I came across this book on social media and was attracted by it straight away because it’s just the thing that my youngest son loved to do when he was growing up ( he is the youngest of 4 siblings) and always wanted to be ‘a big boy’ like his brothers and as they had…
Category: Product Reviews
I was sent a tube containing 240 low-in-the dark pieces. And a box, in which I was expecting to find a board ( for holding the pieces). But the box contained another 250 puzzle pieces in 10 different colours. And a puzzle mat. Harley, age 8, who was eager to help with my review was…
This is the authors first children’s book ( and the first of the Lavender maze series). . The book is full of descriptive words that really take you into the story. At the beginning of the tale is a map showing the reader exactly where the story characters are going. At the beginning of each…
This is the third book in the Greta the happy maker series of children’s books based on the adventures of a real life pug. Greta wakes up to be told by her Mama that today is a special day. Why? Greta thinks, Is it Easter, Greta’s birthday, Valentines day , Christmas or Halloween? Eventually after…
Deddy bears are not your average teddy bears. Deddy bears are a collection of 8 different DEAD cute plush toys, that are scary, but still cute and sofI tenough to cuddle I. was sent the following Deddy bears: Squash: Squash is rather cute with his big smile. Vambear: Vambear is a litle more scary because…
Explaining about the death of a family member, including the loss of a pet, to children can be extremely difficult for parents, especially if they too are grieving. This beautifully written book could be the answer to this for parents, carers and other adults. The author wrote the book based on his own exigence of…
This book has a lovely bright, colourful front cover, enticing readers to want to look inside. What would happen if Santa was ill? This delightful children’s book explains with fun, rhyming text how everyone in Santa’s grotto coped when the big man was unwell with flu. Children will love hearing and seeing the illustrations showing…
As soon I saw this children’s book it made me feel all Christmassy. The book is about the magical world in Snowy Hollow and how a family of Polar bears work together to make it a sparkling Christmas. The book is written and illustrated by Stephanie Rose It retails for £9 and is aimed at…
This is the second book in the Greta, the happy maker series of children’s books. As in the first book where Greta makes a friend here Greta is making the most of her life. . Greta likes to dream, but one time she has a nightmare and is afraid until her mother comforts her. ….
Usborne books wre always a great read when I shared books with my own children and the ones I cared for when I was working as a registered child minder. So when I was offered the opportunity to review some of their books, I was delighted. I was sent 2 hardback books: Little lift and…
I came across this book on social media. On arrival the first thing that struct me was the vibrant colours on the front cover; which made me want to investigate inside the book, I wasn’t disappointed the book tells a magical tale of how flowers became different: From all being plain white in colour, the…
Greta is a happy, lovable, friendly pug. How can she cheer up a sad dog that she meets one day? ? This lovely picture book could help children with a low self esteem realise that they too are unique in their strengths. The book is written by Nicole Stanghetti and the charming illustrations are drawn…
The very loving caterpillar is happy and content living in his community of caterpillars. But how will they cope when the weather turns colder? Eventually after a lot of thinking that sends them to sleep, the caterpillars become butterflies and harmony is restored. the book is written by Sean Browne and the colourful illustrations are…
This sweet little children’s book is about a visit to the seaside: But Kelly is a cat, not a child! Kelly is accompanied by her dad, who keeps her safe while doing all the usual seaside things: Paddling in the sea, building sand castles and having a picnic. They both have so much fun that…
Jacqueline sent me 2 children’s books for review:- The tales of Mr Mouse and friends: At the very beginning of the book ( before chapter 1) is an introduction to Mr Mouse written in four paragraphs. The paragraphs are repetitive and written in rhyming text meaning that children can join in when the book is…
