Living with Mum and Living with Dad: My Two Homes

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Written & illustrated by Melanie Walsh
Walker Books 2012, this edition 2013
Reviewed copy from my resource shelf at work.

Back of book:
My mum and dad don't live together any more so sometimes I live with my mum and sometimes with my dad.
A book about separation for very young children.
"A warm and reassuring way to explain a difficult situation, with bold vivid illustrations." -parentsintouch.co.uk

See below for more about this book....

I Dare You Not To Yawn

How can a reader refuse an invitation like that?!


Book Details
Written by Helene Boudreau
Illustrated by Serge Bloch
Walker Books 2014 edition (first published in 2013)
Library Copy

Back of Book
Quick! Cover your mouth! Because if your arms stretch up, your eyes squish tight and your mouth opens w-i-d-e....
Oh dear...you know what happens next don't you!

The Book
Yawns can creep up on you anytime. And before you know it, you're told to go upstairs and get your PJs on. This book suggests some tips to help you avoid yawning- LOOK AWAY from other yawners, STAY AWAY form huggy snuggly things and AVOID bedtime stories. In comical , child-like illustrations with bright colours and muted patterns we see the narrator try to escape from anything which could trigger a yawn. But, all this talking about yawning only leads to one thing.... By the end of the book our little character is tucked up in bed.

'See? I told you. Yawns are sneaky.'
Let one out and the next thing you know, you're bundled off to bed!
Missus B's Picture Book Reviews
'I Dare You Not To Yawn.'

More from Missus B:
It's kinda hard not to yawn while reading this book. It's definitely hard not to giggle. Of course, the fact that you have yawned, will just make you giggle some more. Its a delightfully vicious cycle really!
This is a cute and funny book. The young character does not want to go to bed, but those sneaky yawns just keep popping out....

There you are, minding your own business, building the tallest block tower in the history of the universe or dressing up the cat, when suddenly your arms stretch up, your eyes squish tight, your mouth opens wide, your tongue curls back and - mmm...rrr...yawwrrr-a yawn pops out.

Looking petulant and defiant our little man is whisked off to bed by his Mum. After grumpily donning his pyjamas and listening to a bed time story, he lays there in complete darkness (a lovely inky black double page spread with only two white eyes visible.) He wonders "How did I get here?" 

In comical illustrations, the character warns that seeing your siblings or pets yawn, could be risky business and he covers his eyes to avoid the sight. He breaks into a mild sweat as he marches away from his snuggly items:

Stay away from huggable stuffed animals,
soft cosy pyjamas and your favourite 
blankie, because- mm..mm..mmm-
these can make you feel snuggly.

Avoid all items that give you that snuggly, sleepy feeling!
Missus B's Picture Book Reviews
'I Dare You Not To Yawn'

Warning us to avoid bedtime stories and lullabies, he suggests that if a yawn does sneak up, it MUST NOT escape! But, no matter how much he tries to clamp his mouth shut, the mighty yawn wins the battle and we see it in its wide- mouthed glory on one of the final pages.

Those sneaky yawns are hard to control.
'Quick, cover your mouth-mmpprff!-to keep it from escaping.'
Missus B's Picture Book Reviews
'I Dare You Not To Yawn'

 I love how the illustrations in this book perfectly capture Bedtime Resistance. The body language and facial expressions between the boy and his mum will be familiar to anyone who has participated in bedtime battles. Despite all his efforts to avoid going to sleep , the character does appear to be contentedly snoozing on the final page however (a positive message about sleeping bringing some balance for anyone who is fed up with said battles!)  For the main of this story, we get a lovely blend of sleepy snuggly feelings along with the drama of trying to suppress a yawn. Also, the fun sounds such as ' mmm...rrr..yawwrrr', 'mmpprff' make this a fun read-aloud experience. 

And that's the beauty of this book- while it's narrator is anti-bedtime, all this talk about yawning and snuggly stuff induces a sleepy, yawny, happy feeling. You WILL yawn when you read it!

Perfect for bedtime reading and a giggle before the lights go out.

Missus B's Picture Book Reviews
'I Dare You Not To Yawn'

Happy reading,
Missus B

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There are cats in this book

A fun, interactive story with 3 playful cat characters

scroll down for
video review

Written, illustrated & designed by :Viviane Schwarz
Walker Books 2008
Reviewed copy:   Library Copy
The Book
This is fun and interactive lift-the-flap book. Three friendly cat characters -Moonpie, Tiny and Andre, want to play with you the reader. As the flaps are lifted, the playful characters get to play with some balls of wool, have a pillow fight and hide inside cardboard boxes. Throughout the book, the cat characters talk directly to the reader, encouraging page turns and drawing you into their cat mischief.

More from Missus B (and a video review from my little nephew below)

This is a FUN book! 
(Doing things backwards, I discovered Viviane Schwarz' 'Is there a dog in this book' before reading this one.....it's another fun read! Check out my review here)


In the  opening blue page, we read that 'The cats aren't on this page.' 

On the second page, the author writes :

The cats aren't on this page either. They're on the next page. They'd love to play with you. They're very friendly. 
We see three cat bowls with the names Moonpie, Tiny and Andre. And on turning the next page, we first meet our cute cats, hiding under a blanket 
(in the form of a flap) 

It seems they weren't expecting us....

