COOL MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION FOR KIDS

The thing about kids magazines, and ignore me while I sigh at the stacks of peppa pig decorated with random delights of plastic tat and strategically placed at the height of small grabby hands, is that they are so disposable and quite frankly ugly. 

Yes I know seeing your little ones eyes light up in recognition of their favourite character can do wonders when you’re desperately seeking a five minute break, but really I want something a bit better than matching the Octonauts to their Gups or what Daddy Pig has got going on. I want something which will inspire, be informative, engage conversation, packed with crafts AND be well designed without the hefty price tag. Something that can sit on the shelf and make a good stocking filler – yep I've got Christmas shopping on my mind!

Too much to ask you say? Well we’ve been a long term fan of the Fabulous Messy Monster book which has made it on screen with the brand new series, Messy Goes to Okido on CBeebies, and F is so excited to share his name with one of the main characters that it has him hooked.

Okido Magazine is the arts and science magazine for 3- 8 year old children. It's designed to engage young children in scientific discovery in the most fun and creative way. From seasons to dinosaurs and all the good bits in between, it's chocked full of fun doodles, cut out and make sections, recipe ideas for little ones to get stuck in, crazy cartoons and surreal sequences.

I love the bold colours and quirky design, and F seems to love it too! He spends ages pouring over the pictures, trying to pick out words he recognises and it’s great that the Messy Monster comic strip is at the front allowing kids to connect the TV character to paper. 

Okido magazine subscription would make the perfect stocking filler for kids, imagine having bi-monthly brilliance drop through the letter box to the delight of your kiddo. I know a certain five year old will be getting one off Santa Claus.

*We recieved copies of Okido magazine for review purposes only. All opinions are 100% my own and F's.

CREATIVE CHILDREN'S SPACES // A GOOD BOOK & INTERIOR INSPIRATION

Occasionally I'll get an email that brings a smile to my face and makes my heart soar, especially when it combines some of my favourite things, and that's exactly what happened when I was asked to  peek inside the pages of Creative Children's Spaces by the super talented Ashlyn Gibson, who I've had the pleasure of working with both online and in real life.

Broken down into useful and digestible chapters focusing various themes, Creative Children's Spaces explores real homes and their families from across the globe to combine a bible of tips and inspiration for creating beautiful, stylish and dynamic spaces, that are not only affordable but functional and can grow with your child.


 

When we first got the keys to this little flat of ours, during the two week transition period of packing boxes and loading vans, I would head out into the night, laden down with paints and brushes leaving my four month old bundle of warmth milked up at home under watchful eyes, and spend hours washing walls, filling crack and painting soothing colours on the room my boy would call home.

It was such a labour of love getting his room just right and as my passion for interiors and design has grown, so has my kiddo. As he starts the transition into school life I find myself challenging the way I see his space, how to make it fun, creative and practical while maintaining his character. I wanted a stylish environment that could grow with F and as I make lists and plans, I feel this book is holding my hand all the way.

This visual feast packed with stunning photography by Ben Robertson, captures the essence of childhood and celebrates the daily voyages of discovery that you can make at home with your child. From den building with sticks and printed fabrics to painting with a portable art station and creating a multifunctional space – such as this dining room with mid-century furniture – you'll find ways to nurture your little ones personality in the place they call home.






Not only does this book greet you with layer upon layer of beautiful imagery, insightful Q&A's, tips, ideas and a wonderful stockist source *whoop* for you to bring what you love into your home, but it makes a great companion for anyone entering parenthood or living with children and is one book that should certainly be added to your bookshelves or coffee table where it belongs.

You can see more of Ashlyn's ideas and tips in her bestselling book Creative Family Home. Creative Children's Spaces is published by Ryland Peters & Small at £19.99.

A GOOD BOOK // THE LITTLE BOY WHO LOST HIS NAME

So I haven't done one of these for a while but when I heard about this personalised book I couldn't resist creating one for F. What better way to get them engaged in a story then to make them the main character in this good book.

The Little Boy Who Lost His Name from Lost My Name.com is the perfect gift for any kiddo and one I'm going to be bookmarking for gifts as Christmas creeps up, with the opening introduction written to your child's name on beautiful thick paper, F grinned in delight when he realised this story was about him. The quirky, colourful illustrations and flowing typography make each page an adventure in itself as your child tries to find all the lost letters of their names. From pirate treasure to athletic lions, each letter allows you to enjoy a mini story and create a fun way to teach your child how to spell their name.

What's more impressive is that this book is independently published, making you feel good about your purchase and supporting independent businesses. I always know if a book is a winner in our house as we are immediately asked to read it again and again and this didn't disappoint. Plus each story is individual to the child as the pages and story are chosen by their name, making it a fab personalised gift for Christmas.

*We were offered a copy of this book for for review purposes. All words and opinions are my own as always.

FIVE KIDS PICTURE BOOKS ABOUT PARIS

As you may know we love Paris, especially my kiddo, and some of his favourite picture books are those set in the city of lights. So you can imagine his excitement when I mentioned we might be going for a whistle stop tour in the not so distant future. I was only reminiscing with friends at Blogtacular how wonderful it was to see his whole face light up when he first saw the Eiffel Tower at night.

