Have you ever wondered how Sophie and her mummy felt coming face-to-face with a giant, stripy tiger? Well now you can! Judith Kerr’s tiger brought (almost) to life. York Castle Museum has a new interactive exhibition about Judith Kerr’s beloved picture book, which is available to visit until 6 November 2022. It has been curated by Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children’s Books, in Newcastle, of which I am a huge fan, along with the National Trust. It’s small but perfectly formed with four different rooms that immerse children in scenes from the story and unleash their creativity. Ther ..read more

“Where’s the frog?” my three-year-old kept asking as we watched the Tall Stories cast take to the stage at York Theatre Royal. There were four actors who made up the Room on the Broom company but he’s sharp as a tack and knew that the lead character in this story – the witch – has four passengers wanting to join her on her broom. While her spells might not have had the desired effect, this show was filled with magic as we were introduced to the cat, the dog, the bird and the frog. Casting a spell over the audience. Photo: © Tall Stories The 55-minute show adapts and enhances Julia Donaldson‘s ..read more

The charming tales of Peter Rabbit and his animal friends have been a beloved part of children’s literature for 120 years – a bestseller from the day the first story was published in 1902. But while the name of their author and illustrator, Beatrix Potter, is equally famous, how many of us really know that much about her? From the subject of her stories and the quaint images of Beatrix dressed in her Victorian clothes, you might assume she was a reserved country woman. Beatrix Potter aged 15, with her dog, Spot, by Rupert Potter, c.1880–1. © Victoria & Albert Museum, London In reality, she ..read more

Explaining the darker and more difficult sides of human life to your child is one of the more challenging parts of parenting. Often you don’t get a chance to prepare because the questions catch you off guard. And there are certain subjects that we adults simply do not truly understand ourselves, like the senseless war Russia is raging against Ukraine. But when you can’t find the right words, books are there to help. Some of the greatest children’s stories have at their heart rather complex themes, told sensitively and subtly. For me, Tusk Tusk by David McKee is one of these amazing books that ..read more

When my boys were born, it wasn’t Christmas, Easter or Halloween that I couldn’t wait to celebrate with them. The date I was looking forward to was World Book Day. I know this annual celebration of reading, literacy and stories isn’t always a favourite with parents due to the pressure to make a costume, but it’s the one occasion where I take pleasure in creating a character for my kids. In fact, I’m a bit jealous that World Book Day wasn’t around when I was in primary school. The event might seem like a bit of a fun but it has an important and life changing purpose. It was created by UNESCO o ..read more

I’ve learned a lot about loss over the last year. We’ve been lucky not to suffer a bereavement due to Covid or otherwise, but friends have gone through incredibly painful loses which have only been intensified by the loneliness of the lockdown situation. Not being able to hug a person who is hurting is a truly upsetting situation, even when you know it is for the greater good. From a professional point of view, I’ve been writing about the topic regularly, speaking to all sorts of inspiring individuals who have coped with unimaginable events and experts who have given me a new insight into grie ..read more

“A dog is for life, not just for Christmas” goes the famous Dogs Trust slogan, which was one of the key instructions for living a virtuous life if you were a child of the Eighties (along with “Don’t be a litterbug” and “Stop. Look. Listen.”). But as much as you strive to be a responsible pet owner, there will always be parents who see animals as no more than the latest plaything for their overly spoiled child. The Pet: Cautionary Tales For Children and Grown-Ups is a highly amusing tale about what happens when you let your kid rule the roost and let them have a pet without the responsibility ..read more

“This is the worst day EVER!” has become a common refrain in our house. Since Baby Bookworm turned four, his emotions have been permanently close the surface and ready to burst out at any moment. Even the smallest setback can send him into an Oscar-worthy wobbler. (I wonder sometimes if he is actually fourteen. And how we will cope when he really is fourteen…) We’ve tried all sorts of tactics to turn that frown upside down (note – telling him to turn that frown upside down does NOT work). Trying to tell a reception-aged child that it is not the end of the world because their hoodie is in the ..read more

It’s a sad fact that cute, furry pets tend to be more popular that those of the scaly variety. People can’t wait to cuddle cats, dogs and rabbits, but are less inclined to cosy up to lizards and snakes. As the proud owners of a leopard gecko, our family understand the appeal of a reptilian pal and we were delighted to read new book Rita’s Rabbit – a welcome celebration of the benefits of a non-furry friend. This witty tale about a girl who longs for a rabbit only to receive a “scrawny, scratchy” bearded dragon for her birthday is the debut picture book of award-winning author and poet Laura M ..read more

There’s no escaping the fact that the Earth is facing an environmental crisis. From climate change to plastic pollution, the actions of humans are destroying the planet we call home, along with the habitats that sustain its other inhabitants. Children are more aware of this emergency than ever before and many are leading the charge to change our behaviours, from the fearless activist Greta Thunberg to the armies of young litter pickers cleaning our parks and beaches. While its vital to tackle the topic with the next generation and educate them about why and how they can make a difference, ‘eco ..read more