http://www.youbabybookmagic.org.uk/
Free books for babies - what a fantastic idea! I love the little bag of free books that Jessicat and I were able to pick up from the library. I wish there were more; she doesn't qualify for the next set until she is 15 months old. Thank God for libraries in the interim, or we would have to re-mortgage the house!
I am pleased to report that normality is slowly returning after our week of illnesses. My reading at the moment is The Faber Book of Love Verse and Sarah Bilston's Bed Rest (which I wouldn't mind a bit more of after Jess's poor sleeping over the last few nights!)
Friday 27 April 2007
Wednesday 25 April 2007
The view from my sick bed...
Oh dear, what an awful week. Dave and I have succumbed to a nasty tummy bug that has left us feeling miserable and tired. Jessicat remains healthy; fingers crossed that she somehow escapes. So reading opportunities have been a bit thin on the ground this week for us all. But I did want to mention how one book we discovered in our libary: Hand Rhymes (collected and illustrated by Marc Brown). These are particularly good for Jess as they satisfy her current yen for rhymes and being able to watch Mummy's fingers moving at the same time...
At our Stay and Play session on Monday, the parents are encouraged to choose a book from a selection to read with the babies at home. Hurrah, more books to choose from! Our first selection is a little board book called There was an old lady who swallowed a fly; a classic kid's poem that I remember from my old childhood. Monday's at the Children's Centre now see us following a curriculum called PEEPs (can't remember what the anocronym stands for), but I know it's about encouraging parents in their role as their child's first educators. I'm excited to be part of this, with maybe just a slight feeling of concern; Jessicat is 5 months old - surely she can just kind of hang out a bit at this age? She's got the rest of her life to follow a curriculum! Anyway, the first session was a lot of fun, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it develops.
At our Stay and Play session on Monday, the parents are encouraged to choose a book from a selection to read with the babies at home. Hurrah, more books to choose from! Our first selection is a little board book called There was an old lady who swallowed a fly; a classic kid's poem that I remember from my old childhood. Monday's at the Children's Centre now see us following a curriculum called PEEPs (can't remember what the anocronym stands for), but I know it's about encouraging parents in their role as their child's first educators. I'm excited to be part of this, with maybe just a slight feeling of concern; Jessicat is 5 months old - surely she can just kind of hang out a bit at this age? She's got the rest of her life to follow a curriculum! Anyway, the first session was a lot of fun, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it develops.
Wednesday 18 April 2007
A nice week so far
On Monday, Jessicat and I saw Sarah and Sean. Jess is fascinated by Sean and can't take her eyes off him. Yesterday, Jessicat's Nanny came to spend the day with us, and we had a lovely time.
Dave and I continue to enjoy our reading to Jess, although some more adult material sometimes creeps in to keep our interest levels high. For example, on the go at the moment is The Faber Book of Nursery Verse; no pictures and verse and rhymes that appeal primarily to older and probably literate children. However, we try to inject some silliness and musicality into our readings so that Jess enjoy it.
As for my reading adventures, well, I've started Thinly Disguised Autobiograhpy by James Delingpole, and so far, am finding it very funny.
(Happy Birthday Steve if you're reading this!)
Dave and I continue to enjoy our reading to Jess, although some more adult material sometimes creeps in to keep our interest levels high. For example, on the go at the moment is The Faber Book of Nursery Verse; no pictures and verse and rhymes that appeal primarily to older and probably literate children. However, we try to inject some silliness and musicality into our readings so that Jess enjoy it.
As for my reading adventures, well, I've started Thinly Disguised Autobiograhpy by James Delingpole, and so far, am finding it very funny.
(Happy Birthday Steve if you're reading this!)
Sunday 15 April 2007
This week's reading is....
Oh wow, I notice we have got a comment from Barbara Jean Hicks, whose book we have read to Jessicat. Amazing to think that someone has looked at our blog, and that they live halfway across the world! Thank you Barbara, we will check out our library for your other books.