So I thought I would share F's top five Paris picture books with you:

1. Mr Chicken Goes to Paris 

Mr Chicken Goes to Paris is both charming and quirky while unbeknown to tiny minds, educational. Discovering iconic landmarks such as the Sacre Coeur, Eiffel Tower, Musee du Louvre, Notre Dame and Palace de Versailles, Mr Chicken – or Monsieur Poulet – tests out some of his useful french phrases, while the citizens of Paris photograph the yellow monster that has taken the city by storm.

2. A Lion in Paris

A Lion in Paris is one of those books that the moment you see it, you know you must have it. Its beautiful large format holds the stunning illustrations of multi-award winning author/illustrator Beatrice Alemagna. The story unfolds as a lonely lion, bored of his existence in the Savannah, travels to Paris for a different pace of life. The lion is disappointed as he blends into the blur of the Parisian backdrop and puzzled at the lack of stares or screams he roars out for attention only to be ignored. Feeling sad and alone he wanders the streets, visiting some of the iconic landmarks the city has to offer.

3. Henri's Walk to Paris

Henri’s Walk to Paris is the story of a young boy who lives in Reboul, France, who dreams of going to Paris. One day, after reading a book about Paris, he decides to pack a lunch and head for the city. Published in 1962 and is the only children's book illustrated by the talented Saul Bass.

4. Madeleine

The book that started my love affair with Paris in the first place, is one of my favourite childhood stories about a little girl called Madeline – 'In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines,
lived twelve little girls in two straight lines, they left the house, at half past nine, the smallest one was Madeline.' – who although small, is feisty and full of character. First published in 1939 this book captures the charm of Paris and children all in one.

5. A Walk in Paris

A Walk in Paris is fun and educational all rolled into one. I love Salvatore Rubbino's series of beautifully illustrated books which lead you by the hand through the City of Lights from a child perspective. As they discover iconic landmarks and experience its culture and style, you really get a feel for the city  and learn some facinating facts along the way. This is a great book to take with you and get little feet excited to explore the delights of Paris.


What are your favourite children's picture books that explore cities and are great for travelling? 

A GOOD BOOK // ATLAS OF ADVENTURE

Recently we were lucky enough to head over to Amsterdam for a fun adventure, for those of you who follow me on Instagram or twitter you probably saw a few snapshots of our trip away. So on our return I was eager to get F a good book, and couldn't help falling in love with this Atlas of Adventure.

From the same authors of Maps, this book is perfect for any mini intrepid explorer, opening up a collection of natural wonders, exciting experiences and fun festivities from the four corners of the globe. Beautifully illustrated, this fantastic book celebrates the diversity of our planet with fab adventures to explore as you travel through its pages.

Each continent is mapped out at the beginning of the chapter for a fun overview, before diving into a double page spread full of quirky detailed illustration and fun facts. Ever wondered what it would be like to Dog sled with huskies in Alaska or Dance the Samba at the Rio Carnival? Well now your little ones can glimpse other cultures and use their imagination to bring the world to their living room.

This book is a fantastic read and should be on every child's bookshelf, plus it looks great on a coffee table. So when F asks what it's like for Daddy in Moscow, I'll simply turn to page 25 and Discover a Masterpiece on the Moscow Metro and bring him a little closer to home.

A GOOD BOOK // VIVIAN MAIER STREET PHOTOGRAPHER

One of the things I love about photography is seeing life through the eyes of someone else, moments perfectly captured in time that without a camera would fade into obscurity. So when I received this good book at I was excited to share it with you.

I first heard of Vivian Maier through a small poster glued to the side of a building, her striking image drew me in and I wanted to find out more. The poster showed the upcoming documentary being screened at The Cube, a cool independent cinema and arts centre in Bristol, and immediately I knew I needed to get tickets. On the night I headed down on my own to a packed out tiny art house cinema, where I sat with a rum and coke in hand as the lights dimmed.

I was totally mesmerised by the life of this unknown woman, a professional nanny who lived in New York amongst other places, who took over 100,000 photographs and showed no-one. Not a soul. These stunning collection of images shows Maier to been one of the most amazing street photographers of her generation and the negatives sat in boxes upon boxes until a few years ago, after her death, they were discovered by a local historian and the first negative was developed.

The book brings together her eye for detail, light and composition, her timing and her ability to never miss a moment, and lays it out for you to embrace and pour over. Maier's stunning photography invites you stare upon the faces of people from a forgotten time and brings you into their lives.

If you love photography or knows anyone who does then this is the perfect coffee table book and if you haven't see the documentary about this incredibly talented woman then now is the time to discover her work.

A GOOD BOOK // The Empty Stocking

One of the best things about the run up to Santa paying a visit is all of the great Christmas stories available for kids. Every night I love nothing more than snuggling down on F's bed as he's tucked up under the blankets and reading him a magical story from the pages of a good book.

F recently received The Empty Stocking off a dear friend as a Christmas present and I couldn't resist opening it early so we had something new to read. As soon as we finished F immediately asked to read it again, which is always a great sign and on this night I was more than happy to. The story is beautiful and really celebrates the spirit of Christmas, not just waking to an armful of presents but about love for others, kindness and selfless acts. I had been looking for something exactly like this to teach F about the importance of giving.

