Tag Archives: Craft

New Autumn releases from Barefoot Books: enchanting, engaging new stories for independent readers and gorgeous picture books for those just embarking on their reading journey (Part One)

Posted on November 21, 2012 by Yvonne Keen

Autumn by Elli Woollard In the brisk and bracing breeze The trees perform their year’s strip-tease. Shimmy-shaking bits of bling, The golden leaves first flutter, fling Themselves upon the floor; Bronze ones, brown ones, then some more, Until (so skimpy! … Continue reading →

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The Pea and the Princess: an endearing twist on a well-known fairytale plus a lovely Princess and the Pea sewing project from Mollie Makes

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Yvonne Keen

 From pod to palace – the real story of the princess and the pea…” I love it when writers come up with an original twist on a well-known fairytale and you can’t get more original than Mini Grey’s take on … Continue reading →

Posted in Age 2-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 8-10 | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

This is London by Miroslav Sasek: a charming children’s travel guide to London first published in 1959 and brought up to date for 2012.

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Yvonne Keen

This is London by Miroslav Sasek was a follow-up to This is Paris which was inspired by a vacation to the French capital.  When first published in the 1950s Sasek’s  This is… series was incredibly popular and it is easy to see why.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Age 2-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 8-10, Henriques, Joel, Pre-teen, Sasek, Miroslav | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Twelve Dancing Princesses by Rachel Isadora : Evoking the colours, shapes and patterns of Africa in a reworking of Brothers Grimm

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Yvonne Keen

Rachel Isadora began dancing at the age of six and went on to dance professionally in New York City.   Rachel also lived for ten years in Africa.   Both influences are clearly visible in the treatment she has given to the Brothers Grimm fairy … Continue reading →

Posted in Age 2-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 8-10, Isadora, Rachel | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Miki by Stephen Mackey: beautiful dreamy snowscenes and a magical mid-winter tale of courage, friendship and adventure

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Yvonne Keen

A forever-icy world and magical underwater creatures brought to life by Stephen Mackey, Norden Farm Centre for the Arts and Slot Machine theatre company Just before Christmas I took my two daughters (aged nine and six) to see Miki at Norden … Continue reading →

Posted in Age 0-2, Age 2-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 8-10, Mackey, Stephen | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

5 children’s Christmas craft books – activities and projects to brighten up your home this Christmas

Posted on December 4, 2011 by Yvonne Keen

I think homemade Christmas decorations add something really special and unique to a home.    Making your own decorations can also be fun and very inexpensive.   For example, the homemade bauble featured above is made from an old Christmas card and two split pins – … Continue reading →

Posted in Age 2-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 8-10, Bull, Jane, Craig, Helen, Holabird, Katharine, Pre-teen, Teenage, Uncategorized, Woram, Catherine | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Make it with paper – 6 children’s books for budding paper engineers

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Yvonne Keen

I don’t know about your children, but mine go through paper like drinking water.  Thankfully we have a plentiful supply of scrap paper.   Paper, scissors, sellotape and lots of imagination will keep children happy for hours.   And sometimes the results … Continue reading →

Posted in Age 2-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 8-10, Pre-teen, Teenage | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

6 Children’s Craft Books for Long Summer Days

Posted on June 9, 2011 by Yvonne Keen

We are big on craft in our house and love to fill our long summer days with creating, cutting, sticking and building.   And most of the ideas in these inspiring books make use of materials and things discarded or found … Continue reading →

Posted in Age 0-2, Age 2-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 8-10 | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments