Beach reading

My days of reading books on the beach are well and truly gone - too busy watching children trying not to be dumped by waves. But the precious middle of the day time when it is too hot for the beach is the perfect time for an easy read. Last year we were consumed by the trilogy - Girl with the Dragon Tatoo etc but this year's list is yet to be compiled. I have just finished this lovely book which would make perfect relaxed holiday reading - it doesn't require much concentration, it's happy, fluffy and light and I really enjoyed it! So I would recommend that you pop a copy of 'The beach house' in your holiday packing and enjoy.....

Holiday Fodder

Ghost Child

I've found one of my next books to read on the daily imprint blog site (which has some great inspiration...) - daily imprint: (writing.inspiration) caroline overington- I love that she's Australian, a Walkley award winner and once again I'm a sucker for a beautiful book cover. I'm not sure why I want to read it though as it involves children and a suspected murder (and I always try to avoid books that have children in them and are potentially sad - the real world is sad enough) but I really need a holiday read and I'm intrigued by the storyline (and those holidays can't come soon enough!!).

Belonging

And here is another one I'm going to add to the pile. Its about finding your place of 'belonging' - what and where is home? I love this concept as I don't have a 'place' that is home but rather people that form my 'home' - having moved countries,states and cities over the years I always laugh when people ask me - 'where are you from?'. Where are any of us from? Got to go and buy this soon.....

late night reading (don't tell)

Review by SB

Let me explain about the story before I tell you about what I think about it. Well there's a really smart kid who has awesome parents. The dads a magician and his mums a doctor. He has a next door neighbour who is really mysterious his name is Theodore Guzman. Now what I think of it. When you start off reading it it's pretty boring TILL! he thinks of making a play and then [any parents reading this immediately turn off your computer] Now kids NOT ADULTS! when it gets in the play you'll be begging to read more even when it's 4.00am [but don't]. Its a great book and you should buy it if you are awesome like me!

Santa's reading

An email was sent to me asking for ideas for children's books for Christmas - I'm always looking for good recommendations (and quirky books) so thought it was a great idea. From memory - these are some of the books that have been read and loved in our house. There were a LOT more picture books over the years, but that time of my life was dominated by sleep deprivation so I can't remember any of them......

Also these books will mostly appeal to boys aged 5-11 as that's the only experience I have! These first recommendations are however the exception as I've either given as gifts or read myself:

• Fancy Nancy books by Jane O'Connor- hilarious girls books with beautiful illustrations (age 5-7)


• Winnie the Pooh - a classic, loved by all who read it or have it read to them


• The Chronicles of Narnia - another classic


• Magic Faraway Tree and Enchanted Forest - loved by both my boys, me and little girls I know (age 5-11)

The next lot are picture books but a bit more advanced and my boys love them all:

• Asterix - how my 9 year old reads the names of these characters is something to behold! Best read to yourself or get someone who is good at ridiculous names


• Tin tin - Daddy reads most characters, SB reads Tin Tin and JB read snowy (he mostly barks!)


• Julia Donaldsons' books: The Gruffalo, Gruffalo's child and Room on a broom - great stories and fantastic illustrations, perfect to read aloud and use silly voices (ages 5-8)


• The Shaggy Gully Times by Jackie French - very clever and even the pictures tell a story (age 7-9)


• Graeme Base books eg: Enigma, The Waterhole - the drawings in these books are what make them so amazing, but there are hidden pictures and cryptic clues throughout the books to keep them looking and trying to work out mysteries. (ages 7-11)

Lastly, but not least, some recent favourites of the boys:

• Flat Stanley books by Jeff Brown - a boy gets flattened by a falling picture board and has great adventures as a result of being so thin - great concept and good adventures for little boys (age 5-8)


• Andy Griffiths series eg: Just crazy, just stupid, just Macbeth, Zombie Bums from Uranuz and The day my bum went psycho - you get the idea.....


• The Cabbage Patch kids by Paul Jennings - lots of stories of farting and adventures - weird combination but predictably the boys love them (age 7-11)


• Big,big book of Gibblewort the Goblin by Victor Kelleher - an irish goblin is sent to Australia and hates it. He has the worst adventures and is miserable - lots of australiana in it and puss and warts and bad smells - hence they love it (age 6-9)


• Astrosaurs Collection books by Steve Cole: Dinosaurs in space - I think - both boys reading them and loving them but must confess I haven't even looked at one - so that must be a good thing?


• You are a bad man Mr Gum (and the follow up books) by Andy Stanton - I loved these - once again a book I bought purely because I loved the cover but it was excellent and well worth hunting down a copy if you can.

Phew - I know there are more but that should do it for now......

Summer Eating

How fantastic are these photos by Kate - it almost makes 40C on Sunday bearable. Kate if you could now just whip me up a menu for a girls lunch (with vegetarian option) I will be even happier!!

New book

Ooh very exciting - a new book! 

Inspired by my friends Mouse's beautiful new Frida Kahlo print - I had to buy this book purely for the gorgeous cover. Sadly I have bought many books simply because I liked the covers and have found many gems that way too. I loved Barbara Kingsolver's previous book 'The Poisonwood Bible' - so am hoping I enjoy this one as much - I'll let you know.

'The Poisonwood Bible' had a profound effect on me in that I often wonder which child I would help first in the case of a disaster (fire, flood, burglary). Do you remember that tragic story of that poor mother in the tsunami in Bali where she had two children (a toddler and an infant) and had to hand her toddler to someone else to help because she could only hold onto a tree and the baby but not the toddler as well? I can't remember what the outcome was but I hope I am never in a situation that requires that kind of decision.

Off to brave the heat....

Too hot to handle

It is hot - damn hot!

Can't believe its 37C today and 39C later this week - crikey what is Feb going to be like???