Blue Sky, Yellow Kite, by Janet A. Holmes and Jonathan Bentley

"But I don't like to share Mama. It makes my heart sad."

And so begins our arrival into the tumultuous threes. Just one month away from her actual birthday, it seems I have a threenager on my hands. And no matter how many times I remind her to share, that "sharing is caring" and there's plenty and it's more fun with friends, the Bea just hasn't quite got it.

Blue  Sky, Yellow Kite, is a beautiful story about what it's like to really, really love something that belongs to someone else, how hard sharing can be and how ultimately, keeping things to yourself is no fun at all.

Blue Sky, Yellow Kite, tells the story of Daisy. One day she sees a yellow kite in the air, wheeling and swirling, diving and twisting. She follows the kite all the way to the end of it's string and meets William, who happily and kindly opens his gate and hands Daisy the reel.

But Daisy is taken away in the moment and, thinking only of her love for the beautiful kite, flies it all the way to her house, where she hides it at the top of her shelf. She dares to fly it only once more - and when she sees William, sadly watching, can't sleep for thinking about how she's taken his kite and hurt him.

So at last, she returns the kite to William and leaves a note to apologise. And that afternoon, she seems something beautiful in the sky, coming back towards her...

This is a great story about friendship, jealousy, sharing and forgiveness. I love the illustrations - Daisy and William are such sweet little characters and the beautiful countryside made me want to move to our own country cottage immediately.

I think we've still got a ways to go before my own little Daisy is sharing - but this was a lovely one to share together and opened the door to more discussions about sharing (made easier by our recent obsession with kites). It is probably a tiny bit old for Bea, though she did love the story, so I'd suggest kids 4-6.

the book and the bea x

Under the Love Umbrella, by Davina Bell

When I heard that Davina Bell, author of the sweet Underwater Fancy Dress Parade, had a new book out I couldn't wait to see it. I rushed right out to our favourite bookshop and, as fortune would have it, snared the very last copy.

No surprises here, I loved it. It's for every little one who has felt nervous at school, who felt shy or had an embarrassing thing happen or kids, like me, who would last until about 10pm at a sleepover and then be desperate, tearily so, to see their parents and be home in their very own bed.

It's also the perfect gift for every parent that's had to put their babies in daycare.

When I went back to work, and Bea to daycare, it was awful. If that sounds melodramatic...well, daycare drop offs are. She would cry, I would cry, she would feel better five minutes after I left, I would cry the entire way to work. Ahh, parenthood.

Once, I tried to reassure her by saying that it was okay because Mama always comes back. Of course that only made it worse because she would quietly cry (kids take note: the quiet cry is infinitely more devastating to your parents than the tantrum cry) in the back seat of the car and repeat, the whole way there, "it's okay. Mama always comes back. It's okay". 

via giphy

So the idea that Bea is under my love umbrella, wherever she goes, is so reassuring and magical - it's a beautiful thought for her and me.

The illustrations, by Allison Colpoys, are bright and sweet and I loved seeing the diversity of families throughout the book. This is a gorgeous story for the worriers in your family who need that little bit of reassurance that they're okay, wherever they go. Perfect for kids from 3 and up and the perfect gift for any parents leaving their kids at daycare for the very first time (hang in there, I promise it gets better).

the book and the bea x

Paper Dolls, by Julia Donaldson

In the brilliant "Yes, Please" (if you haven't read it, go find a copy!) my best friend and spirit animal Amy Poehler described divorce like this:

"Imagine spreading everything you care about on a blanket and then tossing the whole thing up in the air. The process of divorce is about loading that blanket, throwing it up and watching it all spin, and worrying what stuff will break with it lands".

Never a truer word was spoken. I've been a single mum for a little over two years now and truthfully, going through a separation with a baby is like walking a tightrope across Niagara Falls, in gale force winds, while it snows. In front of all of your family and friends and Facebook. Oh! And you're naked. Did I mention that?

In those early days, being surrounded by other happy families and books about happy families was tough. Books about "special" divorced families was worse.

I remember one day going to storytime at the library and the librarian was giving a  tour of the kids section for all the new parents. "And here are the books for....difficult situations. This is where you'll find books on someone passing away, or kids whose parents are going through a divorce". It stung so badly my eyes watered and I was frozen, feeling like the only person in that room who needed a "difficult" section and like there was a flashing neon sign alerting the whole world to that fact.

The difficult section never did help. But there were quite a few totally unrelated children's books that did. There was one in particular that we loved then, and still love now. Paper Dolls.

It was my sister that first showed me Paper Dolls. Her four year old adored it, and she knew it would speak to me too. She was right of course, but probably wasn't counting on my bursting into tears and shouting "You STUPID BOY!" halfway through and for that I apologise to her, my four nieces, and the 25th floor of the hotel we were staying at on our family vacation.

Paper Dolls tells the story of a little girl, in tiger slippers, who makes a chain of paper dolls with her Mama:

"They were Ticky and Tacky and Jackie the Backie and Jim with one eyebrow and Jo with the bow".

