Parents' blog
What do Bookstart parents have to say? Find out more and add your comments.
-
Trying out new titles
Posted Tuesday May 26th 2009
by Natasha Worswick
What an unusually warm and sunny Bank Holiday it has been! I hope you’ve been able to get out and enjoy it.
We took the opportunity to sit out in the garden and have a read of a few new books for Milo. New to him, that is – not necessarily new on the market!
Top of Milo’s favourites on Sunday was Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell, published by Campbell Books. It’s the story of a zoo sending potential pets to the reader. As you turn the page there’s a new crate to open with the pull of a flap to reveal the new animal. Great fun!
It seemed to make a nice change for Milo, as we tend to rely on the same two or three books to see him through his play time and to wind him down before his naps. We made noises for each animal, but weren’t too sure what sounds to make for camel and giraffe (any ideas?). He really enjoyed us whispering 'ssssssssssnake' and also bouncing him up and down when we got to the frog page. He loved the big reveal as we lifted the flaps, and he paid extra special attention…
-
Snuggle down for a bedtime treat
Posted Monday May 18th 2009
by Natasha Worswick
I’m getting really excited about the fact that next week is Booktrust’s very first Bedtime Reading Week, as part of National Family Reading Week.
At home, we always have a bedtime story with our little boy Milo. He is six and a half months old now and it was something we started almost straight after he was born (well not the first few weeks because back then, let’s face it, we were exhausted and had no idea what we were doing).
Our bedtime read has definitely helped with Milo’s routine, and it’s now a familiar part of his wind down after his bath and before his final feed. The consistency of it all helps him prepare for what will hopefully be a nice long sleep through the night.
What’s more, it’s clear that Milo really loves his bedtime book. He sits on my lap whilst his dad reads out loud and shows him the pictures. Simple, short picture books obviously work best at this age, and a current favourite is Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. Milo can often be heard laughing out loud as his dad performs different voices for different… -
Recommended books for children under 5 May 2009
Posted Tuesday May 5th 2009
by Nikesh Shukla
Every month, our Children's Books website recommends books to children of all ages. They often recommend books for Bookstart children under 5. The website is a great resource for book reviews, interviews with authors and illustrators, and competitions so be sure to visit there once you've finished here.
The recommendations for May 2009 can be found here
This month's Bookstart-related recommendations are A Small Surprise by Louise Yates and Elephant by Petr Horacek. Click on the title to be taken directly to the review.
Also, check out the shortlist for 2009's Kate Greenaway award; there may be some books on the list that may interest you.
What have you and your child been reading this month? Do let us know!
-
Maia reading
Posted Monday April 27th 2009
by Rosemary ClarkeIn her first blog for the new Bookstart website, Rosemary Clarke (Director of Bookstart and bookgifting programmes) shares a beautiful video with us on Maia and her reading journey from birth.
This film is pure serendipity.
It is a collection of photographs and film clips of Maia with her father, Paul and her mother, Beatrice.
The film was put together hastily in February so that I could include it as part of my speech at our Booktrust Conference in March 2009.
We had never consciously decided to make a film of Maia with her books. Therefore, it was pleasing that, among the abundance of photos and film clips, we had captured many pictures of Maia growing to love sharing books with her mummy and daddy. Only the last two clips were ‘filmed to order’.
We were thrilled with the results.
In Booktrust we believe it is never too early to start loving books and it is never too late either. This film shows what happens when a baby is given a love of stories, songs and rhymes from the start.
Although it is only six minutes long the film contains an enormous amount of useful information and it is worth…
-
Molly's blog
Posted Wednesday April 22nd 2009
by antilorna
The following post was entered as comments in our parents' blog welcome post. We found these comments so wonderful and moving we have decided to amalgamate them into their own blog, which is only what they deserve.
Molly's 'Bookstart Journey'
Two and a half years ago, my sister started taking her one year old daughter, my wee niece Sofie to what was called 'Storytime' at Port Glasgow Library. After a few weeks this evolved into 'Bookstart Rhymetimes'. We would get Sofie to show us all her new songs and stories when she came home on a Friday after library, she just loved the attention! We would laugh until we cried at her 'sleepy bunnies' and 'little green frogs'. They would do arts and crafts and every week they would bring home something topical, a Christmas card or collages made from leaves; it was so sweet! It was about a year later that I had my very own Bookstart Baby. Molly was 8 weeks old when I started taking her to Bookstart Rhymetimes. It was a great way to get out and meet new people and to get ideas for my new baby. I get such a big smile on…
