask for “just one more story,” at bed time.

Where to Buy:
Paw Prints On The Magic Sofa will be available on Amazon later this year, but until then, Sarah has copies available for purchase on her website.
http://www.sarahmounsey.com 

Or you can connect with her via her facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/PurplePawPrints?filter=2

Happy Hopping folks
 
Welcome to the 14th Kid Lit Blog Hop. I thought it would be a good time to remind new folks what we are all about. The Kid Lit Blog Hop takes place on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month. We decided to start up this Hop to develop a dynamic and engaged community of children's books bloggers, authors, publishers, and publicists, as well as parents seeking out their next great read. So, you are more than welcome to link in and take some time to make some new friends. Before we get on with the Hop I do want to remind you that the sign-ups for the Kid Lit Giveaway Hop, co-hosted by Mother Daughter Book Reviews and Youth Literature Reviews is NOW OPEN. The Kid Lit Giveaway Hop is taking place to honor Children's Book Week (May 13 to 19, 2013). Children's book or teen literature bloggers, authors, publishers, or publicists looking to share copies of a fabulous book are welcome to link in a giveaway for fabulous children/teen's books, gift cards, cash, or other prizes. What better way to celebrate Children's Book Week? Click on the poster below for more information. kidlit book giveaway hop  
Happy Hopping everyone and enjoy the Hop!
Kid Lit Blog Hop
<div align="center"><a href="http://motherdaughterbookreviews.com/category/kid-lit-blog-hops/" title="Kid Lit Blog Hop"><img src="http://motherdaughterbookreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Kid-Lit-Blog-Hop-Button-Sep-2012-e1349976901756.jpg" alt="Kid Lit Blog Hop" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
 

Suggestions For How to Participate:

1. Although not mandatory, we ask that you kindly follow your hostesses and co-hostesses. You can follow us any way you choose (Email, GFC, Twitter, Facebook, G+, Pinterest, etc.), but we've added our preferences below. If you could just give us a quick "follow" or "like" that would be much appreciated! Make sure to leave us a message if you are following us (i.e., on Twitter or Facebook or on our websites) and we will be sure to follow you back. Thanks! :-)
Hostesses:
Co-Hostesses:
2. Link up any Kid Lit related post. This can be a link to a children’s book review, a discussion about children’s literature/literacy, or a post on a recently-read children’s book or one that you love from your childhood.
* Don't link directly to your blog, it must be a specific post*
* For Authors, we prefer you to link to your blog if you have one *
* Make sure you include an image relevant to the POST (e.g., book cover), not your blog button or photo of yourself.*
* Feel free to link more than one post.*
3. Check out some other books. Don't be a stranger, go see what books other families are checking out, and leave them some love in the form of a comment. We are trying to build a community of bloggers, readers, parents, authors, and others who are as passionate about children’s literature as we are so please CONNECT and follow any or all of the blogs that interest you! 4. If you like, grab the button above and put it somewhere on your blog, preferably the post you're linking up. If you'd prefer, you can just add a text link back to this Hop so that others can find it and check out all these great book links! 5. It would really help us get the word out about the Kid Lit Blog Hop if you would be so kind as to tweet, share, and spread the word about the Hop!
Interested in co-hosting the Kid Lit Blog Hop? Please email renee @ motherdaughterbookreviews (dot) com and put Co-Hosting Blog Hop in the subject line.
Happy Hopping!

We would love to have you on our email list so we can let you know about new book reviews, spotlights, and giveaways as well as any information about the Kid Lit Blog Hop and other special feature articles.

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Tuesday 9 April 2013

Kid Lit Blog Hop #13: Post Office Book Review #4

Welcome back to the Kid Lit Blog Hop #13


Well, to explain the title of this post, for anyone who didn't link in last hop, I have a confession. Sometimes I buy cheap books for Gigi from our local post office. They aren't exactly literary genius and occasionally the stories don't make any sense at all. Now that I am a permanent hostess on the hop, I was joking with Renee our illustrious CEO and master of all that is blog hop, that if we get desperate to make it to our target 100 links I may be forced to do a Post Office Book Review.

