Review: Let's Talk - Learning to Bowl - Lisa Jacovsky - August 2022 As someone whose life used to revolve around children's books, I am passionate about kids reading and the amazing books available these days. Something that I have participated in every year for several years now is Multicultural Children's Book Day where we are provided with a children's book from somewhere around the world with a theme/ experience etc to read and review. This year's book was called Let's Talk - Learning to Bowl by Lisa Jacovsky and I assumed I was matched with this one as one of the main characters Emma has autism which is a genetic disability prominent in my family line as I have had/ have family members, relatives with autism and I am sure I have some traits of it myself. This was a fun book about learning not only bowling but also working with someone with autism - behaviors and flash cards. Unfortunately what didn't sit right with me was the COVID angle which I know w...

Review: The Essential Taylor Swift Fanbook - March 2024 As the curtains close on 2023, what better way to bid farewell to the year than with "The Essential Taylor Swift Fanbook" provided by Welbeck Publishing ANZ? A delightful treat for Swifties of all ages, this book encapsulates the journey of the iconic Taylor Swift from her roots as a country music sensation to her current status as a global megastar. This comprehensive and up-to-date fanbook is a treasure trove of Taylor Swift knowledge. It intricately weaves together the threads of her life, offering a backstage pass to her evolution as a performer and movie star. Delve into the hidden meanings behind her greatest songs, unlocking the secrets that make her music resonate across generations. The book goes beyond the ordinary, presenting readers with an array of quotes and TayTay trivia that adds an extra layer of depth to their understanding of the artist. For the avid Swifties, there's an exciting quiz that challeng...

Review: Your'e the Apple of my Pie - Rose Rossner and Illustrated by Jill Howarth - August 2023 "You're the Apple of My Pie," authored by Rose Rossner and brought to life through the enchanting illustrations of Jill Howarth, is a delightful picture book that tenderly explores the language of love through delectable culinary metaphors. In this heartwarming addition to the Punderland series, readers are treated to a feast for the senses as the author weaves a tale of parental affection using the symbolism of scrumptious foods. Rossner's prose is a charming blend of wit and warmth, ingeniously employing wordplay to convey emotions. With endearing puns and clever linguistic twists, the book beautifully captures the depth of a parent's love for their child. Each page resonates with the sentiment that children are indeed the cherished treasures of their parents' hearts. The book's autumn-themed illustrations by Jill Howarth infuse every page with an inviting...

Review: Indescribable - Activity Book - Louie Giglio with Tama Fortner - April 2023 God's love for our children and the world around us is amazing and indescribable as this activity book from Louie Giglio proclaims. Filled with over 150+ activities from puzzles, STEM, experiments, and quizzes. This book has something for every child and is perfect for those aged between 6-12 years old. Though most of the activities are not Christian orientated which means anyone will enjoy this book, most of them do have a Christian spin from a join-the-dot Seahorse picture that talks about God making the sea animals to a quiz about who lives where and God providing everyone with the shelter that they need. Growing up in a Christian household myself and attending Sunday School, doing the Maori Postal Sunday School correspondence lessons - Indescribable would have been the perfect activity book for me growing up. The other thing I love is that each page is brightly and colorfully decorated and this...

Review: I Saw Santa's Underpants - Bobbie Hinman - September 2022 Who doesn't love Christmas picture books? This was a cute picture book by Bobbie Hinman and illustrated by Remesh Ram. Children as we know love potty humour and with this book, we discover that Santa has left behind his suspenders back at the North Pole. Mrs. Claus is worried as without them, Santa's pants are surely going to fall and expose his underwear and that's exactly what happens when he arrives to deliver one little boy's Christmas presents. Can the little boy help find something around his house while his parents are asleep, to cover up Santa's bottom? This is an easy-to-read picture book with rhyming which is always great when reading to toddlers and young children as well as bright colours for the illustrations. I Saw Santa's Underpants by Bobbie Hinman is perfect for children aged 4-6 years old and the perfect addition to those 12 nights before Christmas reading which is an advent...