Wednesday 5 January 2011

Book for Kids - my thoughts and a mini-giveaway

You cannot have failed to notice all the uproar in the press recently about government's withdrawal of funding, scrap that, continuation of funding for BookStart, and all the discussion around young children's access to books.

I'm not going to turn this into a political post about whether or not it it is the state's job to provide books, but I will say I am eternally grateful to BookStart.  Not because I couldn't afford to buy books for my child like many less fortunate, but simply because without the scheme it would have never occurred to me as a first-time mum to give books to my baby.



I wrongly assumed that books were for toddlers.  It didn't appreciate the social and developmental benefits that very small babies can gain from them.  The scheme has inspired us to join the library (Ruby has been a member in her own right from 4 months old) and has nurtured a passion and love which I hope will stay with her for life.  Bookstart also operate the 'Book Crawl' scheme which is a great incentive scheme rewarding young readers with stickers and certificates each time they visit the library.  Ruby will ALWAYS pick a book over a toy, and reading and sharing stories and words is a massive part of our life now, and an activity which takes place throughout the day - not just at bedtime.

Through board books, she has learnt her numbers, shapes and colours and thanks to a little Peter Rabbit book by the time she started nursery at 2 and a half she could identify and say not only the basic shapes like square and circle, but also 'hexagon', 'crescent' and 'oval'.  Pretty impressive!

Books have inspired a love (or should I say obsession) with Thomas the Tank Engine, to the point that she knows a 'coupling rod' from an 'axle' - alarmingly anorakish for a girl who's not yet 3!

Tomorrow we start a new group at our Sure Start centre called 'Once upon a time'. I'm really looking forward to this weekly session, billed as an 'interactive story session for all the family' and hope that we will discover new tales to share.

From a tiny baby, Ruby had access to books and buggy books were a god-send.  These little clip-on books offered a distraction when she was fractious, entertainment when she was bored and saved me back-ache as I wasn't constantly retrieving something lobbed overboard from the buggy.




To celebrate our love of all things booky, I'm giving away one of these fab buggy books.  Up for grabs is a copy of the classic Raymond Briggs tale 'The Snowman'.  Perfect for wintry walks in the buggy, this board book with it's wonderful illustrations will delight your little one and hopefully help nurture the same love for books we share.

Visit the Bookstart website for more information on the scheme, great activities, downloads and book recommendations.

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This competition is now closed. Thanks to everyone who entered and for all your lovely comments. the winner, chosen at random is @wendymcd83. Congratulations!

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To enter the competition, first become a follower of my blog (click the 'follow' button over on the right, or subscribe via RSS), and leave me a comment telling me your favourite children's book.

For an extra entry, tweet the following "I'm entering @missielizzieb 's blog giveaway for a buggy book. For entry see here: http://bit.ly/eOHGsV  " and leave me an EXTRA comment below telling me you've tweeted.

Don't forget to leave me a way to contact you if you're picked as the winner - email, twitter ID, facebook name etc.

Terms:

The prize is one copy of The Snowman buggy book.
Winner picked at random.
Closing date is 8pm Tuesday 11 January 2010
I will make every endeavour to contact the winner, but if you have not responded within 1 week I will re-draw.
Open to UK entrants only.

72 comments:

  1. I'm already a follower : )

    My favourite childrens book from when I was young is the Jolly Postman - I used to love taking the letters out of the envelopes and reading them.

    Alex's favourite book is Aliens Love Underpants and it so so happens that I bought Ellissia her first book yesterday - That's Not My Fairy.

    Fingers crossed we can add to her collection of 1 with The Snowman!

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  2. I've tweeted too

    @second_time_mum

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  3. Im a new follwer so hello x
    My Lily's favourite book is still "find spot"
    she loves her books x
    I love reading too her,it brings her so much joy.
    My son is 6months so i haven't bought him his 1st book,this would be ideal x

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  4. already follow
    There are so many wonderful children's books that it is hard to pick one favourite.
    One that I remember from when my first born (now 22) was growing up is Bears in Pairs by Niki Yektai. I really must try and get my hands on a copy to share with my two little ones.
    @PaulaHaylock

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  5. I already follow and my fav childrens book is the very hungry catapillar :)

    @mummy_loves

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  6. I've tweeted too x

    @mummy_loves

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  7. i am already a follower, my favourite is dear zoo

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  8. I am following and my favourite is "A Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle - children love it so many happy times with it and them

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  9. GFC follower and I love all the Eric Carle books--They'd be my favorites!

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  10. My fave book as a child was famous five by enid blyton. Infact just about anything by enid blyton I love.

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  11. I have also tweeted the competition

    @nicolaliz

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  12. I already follow the blog - my favourite children's book has to be either The Gruffalo or We're Going On A Bear Hunt.

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  13. I have tweeted as well x @basehex

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  14. Followed the blog and my favourite children's book is The Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton - still have a copy:)

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  15. My favourite children's book is "The Fairy's Shoemaker and Other Stories" by Enid Blyton...my copy has been read so many times that my grandad had to fix it back together with brown tape! I can't wait until I can read it to my children once they're old enough.

