“Mind Your MANNERS” – #BlogchatterA2Z

Who doesn’t like a disciplined and well-mannered kid? Well, that’s a little far-fetched thought for a pre-schooler to be well behaved and disciplined at all times, because children are meant to be free-spirited and wild. But, it is never too early to start teaching them to mind their manners from a young age. “Mind Your Manners” is the perfect playful guide to introduce etiquette to little kids in a manner that is both fun and enjoyable. And it never hurts to start teaching them young in a way that it is both fun and easy to understand. “Mind Your Manners” introduces etiquette

Mind Your Manners

What’s the story?

“Mind Your Manners” is a book that teaches good manners to young kids. It is as much important to teach the children about good manners as is teaching them alphabets and math. But, it so happens that saying “please” and “thank you” doesn’t come naturally to pre-schoolers as they come to adults and need to be instilled in them.

is a story about the journey of a meek and timid mouse who grows tired of being so little and forgotten his entire life and sets off to find his roar. The humble little mouse who gets walked all over gets fed up of his miserable life and wants to be heard and listened to just like the boastful and pompous lion who is heard and appreciated by everyone in the animal community. The mouse thinks its the roar which makes the lion so celebrated among all the other animals and decides to add a roar to his repertoire. So, he musters up all his courage and confidence and determined to learn how to roar from the very best, he risks being eaten and goes to confront the lion. But what he discovers on meeting the lion is really sublime and awe-inspiring. The mouse discovers that even the tiniest of us has the heart of a lion within only waiting to be discovered. Ultimately, the mouse finds a friend in the remotest possible place he could ever think.

What did we like about it?

“The Lion Inside” is a perfect book to introduce to kids who lack confidence or courage. It offers a multi-layer of wonderful and important lessons for a child to imbibe. The easy rhythmic flow of the rhyming story with compelling and characterful illustrations are a delight for children and adults alike. The book has a storyline that is easy to follow for children at the same time adding new words to their vocabulary. We like how each story by Rachel Bright is set in a different landscape. While “The Koala Who Could” was set in the Australian outback, “The Lion Inside” is laid out in the African Serengeti. It gives an opportunity to discuss about and learn about different regions and the animals belonging to those places with children.

Book Details

Written by: Rachel Bright
Illustrated by: Jim Field
Published by: Orchard Books
Genre: Fiction Picture Book
Book Type: Board Book
Recommended Age: 3 to 5
Number of pages: 30
Ratings: 10/10

What’s there for the child to learn?

The story of “The Lion Inside” has been set in a typical African Serengeti with animals which are typical to African savanna such as giraffe, elephant, zebra and wildebeest. So, the child can learn about the animals that belong to and are typical of Africa. The story entails multi layers of emphatically powerful lessons of bravery, courage, friendship and embracing who you are simultaneously making room for improvement in a fun way for little kids to imbibe. Children who are starting school are bound to come across many new situations and experiences which can be challenging for some. This spectacular story about being true to yourself and yet making room for improvements by taking chances and learning new things can not only get you new friends but also bring you closer to yourself. With a humourous touch to convey so many powerful messages subtly we definitely have a big winner and a fast becoming favourite here.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z challenge. Keep watching the space for our book recommendation for the alphabet M next and in case you missed our theme reveal for this year’s BlogchatterA2Z challenge you can check it out here. You could also check our book review with alphabet K for another great review and book related activities.

Love,

Mrs. Sunshine

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“The LION Inside” – #BlogchatterA2Z

Shaarav loves animal picture books and my little guy is one pretend animal or the other most of the time. It’s quite OK for us to often hear a roar, trumpet or moo around the house. So, with lion and mouse as the main characters of the story, “The Lion Inside” makes for a great addition to our home library. “The Lion Inside” tells a wonderful tale of bravery, confidence and friendship. Again, it looks like we have a new favourite author. With a narrative so rhythmically flowing and pictures so brilliantly detailed and vibrant this is a book that keeps on giving.