The unique selling point that this children’s book has is that it teaches children their first animal words in both English and Spanish! The24 different animals are illustrated simply in white with a black background. making them stand out and help young eyes to send straight to their brains. Each picture page has the animal…
Stephanie sent me 2 of her children’s books to review:- My dad, my hero: is a beautiful celebration of the relationship between a child and their father. The illustrations are of animal babies with their dads; something that will really appeal to children ( who doesn’t love a cute baby animal?). The text is written…
This is the first of a series of Charlie Whiskers adventure books. . Charlie Whiskers is well known in his neighborhood because he’s a friendly cat with some distinguishing features.What I really love about this children’s picture book is that it contains some illustrations of ethnic minorities and also challenges gender stero-types. The book has…
As soon as I came across this children’s picture book on Facebook I knew that it would be a good fit for my blog theme. Changa is having a hard time because he couldn’t run as fast as the other animals. Eventually with his friends help, he learned that there is more to life than…
This children’s picture book has it all: vibrant illustrations, humor and education . Who doesn’t love a family movie night? The Wizziwigs certainly do .When one of the children ask for movie night snacks, mum suggests healthy options ( educating readers about healthy eating). Dad knows that the occasional treats won’t hurt ( plus you…
This hardback children’s book is wonderful: It has rhyming text, bright, colourful illustrations and as it teaches children about trees and nature. it’s educational too! The book ia written by Anna Smithers and illustrated by Martyna Nejman. Some of the text has colourful words, making the book even more inviting to children. I particularly love…
This hardback children’s book is ‘what it says on the tin’ it describes in rhyming text the memories that young children make while walking with their dad: From picking blackberries to watching wild rabbits flocking the rhyming text ( which ia my absolute favourite in children’s literature) and colourful illustrations bring the book alive. Walking…
This children’s book has a delightful front cover. The tale is about a father and son who on a camping trip together start a conversation about the stars The book could be a useful tool to help any children who have been bullied as it mentions how to cope with bullies in the story. The…
I reviewed Helen;s first book: Let’s talk to mummy’s tummy quite some time ago here She has revised the book now to coincide with her other 2 books and has made some of the illustrations more diverse. Other than that this new addition is as wonderful as the original. The book retails at £14.99 Let’s…
Anyone, young or old, who love horses; as much as I do, will be instantly drawn towards this book by the stunning front cover . Fans of all things equine, will of course be familiar with Anna Sewell’s classic story of Black Beauty: Leonora Teale has been extremely clever in writing an updated version of…
The first thing that struck me about this hardback book is the colourful front cover. The book is beautifully written with lovely illustrations on every page. The text explains how the Earth, in which we live can have a calming effect on us, if we take the time to look: Therefore it would make a…
This lovely children’s book is written in rhyming text; my absolute favourite for children’s literature because it makes any story more fun to read and as children can quite often predict the next word, this will help with any child who has a low attention span and may otherwise not enjoy sharing a book with…
I was sent the following books: The Christmas present dilemma! This delightful book teaches children that Christmas is an expensive time . Marsh doesn’t want to offend his friends by asking for presents that they can’t afford, so the friends come up with their own ideas and choose the perfect gifts for him. Doing the…
The first thing that struck me when I received this toy was the amount of early learning opportunities it provides: Being a former early years practitioner( registered child minder) I am aware of how a young child’s brain is like a sponge and will take in more information that most people are aware of. ….
