8 books for £3

So, I’ve been back down the local charity shop this week. Got all excitable as I spotted some of my very favourite children’s books. Must have looked like a kid in a candy store. Each Peach Pear Plum (Pocket Puffin)
just had to be bought, there was no way I was leaving that in the shop. I also picked up 4 Julia Donaldson books, 2 of which I also consider to be absolute classics. I also picked up Peace At Last by Jill Murphy, another book that I absolutely love. Many of the children’s books I truly love are ones I have seen read in schools. There are a few books that seem to be used the country over at certain ages because they are engaging and are able to be used in a variety of curriculum activities.
Lastly I picked up 2 books that I have never heard of that I thought I could read to The Toddler. Well, he had his own ideas on what was suitable reading material for him, and within a few minutes of him finding the pile of books he had decided I was reading all of them in one sitting. Half way through I had to beg him for a water break. I felt like I had just ran the Grand National, my mouth was that dry.
Decided to try Each Peach Pear Plum with the Twins, bearing in mind I had bought it for them and already read it to the Toddler earlier in the day…
Twin 2, that’s paper, it will….. too late. Big rip in the book (good job I already read it to the Toddler then). Twin 1, don’t you do it….. too late again. Smaller rip in the book (not sure this one will survive) Does this mean you approve or not? This is one of the big problems of reading with both girls on my lap, I cant hold the book away from them as far and as easily as I would with just one. However I don’t think I am up for reading every book 3 times…. Maybe when they are older I can get them to sit on the floor like a nursery lol.
Anyway, I eventually got the book read, they seemed to be interested, although not as much so as The Toddler, but then he was able to look for the characters in question, and have a giggle doing so. Me, I love the book, large print, simple but fun text, lots to look at in the pictures. A great example of Allan Ahlberg’s books, and a bargain to boot!!

Snow Bears

I need some Christmas books I think. Never really been sure on the whole ‘holiday season’ books, but now The Toddler is at pre-school perhaps I should get some. Looking through the collection we have, all I could find winter wise was [( Snow Bears )] [by: Martin Waddell] [Oct-2011]. The Toddler loves this book, its one I have to read more than once usually, so I thought I’d see what the girls thought.
Once we got past the issues of sitting still…. Twin 2 please stop bouncing, you will fall off one day, and please stop pinching your sisters dummy, it really doesn’t help. Twin 1 you cant have the book, if you are hanging on to it I cant read it and please don’t screw the pages up.. I tried to read it to the girls, it didn’t go so well. Despite the lovely pictures and sweet story they just weren’t interested, maybe the story was too long for them, or maybe they wouldn’t have sat for anything. Your guess is as good as mine. They did seem to be rather full of beans, probably too much so for a story.

Little Tiger Press and other thoughts

I’m starting to really love the books by Little Tiger Press (http://www.littletiger.co.uk/) that we have in the house. They attract the attention of The Toddler and The Twins alike. Lovely pictures and stories combine to make fantastic books for small children.
Boswell the Kitchen Cat is part of Tell Me a Story 4 Book Giftset: “Boswell the Kitchen Cat”, “The Very Noisy Night”, “Shaggy Dog and the Terrible Itch”, “Molly and the Storm” by Newman, Marjorie, Hendry, Diana, Bedford, David, Leeson, Chr (2009) Paperback. I’ll be honest The Twins weren’t really interested, in fact I didn’t get past the first page before Twin 2 had slapped the book away making it very clear she didn’t want to read. I must point out that I don’t think she wanted to read full stop given that she shouted at her favourite book as well.
Really missing the time to read for myself now. See so many books that I want to read and just don’t have the time for that I want to cry lol. I love a good book, like the escapism that it means. Even Mr ReadingWithTwins knows to leave me alone if I go for a bath with a book in my hand. All I need now is the time, and ton of money to go book shopping with, Amazon will love me when they day comes.

Time for cuddles

With all the colds and horrible germs floating around the house there has been a lot of cuddles going around, so when I spotted a book in a national discount books store I just had to pick it up.

