ghost

ghost

An original Illustratus book

Happy Halloween, folks! 

I've wanted to share this book for a while and now is the perfect time - GHOST is a collection of 13 original poems and short stories, written by Blaise Hemingway and Jesse Reffsin and illustrated by Chris Sasaki and Jeff Turley, very talented people that work in the film industry in Los Angelus.  

These original tales have a classic feel, with the stories featuring tales of ghosts that don't know that they're ghosts, strange noises of wailing, a doll that replaces a little girl's mother and children lost forever. These are perfect stories to tell around a camp fire or to share at Halloween. Or if you have the braver, older child who enjoys a good scare, they will relish in these terrifying timeless tales. 

I've always found that a good ghost story are the ones that stick in your mind, the ones you seem to recall when home alone or out and about in the dark! And these scary tales are no exception, I won't be forgetting these in a hurry - a collection of ghost tales for a new generation, both written and illustrated in a classic, timeless style.  

For more information about the creators and the book, please check out their website here.

Hortense and the Shadow

Hortense and the Shadow

Written by Natalia O'Hara
Illustrated by Lauren O'Hara

Published by Puffin

When I received this book through the post, it felt like receiving a little bit of magic; with its gold foiled title, beautiful illustrations, and a dark fairy tale feel, it truly is a magical book that will remind you of fables you read as a child.

Meet Hortense, a small girl who lives in a big wood. Hortense is sad because she hates her shadow; it went everywhere she went and when night would fall it would become tall and dark and crooked. So Hortense decides she wants to hide it, behind columns and in holes but it grew worse until one evening, Hortense is able to outrun her shadow and cut it off with a sash window. Her shadow is now lost and Hortense seems happy until one night the door shook with knocks. In the dark, Hortense goes to check outside and finds herself surrounded by bandits. But with a terrible flash, shadows appear in the window which scare away the bandits - Its Hortense's shadow to the rescue and Hortense knows she must win her shadow back.

This is a stunning debut book by an exciting new author and illustrator pairing, sisters Natalia and Lauren O'Hara. You can see their inspiration is classic picture books and fables with a touch of eastern European. The book is beautiful and has a classic feel about it with a strong message of embracing all sides of yourself.

I think I'll be keeping this beautiful book for myself! 

Forest Life and Woodland Creatures

Forest Life and Woodland Creatures

Published by DK Ltd

I received this little gem back in summer time, along with  Sharks and Other Sea Creatures, which I talked about on my Instagram feed. But with Aoife now at nursery and going on regular walks to a nearby wood, we have been talking a lot more about leaves, seasons and woodland animals which is discussed and explored within Forest Life - making this a great book to refer to.

Contents include: What is a forest, bugs, nests and birds, forest food and animals that may live underground or only come out at night. Filled with lots of different facts, which adults could bring up on their walks, and a range of crafts to keep children busy, these books offer a lot for little ones. I especially like the pages that show how a seed grows into tree and the examples shown for the seasons and what happens to the trees.

A nice range of books to engage and support the development of little ones minds. For more information, check out the DK website here.

Below: Aoife getting crafty and making an egg box ocean from Sharks and Other Sea Creatures.

Nibbles: The Dinosaur Guide

Nibbles: The Dinosaur Guide

Written and Illustrated by Emma Yarlett

Published by Little Tiger Press

This is currently one of my daughter's favourite books at the moment which we like to read during the day and will often end up re-reading its predecessor, Nibbles: The Book Monster alongside it - we'll often re-read it a few times in one sitting! We enjoy lifting flaps and looking through holes, on the look out for Nibbles who is a very naughty monster who likes to chew through books and is always getting himself into a lot of trouble...

This time we find that Nibbles has nibbled, or should I say chomped, his way into a dinosaur guide book and readers must try and prevent Nibbles from falling prey to a set of ferocious jaws. There's hot-headed Triceratops, greedy Diplodocus' and scary Velociraptors among a few others. Filled with nibbled peep holes, lift-the-flaps, funny jokes and dinosaur facts, this book can be enjoyed by children ages 3 - 6 years.

This book is very funny and one that can be explored and enjoyed over and over again. Jam packed with entertaining illustrations, has Nibbles met his match when he ends up meeting the most terrible dinosaur of all - the T-Rex? Well I won't ruin the ending for you, you'll just have to catch up with this little monster yourself!

For more information on Nibbles, check out the link here. 

And below, Aoife pretending to be Nibbles - my cheeky little monster!

I Thought I Saw a Lion!

I Thought I Saw a Lion!

Illustrated by Lydia Nichols

Published by Templar Publishing

If looking for some chunky and interactive board books for very little ones, then I recommend checking out Lydia Nichols illustrated board book series, I Thought I Saw a Lion! and I Thought I Saw a Dinosaur! Published by Templar.

I Thought I Saw a Lion! is a beautifully illustrated small board book with sturdy sliders to reveal a cheeky lion hiding in every scene. What a naughty lion; he's in the library, at the hair dressers and even at a restaurant. 'I thought I saw a lion..' is repeated on each spread followed by 'Is it in the....' allows children to join in. Featuring a lovely warm colour palette with a screen printed effect and some nice character design, it also has a nice retro feel. 

For ages 0 - 3 years, little ones will love trying to spot this cheeky lion. 

100 Christmas Colouring Book

100 Christmas Colouring Book

Illustrations by Dominka Lipniewska

Published by Tate Publishing

Is it too early to be reviewing a Christmas themed book? Well yes, it probably is but I love all things Christmassy, much to the disgust of my husband (bah humbug to him!). So I was rather excited to receive this large Christmas themed colouring book from Tate Publishing.

This fun and festive book is filled with Dominka Lipniewska's bold graphic style. Featuring double page spreads jam packed with lots of Christmas characters, festive animals, festive food, decorations and a whole lot more.

With chunky outlined shapes, it would make good practice for little fingers to practice colouring within the lines - I have yet to test that with my 3 year old! Or good for tracing.

There is also a page at the back which suggests activities for children, such as spotting and counting  items within the book.

This would make a great little stocking filler or to keep small and big people busy when the cold and dark winter nights roll in. Hopefully I'll get a look in and Aoife won't hog it!

Link to Tate Publishing, is here. 

Colours and Animals

Colours and Animals

Illustrations by Britta Teckentrup

Published by Templar Publishing

Templar Publishing have recently released a beautiful series of board books, featuring retro-styled illustrations by Britta Teckentrup. The series also includes Opposites, First Words, Animal 123 and Animal Spots and Stripes.

Colours includes gentle rhyming text which asks the child to spot a coloured item on the opposite page. The text page is the colour of the selected colour to spot and this 'colour' word is also printed larger and in bold. The opposite pages have a screen printed effect and large, evenly spread out illustrations on. Aimed at children, 2 years and up, they will be able to spot butterflies, teddy bears, fish, pencils, tractors and lizards all in a beautiful range of colours.

Animals is presented in a similar format with text on one side and screen printed illustrations on the opposite. Each page spread introduces a mummy animal and asks children to find her baby on the other side. The animals are beautifully illustrated and clear in what they are. I love the colour palettes for both books, which makes them stand out from other board books with similar themes. 

At the end of both books there is an additional question, which ask the child to either spot something that they've not seen before or which mummy has the most babies - this is a nice way to end the book on. 

A beautiful, colourful and bold, board book series featuring cute animal characters - what more is there not to love!!