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Saffia Farr reviews 100 people who made history: Meet the people who shaped the world by Ben Gilliland, DK

February 22, 2012

This book “celebrates the people who have made their mark and changed the way we live”. Each person has facts about their life and what they did that was important. The pages are illustrated with photographs and caricature people with “big heads” that are photographs of their faces. This makes the book very lively.

We all very much enjoyed the different information about each person and the wide cross-section of people featured. It might not always be obvious who should be selected, but some of the choices mean you can learn interesting facts about everyday items. For example, did you know that the battery was invented by Alessandro Volta; hence why the amount of electrical potential of a battery is measured in “volts”?

This book puts these everyday items into context – the how and why they were invented, and why they were so influential. It’s interesting, clear, concise but full of fascinating facts and up-to-date – including Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs. Especially interesting is the “they couldn’t have done it without…”, which shows the progression of inventions that lead to the “wow” invention.

As a family we have really enjoyed this book, and will continue to dip into it. If you enjoy personal history and lots of soundbite facts, this is a great book for you.

Filed Under: Editor's Blog, Family Living, For Children, Ideas

My Name is Rose by Sally Grindley, Bloomsbury

January 5, 2012

I was captivated by this story about a Romanian Gypsy girl named Rose. Her parents travelled from place to place playing concerts in different towns. One day there is a terrible accident and Rose ends up in hospital. She is transported to England to live with the Luca family. All is not well because Rose misses her real family and the Lucas turn out to be less than happy! Rose refuses to speak and Mrs Luca is keen to give Rose lots of treats but Rose doesn’t like it. I would really recommend this amazing story to children aged from 9 to 12. I hope you like it as much as I did. Emily Shrimpton, aged 9

 

Emily’s mum, Lucy adds: This book was indeed a little out of the ordinary: more about the emotional challenges of dysfunctional family life than about action and adventure. It is beautifully written and is great for extending vocabulary.

Filed Under: For Children

Books for Christmas Presents

December 6, 2011

I love books, and it’s wonderful to see my 8-year-old son developing that same love.

I am always happy to receive books as presents so thought I would share details of two splendid hardback books.

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, Bloomsbury

I really enjoyed reading this book. It’s the story of Achilles, told by his companion Patroclus. The first person narrative creates a vivid and exciting story. We think we know about Troy and the Trojan Horse but this is an alternative angle, and not always comfortable. The book has been hailed as “a debut novel that will give teen readers a fresh look on Greek myths” and “the epic Trojan Wars brilliantly told for a new generation”. Miller is certainly an excellent story teller; I was enthralled.

The Borrowers: The Borrowers and The Borrowers Afield by Mary Norton, Orion Children’s Books

This is a nostalgic hardback collection of two Borrowers stories. The text and images are original so you feel as if you are opening a splendid old book. I remember reading about the Borrower Family when I was a girl and am enjoying sharing this book with my children – our 8-year-old son is particularly interested. The Borrowers are little people who live below the floorboards, borrowing everything they have from the humans above them. What makes this omnibus edition special is its feel – the size, weight, look and feel of it make you want to sit in front of the fire and read. Saffia Farr

Filed Under: Books, For Adults, For Children

Monster Day at Work by Sarah Dyer, Frances Lincoln

September 26, 2011

This is a fun story reflecting a child’s idea of the adult working world. A son goes to work for a day with his dad, sharing his comments on what dad does all day. Dyer cleverly interprets some aspects in a child’s way – hence the bank is a huge piggy bank.  A simple tale with a few words, but lots to think about. SF

Filed Under: For Children, Ideas

Layers by Pendella Buchanan

September 11, 2011

Layers is a fascinating book written by Pendella Buchanan and illustrated by her 6-year-old daughter, Isabel.

Buchanan is a home-educating mother of two and has written Layers for 4-8 year olds to share with the adults in their lives. The rhyming story has many layers. It’s about a girl called Grace who makes friends with a monster up a tree. Through Grace’s empathy with his emotions, the monster shares his feelings and is able to peel off his negative “layers” and feel better.

Buchanan says of the book “through the monster, Layers demonstrates that feelings are like flags, showing us what our needs are. By identifying our needs we can move creatively towards fulfilling them.”

Layers can be read for simple fun or to open conversations about empathy, feelings and friendship.

www.pendellabuchanan.com

Filed Under: For Children, Ideas

Tara stories on CD

August 22, 2011

A review by Saffia Farr of Tara and and her Talking Kitten meet her Guardian Angel and Other Stories and Tara and her Talking Kitten meet the Naughty Dragon and Other Stories by Diana Cooper, Findhorn Press

The children and I are really enjoying these cds. We listen to them in the car. Each cd contains six stories with a running time of approximately one hour.