Cuddle Bear by Claire Freedman and Gavin Scott is a lovely book with a lovely message. We all need a hug now and again and the beautiful pictures and simple text illustrate this perfectly. It was, therefore, a great shame that Twin 2 had no intention of sitting still long enough for me to read the book. I’m assuming she was starting to feel better as only the day before a cuddle on Mummy’s lap was all she wanted. The poor book got bashed, pulled, grabbed, twisted, you name it, and she took great (and loud) delight in doing so. Twin 1 was more prepared to sit although the book still got attacked to some degree, meaning lots of squeals accompanied the story again. She looked up at me a few times while I was reading, wonder what she was thinking? How much do they understand at 9 months? What I wouldn’t give sometimes to be able to know what is going on in a babies brain.
As I liked the book, I decided to give it a go with The Toddler. He sat and listened, we gave cuddles and hugs at each mention of them. It was a lovely book to read before bedtime (not a bad one for a cold filled cuddle time either).

Cool Cars

Well chewed since the girls found it and read so many times that I could almost do it without the words, part of the The Amazing Machines Truckload of Fun, Cool Cars is a real winner in this house. The rhythm and flow of this book attracts the attention of both The Toddler and The Twins alike. The pictures are clear and interesting with lots to look and discuss with your older ones. The sentences being short works well for younger ones as the pages get turned quick enough that they don’t get bored. I’m also using this book as means to teach the toddler to ‘read’, well learn the story. He now says the word ‘Cars’ every time it appears on the page as I stop and wait for him to. He also ‘reads’ some of the words at the end of the sentences. How intelligent does my boy look? Result!

Please don’t eat the pages

I’m guessing by the fact the girls spend an inordinate amount of time chewing on and folding up the toddlers lovely, nice, paper (proper) books, that the twins are enjoying reading time. Unfortunately the books, and The Toddler, are none too impressed with this way of showing their appreciation leading to a couple of almost destroyed books (surely paper cant be good for their stomachs?) and one or two pushes from The Toddler followed by rather epic sulking sessions. This is meaning my afternoons (pre-school in the morning) are largely taken up by thinking about 2 questions.

1) How to stop 9 month olds from chewing books? – Well make sure they are out of reach would be a start, but try explaining that to a 2 year old (well nearly 3). Trying to convince him to keep toys that are just his in his room to stop the girls playing with them is only just starting to take effect

and then

2) How to stop the nearly 3 year old from being jealous etc about said books? – If you figure that out reader, please let me know. I’m all out of ideas. Saying that however he will let me read them with him and the girls, just wont let them look at any book (not even the old cardboard ones) by themselves. And he wont let any books be ‘for the girls’ either, no matter what they are.

Duck in a Truck and Winnie the Pooh

So the snot has abated somewhat and I thought I’d try out some of my other gems from the local charity shop. It has to be said I probably spend loads in there some weeks. Really should get round to buying me some books too.

Decided that I would read Duck in the Truck to The Toddler first. The pictures and text work just perfectly for his age. He got to have a good giggle at the duck being stuck and even more so at the end of the book. I wont spoil the ending for those of you that haven’t read it. That said its a book that adults wont mind reading over and over again too. Twin 1 looked over at times while we were reading it and Twin 2 crawled over and tried to pull the book out of my hands burbling while she did so. Cant decide if that means she wants to read too or if it means I’m not supposed to be reading to The Toddler.

Winnie-the-Pooh and the Trouble with Bees was bought with the girls in mind, although the counting element will be good for The Toddler too. Get down to there being 8 bees left and I’m revising my thoughts here. The touchable bees definitely caught the girls attention, but the story/poem was a bit too long really for them. Maybe not such a good choice on my behalf. Lets try it on The Toddler and see what he thinks. “Count how many bees are left” Nope, even he got bored by the end…. Hmm lets get it out another day and try it again. Maybe I should have read Duck in a Truck to the twins too, next time I think.

Jez Alborough is a fantastic children’s writer. The stories keep your child’s interest and the pictures are great. It wont be a hardship reading his stories over and over again if they become your child’s favourite, even MR Readingwithtwins will read these books.