The Lion Inside

What’s the story?

“The Lion Inside” is a story about the journey of a meek and timid mouse who grows tired of being so little and forgotten his entire life and sets off to find his roar. The humble little mouse who gets walked all over gets fed up of his miserable life and wants to be heard and listened to just like the boastful and pompous lion who is heard and appreciated by everyone in the animal community. The mouse thinks its the roar which makes the lion so celebrated among all the other animals and decides to add a roar to his repertoire. So, he musters up all his courage and confidence and determined to learn how to roar from the very best, he risks being eaten and goes to confront the lion. But what he discovers on meeting the lion is really sublime and awe-inspiring. The mouse discovers that even the tiniest of us has the heart of a lion within only waiting to be discovered. Ultimately, the mouse finds a friend in the remotest possible place he could ever think.

What did we like about it?

Book Details

Written by: Rachel Bright
Illustrated by: Jim Field
Published by: Orchard Books
Genre: Fiction Picture Book
Book Type: Board Book
Recommended Age: 3 to 5
Number of pages: 30
Ratings: 10/10

What’s there for the child to learn?

Love,

Mrs. Sunshine

“The KOALA Who Could” – #BlogchatterA2Z

“The Koala Who Could” is a beautifully illustrated delightful book with rhyming text talks about coming out of one’s comfort zone which can be adventurous and fun instead of being scared and stuck. Shaarav, in spite of being a hyperactive never-staying-still pre-schooler, sometimes hesitates to try out new things. He finds things that are known to him easier to stick to than go with exploring new things. So, this book “The Koala Who Could” came out as a winner in our household which talks about overcoming one’s fears and exploring new things.

Shaarav’s aunt stays in Australia and on her visit to India when Shaarav was just about 10 months old, she brought him a talking Koala among other animal soft toys which would repeat everything we would say. We have a habit of naming the soft toys with the first letter of what they are. For example, Ella – the elephant, Cassey – the Cow, Owen – the owl, Toby – the turtle, Dobby – the dog etc. And coincidentally, we named the koala, Kevin. Shaarav, initially, was afraid of it and wouldn’t dare touch it. But later grew so fond of it that it quickly ran out of batteries. So, Kevin the Koala became our indispensable new best friend.

The Koala Who Could

What’s the story?

“The Koala Who Could” is a sweet rhyming tale of a shy koala called Kevin who fears to try out new things and is quite happy clinging to the tree and doing the same things day in and day out. He watched the world below and the other animals called to him to come down but it seemed too scary to him and he found it safe on the tree. Until, one day something unfortunate happens and he’s forced out of his tree only to learn that change which might seem scary in the beginning might not be scary after all, instead, it can be so much fun and full of adventure. The story ends with the wonderful revelation that, quite possibly, the worst thing you can imagine happening just might be the best thing. It is lovely story of how a koala discovers that accepting change in life can lead to big adventures and how he turns from the koala “who couldn’t” to the koala “who could”.

What did we like about it?

This book “The Koala Who Could” has so much to offer and can be used in so many different ways. The book with a brilliant rhyming narrative and a perfectly complimenting bold and vibrant illustrations celebrates optimism and the art of the silver lining in the wake of a disaster. Rachel Bright in her charming fun to read aloud book with fabulously delectable pictures by Jim Field narrates a fantastic inspiring story of adventure amidst a disaster displays a joyous affirmation for my otherwise rambunctious kiddo. We love how the sublime rhymes and rich illustrations attract and appeal to young readers like mine instantly making it a perfect read aloud story with a positive message to learn and inculcate.

Book Details

Written by: Rachel Bright
Illustrated by: Jim Field
Published by: Orchard Books
Genre: Fiction Picture Book
Book Type: Board Book
Recommended Age: 3 to 5
Number of pages: 30
Ratings: 10/10

What’s there for the child to learn?