I made a recent visit to our illustrious post office again a few weeks ago and I got another round of jems for $10.

This week, I would like to share with you a delightful book that has captivated Gigi's heart.  At 21 months she can now say, "Monster Not Allowed."
 Unlike my previous Post Office Book Reviews, this one actually has an author and an illustrator, wahooo.
But seriously, this book is from Schoolastic Uk, and I can totally see the difference in quality.

The rhyme is absolutely flawless
Gigi loves the illustrations and if you have read my previous post, you will understand that if you have to read a book 10 times a day, then it better flow and not be ever so grating.

Well, this one tops my charts so far. I love it.


So I thought  I would try a little treat for you.


Here Goes, Monster Not Allowed, read  aloud.... 
  

Kid Lit Blog Hop
<div align="center"><a href="http://motherdaughterbookreviews.com/category/kid-lit-blog-hops/" title="Kid Lit Blog Hop"><img src="http://motherdaughterbookreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Kid-Lit-Blog-Hop-Button-Sep-2012-e1349976901756.jpg" alt="Kid Lit Blog Hop" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
 

Suggestions For How to Participate:

1. Although not mandatory, we ask that you kindly follow your hostesses and co-hostesses. You can follow us any way you choose (Email, GFC, Twitter, Facebook, G+, Pinterest, etc.), but we've added our preferences below. If you could just give us a quick "follow" or "like" that would be much appreciated! Make sure to leave us a message if you are following us (i.e., on Twitter or Facebook or on our websites) and will be sure to follow you back. Thanks! :-)
Hostesses:

2. Link up any Kid Lit related post. This can be a link to a children’s book review, a discussion about children’s literature/literacy, or a post on a recently-read children’s book or one that you love from your childhood.
* Don't link directly to your blog, it must be a specific post*
* For Authors, we prefer you to link to your blog if you have one *
* Make sure you include an image relevant to the POST (e.g., book cover), not your blog button or photo of yourself.*
* Feel free to link more than one post.*
3. Check out some other books. Don't be a stranger, go see what books other families are checking out, and leave them some love in the form of a comment. We are trying to build a community of bloggers, readers, parents, authors, and others who are as passionate about children’s literature as we are so please CONNECT and follow any or all of the blogs that interest you! 4. If you like, grab the button above and put it somewhere on your blog, preferably the post you're linking up. If you'd prefer, you can just add a text link back to this Hop so that others can find it and check out all these great book links! 5. It would really help us get the word out about the Kid Lit Blog Hop if you would be so kind as to tweet, share, and spread the word about the Hop!
Interested in co-hosting the Kid Lit Blog Hop? Please email renee @ motherdaughterbookreviews (dot) com and put Co-Hosting Blog Hop in the subject line.
Happy Hopping!







Wednesday 3 April 2013

Kidlit blog hop 13: Charlie and Lola



Welcome back to the Kid Lit Blog Hop #13 Folks

A few weeks ago Renee posted about how to review a picture book. I admit I hadn't really thought about it much because until a few weeks ago, Gigi 21 months was not real interested in reading an entire book. However, the tables have turned and we find ourselves reading books over and over and over and over, you get my point lol.

One of the criteria for what makes a great picture book, is the potential to have it read over and over without the parent going insane. Well, maybe it wasn't put quite like that, but that is how I am putting it.

  Which brings me to today's review of Charlie and Lola
 

 

For Christmas last year I put Charlie and Lola books on my daughter Christmas list. My husbands family take Christmas lists seriously, there is a website and everything lol, so when we got what we got two 5 book compilations and one single book we were delighted.

We kind of did things backwards though. We absolutely extremely ( lol that is how Lola speaks) very much love the cartoon. I love how Lola views the world and articulates it so extremely funnily in her own child like way.
So when it came to reading the books, we knew that Gigi already loved Charlie and Lola, and she now sits for extended periods, turning the pages herself, over and over.  See picture below.