This large i poster can be spread out on the floor for children to learn and explore all 118 chemical elements . The interactive poster teaches the names, symbols, mass groups and fun facts of the chemical elements in the periodic table. The element button sare colour coded to help learn the 18 groups. The…
Due to the recent postal strikes, the following children’s books were late arring:- GOD’S PROMISE: Once again the book is dedicated to a child, with a personal message. The tale in this book which is written by Bill Graham is based on the bible story of Noah’s ark. There are refences to the child’s home…
when a review was agreed this company asked a number of questions to personalise the books Child’s first and last name. Gender Child’s age. Child’s home town Up to 3 names of friends or family members A personalised message. A few days later I was sent the following books: SANTA’S SECRET HRLPER: The first page…
I was sent the croissant cafe and a box of 5 mouse figures for this review. The cafe has opening double doors to the front and a balcony which opens to a loft room which has room for the included bed. Also included were 2 exclusive mouse figures; Sparkle and cupcake( who has a cake…
Just reading the title of this book made me want to delve into it straight away and I wasn’t disappointed: Thomas, is an official grand high Dragon master. The book is full of fun and excitement, plus there are lovely illustrations throughout the book drawn by Sara Ogilvie, Disclosure: I was gifted the book for…
It may seem strange that I am reviewing this product, when my usual theme is of parenting / child minding tips and advice, but I strongly believe that our pets are as much a part of a family as the parents and children. I sent a few photos of our Jack Russel cross breed dog,…
This hardback children’s picture book is a modern take on traditional fairy tales; princess Tilly doesn’t need rescuing by a handsome prince, she can rescue herself.! The book is full of wonderful illustrations drawn by Jenny Lovlie. What I like most about this book is that it challenges stereotyping and some of the princesses are…
KookyLoos is a new product soon to be launched. I was sent a pink box containing 2 cardboard tubes : One from the BFF series; the other was from the Sunday fun day series. Inside each tube the children who helped with the review were delighted to discover several paper packages which they took turns…
The first thing that struck me when I received this book was the brightly coloured front cover. Then to my delight, I discovered that the text is written in rhyme, my absolute favourite for children’s literature , as it not only makes the story more fun, but any early readers can often predict the next…
This hardback children’s book is a real delight. I t is full of fun, bright colourful illustrations and a ‘tall tale; from Albert: who comes up with some hilarious reasons why he didn’t eat a cake! Where has all the cake gone is cleverly written by Andrew Sanders and the illustrations, which really bring the…
I chose the Magneti’ book from the wide range of gifts and educational toys for both girls and boys available from Wicked uncle herehttps://www.wickeduncle.co.uk/presents/girls/age-11ecause I knew this particular product would provide hours of educational fun for a wide age rang of both boys and girls ( and a few adults, as well, I suspect!). When…
I came across this company on Facebook and they agreed to send some magazines for a review: I received 3 magazines; as follows: Favourites (:issue 414) This is jam packed with fun learning opportunities; dinosaur stickers and story. a simple recipe ( for children to create with an adult’s help. a word search and colouring…
Anyone who knows me will be aware of my love for horses and riding. This hardback journal would have been perfect for me had I been luckily enough to achieve my dream of owning my own horse or pony. The book has personal goals for young riders to achieve over a 12 month period: Making…
In the box that I received were 4 plastic eggs and spoons, 4 colorful sacks. 4 beanbags some leg straps ( for a three-legged race) and a story book that was themed to a sport’s day. Pippa and Eliza were excited to help with my review. The girls read the story first and talked about…
Mia loves her neighbour and his cat so when he goes away and asks her to look after his cat with her mum she jumps at the chance. Mia also turns his garden wild and by sowing wild flower seeds attracts all kinds of butterflies, bees and birds.. Mia makes a meadow is written by…
The first thing that struck me about this book was the bright front cover. Chuck is a cheetah who ALWAYS wins, he is so confident about winning that it has made him big-headed. But what would happen if he didn’t win a race? I love the message that the story is sending out to children:…
This unusual book which is written by Sewn Hallin, has an eye catching front cover. The book tells the tale of Horace, an alien who Richard finds in his kitchen raiding his fridge. The book is aimed at children aged 10 years and older and has244 pages. Adults may also enjoy it! If you are…
I came across this company on social media:- All of the stones are hand painted by this growing company. I was sent 2 sets of stones for the review: Both sets arrived in a cute drawstring jute bag. Emotions: These are a set of 6 stones, which would be great for early years practitioners and…