The story of “The Koala Who Could” has been set in a typical Australian outback with animals which are typical to Australian landscape such as koala, wombat, kangaroo and dingo. So, the child can learn about the animals that belong to and are typical of Australia. The story entails multi layers of emphatically powerful lessons of bravery, courage, friendship and embracing change in a light tone for little kids to imbibe. Children who are starting school are bound to come across many new situations and experiences which can be challenging for some. This brilliant story about stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things displays a strong message of encouragement, courage and confidence to explore new situations and circumstances, even when you think it may be scary, when it can be fun and enjoyable. No wonder in a very less time it became our read-aloud favourite and it looks like after Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, we have a new favourite author-illustrator duo.

As part of the bookish play we decided to have a storytelling session (read aloud) and do some book related activities. For the book related activities, we talked and learned about different animals from the Australian outback and made a koala mask for pretend play as Kevin. We used chart papers in grey and black and some ribbons to make the make the koala mask. We managed some fun pretend play reading lines from the book and enacting them out. It was a total blast and we really enjoyed ourselves.

Shaarav really enjoyed making and wearing the mask

Shaarav posing as Kevin with other animals

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z challenge. Keep watching the space for our book recommendation for the alphabet L next and in case you missed our theme reveal for this year’s BlogchatterA2Z challenge you can check it out here. You could also check our book review with alphabet J for another great review and book related activities.

Love,

Mrs. Sunshine

“JACK and the Flumflum Tree” – #BlogchatterA2Z

“Jack and the Flumflum Tree” is Shaarav’s absolute favourite

“I Love You Just the Way You Are” – #BlogchatterA2Z

“What the Ladybird HEARD” – #BlogchatterA2Z

I say again and again and I reiterate that one can never go wrong with a book authored by Julia Donaldson, and “What the Ladybird Heard” is no exception whatsoever. Shaarav never gets tired of spotting the ladybird and he grew so fond of the little ladybird that we even had to include it in his birthday decor. And because of him we had to get all the four books in the series (though here we’ll be talking about just the one). Lydia Monks’ collage style zany illustrations in flamboyant colours keep Shaarav mesmerized and glued to the book.

What the Ladybird Heard

What’s the story?

“What the Ladybird Heard” is a rollicking farmyard mystery of how a quiet and inconspicuous ladybird who overhears two thieves making plans to steal the fine prize cow from the farm cleverly spoils their plan and get them caught. The ladybird is the tiniest and quietest creature in a farm full of noisy animals. One day she overhears two sly thieves plotting a cunning a plan to steal the farmer’s fine prize cow. The ladybird which had never ever spoken a word before decides to tell the animals about the plan. In addition, the clever ladybird devises an ingenious counter plan to ruin the thieves’ plan, save the fine prize cow from being stolen and get the thieves caught.

What did we like about it?

We loved everything about “What the Ladybird Heard”, from a perfect gripping story told in clever and witty rhyming couplets which flows rhythmically with much humour, to stunning and vibrant illustrations keeping Shaarav engaged, to the noisy farm with different animals making funny animal noises. Shaarav loves the rhyming animal noise chorus and joins them each time I read it aloud to him. The animals in the books are engaging enough for him and makes the reading all the more fun. The gorgeously stylish illustration and a wonderfully adventurous story to go along is an added bonus which sure will win little hearts.

Book Details

Written by: Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by: Lydia Monks
Published by: Macmillan Children’s Books
Genre: Fiction Picture Book
Book Type: Board book (Paperback, Hardcover and Audiobook also available)
Recommended Age: 2 to 5
Number of pages: 24
Ratings: 10/10

What’s there for the child to learn?

The clever ladybird in the book “What the Ladybird Heard” gives children several instances of great and powerful message. Shaarav is a talkative kid and has never found difficulty in communicating himself. The book appeals to him as well but would appeal more to children who are quiet. The books conveys the message how helping someone in need is a good thing and also how any problem can be solved if we worked together. Books like these with small but strong messages are definitely a keeper.

