December 08, 2018

Outback Pets: a fun 'real people' book that may lead to a request for a pet crocodile!

December 08, 2018/ Samantha Gilkes-Fulcher

ages 2 to 8 years
As you can see, this is a fun, beautifully illustrated book. Great for ages 2 to 8 years. Which makes it perfect for Ivy and Angus.

They’re both pet-obsessed. We have a dog, but there is always another pet we should get. So far this year the list has included a horse, lamb, little dog with a curly tail, guinea pig, rabbit, hamster, pig and a big dog that can be friends with our dog… but NOT a snake! Thankfully.

In all this discussion and dreaming of pets, ‘Outback Pets’ by Therese Hall and Geoff Cook has become an all-round favourite in our house

October 15, 2018

Pandemonia: a fun and noisy chain reaction of calamities!

October 15, 2018/ Samantha Gilkes-Fulcher

ages 3 to 8 years
When I was in my early 20’s I was privileged to teach English in China, an amazing experience filled with people, culture and experiences. And I got to visit the Beijing Zoo.

I had no real interest in the zoo itself, but I’d always wanted to see a panda. So in 42-degree heat and what felt like 110% humidity I made my way across Beijing. And … it was rather disappointing. The panda WAS cute, but

January 16, 2018

Together Always: a beautiful story of friendship, hope, and newfound strengthr

January 16, 2018/ Samantha Gilkes-Fulcher

ages 0 to 8 years
Summer is in full swing in Tasmania and everywhere we look trees are laden with fruit. We're closely watching our plum and nectarine trees, eagerly awaiting the first ripe fruit, and I think this is what drew us to Together Always when we saw it in the library. That and the wonderfulness of friendship for the start of a new year.

November 20, 2017

a one-of-a-kind book of elephant sized opposites—and surprises!

November 20, 2017/ Samantha Gilkes-Fulcher

a lovely book for all ages
'Opposites' books are pretty great—and not uncommon. They're wonderful for building kids' vocabularies and usually simple enough to keep even the little ones interested. Elephant Elements is a book of opposites, but it's not the common variety—more like one-of-a-kind.

October 24, 2017

exploring the delights of home, the blessing of a natural environment, and the strength in compromise

October 24, 2017/ Kim Fulcher

ages 0 to 8 years
Books about happy homes speak to our need for security, love, generosity and kindness. Books about happy homes that are different to our own also offer the comforting idea that in the midst of tremendous diversity, there is more that connects us than separates us.

The Tree does all of that while extending those same ideas, thoughts and feelings

October 20, 2017

gentle creatures carry children to sweet slumber and peaceful dreams

October 20, 2017/ Kim Fulcher

ages newborn to 8 years
It’s nice, especially on cool, dark nights, to think about how wonderful it is to dream. To dream about our friends and fun, or dream about places we have never been, or about our hopes and dreams. Dreams that beckon and entice us to a deep and peaceful sleep.

Dream Animals: A Bedtime Journey is just the book for that kind of night. Arrays of ‘animals from long ago’ come to help children on the way to their dreams.

October 05, 2017

2 beautiful books to grow creativity, expand art appreciation and increase confidence

October 05, 2017/ Kim Fulcher

ages 4 to 12 years + parents!
Art is about more than reproduction—it’s about interpretation, vision, and creation—and it’s easy to assume that license to create comes only after mastery of artistic skills.

Henri Matisse famously wrote that "Creativity takes courage" and, for many of us, finding that courage happens most easily with a bit of help

We need some structure, some guidance, and an assurance that our art will be good enough. These two books take exactly those approaches.

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