Children's Books > R Children's Books > B

Advantages: Lots of ideas
Disadvantages: None for princess fans

...princesses and wants to make princess things. Yes, I do know someone who fits into this category quite nicely! We already have some of the other usborne craft books, and having found them useful and very enjoyable, this was a must. After the index, with a list of the makes, the book gets straight onto the descriptions of how to make the items, without any long preamble as to how the book should be used. I like this because we want to make the things, ...
...no ideas for example, of princess dance moves. The things to be made are: dancing Princesses, headdress, slipper decorations, sash, zigzag castle card, crown, fan, tiara, princess in the tower bookmark, fancy flags, door sign, regal rosettes, bag, royal banquet collage, chandelier, gift wrap and cards, picture frame. When I go on to say that the description of each make includes either the word "princess" or some other pretty adjective, then it becomes ... Read review

Advantages: kids love it
Disadvantages: ?

A dark, dark tale, Dratt Trisca got her review in first after I requested this category oh well never mind , here we go . Let me tell you about A dark, dark tale Written and illustrated by Ruth brown published first by Random house children’s books in 1981 then by red fox in 1992. This book retails for £8.99 This book is available in English and Somali You could start reading this book to your child at about the age of 2 and a child of ...
.... This book is a paperback 21cmx26cm 29 pages long. On the cover we see a circle a window into the book a black cat is staring out of it at you the scene behind the cat is of a castle surrounded by mist with a full moon behind it. The picture makes you think the book is spooky it entices you in, so open the book The illustrations on the first page are a picture of moorland dark and creepy. In the grass you can spot 6 rabbits hiding you can only ... Read review

Advantages: A great twist on a traditional tale.
Disadvantages: Some children of a nervous disposition find the giant scary!

...Fi Fo Fum ~ Jim and the Beanstalk ~ Jim (not Jack), wakes up and sees an enormous plant growing outside his window. Being inquisitive, he climbs up it , in to the clouds, until at the top he sees a castle. Feeling a tad hungry he decides to go to the castle for a breakfast of cornflakes. A giant answers the door...... "Aha! A nice juicy boy" And he reminisces about how before he lost his teeth he used to enjoy three fried boys on toast everyday. ...
...and told Jim the story of what a 'pesky' boy Jack was. The giant complains that he can't see properly so Jim says he will get some glasses for the giant in return for gold. He measures the giant for glasses and goes to the opticians (oculist). The next day Jim walks through the streets with a giant pair of glasses and takes them to the giant who is delighted. He then complains about having no teeth............Jim gets him some giant false teeth! ... Read review

Advantages: Introduces pre-school children to lots of animals. Beautifully illustrated
Disadvantages: None

I have this in the Big Book version and generally read it to the Nursery children or Reception in the first few weeks of term. - The story - It begins with a farmer and his animals having a snooze in the barn when a fly lands on the farmer's nose. This makes him sneeze so loudly and forcefully that the fly is catapulted in to the spider's web. The spider captures the fly which alerts the sparrow who proceeds to chase the spider. This wakes the ...
...all of the animals wake up and make such a commotion that the farmer's wife comes to the barn to ask him what he has done. It ends with a totally puzzled and dishevelled farmer saying "Nothing my dear, I only sneezed!" -Illustrations - I have to say that these 'make' the book. They are immensely detailed and the reader gets a real feel of the barn with the rays of sun shining through the open door. The animals are superbly protrayed and so life-like ... Read review

Advantages: Beautifully drawn pictures that get the message across
Disadvantages: It's all too true

...daughter borrowed this book from the local library on one of our many visits and as you may well guess from the title of the book it is based on the rhyme 'The House That Jack Built'. It is a picture book which tells the story of the destruction of the environment and although aimed at young children it is quite hard hitting. The cover of the book is a beautifully drawn picture of a peaceful countryside scene. An elegant black cat sits at the top ...
...butterfly flies nearby. The book starts with the house that Jack built and shows the cat sitting on a perfectly manicured lawn in front of a small well kept cottage, the sun is shining and all is well in the world. The cat obviously lives a carefree life as we see how it plays with the butterfly, even chasing it up a tree, oh what a happy contented life. As the book progresses we follow the cats journey as it happily chases after the butterfly. The ... Read review