This is a delightful , colourful children’s book. The first thing that struck me was that it is educational as well being as a lovely heart-warming story. The book explains that the worker bees are the bees that collect the pollen to make the honey. When Bella spots some beautiful flowers there is an opportunity…
I – was sent the following to review:- The great thing about the cards are that they are beautifully made; each card is laser cut and assembled by hand, which means that they are far too good to throw away after 12th night along with cheaper cards that have been sent. My favourite is the…
I was sent the following brand new children’s books:- A TIGER NAMED LEE: It takes a stormy night for Lee to learn to face his fears. A lovely book that children will enjoy and learn from. The book is written by Sinead Murphy and the delightful illustrations are drawn by Shannon Cresham. D.M.MULLAN’S CURIOUS TALES…
This is a small selection of new children’s picture books from Austin Macauley publications. JACK’S MAGIC PYJAMAS: Jack’s parents are surprised when he asks for more brussels sprouts at dinner time, as usually he doesn’t eat them. Little do they know that Jack’s new pyjamas are magic and have sent him on an adventure. This…
As soon as I saw the front cover of this book I was taken back to my childhhod days, when I had a pet rabbit that looked just like Clover, mine was called Apache . The delightful book tells the story of what Clover the bunny dreams about, which will thrill children of a wide…
This glossy paperback book is aimed at children aged 4-8 years of age. It is quite different from any other children’s books that I have come across; in a good way. The characters in the story are unique and brought to life with the colourful illustrations. The book is written by K.C.Hayes and illustrated by…
I was contacted by Ventorros Press to ask if I would review some of their children’ sbooks:. Billy Plonka and the grot laboratory being the first. This book is aimed at children aged 7-12 years of age. It is a chapter book with 22 chapters, that are just long enough to hold a child’s attention…
I was sent the following to review:- MONKEY-DOG! A NEW BREED OF SUPER HERO: Children will love this brightly coloured book, which is full of fun and a few comical dinosaurs. Some of the text is in rhyme and is written by Steve Dixon. The book is illustrated by Chloe Harvey- Hall. It is aimed…
Sockie stars are a new brand who make fantastic socks for children; these socks are special because they have capes that can be taken on and off with the attached Velcro strip. I was sent a box of sockie stars containing 3 pairs of brightly coloured children’s socks. and 6 capes. . Also included in…
This lovely children’s book tells the story of Monty, a chocolate Labrador dog; who, typical of his breed loves food which means he causes havoc at the school fair. The book has a bright, colourful front cover and is written by Claire Owens. It has 127 pages and 14 chapters; which are just the right…
Have you ever wondered why we have weeds in the garden? This children’s picture book explains why weeds and wild flowers grow and why we need them. The humorous rhyming text is written by R.J. Furness. The bright, vibrant illustrations on every page are drawn by Kathryn Short. At the end of the book there…
This is the second book written b y Linda Cartwright about lockdown life through the eyes of Alfie and Alexa: This time the story focuses on their mummy’s experience of the lockdown. From grey hair roots to clapping for the N.H.S. and home schooling: this book covers most things about life in lockdown in a…
I was sent a baby boy medium hamper: This arrived earlier than I was expecting; giving me a pleasant surprise. On opening I discovered a box tied up with a red ribbon bow. Inside was:- Rex, the dinosaur soft toy rattle( with a soft jingle bell sound). The toy is brightly coloured and will appeal…
I was sent this wondeful children’s book for review. Anyone who likes unicorn’s ( and let’s face it who doesn’t?) will love this book. It is full of bright, colourful illustrations and the text is super educational for children: Explaining about different people; their many colours of skin, varying religions and how they all get…
I was delighted to discover this children’s book that is set at Watermouth castle, where I have visited several times. Watermouth castle is a tourist attraction in Watermouth cove, North Devon. This wonderful book is the first to be written by Hazel Stuart. Her daughter Georgie Beable has drawn the colourful illustrations. The book is…
I was sent the following new releases for review: PANCAKES IN THE MORNING: This sweet story is told through the eyes of a family of birds who discover and love the taste of pancakes. It is written by R. Towers and Eli Ramos has beautifully illustrated it. Pancakes in the morning retails at £10.99 BUT…
I discovered this company on Facebook. I emailed a clear photograph of my Jack Russell cross dog, Jake. It was confirmed that my photo was a good match for a portrait; that would be A4 in size and framed in a colour of my choice. During the process of getting my portrait completed I was…