As part of the bookish play we decided to have a storytelling session (read aloud) and do some book related activities. For the activities we decided to make a ladybird. We made the ladybird out of a paper plate. Shaarav painted the paper plate in red, then he added black spots cut out from a black-coloured chart paper and pasted them on the plate. He then stuck the face of the ladybird with the eyes and antennae on it. In the end, he pasted its legs and tada, our ladybird was all set to adorn our wall.

Shaarav with his version of the famous ladybird from “What the Ladybird Heard”

Shaarav thoroughly enjoyed making his forever favourite ladybird and we had a perfect bonding time. This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z challenge. with the theme #BondingOverBooks. Keep watching the space for our book recommendation for the alphabet I tomorrow. You could also check our book review with alphabet G from yesterday too for another great review and book related activities.

Love,

Mrs. Sunshine

“The Smartest GIANT in Town” – #BlogchatterA2Z

Julia Donaldson when paired with Axel Scheffler has done wonders. And “The Smartest Giant in Town” is one such wonder. Shaarav adores this kind-hearted scruffy Giant George who helps out the several animals he meets along his way out of kindness. This one is definitely a keeper and a must add book to your collection.

The Smartest Giant in Town

What’s the story?

George is giant who gets sick and tired of being shabby and untidy spots a new shop which sells giant clothes. At once he buys different cloth items and dresses on to become the smartest giant in town. He leaves his old clothes and footwear behind the shop. But on his way back home he meets several animals who are in miserable conditions and need immediate help. A kind and considerate George feels for them and and without a second thought gives away items of his newly bought clothes to help the distraught animals. But when he gives away all his clothes he begins to feel cold he decides to go back to the shop to again get some new clothes only to find the shop closed. While he’s cold and sad he suddenly remembers about his old clothes which he had dropped off behind the shop. He feels immense happiness and relief to get back into his old clothes which he had discarded after finding them untidy. He dances out of joy realizing that those were the most comfortable clothes and that he was cozy again on wearing them. Finally when he returns home, he finds all the grateful animals whom he had helped, waiting for him at his front door with an enormous present which had a crown made of gold paper and a letter which read that he’s the kindest giant in town.

What did we like about it?

“The Smartest Giant in Town” is unlike other books Julia Donaldson books that we have read for the fact that all the text are not in rhymes which is good for a change. It has sufficient amount of repetitions and rhyming which keep children captivated and reciting back, Illustrations again are typical of Axel Scheffler, very detailed and gorgeous and go very well with the text. The book is neither too long nor too short for the children to lose interest. My pre-schooler listens to this story with rapt attention repeating after me. It’s definitely a keepsake.

Book Details

Written by: Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by: Axel Scheffler
Published by: Macmillan Children’s Books
Genre: Fiction Picture Book
Book Type: Board book (Paperback, Hardcover, Audio CD and Audiobook also available)
Recommended Age: 3 to 7
Number of pages: 30
Ratings: 9/10

What’s there for the child to learn?

There are several things a child can lean from “The Smartest Giant in Town”. It teaches love, empathy, kindness and being helpful and grateful.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z challenge. Keep watching the space for our book recommendation for the alphabet H tomorrow and in case you missed our theme reveal for this year’s BlogchatterA2Z challenge you can check it out here. You could also check our book review with alphabet F from yesterday too for another great review and book related activities.

Love,

Mrs. Sunshine

“My FEELINGS” – #BlogchatterA2Z

Shaarav is a pre-schooler with very big and strong feelings. He feels different emotions very strongly, be it happiness or anger. So very early, when he was barely a toddler we felt it was time for us to introduce him to labelling his emotions because we very well understand that identifying and labelling feelings is a vital skill that takes lots of practice. And it is very important for a child to recognize and name feelings for developing social-emotional skills. And at the time we found this book “My Feelings” very appropriate to get him acquainted with the basic human emotions.

My Feelings

What’s the story?

“My Feelings” does share any story as such. it has some snippets and actions that we do or should do when we feel a particular feeling.