While the stories are fantastical, about imps, elves, pixies, dragons and of course Ash-Ting, the talking kitten, the issues dealt with are very real. Through Ash-Ting’s voice, Cooper helps children to think about how other people may be feeling, such as Skye who can’t eat her breakfast because she’s made anxious by the tension from her tired parents.

My children listen enthralled. They think they are “good stories” and love the tales of elves and imps. I am grateful for the opportunity to reflect on how important it is to really listen to what is wrong with others and validate their feelings.

The stories are read by Diana Cooper in soothing tones, interspersed by wonderful oriental music.

www.findhorpress.com

SPECIAL OFFER – Order either or both of the Tara and Her Talking Kitten CDs from www.findhornpress.com and buy them for £6.39 including  P&P. RRP £6.85

Filed Under: For Children, News & Events

Fudgy Bear Books

July 31, 2011

Fudgy is a very soft, cuddly bear who has his own series of books about his adventures.

He’s the creation of Sarah Marley who decided to write a book for her little boy Nicholas. The book she made was about Nicholas’ teddy bear and his trip to the farm. Nicholas loved the book so much, Sarah decided to take the idea one stage further and create a series of stories revolving around the teddy bear’s adventures. But for this she needed a bear, so designed and created a new Teddy bear, Fudgy, who could feature in the books.

The books are slim-line paperback with Fudgy leading the adventures. What I like about them is that they feature photographs of the animals, tractors, fruit etc, so that children can see very real images. In Fudgy Goes to the Farm, the sow looks very contented feeding her piglets. In Fudgy Goes to the Zoo there’s a vivid picture of a tiger running.

While I write this, Fudgy is sitting on my desk and he’s very tempting to pick up and cuddle. I’m sure that children will delight in having a bear who also appears in books.

JUNO has three Fudgy Bears, each with a book, to give away. To be entered into the draw, please go to  our competition entry form. Entries close on 1st September at noon.

www.fudgybear.com

Filed Under: For Children, News Archive

When the World is Ready for Bed by Gillian Shields

July 18, 2011

This is a very restful reflection on the cycles of days. In short verses of rhyme, we see a family of rabbits as they come inside from playing, eat, tidy up, prepare for bed and read stories. The book has a lovely feel with matt pages and homely illustrations. But my favourite aspect is the continuity; the book does not end with the sleeping rabbits sprawled in bed, but with the sun rising on a new day:

“Always lovely,
Always new,
Tomorrow’s waiting –
Just for you.”

When the World is Ready for Bed by Gillian Shields, illustrated by Anna Currey, Bloomsbury
Review by Saffia Farr
Filed Under: For Children, News & Events

Saffia Farr reviews Robot Mission – and there are 3 books to win

June 26, 2011

Robot Mission is a ‘create-your-own’ kit. The concertina card is designed to be a book, but my children preferred to make a large picture. This is the beauty of this product – there is plenty of scope for children to use their own ideas.

There are props – the book, stickers and design suggestions – but, observing all three of my children, I realised that once they had got over the initial excitement of stickers, they settled into their own imaginative flow. They were utterly absorbed, drawing wonderful pictures around the stickers to create their own designs and characters. These books are compact and light so perfect for gifts to post or to travel with.

There are three designs: Robot Mission, Monkey Business and Princess Castle.

JUNO has one of each to give away. For a chance to win, please email competitions@junomagazine.com

www.pookieandpeach.com

Filed Under: For Children, News Archive

Super Magic Lightning Boy – 2 copies to give way

June 15, 2011

Super Magic Lightning Boy is the fun story of Jake and his cat Dixie exploring their garden, including fabuloulsy imagined encounters with Evil Angus Apple Tree and the enormous spider in the shed. Author Scott McIntyre took the inspiration for Jake and Dixie from his own family, collaborating with illustrator Laura Raine. The story is written in rhyme with the repeated refrain:

“I’m Super Magic Lightning Boy

the fastest kid in town

and this is Dixie thuder paws

the meanest cat around.”

JUNO has two signed copies to give away. For the chance to win a copy please email competitions@junomagazine.com with you name and address with the subject line ‘Lightning Boy’ before 10am on 4th July 2011. Draw will take place at noon on same day.

 

Competition Rules can be found at here.

 

Filed Under: For Children, News & Events
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