Reading for June 2009

"Once upon a time" - John Prater. Lovely book featuring lots of characters from nursery rhymes and fairy stories.

"Melrose and Croc" - Emma Chichester-Clark. Would be ideal to read this again in December, as it's set at Christmas time. Nice story about friendship and beautiful illustrations.

"Jungle Jive" - Tony Mitton. Great book, rollicking rhyme. Jessicat can knows some of it off by heart. We're familiar with some of Tony Mitton's poems from our anthologies of children's poetry, and this doesn't disappoint.

"Noah Built An Ark One Day" - Colin Hawkins. This book has flaps and strong rhymes. Jessicat is particulary fascinated by the final double page spread showing the inside of the ark, and likes to spend time studying this and speculating where she would sleep.

"Horatio's Bed" - Camilla Ashforth.

Some of our favourite hangouts of this summer so far have been:

Tiny Tearawayz soft play at Broadwalk Centre - great to meet up here with friends. This summer is the first time I see Jess going off to play independently, leaving me to chat and flick through magazines (surely one of the best ways of passing time?)

Starbucks - cookies, marshmallows, muffins, chocolate coins etc. Nuff said.

Borders Bookshop - air conditioned paradise. What genius thought to put a sofa in the children's play area next to the colouring in table and train set? Give that man a pay rise!

The parks of St Annes, Arnos Vale and Keynsham - generally only bearable in short doses or the company of friends.

Broadmead and Cabot Circus - ELC! McDonalds! Water fountains! Waterstones! Pubs! We loves it!!!

Bath - no trip to Bath is complete without at least one of the following: a sojourn in the egg cafe, browsing in Bath library, cookie hunting in Ben's, reading and dog stroking in Mr B's. After years of a deeply rooted aversion, I've finally grown to love Bath and what it has to offer.

Summer reading and a BBQ

It doesn't get much more summery than this! I am sat out in our back garden, sipping from a glass of cool white wine, listening to my sister Alison reading a book to Jessicat (a Shirley Hughes, but I can't remember the exact title). Now, they are on to something by John Prater, with "Mister Magnolia" by Quentin Blake to follow. It's Sunday afternoon, the mood is mellow, there is a Bank Holiday tomorrow...great for us to be so relaxed.

Now we are the proud owners of a laptop, I'm hoping for more frequent updates, and to get Dave, Ali and others to comment or do guest posts.