#German Literature Month -‘Inkheart’ by Cornelia Funke

by Sarah

As November is German Literature month (hosted by Caroline at Beauty is a Sleeping Cat and Lizzy at Lizzy’s Literary Life) I thought I’d join in the fun by writing a review or… Continue reading →

Nothing says Christmas like a 1960s Pop-up Picture Book!

by Sarah

Forgive me for coming over all sentimental, but with the Big Red Man (thanks for your input, Coca Cola) getting ready to shuffle down our chimneys, I thought I’d show you a book… Continue reading →

Something Completely Different

by Lucy

I really love old literature, especially dismal Victoriana (that should be a genre) but for my reading and writing development, I need to shake myself out of my soot-blackened, clog-wearing, TB-coughing rut and… Continue reading →

Why You Should Steer Clear Of Fairy Rings On Midsummer’s Eve

by Sarah

I was made to read Rudyard Kipling’s ‘Puck of Pook’s Hill’ at school and I can honestly say I have rarely detested a book with more vigour. In my memory, it pretended to… Continue reading →

The Benefits of Down-sizing

by Sarah

Some children imagine they’re fairies or tigers, they might have super powers or maybe they’re batman. I spent the early 1970s as a borrower. I remember being read the stories in assembly at… Continue reading →

Pigroot’s School of Witchyness and Wizard Stuff

by Lucy

If someone wrote a series of books with the above title, they’d be risking legal action, if J. K. Rowling did herself, you’d be wondering if she was short of cash and had… Continue reading →

If the kids are United….

by Sarah

I chanced upon ‘Emil and the Detectives’ on one of our family’s regular Thursday evening, post-swim visits to the local library. Its cheery, illustrated yellow cover managed to over-ride any anxiety I had… Continue reading →

Want to go on an adventure with the last four gnomes in Britain? Hell Yeah!

by Sarah

When my son was about five years old, he was obsessed with Enid Blyton’s ‘Famous Five’ books. After reading him twenty, one after the other, I was seriously losing the will to live.… Continue reading →

Who knew you could fry buttercups?

by Lucy

Edward Lear, that’s who. I have had this copy of the Pobble Who Has No Toes since I was about four. It is falling apart and some of the illustrations are mildly terrifying,… Continue reading →

Handing on the gift of Rumer Godden’s lost gem to my daughter.

by Sarah

When I was seven I was given a battered old copy of Rumer Godden’s ‘Miss Happiness and Miss Flower’ for Christmas by a girl at school. I’m thoroughly ashamed to say that I… Continue reading →