WTBA is a collection of and conversation about powerful books that strengthen, elevate, inspire and help to grow powerful, resilient kids. We're a book oriented guide for parents, grandparents, educators, aunts, uncles and anyone involved in nurturing children and caring for friends.
Funny, inspiring story of Caramba, a cat who can't fly in a world where all cats can fly. There's heartache along the way but with the support of a good friend Caramba finds just the right niche - there's a place for everyone after all.
ages 0 to 8 years
ages baby to 8 years
Hank is a good dog – and Hank knows it. Still, it might be hard for an onlooker to tell. Our dog Scott is a good dog too - and he knows it too. But sometimes it’s even hard for me to tell! Hank reminded me of Scott....
ages baby to 6 years
Great for a birthday present! A tremendously fun book about a hot pig who looks longingly at a pond. The ducks and the geese are happy and cool, but …’pigs don’t swim’. Finally, it all gets the better of her. She throws convention to the wind and dives in. It's not always to our advantage to follow the rules!
ages 2 to 8 years
A really funny look at a donkey who lives inside! (There are more positives than you might think.) Great for musing about how other people live—and the possibility that there could be more than one good choice in life.
Ages baby to 8 years
Do you read to kids in the bath? When ours were small, a couple of them simply couldn't see the value of a bath. But they could see the value of a story. So I would read while they soaked away a day of grime.
King Bidgood's in the Bathtub is one that’s a ton of fun to read – anytime really, but especially in the tub. There's trouble: ‘King Bidgood’s in the bathtub, and he won't get out!’
A poor young Page has the job of alerting all and sundry to the problem – and he does a terrific job. First the Knight, then the Queen, then the Duke, and finally the whole Court try to entice King Bidgood out of the tub. It’s all to no avail and the King just conducts the business of the day in the enormous tub. (In the end it’s the Page who saves the day.)
Read MoreAges 4 to 12 years
Vesuvius is a problem solver – and Rome has a big problem. A poo problem.
No one knows what to do with all the poo. It’s so bad that ‘Some people even dropped it into other people’s pockets when they weren’t looking.” (Now if that line doesn’t bring at least a grimacy smirk to your face I don’t know what will.)
Because poo is such a problem, it’s also a “forbiddenus wordus’, which leads to a whole slew of hilarious euphemisms like ‘huge daffodil’ and ‘cola cube’. Aside from all the usual uses for a poo book, this one does a great job of teaching how and when and why to use a euphamism.
Vesuvius – clever if marginalised chap that he is – figures out the solution: tunnels and rain.
Read MoreAges 4 to grown-up
Fair warning – this one is kind of gross. It’s the story of a fly who learns that swimming can be very dangerous – well, if you go swimming in a toilet bowl. The fly is merrily swimming away when suddenly everything goes dark, then it starts to ‘rain’ and then a huge (brown) ‘meteorite’ comes crashing into the pool. It really is gross.
I’ve given away the punch line – but when you read this out loud try not to give anything away until the dreadful realisation comes when the fly hears “a voice saying: ‘Mum, Mum! I’ve finished.’” It’s a brilliant moment – usually followed by all manner of groanings.
So – why read such a gross book?
Read MoreA conversation about books + kids. A website resource and book reviews for educators, parents, grandparents. The main focus is emotional resilience.