What did we like about it?

The illustrations in “My Feelings” are very beautiful and apt and easily draw a child’s attention. The book tries to introduce emotions to a child with minimal text and easy to grasp language. What we particular liked about the book is that it also points out some coping mechanisms if a child is feeling scared or shy.

Book Details

Illustrated by: Sarah Jennings
Published by: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Genre: Fiction Picture Book
Book Type: Board Book (Tabbed)
Recommended Age: 2 to 5
Number of pages: 14
Ratings: 8/10

What’s there for the child to learn?

Children need to be aware of their emotions for a healthy social and personal skills. With the help of this book “My Feelings” and lots of practice Shaarav is gradually learning to identify his feelings, label them and also channelize or overcome them properly.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z challenge. Keep watching the space for our book recommendation for the alphabet G next and in case you missed our theme reveal for this year’s BlogchatterA2Z challenge you can check it out here. You could also check our book review with alphabet E from yesterday too for another great review and book related activities.

Love,

Mrs. Sunshine

“Love You, DAD” – #BlogchatterA2Z

Shaarav’s dad and I live in different cities and he visits us once in a week. So, most of the time it’s me solo parenting Shaarav. But unfortunately, because of the current lockdown scenario due to COVID-19 Mr. Husband is unable to come see us. I cannot emphasize enough how much they are missing each other. Shaarav asks me questions that I don’t have answers to. So, for alphabet D we particularly chose the book “Love You, Dad” to show and express their love for each other and strengthen their bond.

Love You, DAD

What’s the story?

“Love You, Dad” is a sweet and beautifully illustrated book which celebrates fathers and fatherhood and appreciating the role of a father in a child’s life. The book pays tribute to all the lovely dads recognizing the little and the big things, the important and the unimportant things, the serious and the funny things they do with and for their kids through animal pictures and befitting captions. “Love You, Dad” features adorable animal photographs from National Geographic of dads with their kids displaying fatherly love at its best. Its moving how each caption perfectly befits the fatherhood emotion that’s so pure and touching.

What did we like about it?

Unlike the mothers, the fathers are expected to be easy going and fun-loving. My pre-schooler adores his Dad and this book gives the perfect excuse to say thank you and express his love for all the things he does for Shaarav. And what better way than to do it with a wonderful book with an amazing collection of cute, brilliant and charming animal portraits of dads and babies with meaningful and fitting comments of thanks Dad. “Love You, Dad” would make a wonderful gift for fathers of all age groups which I’m sure every dad would love to receive.

Book Details

Written by: Melina Gerosa Bellows
Designed by: Melissa Farris and Jonathan Halling
Published by: National Geographic Society
Genre: Nature Picture Book
Book Type: Hardcover
Recommended Age: 0 to 5
Number of pages: 92
Ratings: 8/10

What’s there for the child to learn?

“Love You, Dad” sends across a very powerful message of appreciation. The heartfelt and humorously pithy captions which have been artfully expressed give the child a way of expressing love reminding him the importance of fatherly love.

The vivid and life-like pictures of animals, some common and some not so common, incite talk about their habitats and their babies. Shaarav was very amused with the animals that he had never heard me mention, like armadillos, arousing curiosity and eagerness to learn more about them.

As part of the bookish play we decided to have a storytelling session (read aloud) and do some book related activities. Shaarav has been missing his father and is terribly wanting to see him, so this exercise, sort of, helped him. We used this book as an inspiration to prepare “Love You, Dad” cards for Daddy dearest and its needless to say the cards definitely made Mr. Husband emotional. We used two different fun techniques to make the cards. One was finger painting and the other was blow painting and Shaarav enjoyed the activity very much. The cards have turned out really well and we may get them framed to etch these moments in our memories.