Oh, how she loves those dolls. They dance, they sing, they laugh, they evade sneaky tigers and crocodiles. They play in the long grass and talk to ladybugs. And no matter the adventure or danger, they're holding hands and they won't let go.

Until one day, a boy comes along and snips them. Snips them into a million pieces and tells them they're gone forever. But (spoiler alert!) that isn't the end of our brave paper dolls. Oh no, no, no. Their pieces all join together and the dolls find a new home, in the little girls memory, along with so many other special things.

At first I thought this sweet, whimsical book about childhood and loss and memory was way too sad for the Bea (honestly, I still get a little choked up in parts), but like her four year old cousin before her, she loves it. I think it's the repetitive text and sweet illustrations and the funny adventures of the Paper Dolls.

For me, it's a story about the magic of childhood, a reminder of the love between a mother and a child and how no matter what, we'll always be together.

"We're not gone, oh no no no, we're holding hands and we won't let go".

It probably wasn't written with this intention at all, but I think this is a beautiful one for any Mama going through a hard time.

Kids 4-6 will love it too - it's a great one for doing extension activities and there's a tonne of paper dolls ideas on pinterest! 

the book and the bea x

Welcome to Country, by Joy Murphy and Lisa Kennedy

Finding the perfect book for a little one's arrival into the world is a big task. After all, this new person has changed the world, already, in just their first few minutes. The moment the Bea arrived, I knew I would never be the same - and nor would our friends or family (or neighbours, who no doubt wondered where their quiet, peaceful evenings had gone). The universe changes with the arrival of someone you love.

And that is why it takes me a kabillion hours in the bookshop each time a friend has a baby (ha. In fairness, I'll use any excuse).

The good news is that these kabillion hours have rewarded me with a few perfect books for a new baby!

One of which, is the beautiful Welcome to Country told by Wurundjeri Elder, Aunty Joy Murphy and illustrated (stunningly so) by Indigenous artist Lisa Kennedy.

A Welcome to Country (or Wominjeka ceremony) is a ceremony where visitors are welcomed to country and given permission to enter traditional lands. This is a detailed Welcome from the Wurundjeri people, who were Melbourne's first inhabitants, and tells the story of Wurundjeri (the sacred river white gum), Bunjil the eagle (the creator spirit) and the Wurundgeri people. The enduring message, beautifully told, is of a people who belong to the country as much as the country belongs to them.

The illustrations are amazing and I think it's a must for every bookshelf, to give children from all cultures a better understanding of the first Australians and to celebrate the true beginnings of our country.

It's also a particularly moving book for a brand new arrival to the world and to Country, and the perfect present for overseas or interstate relatives as a special gift from Melbourne, the Country of the Wurundjeri people.

Wominjeka Wurundjeri balluk yearmenn koondee bik. Welcome to Country.

the book and the bea x

This is a Ball, by Beck and Matt Stanton

The Bea and her friends have entered that hilariously literal phase of toddlerhood, where they are driven crazy by all the wacky things that grown ups tell them.

"I'm not clever/funny/beautiful/crazy, I'm a big girl", she'll correct me, constantly.

"That's a puppy dog, not a labrador!"

"That's not noodles, it's a spaghetti!", she'll sigh.

So This is a Ball, drives them bananas. In the very best way of course.

This is a Ball, insists that everything is as it's not. A cube is a ball, a princess is a monster, a city is a beach and surely they're a bit mixed up if they don't agree? It's fun and cute and encourages a little crazy thinking outside of the box (oops, I mean ball).

This is a great one for ages three and up - my sister was reading this to the Bea and her five year old cousin the other day and it was really interesting to see the different reactions. Bea just looked slightly confused, wondering when her reasonable aunt had lost her marbles, while Lexi took the time to calmly (well, not so calmly by the last page) explain why each page was wrong - "No, it has big buildings, beaches don't have big buildings!".

It's a really fun read but a small warning from someone who now knows better - don't read it before bed if "settling down" is something you're aiming for...

the book and the bea x

Peppa Pig: My First Cinema Experience

These little piggies went "Peeepa Pig! Do-do-do-dodo-do-do-do-do-dodo"

So you know how I'd always loved the idea of having a book blog that would discuss incredible, moving, life changing children's books and would always feature in depth and high brow reviews of said books, while giving timely and ever-witty comparisons to real life issues?

Yeah. Well. Then I had a toddler and had to put down Swing Time (amazing by the way) to go along to Peppa Pig: My First Cinema Experience.

In a fit of "look at our amazing and kind parenting" excess, my friends are I grabbed tickets to the very first viewing at our favourite cinema (coincidentally across the road from our favourite bookstore). We dressed in our peppa ears, wellie boots (yellow, of course) and home-made pigs snouts, stocked up on extremely strong coffee (I wanted gin but it was allegedly too early for the liquor licence to kick in) and strapped in for the greatest 75 minutes of our lives (we don't get out much).

And friends? It's exactly the award winning social commentary comedy that we were expecting.

(The Great Barrier Reef! Pre-global warming! via kidspot)

Ok. Not exactly.

