Summer reads and bedtime stories for children
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- Published on Sunday, 24 July 2016 11:10
- Last Updated on 19 July 2016
- Monica Costa
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There are lots of new Summer reads and bedtime stories for children out there to keep the little ones entertained. Here are London Mums and Kids Club favourite ones. These stories we have chosen are especially engaging. It certainly helped having the authors reading them. Watch them in our exclusive videos. Don’t forget to subscribe to the London Mums’ YouTube channel for more videos, reviews and fun stuff.
Nibbles – The Book Monster by Emma Yarlett
As a writer, I get to review books well ahead of publication date. Nibbles is officially one of London Mums’ favourite picture books’ characters in 2016. Caution! This book contains a crunching, munching book monster! Whatever you do, don’t let him out. Uh-oh. Too late!
Nibbles is a very naughty book monster and he’s nibbling his way through fairy tales that don’t belong to him! Can you catch him and put him back in his book?
Children will love to lift the flaps, peek through the holes, and chase Nibbles through a fantastical world of books in this highly interactive story, exquisitely illustrated by Emma Yarlett.
The great thing about Nibbles is that he jumps from one story to the other providing a few hilarious twists in the most beloved fairy tales (including Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Goldilocks and the Three Bears).
The little puppet that came with it, sits in my personal bookshelf reminding me of this funny book and makes me smile every time I see it.
Emma Yarlett is seriously genius. I am pretty sure kids and parents alike will go back to Nibbles over and over again.
Emma began her book career whilst studying Illustration at Falmouth University. She was highly commended for the Macmillan prize in 2011. Now she writes, paints, draws, collages, designs, doodles, splatters and sketches for a living from her studio and loves every minute of it! In her spare time Emma loves to eat Jaffa Cakes, craves pets, and suppresses a desire to spend her entire income on colouring pencils.
Nibbles: The Book Monster by Emma Yarlett – RRP £11.99 Hardback – Age: 3-6
Watch Emma read her story in this video:
There’s No Such Thing as a Snappenpoop by Jeanne Willis
A wonderfully unique story from award-winning author Jeanne Willis (The Bog Baby, The First Slodge). Packed with magical creatures and bossy siblings, this delightfully wicked cautionary tale is set to become a children’s favourite. With stunning artwork from debut picture book illustrator Matt Saunders.
Little Brother wants to join in the fun with his sibling, but Big Brother won’t let him play. Fetch me a Snappenpoop! says Big Brother. Then you can play … But everybody knows there’s no such thing as a Snappenpoop … or IS there?
Jeanne Willis wrote her first book aged five and has now written over eighty titles. She has won numerous awards, including the Children’s Book Award, the Silver Smarties Prize and has been shortlisted for the Whitbread Award. As well as her extensive writing experience Jeanne once worked as a reptile vet’s assistant, has owned cats, a rat and a toad called Dave. She has never performed in an animal talent show but she did get married at London Zoo.
Watch Jeanne read her story in this video:
The Great Aaa-Ooo by Jonny Lambert
The Great Aaa-Ooo is a very simple yet powerful story. As Mouse scampers homewards through the dark, rackety wood, he hears an awful AAA-OOO! What could be making that horrible howl? Could it be Owl, Moose, Bear or Goose? Or could it be . . . a monster?
Packed with stylish illustrations and lyrical text from talented author-illustrator Jonny Lambert (I Love You More and More, Little Why), The Great Aaa-Ooo is sure to become a bedtime favourite. This gorgeous animal picture book is perfect for reassuring children and toddlers who are scared of the dark or adjusting to sleeping in a big bed or in their own room.
I had a great conversation with Jonny who told me his passion for art since he was 3 years old and his granddad’s support which has made him fulfill his dream of becoming an illustrator. I particularly loved how he inspired and encouraged Alessia (9), a child reporter from the London Mums’ Kids Club who is a talented artist herself having already won and participated in an art exhibition. Watch this space as this little girl is a promising talent!
The messy book by Maudie Powell-Tuck and Richard Smythe
Creativity cannot be tidy and clean. In order to express your ideas and feelings in artwork format children as well as adults need to create mess and fun around themselves. This book tells you exactly how to be creative in a hilarious story about the link between messiness and creativity. It might not resonate with all mums (giggling) but trust me the book is really good.
Cat has made a mess and she won’t tidy it up – no matter how many times Dog asks her. Can Dog convince Cat, a giraffe and two penguins to clean up this very messy book?
Children will laugh out loud at the quirky illustrations from the exciting new talent Richard Smythe (Beep Beep Beep Time For Sleep!) and will pore over the fabulously clever design. Packed with humour and adorably funny animal characters, The Messy Book is the perfect story for anyone who has ever been told to tidy their room.
Author Maudie Powell-Tuck and illustrator: Richard Smythe have done a great job showcasing that children can be creative and have fun without using tablets and video games. The underlining message is certainly that fun is simple and even the most idle tasks can be turned into an adventure.
Monica Costa founded London Mums in September 2006 after her son Diego’s birth together with a group of mothers who felt the need of meeting up regularly to share the challenges and joys of motherhood in metropolitan and multicultural London. London Mums is the FREE and independent peer support group for mums and mumpreneurs based in London https://londonmumsmagazine.com and you can connect on Twitter @londonmums
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