• Minecraft: The Crash book cover
    book review - Family Life

    The second official Minecraft novel – Minecraft: The Crash

    June 26, 2018 - By 

    It’s been almost a year since my son received a copy of the first official Minecraft novel, The Island by Max Brooks. It was one of the first Minecraft books he read, later going on to read The Elementia Chronicles. The Island tells the story of a new hero stranded in the world of Minecraft, who must survive the harsh, unfamiliar environment and unravel the secrets of the island. My son really enjoyed reading The Island so we were delighted to be sent a copy of the second official Minecraft novel – Minecraft: The Crash by Tracey Baptiste to review.…

  • How the Light Gets In
    book review - Family Life - London

    How the Light Gets In {book review}

    June 19, 2018 - By 

    How the Light Gets In is the exciting new book from award winning short story writer and novelist, Clare Fisher. You may remember that I reviewed her debut novel All the Good Things last year. From the publishers that brought you Attrib and Other Stories by Eley Williams, How the Light Gets In is another spellbinding short story collection. How the Light Gets In by Clare Fisher A book of very short stories that explores the spaces between light and dark and how we find our way from one to the other. From buffering Skype chats and the truth about beards, to fried chicken shops and the…

  • They Say Blue by Jillian Tamaki
    book review - competition - Family Life

    Win a copy of They Say Blue by Jillian Tamaki

    May 29, 2018 - By 

    We love sharing books and I’m excited to tell you about a lovely new picture book called They Say Blue by Jillian Tamaki. In captivating paintings full of movement and transformation, Tamaki follows a young girl through a year or a day as she examines the colours in the world around her. Egg yolks are sunny orange as expected, yet water cupped in her hands isn’t blue like they say. But maybe a blue whale is blue. She doesn’t know, she hasn’t seen one. Playful and philosophical, They Say Blue is a book about colour as well as perspective, about the things…

  • Daisy’s Vintage Cornish Camper Van
    book review - Family Life

    Daisy’s Vintage Cornish Camper Van {book review}

    May 27, 2018 - By 

    Are you enjoying the Bank Holiday weekend? We’ve escaped London for a few days in the country and I was really happy to have a new book to take with me to read. I love to read but have to admit that my brain is usually a little frazzled after a day with the kids to read anything too heavy. Last year I really enjoyed The Summer of Serendipity by Ali McNamara and was delighted to receive her new book to read, Daisy’s Vintage Cornish Camper Van. Daisy’s Vintage Cornish Camper Van by Ali McNamara Welcome to the gorgeous Cornish…

  • Win 1 of 5 copies of The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell
    book review - competition

    Win 1 of 5 copies of The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell

    May 16, 2018 - By 

    Fans of Cressida Cowell, author and illustrator of the bestselling How to Train Your Dragon and The Wizards of Once book series, will love a giveaway I have to share with you today. Hachette Children’s Group has released a live action short video to accompany the paperback release of Cressida Cowell’s #1 bestseller, The Wizards of Once. The one minute film – produced by London-based creative agency Ralph, with direct input from Cressida Cowell herself – is inspired by The Wizards of Once story, in which a young boy Wizard, Xar, and young girl Warrior, Wish, meet in the Wildwood, beginning a magical adventure.  A twist…

  • How to fly like an elephant by Kyoto Nemoto
    book review - Family Life

    How to fly like an elephant by Kyoko Nemoto

    May 11, 2018 - By 

    It feels like it’s been a while since I shared a really good childrens’ book with you. Both my children are bookworms. We still visit our local library every few weeks but it’s also really lovely to be sent a book to review. Recently the V&A has collaborated with Puffin on some fun picture books. The partnership brings the museum alive through innovative activity books and we are so excited to be telling you about How to fly like an elephant by Kyoko Nemoto. How to fly like an elephant by Kyoko Nemoto EVERYONE knows that elephants can’t fly. They’re TOO…

  • book review - Family Life - What I'm reading

    The Sapphire Widow by Dinah Jefferies

    April 27, 2018 - By 

    Over the last few weeks I’ve been reading The Sapphire Widow by Dinah Jefferies. You may remember the author’s name as I really enjoy reading her books and have reviewed some of them here over the last few years. Today I wanted to tell you a little about her latest book, The Sapphire Widow. The Sapphire Widow by Dinah Jefferies Ceylon, 1935. Louisa Reeve, the daughter of a successful British gem trader, and her husband Elliot, a charming, thrill-seeking businessman, seem like the couple who have it all. Except what they long for more than anything: a child. While Louisa struggles…

  • Sticker Safari
    book review - competition - Crafts for kids

    Win a copy of Dot Art: Sticker Safari by Yoni Alter

    April 12, 2018 - By 

    We’ve had some amazing meals out whilst we’ve been away. We have a strict no phones or iPads rule whenever we eat out. I really dislike seeing families eating out where no one talks to each other! This may not work for everyone but it works for us. I always make sure to pack some cards or a small game. We had a really lovely meal at The Golden Fleece in Wells next the Sea (the New York Deli pizza is sooo good!) and I packed a copy of Dot Art: Sticker Safari by Yoni Alter to keep us all…

  • Win a copy of Cock-A-Doodle-Poo!
    book review - competition - Family Life

    Win a copy of Cock-A-Doodle-Poo!

    March 6, 2018 - By 

    Down on the farm there’s a terrible pong. (Well the animals are pooing there all day long!) SPLAT! What’s that? It’s a big cow pat. Farmer Jill is well aware of the ecological benefits that animal excrements can have for farmland. But she just can’t keep on top of it all, especially the phantom flying poo. But all suspicions firmly point to the rooster… Cock-a-doodle-poo! is a side-splitting, rhyming, riot packed full of toots, poops, plops and parps from award-winning author Steve Smallman and illustrator Florence Weiser. This poop-packed extravaganza is the perfect read for fans of Poo in the…