But the kids loved it (danced in their seats and urgently needed the toilet mid-episode kind of love) and watching their reactions were totally worth it. The weird interludes of a real life host and puppets between episodes were a little disconcerting -  the highlight of the morning will forever be seeing the contrast between the Bea's delighted face, and my dear friends look of utter horror, as the weird monkey dance started. It was a little dark in the cinema, but I managed to capture her reaction for you:

via giphy

Truthfully, the new episodes were a welcome relief from the same ones we'd watched for the last year and as always the cheeky jokes for the parents had us laughing (The Zoo episode in particular). And, I have to confess, my heart will always belong to Freddy Fox and Pedro Pony. Those guys are the cutest.

If you have a toddler it's a must see - so, pack your snacks, your friends and a strong drink and enjoy your new found status as parent of the year.

book and the bea x

Sleeping Beauty, a mid-century fairy tale, by David Roberts and Lynn Roberts-Maloney

We've all heard the story of Sleeping Beauty, right? Girl, cursed by an evil witch, pricks her fingers on a spinning wheel needle and can only be awoken by true love's kiss.

Ahh, yes. That old gem, a prince saves the day.

Well not this time!

Sleeping Beauty, a mid-century fairy tale, has a different spin on the ill-fated Beauty, telling instead the story of Annabel who is raised happily by her two aunts, Rosalind and Flora. Annabel loves science fiction and dreams of what the future will bring.

But on her first birthday, an evil neighbour, jealous of the sweet trio, casts a spell that Annabel will prick her finger when she turns 16 and die. The aunts are devastated, but Flora - a smart witch - changes the spell, so that if Annabel pricks her finger she'll sleep for a thousand years rather than die. However, what she doesn't tell Rosalind is that she must be woken up by the stroke of midnight after the thousand years, or she will die.

Although the aunts keep a careful eye over their beloved and science-loving child, they can't escape fate - and a tempting present sent on her 16th birthday. She pricks her finger on the needle of a record player and falls into a thousand year sleep.

In a move that makes me weepy, the broken hearted Flora, unable to leave Anabel, transforms Rosalind into a giant rose bush - to protect their child - and herself into a light, to keep her company through her sleep.

via vintage frills

A thousand years later, a girl named Zoe is researching the mysterious giant rose tree. When she finds and old and dusty book called Sleeping Beauty, she realises the old story is true...but will she make it to Annabel to save her in time?

This is such a great retelling of an old tale and puts the power firmly in the camp of the all-female protagonists of the story. Annabel has two mums, and is saved by a girl, which is incredibly refreshing and would make it a great book for LGBTQ families and single mums/guardians. It's a beautiful reminder that families come in all shapes and sizes.

The illustrations, from the genius artist behind Rosie Revere, Engineer and Ada Twist, Scientist, are gorgeously retro-cool and as always in his work, it's great to see diversity in characters.

A great book for mighty girls and the women who are raising them.

the book and the bea x

Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World, by Kate Pankhurst

pic credit: Clare Martin-Lapworth

Happy International Women's Week!

Yes, yes, I know it's actually only a day but with all that women accomplish, day in, day out, and with everything that is happening right now in the world that sets us back, I've decided that we'll be celebrating with an entire week.

Starting with this gorgeous book that every little girl should own - Great Women who Changed the World, by Kate Pankhurst.

If that name sounds a little familiar, it's because Kate Pankhurst is a descendant of Emmeline Pankhurst, who led the British suffragette movement, eventually winning women the right to vote in 1918.

This gorgeously illustrated book explores the achievements of some of the most amazing women the world has seen, who have overcome so much to achieve even more, literally changing the world around them for the better.

Rosa Parks, Anne Frank, Marie Curie, Coco Chanel - the women featured are diverse and inspiring. I found myself learning a lot actually, I was a little shocked at just how little I know about the women who shaped my own life.

Right now, when it comes to women's fundamental rights, it feels like the world is going backwards in so many ways. But this bright and hopeful little book reminded me of how far we've come and how one person really can change the world. It's a must for the bookshelf of every girl, who we need to tell, every day, that they are deserving, they are fantastically great and they can - and will - change the world.

via institute of mums

the book and the bea x

How to Find Gold, by Viviane Schwarz

credit: Clare Martin-Lapworth

Perfect for: 
Ages: 3-6
Occasion: birthdays, friendship

Have you got your secret-keeping faces on? Good.

Anna and Crocodile are on a mission. It's a dangerous and difficult mission. A dangerous and difficult mission to find Gold!

After testing their muscles and drawing a map ("the treasure's in France!"), Anna and Crocodile set out on a wild adventure to find treasure. There are wild storms, fierce sea monsters, ship wrecks and mysteries - will the best friends make it?

This is such a fun book - the language is witty and cute and as enjoyable for parents as it is for kids. I love how it celebrates imagination and it took me back to the days of my own childhood, when you could spend an entire day planning an adventure, lost in your own story and be shocked when all of a sudden night time had arrived and it was time to head home.

Anna and Crocodile's friendship and adventure are a sweet reminder that what really counts is the journey and that there are some things that are even more important than gold.

This one is perfect for preschoolers and early school readers - especially those that love a little adventure!

credit: Clare Martin-Lapworth

the book and the bea x