Charity Shops, Spot the Dog and other books

I love charity shops for books. Many of my treasured books and the children’s favourites were picked up in one. I don’t believe in throwing books out and either hang on to them forever or give them to a charity shop. I just love looking through the shelves of a good one, you never know what you might find. Today proves that, I picked up Where’s Spot? (Spot – Original Lift The Flap) in perfect condition, absolute bargain! I also got Touch and Feel Board: Buzzy Bee by Kath Smith and Little Duckling by the same author but more about them later as the girls weren’t too interested in them. Spot, however is another matter.
The Toddler wanted me to read them straight away, so I started with Where’s Spot? Instantly Twin 2 crawled over to join in. Well, I say join in, what I really mean is stand by my knees and try to pull the book out of my hands while squealing at the top of her lungs! Needless to say she seemed very excited.
Later on I decided to read the book ‘properly’ to Twin 1, especially after the Spot’s Bath incident. The book is just perfect for little people – sturdy, simple and the flaps aren’t too hard. She even got the idea of lifting the flaps by herself by the end, although she is perhaps a little young for the co-ordination required.

I’m beginning to think that it may just be more enjoyable for all concerned if I read them a book each when I read to them as they both have different ones they seem to like and both have different ways of enjoying them. I should also really invest in a few ‘girly’ books just to see how they react to them. More shopping 🙂

Thomas the Tank Engine

I know its a boys book. I know they are girls, but Twin 2 looks round every time I start reading them to The Toddler so I’m going to give them a go.
We have 5 in the house: Rusty Saves the Day, Gordon Takes a Tumble, Toby had a Little Lamb, Edward, the Very Useful Engine and Thomas, James and the Red Balloon. These are taken from the TV series, and as much as The Toddler loves them I do have to say I prefer the original ones.

So I’m sat with The Toddler and Twin 2 on my lap with Thomas, James and the Red Balloon between them. Wow, she’s loving it. Looking at the pictures as I read, not even trying to grab the book out of my hand. The text is clear for those that have started to read and the pictures are bright and engaging for those that haven’t. Shame they are paper pages or I wouldn’t have to worry if Twin 2 did try and grab it. She’s sat still for the whole book, dare I try for another? Wriggle, wriggle, fidget, fidget….. I am clearly pushing my luck here. Twin 2 on the floor to play and carry on reading to the Toddler as he’s clearly enjoying Rusty Saves the Day. Only trouble is I bet he will want me to read all 5.

While I’m here I would like to point out that we do have 2 board books that are much closer to the original,Rev.W Awdry ones. Gordon in Trouble and Thomas, Bertie and the Bumpy Line. These are much loved and well used by The Toddler to the point of being slightly battered looking. We also have a “Touch and Feel” book called Thomas that I am really not keen on as the textures have very little to do with the story (such as there is).

All 5 books later it is safe to say that more than one is too long for an 8 month old and that The Toddler loves them so much he is learning the story by heart to some of them. Need some new books I fear……

Thats not my…..

Dinosaur, Tiger, Panda, Dragon, Bear…… wait there are 5 of these in the house? Since when? And oh my goodness, there is 46 of these? Ah, but there is some girly ones, maybe I should get some for the girls. Lets see how they feel about them first before I get excited about book shopping. Mind you the ones we have are very battered looking. I think the toddler loved/loves them a little too much. He’s nearly 3, but will still ask for one of them to be read, if not go through all 5 in one go.

Anyhow, twins on my lap, book in the middle….. Twin 2 is actually concentrating… that must be some kind of record at 8 months? Not too keen on me using her hand to touch the textures though…. well not the ‘rough’ one for the dinosaurs horns anyway. Twin one is far happier to touch the textures but uses it as an excuse to try and grab the book every time… Well we’re at the end of
so Twin 1 you can have that book and we will move on to
Or maybe not, it would seem that Twin 2 would like to try and eat the tigers fluffy ears. Surely that cant taste nice? Can I have the book back please? Thank you.