This week we are reading:
"My First Oxford Book Of Animal Poems" John Foster (love the poems, even though Jess is a bit too young for them really, and certainly a book to return to when she is a bit older)
"Snail Trail" Ruth Brown
"Bear Snores On" - Karma Wilson - I love this board book. It's got just enough of a story to hold adult interest and the bright, bold pictures really catch Jessicat's eyes. Might have to look for a bit more by this writer.
"Playful Baby" Colin and Jacqui Hawkins - board book with simple rhymes and big bold pictures. Board books are great for Jess at the moment as she is getting to the age where she grabs at things and puts them in her mouth.
"Tickle Tickle Tom" Alex Ayliffe - another board book with actions for me to perform to Jessicat.
I'm also enjoying lots of books at the moment. I'm about to start Judi Dench's "My Life In Pictures", which should be enjoyable. I'm also perusing a Penguin Modern Poets book, and am haunted by James Fenton ("They called the sun dismay, my friend, they called the sun dismay...")
This week we are reading:
"My First Oxford Book Of Animal Poems" John Foster (love the poems, even though Jess is a bit too young for them really, and certainly a book to return to when she is a bit older)
"Snail Trail" Ruth Brown
"Bear Snores On" - Karma Wilson - I love this board book. It's got just enough of a story to hold adult interest and the bright, bold pictures really catch Jessicat's eyes. Might have to look for a bit more by this writer.
"Playful Baby" Colin and Jacqui Hawkins - board book with simple rhymes and big bold pictures. Board books are great for Jess at the moment as she is getting to the age where she grabs at things and puts them in her mouth.
"Tickle Tickle Tom" Alex Ayliffe - another board book with actions for me to perform to Jessicat.
I'm also enjoying lots of books at the moment. I'm about to start Judi Dench's "My Life In Pictures", which should be enjoyable. I'm also perusing a Penguin Modern Poets book, and am haunted by James Fenton ("They called the sun dismay, my friend, they called the sun dismay...")
Thursday 12 April 2007
More reading...
Here's the latest collection of books Jessicat and I got from the local library:
Dressing - Helen Oxenbury. Nice pictures to chat about, but no text - one of my pet hates with board books.
My Many Coloured Days - Dr Seuss. I like Dr Seuss books, but this isn't one of the better ones IMO. The pictures are very impressionistic, and that makes them difficult to talk about to a baby; also, there isn't much text in here either.
My Dreamy Bedtime - from the Baby Einstein collection. A nice new book, but I'm still not convinced of the merits of such educational books for babies. I like the idea of Jessicat and I reading together purely for fun, and the learning happening by accident.
The Incredible Book Eating Boy - Oliver Jeffers. Well, this is a pleasure for me really! I heard about this book from the Richard and Judy show, ordered it from the library to satisfy my curiosity. I love the pictures, and there is just the right amount of text to read to a baby.
Apart from that, not much to report. We are taking advantage of the nice weather by taking Jess for lots of walks in the spring sunshine, sat up in her pram. Weaning continues to go well, with breakfast and lunch now underway. A messy business, but another step closer to independence; a prospect I view with ambivalence. Part of me can't wait to have more of my life back, and part of me doesn't want my little girl to grow up!
Of my reading adventures: well, Tabloid Love is addictive and makes me want to go back to NY!
Dressing - Helen Oxenbury. Nice pictures to chat about, but no text - one of my pet hates with board books.
My Many Coloured Days - Dr Seuss. I like Dr Seuss books, but this isn't one of the better ones IMO. The pictures are very impressionistic, and that makes them difficult to talk about to a baby; also, there isn't much text in here either.
My Dreamy Bedtime - from the Baby Einstein collection. A nice new book, but I'm still not convinced of the merits of such educational books for babies. I like the idea of Jessicat and I reading together purely for fun, and the learning happening by accident.
The Incredible Book Eating Boy - Oliver Jeffers. Well, this is a pleasure for me really! I heard about this book from the Richard and Judy show, ordered it from the library to satisfy my curiosity. I love the pictures, and there is just the right amount of text to read to a baby.
