A Book for Christmas: Beautiful Illustrated Version of 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' (With Special LL Discount at Bags of Books, Lewes)

Here’s a post raving about ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ as if it’s the next big thing. You think I’m mad as a box of frogs – it’s not 1997 for Pete’s sake (yes it seriously was published nearly 20 years ago…). Don’t worry, like anyone literate who has a pulse, I’ve read and marvelled over […]

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My Holiday Reads (If I Can Sit Down Long Enough)

So the holidays are near enough now to think about things like insurance, currency, airport parking and…reading! This is the FIRST YEAR in SEVEN that there is a faint possibility my husband and I may be able to sit on a pair of sun loungers and ACTUALLY READ A WHOLE PAGE, nigh perhaps even a […]

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Review, Interview and GIVEAWAY: Will Mabbit, author of 'The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones', interviewed by daughter Tilly Brookes

Post update 26 Aug 2015: Congratulations to Nicola Furner, Natasha Caughey and Lorna Stagg for winning a copy each of Will Mabbitt’s ‘The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones’. Enjoy it!  Big news: two weeks ago a BIG story about a little girl who is ‘NOT SCARED of ANYTHING!’ was published. The little girl is Mabel Jones, […]

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'The Book of Colours' by Sarah Dyer: Review + READER GIVEAWAY

Post updated 12/05/15: Congratulations to Lori Inglis Hall, Sally Domingo-Jones and Silvia Viramontes Langton for winning the three copies of ‘The Book of Colours’!  Hello! I’m back – and to herald my re-entry into the blogging world, I thought I’d kick-start things with an upbeat shout of colour. One of the last posts I wrote before I […]

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Interview: Children's illustrator Sarah Dyer on 'The Book of Things'

Post updated13/02/15: Congratulations to Kate Malbon, Lisa Wheeler and Seonid Beecham for winning the three copies of ‘The Book of Things’!  Last week I published our review of Sarah Dyer’s ‘The Book of Things’. I emailed Sarah an interview ahead of that, but my review ended up so long, I thought I’d publish her answers separately. Here […]

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'The Book of Things' by Sarah Dyer: Review + READER GIVEAWAY

Post updated13/02/15: Congratulations to Kate Malbon, Lisa Wheeler and Seonid Beecham for winning the three copies of ‘The Book of Things’!  And so finally the day comes where I get to pen a post about the work of my friend Sarah Dyer, a very talented children’s book illustrator who is Sussex born and bred and now […]

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'Bear Hug', by Katharine McEwen – Book Review + Reader GIVEAWAY

Rain aside, I’m seriously digging winter right now. It’s finally starting to get cold! The sparkly days such as we had on Thursday, with a proper nip in the air and that cold, clear light are for spending time out in it, and then retreating from to a warm house and the prospect of candle (and fire!) light […]

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Advent Calendar Ideas (Yes, Seriously) Inspired by Babycinno Kids

I’ve done it. I’ve said the C-word. Or at least insinuated it in this post’s title. Although I take serious exception to being told mid-August by a catalogue that ‘it’s never too early to start planning for Christmas’ (because yes, yes it is), I accept that it’s late October and there’s about eight weeks to go until the […]

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