• D.I.Y. Dollshouse by Alexia Henrion
    book review - Craft book review - homestyle - What I'm reading

    D.I.Y. Dollshouse by Alexia Henrion

    October 14, 2017 - By 

    I love receiving happy mail and was delighted to receive a small parcel containing a copy of D.I.Y. Dollshouse. I wasn’t sure if it was for me or my children but we’ve all been enjoying reading it. D.I.Y. Dollshouse: Build and Decorate a Toy House Using Everyday Materials is a lavishly illustrated guide for budding architects, builders, and designers, showing them how to build and furnish their own eco-friendly dollhouse using only items found around the house or available for free. Author Alexia Henrion has created a fun-filled book that is all about recycling, re-using and re-purposing. She provides simple…

  • book review - competition - parenting

    The Dancing Bear by Michael Morpurgo {review and giveaway}

    October 11, 2017 - By 

    Did you know that World Animal Day was celebrated on October 4th? We love animals so are excited to be participating in a really fun book tour. Michael Morpurgo is one of the UK’s most celebrated authors, having written over 140 books in a career spanning over 40 years. He has won numerous prizes, including The Children’s Book Award for a record fourth time last year for his novel An Eagle in the Snow. Many of his novels have been adapted into stage shows and several of his titles have been made into films, most famously the Steven Spielberg-directed War Horse. Some of Michael’s most…

  • You Choose: In Space by Pippa Goodhart and Nick Sharratt
    book review - parenting

    You Choose: In Space by Pippa Goodhart and Nick Sharratt

    September 24, 2017 - By 

    Have you ever dreamed about meeting an alien? How about hopping in a rocket and munching lunch on Mars? Following on from the humongous success of the original YOU CHOOSE, Pippa Goodhart and Nick Sharratt are back this Autumn with a big, bold, brand new follow up – set in OUTER SPACE! YOU CHOOSE: IN SPACE mirrors the award winning formula of Nick and Pippa’s previous achievement, with readers being invited to take total control of their rocket, astronaut suit, alien co-pilot and destination – there’s a different adventure to be had every single time, and thousands of surprises on every page! The…

  • Wilfred and Olbert’s Totally Wild Chase
    book review - competition

    Wilfred and Olbert’s Summer Giveaway

    August 28, 2017 - By 

    My children love picture books and we were recently sent one with a bit of a difference. Little Tiger Press have recently published Wilfred and Olbert’s Totally Wild Chase by Lomp. Not only is this a fantastic picture book but it’s also a puzzle and activity book which keeps kids occupied for hours. Wilfred and Olbert’s Totally Wild Chase Wilfred Wiseman and Olbert Oddbottom are wildlife explorers! Grab your boots and join them on a race through colourful coral reefs, wild grasslands and secret tropical jungles. Who will discover the unknown butterfly and win the Nature Discovery Prize? Let’s go! Packed…

  • Roald Dahl's Billy and the Minpins
    book review - homestyle - Roald Dahl crafts - Uncategorized

    Roald Dahl’s Billy and the Minpins

    August 19, 2017 - By 

    Children’s books are so special. I read with my children every night and I enjoy choosing books as much as they do. My 7 year old loves Roald Dahl so we were delighted to receive a copy of Billy and the Minpins, which we had never read before. Billy and the Minpins is a new interpretation of Roald Dahl’s very last story and for the first time has been illustrated by the wonderful Quentin Blake. This means that fans will be able to complete their collections in time for Roald Dahl Day 2017 – celebrated annually on 13th September. Publishing in…

  • Win a copy of Yoga Babies by Fearne Cotton
    book review - competition - homestyle

    Win a copy of Yoga Babies by Fearne Cotton

    August 10, 2017 - By 

    Meet the Yoga Babies in much-loved household name Fearne Cotton’s debut picture book.  Sometimes life is busy and tricky, but not to worry! Yoga can help everyone chill out. Follow these babies big and small as they practise yoga at home, in the garden and before bedtime, then you can have a go at home, too! Fearne Cotton is one of the UK’s most in-demand TV and radio presenters. She is on BBC Radio 2 regularly, and presents high profile shows including Children in Need and BBC Music Awards, and along with Holly Willoughby captains a team on Celebrity Juice.…

  • Win a copy of the children's classic Dogger by Shirley Hughes
    book review - competition

    Win a copy of the children’s classic Dogger by Shirley Hughes

    August 2, 2017 - By 

    Last month the author Shirley Hughes turned 90 and happily shared her birthday month with one of her most treasured creations – public favourite, and retail bestseller, Dogger which celebrates it’s 40th anniversary. Dogger is a favourite picture book in our house. In case you haven’t read it, it features a boy and his stuffed dog, who is lost. I think this is every parents worse nightmare! Thankfully the boy’s sister has an opportunity to earn Dogger back and the story has a happy ending. Phew! To honour Shirley Hughes’s incredible talent and unwavering success over the past 90 years,…

  • Paper Monsters by Oscar Sabini
    book review - crafts - Paper craft

    Paper Monsters by Oscar Sabini

    July 30, 2017 - By 

    I’m embarrassed to admit I can’t remember the last time, if there was one, that we made a collage. Although we craft with tissue paper and all sorts of materials, there are still some crafts we need to try. Today we popped our collage cherry, thanks to Paper Monsters by Oscar Sabini! Paper Monsters by Oscar Sabini Paper Monsters enables young children to make seven collage pictures of monsters in cleverly designed paper pockets in the book. Children can complete all the pictures to make a monster procession who appear to be hurrying to the last page. There they will…

  • The Summer of Serendipity book review
    book review - competition - homestyle - What I'm reading

    The Summer of Serendipity {review and giveaway}

    July 20, 2017 - By 

    Can you smell the Summer holidays? I can! Today I’m taking part in the book tour for The Summer of Serendipity by Ali McNamara. Read on for my review of this great summer time read, and for your chance to win a copy. The Summer of Serendipity One summer, property seeker, Serendipity Parker finds herself on the beautiful west coast of Ireland, hunting for a home for a wealthy Irish client. But when she finds the perfect house in the small town of Ballykiltara, there’s a problem; nobody seems to know who owns it. ‘The Welcome House’ is a local legend.…