Apart from that, not much to report. We are taking advantage of the nice weather by taking Jess for lots of walks in the spring sunshine, sat up in her pram. Weaning continues to go well, with breakfast and lunch now underway. A messy business, but another step closer to independence; a prospect I view with ambivalence. Part of me can't wait to have more of my life back, and part of me doesn't want my little girl to grow up!
Of my reading adventures: well, Tabloid Love is addictive and makes me want to go back to NY!
Monday 9 April 2007
Easter Updates
Well, Jessicat seemed to go through her immunisations without too much trouble. She has had a lovely first Easter and been thoroughly spoilt by her Granny and Grandad. She is the proud owner of 3 new "books for life" (ie tear and water resistant pages - great idea for rampaging babes!). We have been reading the first of these, Little Rabbit Waits for the Moon, by Beth Shoshan. Jess is a bit young for the story, but I like the fact that she can feel the pages and I don't have to worry about the book being destroyed.
Jessicat now owns her first CD as well: nursery rhymes set to music. Dave and I have already had fun playing this and doing the actions. She seems to love music already; hardly surprising I guess given Dave's background.
This blog also needs to feature Daddy's reading adventures. Dave's book of the moment is The Longest Crawl by Ian Marchant, and Dave will be posting his thoughts in the comment section of this blog.
Today Jessicat is off to see Nanny and Auntie Ali. Tomorrow we need to go to the library, as I am bored of reading the same books over and over to Jess!
A big shout out to Maddie!
Jessicat now owns her first CD as well: nursery rhymes set to music. Dave and I have already had fun playing this and doing the actions. She seems to love music already; hardly surprising I guess given Dave's background.
This blog also needs to feature Daddy's reading adventures. Dave's book of the moment is The Longest Crawl by Ian Marchant, and Dave will be posting his thoughts in the comment section of this blog.
Today Jessicat is off to see Nanny and Auntie Ali. Tomorrow we need to go to the library, as I am bored of reading the same books over and over to Jess!
A big shout out to Maddie!
Saturday 7 April 2007
What about Mummy's reading adventures?
Well, Jessicat seems to be ok after her immunisations. We are having a nice Easter weekend, and she is being spoilt by Granny and Grandad. It's giving me plenty of time to catch up on some of my own reading, and if finally looks as if I can tuck into my Christmas books. First up is Tabloid Love by Bridget Harrison. It looks like a Bridget Jones and Sex in the City hybrid - and that is a BIG compliment. I love the sense of anticipation you get when starting a new book; I wonder if Jess will ever feel this as well?
Another first today: we are taking Jess out in pushchair - not pram - set up. She's a nosey (Dave prefers inquisitive) little madam, so I think she will enjoy the opportunity to have a good look around. But a bit of me is also sad that this may signal the end of taking her out in a pram and me being able to chat to her face to face. I wonder if it's true that backward facing prams encourage parents to talk more to their baby and therefore aid language acquisition? Oh well, I think Jessicat is probably sick of the sound of our voices by now!
Another first today: we are taking Jess out in pushchair - not pram - set up. She's a nosey (Dave prefers inquisitive) little madam, so I think she will enjoy the opportunity to have a good look around. But a bit of me is also sad that this may signal the end of taking her out in a pram and me being able to chat to her face to face. I wonder if it's true that backward facing prams encourage parents to talk more to their baby and therefore aid language acquisition? Oh well, I think Jessicat is probably sick of the sound of our voices by now!
Thursday 5 April 2007
Immunisations
At 3.50 today, Jess has got her third set of immunisations. I'm looking forward to this about as much as I would look forward to root canal work, and wish I could have them on her behalf. Still, in all other respects she is thriving. Took her to baby clinic yesterday, and at 20 weeks, she weighs 16lbs 1oz. Good girl!
Today is one of those days just to be got through I think. At least having Jessicat's grandparents down means we have got some company for our post-injection misery. I'm looking forward to a BIG glass of wine and curling up in bed with a good book (my addiction to Caro Fraser novels continues apace).
