Parents' blog
What do Bookstart parents have to say? Find out more and add your comments.
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Why books are brilliant for your baby: part 1
Posted Wednesday June 10th 2009
by Natasha Worswick
This is the first in a series of posts for mums, dads and carers of very little ones. It’s for you if you’ve found your way here because your baby has received their Bookstart books, if you’re interested in giving your child the best reading start, if you’re not sure how or why a baby can benefit from books, or even if you’ve found some other route here.
Trust us, books are brilliant for babies. And I’ll explain more in the posts to come. But for now, why not try it for yourself? You’re sure to be able to find a book that’s perfect for your little one, no matter how old they are.
Very basic books with high-contrast pictures work best for new babies. There are lots out there on the market – Milo loved his First Cot Book (published by Ladybird), for example. When we held it about a foot away from him, he was fascinated by the bold patterns, shapes and black, white and yellow colour scheme. And he moved on to a book of black and white art as seen here.
If your little one is a touch older, why not try something that…
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Interview with Nihal Arthanayake
Posted Wednesday June 10th 2009
by Nikesh Shukla
DJ, broadcaster and journalist Nihal Arthanayake is not only a master of all trades, presenting programmes on Channel 4 and BBC2, on the radio and deejaying all over the world from Australia to India to Kenya to every major festival going in the UK, he's also a Bookstart Dad. Not only all that (if that wasn't already enough) Nihal is a Bookstart Dad who recognises the importance of reading to your child. Having a young son, he ensures he spends time with him and reads to him as part of his development and to inspire a lifelong love of books. Here at Bookstart, we couldn't think of anyone in the public eye who embodies our core message as much as Nihal so contacted him for an interview, which he kindly granted us (no mean feat with the sheer amount of work he does).
>Do you read to your baby?
Yes. Because I want my son to love books and not see them as vehicles of rote learning but as sources of wonderment and joy. I want him to feel the physicality of holding a book, of turning it's pages and on each page seeing new images that fly out of…
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Interview with Leigh Hodgkinson
Posted Thursday June 4th 2009
by Nikesh Shukla
Many people who have seen Charlie and Lola on television will be surprised to learn that the images were drawn not by Lauren Child, the creator of the books, but by the series art director Leigh Hodgkinson, who talks to Madelyn Travis about her new picture book, Smile! over on the main Booktrust Children's Books site. Click here to read the interview
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What was your favourite children’s book?
Posted Thursday June 4th 2009
by Natasha Worswick
I was messing around online at the weekend, when an article about modern illustrators illustrating children’s classics caught my eye. And that got me thinking, what was your favourite children’s book when you were a child?
My favourite picture book was probably Flip Flop’s Secret by Molly Brett. I just loved the beautiful details in the illustrations, and the idea of animals driving cars would make me laugh every time. And, for pure fun and exciting escapism, a longer read would be any of the Secret Seven or Enchanted Wood books by Enid Blyton.
Not, perhaps, the most classic of choices, but the fact is, they were my favourites. Which is sort of the point, isn’t it? We’re all different, so naturally we’re drawn to different things – and we can all help others to discover our choices for themselves.
It reminds me of a recent event where former children’s laureates Jacqueline Wilson, Quentin Blake, Michael Morpurgo and Anne Fine joined current laureate, Michael Rosen, to name their favourite children’s books for a Waterstones promotion. There were some classics, but there were plenty of choices that reflected their more individual tastes too.
So what would you say… -
Maia's Bedtime Reading Pal
Posted Monday June 1st 2009
by Nikesh ShuklaOur first Bedtime Reading Week is becoming a huge success with events happening all around the county. Maia attended her local library for a very special Bookstart Rhymetime for Bedtime Reading Week. Every child who turned up in PJs won a Bookstart Bear!
