Tag Archives: Reading Aloud

RHCBA blog tour: Ed Eaves, illustrator of “Welcome to Alien School”, shortlisted in the Younger Children category of the Red House Children’s Book Award 2013

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Yvonne Keen

I am delighted to welcome Ed Eaves, children’s book illustrator and one part of the writer/illustrator partnership that have created Welcome to Alien School, shortlisted for the Younger Children category of the Red House Book Award 2013. First of all, of course, congratulations … Continue reading →

Posted in Age 0-2, Age 2-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 8-10, Eaves, Ed | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Engaging, relevant and ‘grown-up’ ‘high/low’ reading books, giving older children a second shot at mastering reading

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Yvonne Keen

Good as many phonics reading schemes are (Jolly Phonics; Oxford Reading Tree; Read, Write, Inc), they are clearly not suitable for older learners.   Pictures and text about Floppy and Kipper will just not cut it with older readers.  Instead, what’s required are … Continue reading →

Posted in Pre-teen, Teenage | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Getting to grips with Shakespeare: Great resources for gently introducing the writings of the Bard to children plus a fun Shakespeare game

Posted on June 29, 2012 by Yvonne Keen

There’s no doubt that the retelling of Shakespeare’s stories to a younger audience presents a challenge.   In Shakespeare’s original tales, the language is not entirely straightforward and I can remember when studying Twelfth Night for O level getting very bogged down … Continue reading →

Posted in Age 6-8, Age 8-10, Matthews, Andrew, Mayhew, James, Pre-teen, Ross, Tony, Ryan, Patrick, Teenage, Williams, Marcia, Young Adult | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Books without words: the starting point for introducing your child to reading. Dressing by Helen Oxenbury, Rosie’s Walk by Pat Hutchins

Posted on June 2, 2012 by Yvonne Keen

Believe it or not, books with no words (or just a few) are the basis for introducing your child to reading.   It’s never too soon to introduce books and share books with your baby and books with no words or … Continue reading →

Posted in Age 0-2, Age 2-4, Age 4-6 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

It’s Spring (honest!) So celebrate with (and maybe WIN) Barefoot Books beautiful new Spring list picture books (Competition now closed)

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Yvonne Keen

Broken Spring by Elli Woollard Could someone repair this spring, do you think? Do you think that somebody could? This spring’s all broken, the sky’s dark grey The sun has lost its bounce today The clouds are spouting with terrible … Continue reading →

Posted in Age 0-2, Age 2-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 8-10 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Children’s magazines: getting past the ‘buy one magazine, get five tacky, two-minute wonder toys for free’ to something educational and beautiful

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Yvonne Keen

Go with your children to any supermarket or a branch of a well-known newsagent/bookseller chain and you will find it very difficult to make it past the children’s magazines section.   The magazines are strategically placed at kiddy eye level and are … Continue reading →

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

The Not So Scary Cactus by Theatre Tots: Storytelling using Drama, Music and Dance

Posted on February 11, 2012 by Yvonne Keen

Storytelling can take many forms – a cosy cuddle at bedtime, a whole school story in assembly.  It can be one person telling a story, it can be hundreds.  It can even be off-the-cuff made-up stories in the middle of … Continue reading →

Posted in Age 0-2, Age 2-4, Age 4-6 | Tagged , | Leave a comment

6 beautiful children’s books from Barefoot Books – “Explore. Imagine. Create. Connect. Give Back*.”

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Yvonne Keen

If you take a look at the inside flap of a Barefoot book, you will find the Barefoot message proudly written under the name Barefoot and a drawing of two tiny feet.  It says, “At Barefoot Books, we celebrate art … Continue reading →

Posted in Age 0-2, Age 2-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 8-10, Pre-teen, Riel, Jorn | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A brilliant guidebook on spying for young Bonds everywhere (age 7 upwards): Ralph is Not a Spy by Corinne V Davis and El Ashfield

Posted on December 11, 2011 by Yvonne Keen

Ralph is Not a Spy is no ordinary book. For within its sumptious pages a spy story gets you hooked! Ralph is a Chess Champion of extraordinary talent. And the members of the International Chess Academy? Well, you could hardly … Continue reading →

