Inspiring video footage from Bookstart

Found this on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIyMBIAwvDU

I only hope the link works, as I'm not the most technically adept. If not, go into youtube and put "Maia reading" into the subject bar, and you should be directed to the appropriate clip. It shows parents sharing books with their little girl from babyhood into her toddler years. It's lovely footage that manages to encapsulate some of the closeness, fun and sheer joy that sharing books with children can involve.

Just about to embark on my usual bedtime reading with Jessicat. Today, we've got "One Day with Mum" by Helen Oxenbury (short, straightforward little stories that reflect everyday events in the life of an ordinary toddler), and a poetry compilation called "Along the Line With Bernard Cribbins". This anthology is full of short poems for children. It's strong on rhyme and contains a pleasing mix of favourites that can be found in almost any anthology for children and some more uncommonly chosen poems.

Not surprisingly, Jess is exhausted tonight. We met our friends, Zoe and Ian and their kids, to go to the @Bristol science museum this morning, and then after lunch, John and Sarah had invited us over for a BBQ. Jessicat always loves playing with Sean's trains and cars, and today they had their bouncy castle up - another winner. I'm always keen to encourage her to get exercise, for health reasons, and also because I belive in a link between a healthy body and a healthy mind. Doesn't seem to encourage me to do much sport mind.....

Jessicat is 21 months old...

...and such a full on toddler now. As I may have mentioned in previous posts, the daytime nap is showing alarming signs of disappearing altogether, and is down to an hour or so tops. Yikes! Other areas of development are more pleasing. Jess loves to sit in her booster seat at the dining table rather than her highchair, and has enjoyed making the transition from babygros to pyjamas at night time.

Thank God all our classes and groups have now started again; there is only so much trawling round supermarkets and parks I can take before I expire through boredom. Bath is becoming a new haunt of ours; we have discovered the egg cafe (I can't wait until I can take Jessicat to the theatre properly) and have signed up for Kindermusik classes on Mondays. You never know how she will take to a new activity, but I felt we needed something to do with our day in addition to St Luke's Toddler Group.

Autumn has really come early this year, with lots of rain and nights dark by 8pm if not earlier. I am probably the only person in England who appreciates it, but it's great to have the kind of weather that invites you to snuggle indoors in something warm and cosy whilst (pre-baby - drinking wine and watching films) playing tea parties or making Duplo Blok creations with Jess.

A few of the books we have on the go at the moment include:
When Poppy and Max Grow Up - Lindsay Gardiner
Chocolate Mousse for Greedy Goose - Julia Donaldson
Let's Go, Anna - Vivian French. An unexpected hit this. Jess loves the idea that poor Anna has an accident on each page, and of course, she is very familiar with the shopping experience!
Something for Daddy - Ted Dewan. A Bing book. Jessicat finds the concept of "goo" highly amusing.
At Home with Tom and Pippo - Helen Oxenbury. Collection of 6 stories; sheer class.
Peepo - Janet Ahlberg. This would always be in my top 5 books to read to Jess. In fact, it's so utterly brilliant, it would probably be one of my desert island choices (well, you never know....)
Noisy Poems - Jill Bennett. And Jessicat can say "I love that poem"!