Written by Richard Curtis – who directed Love Actually amongst many others – the story starts with twin girls, Charlie and Sam, awaiting the arrival of Father Christmas, but with one twin being horrid this year will their stocking be filled? 

This heart warming story, full of beautiful illustrations allows us to see behind the naughty deeds and understand the difference between right and wrong from a child's point of view. This is the perfect festive book and is now one of my favourite Christmas reads for F. 

A GOOD BOOK // The Book Of Everyone

As you know I'm always on the look out for a good book, especially as gift giving season is upon us. There's nothing better than ripping into a great read, be it a novel, an art book, biography or something  beautifully illustrated.

So when I found The Book of Everyone I knew I had found the perfect gift for a friend who has everything. This personalised gift book is super easy and quick to make, high quality and brilliant fun, which celebrates that special person whether it's a gift for their birthday, anniversary, celebration, Christmas or just because they're pretty awesome.

Thankfully this friend is always crazy busy and rarely reads blogs, so I'm taking a small risk sharing it with you but it would have been rude to keep this gift idea under wraps. Available in a variety of colours as well as formats – digital, paperback or hardback – it looks great with your loved ones name on the front.

Making it couldn't be more simple, on visiting the website you select the colour you want, enter their details such as name, gender and date of birth, then start getting creative. The book is made up of well designed pages full of fun facts and weird wisdom based on their date of birth, such as: who won the Nobel prize, what was the most popular sweet and how much of your DNA is shared with a banana. You can customise it by adding text and photos truly making it a unique book, after all, it's totally about them right?

*I was offered to try out The Book of Everyone for review purposes only, I loved it so much that I've ordered more as Christmas gifts. So yep 100% my own opinion.

A GOOD BOOK // Sam and Dave Dig a Hole

When I saw this cover I immediately picked it up without even breaking the spine and paid at the cash till, safely tucking it away in my bag to take home. Foolish you might say, but I have such a love for Jon Klassen's illustrations and a trust in his choice of work that I knew it was going to be a good book, and it didn't disappoint!

If the cover isn't enough to make you want a copy of Sam and Dave Dig a Hole on your shelves then you don't need to look much further for a reason to keep this beauty. A simple tale of two friends and their dog who one day set out to dig a hole in the hopes that something spectacular might happen. This alone had me hooked, the possibilities endless. As they navigate the earth, you as a reader get a peek at what they could encounter depending on the choices they make, which way should they turn? Left? Right? Straight down?

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In its simplest sense it's a story about children playing and having fun, on a whole other level it's almost shows how the smallest decisions you make, impact the life you have. Ok so I might be getting a bit heavy with a kids book but it really does open this up for discussion, especially at the end where no precious material object has been gained but an adventure, which for them is spectacular enough.

This is beautifully illustrated – although I wouldn't expect anything less of Klasson – and the story written by Mac Barnett is thoughtful and well laid out. A brilliant book all round and definitely one for your stocking.

A GOOD BOOK // A Story About Ducks

With Christmas looming and present ideas stock piling, I'm getting excited at all these amazing new reads. Sometimes all it takes to win me over is a well designed jacket, a moral tale or some quirky illustrations and this good book has all three.  

Published by the V&A, A Story About Ducks is part of the Renier Collection of Children's Literature and follows a group of restless ducks, who disenchanted by their little river decide to set off on an adventure to faraway places and explore the world beyond. Full of raspberry buns, ice creams and roller coaster rides, their day trip seems exciting at first but they soon wish they were back in the safety of their reeds after ignoring the advice of two birds they meet along the way. 

This charming story brings to life an important message to those who explore its pages, not to take for granted what you already have and to be open to the advice of others, as well show courage and curiosity. First published in 1945 and until recently long out of print, this beautiful wordy picture book will be the one your kiddo cherishes in their childhood memories, proving it to be the classic it is. 

A GOOD BOOK // On Sudden Hill

One of the beautiful things to experience in life is the friendships you make along the way, those shared moments that can last a lifetime. Watching your child start to forge their own friendship and gain their independence can be nerve wracking and make your heart swell simultaneously. After discovering this illustrator last year in a beautiful tale of friendship I was so excited to find his newest work in this good book.

On Sudden Hill captures the concept of friendship, jealously and acceptance with a simple tale of two best friends who love nothing more than to run wild in the great outdoors, creating games with a cardboard box and their imagination. One morning a new boy comes to play on the hill and join their adventures, but as Etho welcomes the new friend and shares his lunch, Birt gets jealous and in temper destroys his box and heads home.  

Confused by his feelings of sad, anger, jealousy and loneliness, Birt stays in his room refusing to come out to play, until his friend and Shu create the best contraption yet, uniting the trio in a new better friendship.

This is a great story for any child, especially at they grow and explore their own emotions, learning to cope and manage their feelings as their relationships develop. With beautiful and characterful illustrations that charm you on every turn of the page, this is definitely a tale to find in the stocking this Christmas.