Posted in Age 6-8, Age 8-10, Ashfield, El, Davis, Corinne V., Pre-teen | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

5 children’s books about monsters for our very own little monsters to enjoy

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Yvonne Keen

Have you got monsters-in-training?  I have!   The thing about ‘hoomum’*monsters is that they might look angelic but don’t be fooled!  Beneath that wide-eyed, sweet-smiling exterior is a tantrum of monstrous proportions ready to EXPLODE!   Know what I mean? (*hoomum, by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Age 0-2, Age 2-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 8-10, Bass,Guy, Donaldson, Julia, Schleffer, Axel, Stewart, Joel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

9 Children’s Christmas Picture Books That Capture the Magic of this Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Posted on November 25, 2011 by Yvonne Keen

Get into the true spirit of Christmas with these beautiful children’s Christmas picture books.   Reading these books together always gets us excited during the days before Christmas.   We don’t do mounds of presents in our house but we can’t help … Continue reading →

Posted in Age 0-2, Age 2-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 8-10, Bond, Michael, Chichester Clark, Emma, Foreman, Michael, Kerr, Judith, Morpurgo, Michael, Murphy, Mary | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

7 children’s picture books that gently touch upon generosity, letting go, honesty, good deeds, difference and love

Posted on November 5, 2011 by Yvonne Keen

Continuing the theme of books that help us nagivate through life’s ups and downs, this collection will definitely guide parents and children along the way. That’s Love by Sam Williams, illustrated by Mique Moriuchi   A beautiful reminder of what love … Continue reading →

Posted in Age 0-2, Age 2-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Blackman, Malorie, Cave, Kathryn, Freedman, Claire, Graham, Bob, Stewart, Amber, Williams, Sam, Wolff, Ferida | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

5 children’s picture books that gently touch upon friendship, acceptance, separation and the value of not having it all

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Yvonne Keen

Few of us escape experiencing difficulties or upsets along the way.   It can be during these times that we learn the most about life, ourselves and what is important although this isn’t always easy.  And for children, it must be … Continue reading →

Posted in Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 8-10, Boelts, Maribeth, Browne, Anthony, Chichester Clark, Emma, Gray, Kes, Wojtowicz, Jen | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

If you like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, you’ll love these…3 more children’s books that will have you laughing out loud and great for reluctant readers too

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Yvonne Keen

                Books that are stuffed full of jokes or have highly-original storylines or are a bit subversive or naughty are the very best for getting children back into reading.    Graphic or comic-style illustrations … Continue reading →

Posted in Age 6-8, Age 8-10, Kinney, Jeff, Lawrence, Michael, Nelson, Peter, Pre-teen | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

6 Delightful Children’s Picture Books from Small, Independent Publishers – Celebrating their Creativity

Posted on August 7, 2011 by Yvonne Keen

Here are six delightful children’s picture books that have been published by the authors and illustrators themselves as self-publishers or by setting up their own, independent publishing companies.    And I am so glad they did! The authors/illustrators of these books … Continue reading →

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

8 Ways to Keep Children Reading over the Summer Holidays

Posted on July 12, 2011 by Yvonne Keen

It is well-known that reading can be neglected during the long summer holidays.   There is always so much fun to be had and quite right too!   However, the consequence of not keeping up with reading can be that some children slip back in … Continue reading →

Posted in Age 0-2, Age 2-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 8-10, Pre-teen, Teenage | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

5 Great Children’s Books for Reading Aloud

Posted on July 1, 2011 by Yvonne Keen

There are some books that just cry out to be read aloud.  And over and over again!   The benefits of reading aloud to your children are well-known and numerous. Hearing new words gives children an expanded and rich vocabulary. A good storyteller … Continue reading →

Posted in Aardema, Verna, Adams, Pam, Age 0-2, Age 2-4, Age 4-6, Age 6-8, Age 8-10, Donaldson, Julia, Murphy, Jill, Schleffer, Axel, Vidal, Beatriz | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments