FYNBOS AND FAIRIES INSPIRED BY NATURE

If you live in the beautiful city of Cape Town, perhaps you'll know that the Table Mountain National Park boasts a phenomenal 1 500 fybos species. This alone is a reason to pick up a copy of Antjie Krog and Fiona Moodie’s book - Fynbos Fairies.  but this book is not just for nature lovers, its also a fantastical celebration our rich fairy life!

The book is filled with breathtakingly beautiful illustrations that are delicate, imaginative, striking, and even believable.  The poetry pays homage of the natural wonders of the world; and for a parent its wonderful to see these poems and illustrations capture the attention and love of a young child.

Arum Lily Fairy

Lend an ear to the Arum lily,
Hear its silence, if that’s not silly,

Touch your cheek to the lily flower;
It’s always cool, despite the hour;

Dip your nose in the lily funnel,
Breathe the depth of deepest tunnel,

Tap light at its yellow tip
To let, through your hand, a fairy slip.

Dear Old Teddy Robinson – A Classic Treasure

We have discovered a series of classics about a dear teddy bear called ‘Teddy Robinson’.  First published in the 1950’s these books are gentle and tell tender stories about a big, comfortable teddy bear who belongs to a little girl called Deborah. Each chapter is a story on its own, which makes it the perfect read before bedtime.

Teddy Robinson has a clear voice of his own and is respected and acknowledge by Deborah and her own family. In fact, even the neighbour’s dog can speak for himself.  Sometimes a little shy - and sometimes a bit of boastful, this bear has an endearing personality.  His adventures are utterly believable and perfect for a little girl with a vivid imagination.

He had trips to the seaside, accompanies Deborah to ballet – where he watches very proudly; and even ends up in the muddy river with a bunch of very opinionated, but caring ducks. Ideal to read aloud, these classic tales of a lovable bear are perfect to share with all young children.

Fairy Folk & Enchanted Woods

We have just finished reading over 500 pages of the Faraway Tree and Genevieve is begging for more!  This trilogy, which includes The Enchanted Wood; The Magic Faraway Tree; and The Folk of the Faraway Tree, is all about 3 kids who live at the edge of the Enchanted Woods – where the trees whisper secrets and the dearest fairy folk live.

Jo, Bessie and Fanny have many adventures in these woods and in particular up the huge tree, which houses folk like the Angry Pixie, Dame Washalot, and Mr Saucepan Man who lives with Mr Watzisname.  The children are especially good friends with Moon-Face and little Silky, who are always willing to share delicious Pop Biscuits and Google Buns – not to mention toffee shocks!  Moon-Face’s home, near the top of the tree has a slide spiralling down the centre of the tree to the very bottom– called the slippery-slip.

What’s more is that the children’s adventures take them further up the Faraway Tree, above its highest branches to explore the lands above.  Image places called the Land of Take-What-You-Want, the Land of Topsy-Turvy, and best of all the Land of Birthdays! It’s enchanting to know that books that were originally written in the 1930’s are still favourites in our bustling world of superheroes.

JOIN THE NODDY CRAZE

Everyone that knows Genevieve knows that she is a BIG Noddy fan.  She has the cutest Noddy outfit – which she likes to wear for dress-up, shopping trips, parties and lately for family restaurant meals.  We have a number of Noddy books on her bookshelf and have lately added a few more to her library box.  There are of course many Noddy tales around, and if you search carefully enough it is still possible to pick up an original, which is very different from the modern rewrites and worth getting hold of.

At the moment we are reading ‘Noddy Gets Into Trouble’, where poor Noddy lands himself in trouble with almost everyone in Toyland.  The upside it that Noddy gets to make good friends with Tessie Bear, who is a true and faithful companion.  She devises a clever little plan to help Noddy prove his innocence and clear his tarnished reputation. All ends well for Noddy in the end - needless to say, everyone loves Noddy!

Help the Rural Child Charity Books

Genevieve and I visited a really super charity bookshop yesterday afternoon.  Help the Rural Child stocks a lovely selection of adult and kids books that all seem to be in very good condition.  The upside is that besides adding a few more books to our collection, we know that the money goes toward towards supporting rural youth centres. Plus, you can offload any books that you’d like to hand on - which is always a plus.

G chose a huge pile – with her favourites being a Nick Butterworth book from the Percy The Park Keeper series; a Disney book on Thumper; and a Princess Poppy book – which we managed to read before school this morning. 

It makes sense to be able to be able to contribute to a charitable trust – and give us a good excuse to read more! For more information on Help the Rural Child Trust operates 6 charity shops in the greater Cape Town area and are entirely dependent on donations received. For more information, visit www.ruralchild.org.za

Goose in a Hole

From the author of The Tiger Who Came For Tea, the Goose in a Hole is just as delightful and will no doubt be added to our list of favourite reads.  

Goose in a Hole is a story of how Katerina the goose leads her family in search of a new pond after the water in their pond mysteriously disappears down a hole.  The family of geese surface in a number of unsuitable places, none of which make a good alternative to their pond.  In the meantime little Millie is frantic with worry and desperate to get someone to help her locate her favourite goose. 

  

Hairy Charlie and the Frog

Genevieve pulled Hairy Charlie and the Frog off the bookshelf tonight for our bedtime story.  It’s a Jackie French kids story, about a large bulky hairy guy called Charlie who finds an audacious croaky frog in his letterbox one morning.  This frog successfully (and with very little effort) scares this brute of a man each and every morning.  

It’s a funny and colourful story of how Charlie sorts out the problem of a very defiant frog who has decided to take up residence in his letterbox – and seems to have no intention of relocating to the nearby rosebush, which Charlie obviously believes is a far better home.  I love the wit and the thought process – as well as Charlie’s colourful wardrobe - and have to forgive him for his silly frog phobia.  

The author, Jacki French, is Australian and is prolific across many genres, but mostly children’s and gardening books.  

Maisy Goes to the Library

I love Maisy Mouse for the simplicity and the delight of the little stories.  The pictures are so colourful and arresting that it’s hard to resist Maisy and her friends on their adventures.  The story that we are reading at the moment is about Maisy going to the library in the hope of finding a book about fish.  All she wants to do is to sit in a quiet spot and read the story, but there are so many distractions that it’s impossible.

Her friends Charlie, Eddie, Tallulah and Cyril join in the fun and ensure that the library isn’t a quiet peaceful spot to read.  It’s all fun and laughter,  - and of course very endearing.