I was sent a pack of 10 double sided, wipe clean flashcards for review. The thing that makes these flashcards better than the average ones are that not only do they help children to learn the names of colours and shapes. There is also the option of tracing the shape and it’s name on the…
Austin Macauley sent the following books fore review:- SANTA’S NAUGHTY LITTLE ELVES; This is a lovely book all about Santa and his elves who decide it is too hard making so many toys for hundreds of good children; they hatch up a plan to make the nice children’s list shorter. The book is full of…
I discovered Crafts you’ll love on Facebook. They offered me a set of 4 coasters to review, I decided that using photos of my dogs would be good, however, Crafts you’ll love will make coasters from any photos: family members, scenery: Almost anything that is personal to you. I was very impressed by the way…
This is a fun, children’s picture book, which tells the tale of Henrietta Hen and her friends who go on a berry picking adventure. The book is full of bright, colourful illustrations by Sarah Leigh-Willis which makes it even more inviting for children. The rhyming text is written by Ozgen Hall. Children ( and adults)…
This is the second Zara dogdog book that I have reviewed the first one is Zara dogdog on the school run here This book has a bright,sunny front cover. Zara dogdog loves to have fun with her family, but she must be kept safe in the warm sunshine; the book explains to children ( and…
POLARLICIOUS: This magical book will take children on a journey to the Arctic where they will meeat a polar bear and a seal. I love this book for the fabulous illustrations and so will children everywhere. It is written and illustrated by Neil Seddon and retails at £9.99 THE SNOWMAN: This is a different take…
This delightful children’s book tells the 2 different view points of Alfie and Alexa, who live next door to one another, whilst living in lock down. Alfie is finding it boring and wants the lock down to end; whereas Alexa likes all her family being together and doesn’t want it to finish any time soon….
Award publications kindly let me have this book to review:- The front cover is colourful and informative as to what the book has to offer. From how to deal with burns,asthma, chest pain so much more. This book will inspire any child with an interest in first aid or with hopes of joining the medical…
Austin Mccauley sent the following:- TAAVI THE TRACTOR; This colourful picture book will delight any children who have an interest in vehicles (I know that my son’s would have loved it when there were young). The text is written in rhyme making it even more fun to read. Tavvi meets other vehicle friends on a…
This children’s book is written and illustrated by Lauren Foreman. It is a lovely little book that has rhyming text ( my favourite) and delightful, bright, colourful illustrations. The story tells how Polly has difficulty in sharing until her mother convinces her that sharing is best . The book is not too long so would…
This is the second time that I have worked with this company. The fun, educational products I was sent this time are:- TWINTIME STUDENT CARD: Is a circle of write on/wipe off plastic which is a double sided clock face with movable hands. One side shows how to tell the time as minutes to and…
I came across Jane Louise on facebook. She is a photographer of children, families and pets. Jane is currently offering digital watercolours from a photograph. . I emailded her a photo of my late German Shepherd dog, Keira, true to her word Jane sent the watercolour back the very same day, it is a great…
I was sent a pack of 4 individually boxed toothbrushes:- Each brush has an image of an ocean friend on the handle: These are:- Frosty, a penguin Ollie, a dolphin Snowball, a polar bear and Luna, a blue whale On each box there is some information about the ocean friend, for example, how it moves…
Walker books sent this delightful children’s picture book. Straight away the front cover will appeal to any children interested in vehicles ( as my boys were when they were younger). The text is written in fun rhyme and some of the text is repeated; making it more interesting for children to join in with reading…
Tickle daggers is a rabbit who is different from the rest of his family; his ears hang down, rather than standing upright. But Tickle daggers has a special power – he helps others who are different to fit in and feel good. This amazing children’s picture book is written and beautifully illustrated by Adrienne Anifant…
On arrival, I must admit that I was a little confused by what this was; it appeared to be a soft cloud pad! However, when it was placed in a bowl of warm water as per the instruction leaflet, the cloud dissolved revealing 4 bags ( there are more bags available to collect). The water…
Kasie Kennedy wrote this beautiful children’s picture book after loosing her father and wanting her daughter to have a connection with her grandpa. The text is written in rhyme and the illustrations are stunningly colourful and bright. I feel that this book will help many children who have lost a family member or even a…
This is a collection of 3 different stories; all written in rhyming text. The rirst story with just 6 pages is my favourite as who doesn’t belive in fairies at the bottom of the garden? The final tale with 10 pages is the longest of the trio. All of the stories have bright, colourful illustrations….