'Huh?' says the sleepy, one-eyed Tiny

Waking up, Tiny says 'Hello. Who are YOU?'

'Are you NICE?' Moonpie smiles, while Andre decides 'You Look nice.'

When I read the opening pages to my five year old nephew, he looked up at me with a satisfied and expectant grin- his expression saying 'This is gonna be GOOD'
And.... it was....we thoroughly enjoyed this book.    

Tiny, Moonpie and Andre are three busy and playful cats. In order to get down to their antics, they need you to help them out, by turning pages and lifting flaps. With large text bubbles, each character talks through the story which includes throwing balls of wool, playing with cardboard boxes, a pillow fight and an unexpected flood wave. 

Winking, grinning, stretching, jumping, purring-each cat is full of personality! While one is asking you to 'Quick, turn another page!' another is getting his paws tucked into some 'lovely tangly wool.' While Tiny says 'Let's go back to the wool!' , Moonpie has a better idea involving cardboard boxes (on the next page) 

Moonpie has spotted some cardboard boxes and wants you to turn the page

Before you know it, you are rescuing them from a flood wave, drying them with a towel and tucking them into bed, and of course there's a pillow fight for good measure!

Pillow Fight!

The illustrations in this book are full of colour and humour and for each lift of a flap, the scene cleverly changes. Every page is a delight but for me the cutest pages were these two...

After rescuing the cats from a flood wave, they ask that you dry off their soggy fur.
'Just blow on the page' Tiny says

My little reader loved that by blowing on the page, he fluffed up the cats fur.

Overall I love the style and originality of this book. Not your typical peek-a-boo style lift-the-flap, this is a clever little master-piece. The text is simple and easy to read with some fun words like 'Oof' and 'Biff'

It's a fun, entertaining read and  a Missus B favourite. See a child reviewing the book on my YouTube channel here

Happy reading,

Missus B

Make your own knitted or paper cut outs of these lovely characters at Vivian Schwarz' Fun and Freebies Page

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Two Speckled Eggs

A friendship story.....
Written & illustrated by Jennifer K. Mann
Walker Books Ltd 2014
Reviewed copy-library book

Back:
AT GINGER'S PARTY, her classmates spoil all the games and hardly even touch the silver-and-gold birthday cake.Poor Ginger! But then the best present of all comes from a quite unexpected direction.....

The story:
Ginger has BIG plans for her birthday- a silver-and-gold birthday cake, party games and invitations for ALL the girls in her class...except Lyla Browning. ...

'Lyla Browning was weird:she smelled like old leaves, she didn't talk much, and she even brought a tarantula in a pickle jar for Show-and-Tell. But Ginger's mum said she had to invite all the girls in her class- or none of them.'

The party day arrives- but, oh fiddlesticks, things just don't go to plan! Lyla arrives WAY to early, no-one eats the fab cake and everyone ignores Ginger when she tries to make the rules during the party games!  

This book has bright, colourful illustrations and a heartwarming message about accepting difference and finding friendship in unexpected places.

More from Missus B:
This is a nice read to help develop discussion about friendship & social behaviour.
Lyla doesn't seem to be part of a social circle. As Ginger and her buddies group together, we see Lyla in the background, chasing down insects with her magnifying glass. When Lyla presents her 'curly hair tarantula' at Show-and-Tell, the children recoil in collective disgust. 

The independent Lyla doesn't care though, she appears un-phased by the groaning and teasing from her class mates (or, maybe it bothers her but she doesn't show it?) 

During Ginger's party, we see Lyla in the background busily watching a ladybug. Is Lyla simply not bothered with the party games? Is she happy playing by herself? Is she lonely? Does she feel left out? Is she shy?

Poor Lyla,no-one wants to know about the 'curly-hair tarantula' she brought for Show-and-Tell   :(

Lyla seems to be on the edge- when the girls compliment each other about their dresses and hairbands, the brown-clad Lyla doesn't participate in the niceties, but stays in the background, playing with her magnifying glass. 

'You're finally here!' says Ginger with excitement when her friends arrive. Lyla was there first-but it seems she doesn't count as much
  

There are lots of feelings represented in the book-mainly from  Ginger. We see her disappointed, glum, face when her Mum rightly says EVERYONE must come to the party-including Lyla. While she is giddy and excited early in the day, later she's frustrated and angry when her friends dont play as she'd like. 

In sharing this story, there's plenty to discuss about the interactions and feelings in the group setting. Children can reflect on peer relationships and consider points of view. How does it feel when your birthday party doesn't go the way you'd like it?!

"You're spoiling all the games!" yelled Ginger.
But the girls had already started the three-legged-race.

Of course, there's also Lyla. Mainly playing by herself, how might she feel during the party activities?  When she spots Ginger feeling grumpy, she reaches out to her with the little ladybug she's found.

And a new friendship begins...

By the end of the story, Ginger has learns that, 'weird'  might actually be quirky, interesting and fun. 

I love this story and it's sweet message about friendship- it offers a great opportunity to reflect on and discuss friendships and all its complexities. 

  


Happy Reading,
  Missus B


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