    (I have also tweeted this @TPAJJA)

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  16. Sorry, just seen you want an extra comment to tell I've tweeted - @TPAJJA

    Thanks xxx

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  17. famous five and secret seven books- I used to love these

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  18. Samantha Clarke05 January, 2011 20:50

    Me and my children (1yr old son & 3yr old daughter) read all the time. I have to say my favorite is Julia Donaldson - Room on the Broom. (they love it too! lol) xxx You can contact me on twitter @samba1985 xx

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  19. Samantha Clarke05 January, 2011 20:57

    Tweeted @samba1985 - was already a follower xxx

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  20. My favourite was The Hungry Caterpillar x

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  21. My favourite as a youngster was The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar by Roald Dahl. I was also mad about Enid Blyton's Faraway Tree tales! Since having children of my own I've discovered the hilarious Dr Xargle books by Jeanne Willis-very cleverly written,they appeal to kids and adults alike,with fabulous illustrations.

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  22. I love the Meg & Mog books. I have so much fun reading them with my daughter and we read them over and over again. I'm sure they will be just as much fun with her new baby brother when he's old enough.
    twitter name: star100x

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  23. I've also tweeted about the comp.

    twitter name: star100x

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  24. My favourite is Goodnight Mister Tom.

    I've tweeted - @toffeebet

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  25. My grandaughter loves The Hungry Caterpillar. She
    has just turned one and her mummy has been
    reading to her since she was born.

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  26. We are big fans of the Gruffalo and any of the Enid Blyton stories (personally my favourite is Mr Pinkwhistle!!)

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  27. My favourite child's book is James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl have also tweeted @aesop57

    I am also following your blog

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  28. I love Julia Donaldson's book and I really like her new book Zog - it's one of her best.
    @ericahughes

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  29. Have been and always will be The Very Hungry Caterpillar. It worked for my kids and my grand child. Story, colours, numbers, basic objects all in a few cardboard pages. @phyllgerry xx

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  30. For the bonus ball have RT'd using @phyllgerry also can be found on Facebook with ID Phyllis Ellett xx

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  31. I follow your blog. My favourite children's book is Meg and Mog. My daughter Megan is now 19 and her copy has been passed down to each of her three younger siblings! @wendymcd83

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  32. Just wanted to say well done on a great blog post. I work in a library and agree with everything you've said about books, bookstart and book crawl being an important part of helping children in many ways from a young age. Congratulations on introducing your child to the world of books :)
    Lisalittlespud

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  33. My favourite children's book was chicken licken, although now as an adult reading it to my daughter I realise its actually quite sinister.
    @elasticagirl

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  34. i have tweeted too @elasticagirl x

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  35. I cannot believe they are withdrawing funding for Bookstart. :O( The state of things today. (sighs...) My favourite children's book is A Child's Garden of Verses by RL Stevenson, illustrated by Hilda Boswell. I know virtually every single one by heart even now. Truly beautiful book and it recaptures my childhood imagination every time I read it.

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  36. I already follow your lovely Blog

    My favourite children's book of all time is My Naughty Little Sister by Dorothy Edwards

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  37. I'm a follower :-) My favourite children's book is Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. I have fond memories of it growing up :-) I'd love to win the buggy book for my 13 month old daughter.

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  38. I am following.

    My faviroute children book for me was The Secret Island by Enid Blyton . For my children i love anything that rhymes lol

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  39. Already a follower :)

    My fave book was any Malory Towers books, fab!!

    @MrsD_Winchester

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  40. Tweeted here:

    http://twitter.com/MrsD_Winchester/statuses/24183531424976896

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  41. Mt favourite book as a child was Richard Scarry Busy Busy World

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  42. The hungry caterpillar. All my children love that one.
    @mummiafelice

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  43. I have also tweeted.

    I agree entirely. It's never too early to introduce books to a child, and Bookstart does a fantastic job in encouraging children and parents to love books. Books are an important part of childhood, not only for development and learning but for encouraging their little imaginations. You can go anywhere and be anyone in a book! :)

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  44. I read the Very Hungry Caterpillar to my children and grandcildren and they all loved it.

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  45. i love the Very Hungry Caterpillar & so does my son :O)
    have tweeted
    @emmav6
    xx

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  46. loved all the mr men books and meg and mog when i was little :)
    @missdaisy32 x

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  47. Hiya, i'm following your blog. My favourite book(S) were Peter rabbit. I wasn't good at reading, but I loved those delicate painting with not too many words on each page.

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  48. I follow you on twitter and also just tweeting

    I'm entering @missielizzieb 's blog giveaway for a buggy book. For entry see here: http://bit.ly/eOHGsV

    from @julieJesta

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  49. My favorite children's book would have to be The Witches

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  50. I have tweeted (pandcands).

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  51. My fave is another Raymond Briggs classic, Fungus the Bogeyman!

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  52. The Gruffalo - its always been a favourite with us

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  53. Have also tweeted, twitter username is @jaimecheese

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  54. My favourite childhood books were The Faraway Tree series by Enid Blighton!! I still remember 'Moonface' and 'Silky' twenty years on!
    K
    xx

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  55. Following with Google Friend Connect and retweeted @fraoch1

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  56. Hi! I've just tweeted!! Can i have an entry pleeeassee!! xx

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  57. OK, Hi, I have just become a follower, my fave children's stories are the mr men/little miss books love em all!! xx

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  58. I read to my 17 month all the time, and his favourite book is 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar'. He loves putting his fingers through where the caterpillar has munched.

    My favourite book, however, was and still is 'The Magic Faraway Tree' by Enid Blyton. It's falling apart now, as I've had it for many many years, so hopefully it will hold on a few more for my son to read when he's older. I still have all my Famous Five books for him too x

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  59. I'm already a follower :)

    My favourite childhood book was The Bear with Boot Button Eyes by Enid Blyton, it's the one that always sticks in my mind :)

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  60. And I've tweeted @dawnie_brown :)

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