Classic

Book review and Rhino Rhyme

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Today’s classic book review is one I read a lot as a child. We even went to see the play. Very happy memories of this one!

Wind in the Willows – by Kenneth Grahame

If this one isn’t a classic then I don’t know what is! The opening chapter is where Mole meets Rat. Mole is fed up with the spring cleaning and heads off out and discovers a river. He befriends Rat and here’s about Badger (a grumpy old Badger set in his ways) and Toad (who likes fast cars and seems to get into various manic scrapes which his friends need to get him out of) There are so many adventures and of course the obligatory baddies (stoats and weasels). It’s a lovely old fashioned book. The reading age is 8+ though I think children as young as 5 would enjoy having it read to them. Be warned – you might not want to put it down! I can still read this book and enjoy it today!

Now going back to Tuesday’s Challenge – it was to shut eyes, open then make a rhyme or story from the first 3 things you or your child see. Oliver is 2 and George is 8months so needed a little help! However, sitting in the living room we saw a rhino (footstool but we pretended it was real!), a cookbook and leaves (through the window outside). Hope you enjoy!
The Hungry Rhino
by Kirsten Allen

In his chair a rhino sat,
Stroking his fluffy Persian cat
And wondering (as rhinos do)
How on earth one cooks tasty leaf stew.

Does one fry it or boil it, grill it or simmer?
The rhino was desperate for stew for his dinner.

Does one chop it or mix it or slice it in half?
Wash it in a basin or dunk it in the bath?

What to do? What to do?
He wanted his stew!

His eyes fell upon a big book on the shelf.
Titled: “Are you a Rhino? How to feed yourself!” 

He clapped his hooves and laughed with glee.
For there he found the recipe on page fifty-three:

“Delicious homemade leaf stew for your tea!”

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Classic story week and Tuesday’s Challenge!

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Hope you enjoyed last week’s challenge? Let me know how you got on!

 Now for this week’s challenge:

Wherever you are (unless driving, operating heavy machinery, about to walk into a lamppost etc) with your child close your eyes and when you open them try and create a poem or story based on the first 3 things you notice. It’s good fun! We’ve made up silly rhymes about cats on trains and in cars. Clouds, planes and the sky….. the possibilities are endless!! Enjoy and let me know the results!

Moving on to the book review. This week I thought it would be nice to look at some classics. Particularly with the school holidays there are loads that older children can enjoy reading.

Danny Champion of the World by Roald Dahl

I remember this was one of the books we had to read at school. Normally I loved reading but not reading books that I was told to read as felt it was quite restrictive and hated picking them apart at the end as felt it took away the enjoyment of reading for enjoyment’s sake. However, I loved reading this book which is aimed at around 7-11 year olds. Couldn’t put it down! It’s about a boy who is raised in a caravan by his father and together they come up with a plot against a nasty wealthy landowner using pheasants. It’s amusing and touching (the relationship between father and son is lovely) in equal measures and one that all     children (and adults!!) should read at some point in their lives! 

Too many to choose from!

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Today I thought I’d share some of my favourite books growing up. There are soooooo many to choose from but here are a couple of my favourites would love to hear about yours! 

Meg and Mog – Helen Nicoll 
A classic picture book about a cat and a witch who’s spells seem to always go haywired. 

Lowly Worm’s Apple Car-Richard Scarry (Richard Scarry books are brilliant- lovely illustrations and really lovely for children to pick up and look at themselves) This particular one is about Lowly the Worm who has to make deliveries in his apple shaped car.

Funnybones- Allan & Janet Ahlberg Funny picture book about some skeletons that want to find someone to scare! 

Ivor the Engine – Oliver Postgate<!–
 
I had “The Dragon” and “Snowdrifts”. I have a feeling these might be books that can only be bought second hand now (have seen them on eBay I think)  but I enjoyed them so much I couldn’t resist adding them on the list. It’s about an engine called Ivor and his driver Jones and adventures chugging around the valleys. If your children are into Thomas, they’ll love this series!

Milly-Molly-Mandy Stories – Joyce Lankester Brisley
Lovely very sweet old-fashioned stories of a little girl and her family who live in “the nice white cottage with the thatched roof”. It’s a book that means a lot to me as I got it at primary school along with a certificate as a prize. (While others got theirs for being maths geniuses or amazingly talented at sport I got mine for “effort”…they didn’t even say what I’d “efforted” at 😂) Anyhow, a lovely book for around age 5/6 year olds.

Wednesday’s review and a little poem….

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Well I ummed and ahed about which book to review today……Far too many childhood books to choose from. In the end I went with one (or in fact a series) that I used to read in bed, in the car (travel sickness allowing), at breakfast, at lunch and dinner (parents allowing!) It’s a great series of books and one I’d forgotten about until thinking of childhood books this week.

The Brer Rabbit Collection – By Enid Blyton

So this collection is by one of my favourite childhood authors. It’s based around the stories from African-American and Native-American folklore. The main character is a cunning rabbit (Brer Rabbit) who gets himself into (and out of) lots of situations and plays tricks on others using his cunning and wiley ways. Other characters include Brer Fox and Brer Bear. Would probably say children the age range is 6-8 but they may enjoy having the stories read to them from about 5. I really loved this series!
As we’re covering childhood this week thought I’d add my own short verse of how I remember some of mine and hopefully how my boys will remember some of theirs. (This was pre-phone/tablets/computers so we’ll see!!! 😂) Hope you enjoy x

Childhood

By Kirsten Allen

Climbing trees
Scraping knees
Riding bikes as quickly as we can
Running after the ice cream van
Twizzling, twirling
Rolling, whirling
In the park 
Playing out until dark
Jumping in puddles 
Bedtime cuddles

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Childhood book week….

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So this week I thought I’d share some of my favourite children’s books from my childhood. Haven’t read some of these to the boys as they’re too young but can’t wait to when they’re older! If you have any please let me know in the comments-would love to hear them!

Worzel Gummidge – by Barbara Euphan Todd

This book was my ultimate ultimate favourite from about 7-10 years old. Can’t count the number of times I read it. Also loved the TV series but enjoyed the book more! It’s about a scarecrow who comes to life and gets up to all sorts of mischief. He makes friends with 2 children on holiday in the area. A lovely read!