Today is one of those days just to be got through I think. At least having Jessicat's grandparents down means we have got some company for our post-injection misery. I'm looking forward to a BIG glass of wine and curling up in bed with a good book (my addiction to Caro Fraser novels continues apace).
Wednesday 4 April 2007
Easter holidays
Hurrah, Easter is nearly here!
Jess and I are well supplied with books to see us through the holiday period. On the go we have:
Crazy Colours - a Dr Suess book
Spot Loves His Dad - Eric Hill
Chanting Rhymes - from the First Verses series by John Foster and Carol Thompson
Noisy Poems - collected by Jill Bennett
I Like Black and White - Barbara Jean Hicks and Lila Prap
Dave and I love reading the poems to Jess especially. I'm less sure about the likes of Spot (and Maisie and Poppy Cat). Whilst the pictures are bright and we enjoy talking about them with Jess, these kind of books get boring pretty quickly and they are not the kind of thing you can go back to again and again. Still , they all have their place and variety is the spice of life as they say...
I have been busy today cleaning the house in preparation for a visit from Jessicat's Granny and Grandad. All I need now are some Easter eggs to finish off!
Jess and I are well supplied with books to see us through the holiday period. On the go we have:
Crazy Colours - a Dr Suess book
Spot Loves His Dad - Eric Hill
Chanting Rhymes - from the First Verses series by John Foster and Carol Thompson
Noisy Poems - collected by Jill Bennett
I Like Black and White - Barbara Jean Hicks and Lila Prap
Dave and I love reading the poems to Jess especially. I'm less sure about the likes of Spot (and Maisie and Poppy Cat). Whilst the pictures are bright and we enjoy talking about them with Jess, these kind of books get boring pretty quickly and they are not the kind of thing you can go back to again and again. Still , they all have their place and variety is the spice of life as they say...
I have been busy today cleaning the house in preparation for a visit from Jessicat's Granny and Grandad. All I need now are some Easter eggs to finish off!
Tuesday 3 April 2007
Nursery Rhymes
My favourite things to read to Jess. She seems to enjoy the rhythms, the repetition and the general silliness of them, and they are much more interesting to read than most board books. The book I'm reading from at the moment is Dean's Gift Book Of Nursery Rhymes, originally published in 1965 and read to me and my sister when we were children. What I love about this book is that the rhymes in it do not reflect modern attitudes or political correctness at all. They also use old-fashioned language; no dumbing down here. These aren't just nursery rhymes or songs - some of these are POEMs. Pet hate number 1 - nursery rhymes that are tampered with to make them acceptable to the PC police eg: Baa Baa Black Sheep being changed to Baa Baa White Sheep. Aaaargh!
Other notable events of today: Dave has mowed the lawn for the first time this year (yes, that time is upon us once again). Jess and I went to "Baby Bounce and Rhyme" at Keynsham library and for a quick walk in the park afterwards. Jess saw ducks for the first time ever and was suitably amused. Must go - have a bowl of pasta with my name on it waiting for me.
Other notable events of today: Dave has mowed the lawn for the first time this year (yes, that time is upon us once again). Jess and I went to "Baby Bounce and Rhyme" at Keynsham library and for a quick walk in the park afterwards. Jess saw ducks for the first time ever and was suitably amused. Must go - have a bowl of pasta with my name on it waiting for me.
Hello and Welcome
Welcome to my blog. I've set it up as a kind of diary to record my daughter Jessica's memorable moments, and hope it will enable me to share them with her family and friends. I'm also passionately interested in children's literature (and all literature) and would like this blog to act as a record of the books that Jess and I read together and what we both think of them. I feel strongly that writing for even the youngest children deserves to be taken seriously and argued and debated about in the same way that books for adults are, and this blog is my attempt to do that. Would be interested in any comments or recommendations that anyone has on the subject of children's books or even child-rearing in general. Please get in touch!
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