maths and family dinners, a winning combination

maths and family dinners, a winning combination

ages 2 to 8 years
Our Easter this year (as every year) is choc-full of family feasts – we have three big feasting occasions over the four days - and all the busyness of making shopping lists and planning reminded me of this great mathematical story. It’s all about Mr & Mrs Comfort who decide to host a family dinner.

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Good News Bad News: for the pessimist and for the optimist in each of us

Good News Bad News: for the pessimist and for the optimist in each of us

ages 0 to 8 years—always a fabulous, funny gift!
There are exactly
four words in this book—good, bad, news and very!  But they tell a super story—of a hopelessly optimistic rabbit and an equally hopelessly pessimistic mouse who are about to share a picnic.
 

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a fascinating way to make big things comprehensible

a fascinating way to make big things comprehensible

This is a brilliantly informative and fun book. It’s all about scale. Scale is tricky to understand for young children, but numbers can get so big that it becomes almost impossible to get a sense of scale even for older children, teens and adults. That's where this book comes in.
ages 4 years to grownup

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how celebrations unite families and communities

how celebrations unite families and communities

Every so often  in our family, someone claims it’s their half birthday and so they are in need of a cake!  In the story, Oscar is six months old – and it’s the perfect day for a half birthday and a picnic with a cake!

ages baby to 7 years

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the beauties and agonies of separation and connection, hope and fear, home and war

the beauties and agonies of separation and connection, hope and fear, home and war

ages 5 years to grownup
Set in Australia. There’s something special about Anzac Day—the cool early morning spent standing with a crowd at the Dawn Service, family breakfasts, and of course Anzac Biscuits to nibble on all day.

And the sense of privilege and peace that comes with living in a free and protected country.

As is true of all war stories, Anzac Biscuits is pretty horrific, but a story that must be told: to remember history, to notice everyday blessings and to understand sacrifice. It does a particularly lovely job of the noticing everyday blessings and understanding sacrifice parts. 

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PRINCESS BEATRICE AND THE ROTTEN ROBBER :: a little kid doing what has to be done

PRINCESS BEATRICE AND THE ROTTEN ROBBER :: a little kid doing what has to be done

Age guide: baby to 8 year old
Princess Beatrice understands her privileges – she’s the daughter of a King and Queen who love their daughter and give her free range of all the castle jewels – and there are many!

But one day, when a rotten robber charges into the castle and spots Beatrice decked out from head to foot in extravagant jewels, it all goes wrong. Being an opportunist, the robber grabs Beatrice and steals the jewels, Princess and all.

However, Beatrice has her head screwed on right and resourcefully tricks the robber into tying himself up in the jewels and Beatrice is free. She loads the robber up on his own horse and hauls him home to her now distraught parents.

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