“Love You Dad” card with finger painting

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z challenge. Keep watching the space for our book recommendation for the alphabet E next and in case you missed our theme reveal for this year’s BlogchatterA2Z challenge you can check it out here. You could also check our book review with alphabet C from yesterday too for another great review and book related activities. Last year on Father’s Day, we wrote a poem for Daddy Dearest and also made a “I love You Papa” card appreciating his efforts, love and care which you can read here.

Love,

Mrs. Sunshine

“Sometimes I Like to CURL Up in Ball” – #BlogchatterA2Z

When I laid my eyes on “Sometimes I like to Curl Up in a Ball”, I could not resist myself buying it for Shaarav just for its evocative illustrations, heart-warming charm and visual appeal. This absolutely charming picture book narrates a sweet tale of a little wombat which spends his day gadding about with its animal friends only end up retiring to his most favourite of places to curl up in a ball. With its beautiful rhyme and tone the book invites multitude of interaction opportunities with the children and is sure to entrance and engage young readers and parents alike.

Sometimes I like to Curl Up in a Ball

What’s the story?

“Sometimes I like to Curl Up in a Ball” is a sweet and simple story about an adorable little wombat exploring its favourite things to do during the day. The story gives the semblance of a day’s events of the little wombat and how he ends it with the most favourite thing he loves to do and does best. He jumps, he screams, he races, makes funny faces and gets in a mess. He spends the entire day with his friends doing activities that make him happy and finally at the end of the day he retires to the most cozy of places to curl up in a ball and sleep.

What did we like about it?

“Sometimes I like to Curl Up in a Ball” is a delightful book with an adorable charm and a perfect segue to lights out. It makes for a really good bedtime book for its amusing childlike wonder and I have been honouring Shaarav’s request for reading it to him at night time for several days in a row now. Shaarav immensely enjoys mimicking the antics of little wombat and he feels connected to the images and action-packed life of the little wombat because the story-line is very relatable to his everyday life. And also, because at the end of the day Shaarav needs his mother to sleep peacefully just like the little wombat which likes to curl up in a ball beside its mother.

The text is short, fun and easy to understand and cute illustrations spread which are beautifully across the pages bring the story and the little wombat to life. What we liked most is that the story-line is easy to listen to and understand, the rhythm is lilting and easy to repeat and the motions are simple and easy to follow and mimic. And because of the fun repetitive rhyme and lovable characters injected with motion and humour, “Sometimes I like to Curl Up in a Ball” is definitely to stay on Shaarav’s list of favourite books for a long time.

Book Details

Written by: Vicki Churchill
Illustrated by: Charles Fuge
Published by: Sterling Children’s Books
Genre: Fiction Picture Book
Book Type: Board book (Paperback and Hardcover also available)
Recommended Age: 0 to 5
Number of pages: 20
Ratings: 8/10

What’s there for the child to learn?

“Sometimes I like to Curl Up in a Ball” is a fairly good interactive book and talks about how the wombat does several things in his life not because they make sense but mostly because they are fun and they make it happy and gay. This sweet tale of wombat ignites an insight on the things we like and do because they make us happy and also make us who we are. It also inspires us to go through our day with zest.

As part of the bookish play we decided to have a storytelling session (read aloud) and do some book related activities. We used this book as an inspiration to talk about Shaarav’s likes, dislikes and preferences. We also explored and learned about the things he likes to do and what are the things that make him unique. We also had fun mimicking the endearing little wombat making funny faces, running very fast, sticking out our tongue, jumping up high and screaming as loud as we could.

“Sometimes I like to scream ever so loud”

“Sometimes I like to just walk round and round”

“Sometimes I like to poke out my tongue”

“Or make funny faces, now that can be fun”

Altogether, “Sometimes I Like to Curl Up in a Ball” is a buoyant and charming book and a perfect addition to one’s bedtime collection. This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z challenge. Keep watching the space for our book recommendation for the alphabet D tomorrow and in case you missed our theme reveal for this year’s BlogchatterA2Z challenge you can check it out here. You could also check our book review with alphabet B from yesterday too for another great review and book related activities.

Love,

Mrs. Sunshine