Anyway back to my review. My favourite Charlie and Lola is :We are Extremely Good Recyclers.

Lola ask Charlie what recycling is because they have to recycle enough items in order to win a tree to plant in their school. Lola opens all the packets and bottles, so that she can have enough to get her tree. Charlie explains that is not what recycling is, and they go on one of their adventures into learning what recycling is.

The end of the book has an : I Really Ever So Definately Promise to Checklist: for ways that Lola will ever so definately try to recycle. Priceless. 

Gigi absolutely loves these books with their distinct illustrations and the use of actual material cut outs for the characters clothing. I enjoy them to, but this is what brings me to my point about books that have the ability to drive a parent mad.

The dialogue tags throughout the book are placed before the speaking. Eg paraphrased
Lola says, 'I will so ever so definately completely try to recycle Charlie'
Charlie says, ' that is great Lola,' etc etc

When you are reading this out loud for the tenth time a day, the dialogue tags are ever so completely extremely grating. lol

Other than that, we really love these books and they have such fun ways of teaching the precocious Lola ways of navigating her very funny world.

So that's all from me folks, end rant.

Now here's a shout out to my friend Jemima Pett who has been doing the A-Z challenge.
Pop on over to her blog to check out her reviews each day for the month of April, and be sure to enter her raffle copter below for some great middle grade reads. ( including yours truly lol)

Kid Lit Blog Hop
<div align="center"><a href="http://motherdaughterbookreviews.com/category/kid-lit-blog-hops/" title="Kid Lit Blog Hop"><img src="http://motherdaughterbookreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Kid-Lit-Blog-Hop-Button-Sep-2012-e1349976901756.jpg" alt="Kid Lit Blog Hop" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
 

Suggestions For How to Participate:

1. Although not mandatory, we ask that you kindly follow your hostesses and co-hostesses. You can follow us any way you choose (Email, GFC, Twitter, Facebook, G+, Pinterest, etc.), but we've added our preferences below. If you could just give us a quick "follow" or "like" that would be much appreciated! Make sure to leave us a message if you are following us (i.e., on Twitter or Facebook or on our websites) and will be sure to follow you back. Thanks! :-)
Hostesses:

2. Link up any Kid Lit related post. This can be a link to a children’s book review, a discussion about children’s literature/literacy, or a post on a recently-read children’s book or one that you love from your childhood.
* Don't link directly to your blog, it must be a specific post*
* For Authors, we prefer you to link to your blog if you have one *
* Make sure you include an image relevant to the POST (e.g., book cover), not your blog button or photo of yourself.*
* Feel free to link more than one post.*
3. Check out some other books. Don't be a stranger, go see what books other families are checking out, and leave them some love in the form of a comment. We are trying to build a community of bloggers, readers, parents, authors, and others who are as passionate about children’s literature as we are so please CONNECT and follow any or all of the blogs that interest you! 4. If you like, grab the button above and put it somewhere on your blog, preferably the post you're linking up. If you'd prefer, you can just add a text link back to this Hop so that others can find it and check out all these great book links! 5. It would really help us get the word out about the Kid Lit Blog Hop if you would be so kind as to tweet, share, and spread the word about the Hop!
Interested in co-hosting the Kid Lit Blog Hop? Please email renee @ motherdaughterbookreviews (dot) com and put Co-Hosting Blog Hop in the subject line.
Happy Hopping!







Monday 1 April 2013

A-Z Challenge + Giveaway



Hi folks, just a quick shout out to my friend Jemima Pett who has signed up for the A-Z Challenge.
Every day over the month of April she will be posting a review of a book for each letter of the alphabet.
This is a huge achievement in my book, I don't think I could have done it so huge congrats to Jemima.

It is a blog hop and there are over 1300 blogs with giveaways featured so So hop on over to Jemima's blog and check out her post's each day. 
http://jemimapett.com/2013/03/31/the-great-big-a-to-z-giveaway/

Plus be sure to enter her giveaway to go in the draw for 10 fantastic books ( one of which is yours truly)



Happy Hopping folks


Cheers Julie