March 23, 2015

THE TIME IT TOOK TOM :: how long does it take to paint a room?

March 23, 2015/ Kim Fulcher

Age guide: 2 to 8 years ish
This is a simple story about different points of view, forgiveness, mistakes, work and overcoming. Also, it’s funny!

Tom is a little fellow who finds some red paint – then, in the space of just three hours, paints his entire living room red. Including the TV and the cat! He’s quite pleased with the result.

Mum is not, but after a few wild exclamations she gets it together and they undertake a complete revamp of the living room – and finally everyone is happy with the result. Years pass, then one day Tom finds the blue paint.

March 16, 2015

I Believe In Unicorns: rich in magic moments, full of love and hope

March 16, 2015/ Kim Fulcher

Michael Morpurgo often chooses war as a theme around which to wrap a story that isn’t really about war at all. In I Believe in Unicorns there is a war and it carries all the usual elements—and the war is pivotal to the story. But the story itself is about belief, acceptance, virtue, love and hope. It's told in the first person by Tomas who is remembering the time war came to his town.
ages 6 years to grownup

February 06, 2015

DREADFUL DAVID :: just how much dreadfulness does it take to wipe the smile off Granny's face?

February 06, 2015/ Kim Fulcher

Age guide: 4 to 8
I bought a copy of this for my family and one for my nephew David – who was not at all dreadful, making it an especially funny book for our family.

Dreadful David is one busy little kid – he wreaks havoc at Granny’s house. She is stalwart in the face of all the trouble but slowly her smile begins to fade. The last straw comes when David hoses Granny – he’s already hosed the letter box, the kitten and more.

Granny, being of the old school variety, changes David, smacks his bottom and puts him to bed. David yells for a while but finally goes to sleep and Granny comes in and kissed him on the cheek.

November 12, 2014

The Librarian of Basra: the value of culture - and one woman's great courage

November 12, 2014/ Kim Fulcher

Set in Iraq. The true story of Alia Muhammad Baker - a middle aged Iraqi woman living in the town of Basra and working as a librarian. Alia knew that war was coming to Basra and she knew that war brings fire which would likely destroy the precious books. This is the remarkable and impressive story of her work to save them.
ages 4 years to grownup

November 10, 2014

Let The Celebrations Begin!: a gentle and soft introduction to holocaust literature

November 10, 2014/ Kim Fulcher

ages 4 years to grownup
Set in Europe, this is one of my absolute favourite books. It's a book to give perspective to small bingles and it's a book to plant notions of empathy, courage, and resilience in children. Definitely one to have in your home library, Let the Celebrations BEGIN! speaks across a wide range of age groups and relates to so many sets of circumstances.

November 03, 2014

leads to eye-opening, heartbreaking and yet ennobling thoughts

November 03, 2014/ Kim Fulcher

in / chapter books but good for adults and young adults too
There are obvious Holocaust themes - and the ordinariness of a friendship between two small boys - all made clearer by the lack of flowery descriptions or moralising tones. There are no upper age limits for reading and absorbing this wonderful story.

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