This glossy paperback children’s picture book has a bright front cover. The book tells the story of William, a fish, who with the help from another fish, manages to save his ocean friends from plastic polution. The text is written in rhyme; my absolute favourite in children’s literature because it makes it fun to read-…
Once again Tiny tree children’s books have come up with a lovely picture book for children aged 3-5 years. The paperback book is written by Vanessa Horn and Alex Willmore has illustrated the story with bright, colourful, cheerful images. The tale is of something that children with a baby sibling will relate to. Millie is…
Austin Macauley got in touch to ask for this review. Sally Lewer Ahern , the author, has written the book from the heart. It is full of love for her adopted son Carlos. Sally tells the heartwarming story of how she became a mother to Carlos. She has included some hints and tips in her…
Best learning sent this great children’s toy for review. Stack and learn is different from the average stacking ring toy, as it consists of a tower and 5 coloured rings, which are brightly coloured in red, orange, yellow, green and purple. Each ring has 3 different images (which link to the different modes available; number,…
Babycup first cups are suitable from 4 months of age. I was sent a set of 4 cups in pretty colours, which instantly make them appealing. The thing that makes Babycup different from other child cups and beakers is that they are sippy- not sucky; making it easy for young children to use ( I…
This colourful, fun children’s book helps to teach children about animals, numbers and counting to 10. I would also ask children if they know what noise each animal makes. The text is written in rhyme making the book even more fun to share with children, who will enjoy the bright, colourful illustrations . Creature teacher…
Nikki Saunders, the author of this wonderful children’s book is a mother of 2 children who have autism. She wrote the book as she struggled to find child friendly literature on the subject when her boys were diagnosed. The book has a bright front cover in my favourite colour purple . From start to finish…
I was invited to attend the Disney on ice event at Westpoint in Exeter As. I am a wheelchair user a building with suitable assess was essential. Westpoint was perfect and easy for my son to push my wheelchair around. We had a great view of the rink from our seats (even for…
This hardback children’s book is written by Mary Murphy. The bright, colourful illustrations drawn by Zhu Chebn-Liang make it really appealing. The book is a delight and tells the story of a little girl and what she likes most; as is usual with young children, she keeps changing her mind and each page shows something…
This paperback children’s book is a take on some favourite fairy tale characters. Alison Paige, the author, has written the story in a way that will appeal to children; it is quite humorous in places and the text is rhyming in others. Paddy Donnelly has illustrated the book beautifully. The tale of Mrs M’Grady is…
With the colder weather approaching meaning that coughs and colds are on the horizon; the timing of this children’s book that teaches them to put their hands over their mouths or use a tissue to catch that cough is perfect. The front cover is a sunny yellow colour which makes you want to investigate further….
Best learning sent this interactive matching game for review. There are 24 different cards containing 48 lessons; from learning the alphabet to transportation. Basically, when a chosen card is inserted in the console and the relevant card code is entered using the hand controller the fun and learning will begin . Children aged 6 years…
This children’s book which has a pale pastel cover is written by Katy Segrove. On opening the book there is a space for children to write, or get an adult to write their name; providing an opportunity to recognise their name each time the book is looked at .. Malcolm’s friends all love to play…
Errol is a boy who is bothered by a monster; wherever he goes, whatever he does, the monster is there. So he makes a plan to get rid of it. This delightful children’s book is written by Cameron Shepherd. It could be used by practitioners or parents as a tool to help children to deal…
I was sent the Carmella apple candy locks doll to review. The first thing that struck me was how tiny she is, Carmella apple is wearing pink roller boots, she can move from the waist and has flexible arms. What Carmella apple and the other candy locks dolls lack in size make up for by…
This great children’s book has a fantastic message; that it is okay for children to say no to something that they are uncomfortable with. The book has a bright, colourful front cover making it appealing straight away. Malina doesn’t like the idea of her friend’s new activity, which is playing the bum drum game. ….
Kitty Irvine got in touch to ask if I would review her book. The front cover is glossy and shows the characters who appear in the book. The story is all about the magical land of Willowwood snug. It follows twins; Tippy and Tilly who are excited about being big enough to start going to…