a stereotype-smashing story + Ivy & Angus in their Book Week costumes

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a stereotype-smashing story + Ivy & Angus in their Book Week costumes

ages 2 to 7 years
We recently went through all our books trying to find the perfect costume for our playgroup's Book Week parade. There were many contenders, but in the end Ivy chose A Proper Little Lady.

She saw it and proclaimed "This will be the perfect book, I’m so excited!". I was pretty excited too and not just because it was a costume that required no sewing! This was one of my favourite books when I was Ivy's age and I feel a special kind of closeness in sharing and enjoying 

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a poetic reminder to make time for fun!

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a poetic reminder to make time for fun!

ages 0 to 7 years
I love it when Ivy says something like ‘remember when we went to that park, that was so cool!’ I love it because we're usually just driving away from the park at the time! She re-tells all the wonderful things that happened, even though I was there the whole time and it was only 20 minutes ago. The talking is lovely and draws us closer together...

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a wonderfully concise look at younger sibling-hood

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a wonderfully concise look at younger sibling-hood

ages newborn to 8 years
That's William at playgroup, all dressed up as a pirate and asking: “Who will be my crew?” And, when William's dad was five or six-years-old, he used to leap on to the lounge chair asking exactly the same question: 

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because everyone needs knickers!

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because everyone needs knickers!

ages 2 - 10 years
Underpants are endlessly funny and in this story they are also the source of much consternation as a family work to provide Queen Victoria herself with her first ever pair of knickers. Sophisticated humour with a bit of slapstick thrown in make it fun for all ages.
 

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how celebrations unite families and communities

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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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"be proud of your bottom. it's lovely!"

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"be proud of your bottom. it's lovely!"

I'm pretty sure the reason I read this book so many times had nothing to do with the funny story, the cute illustrations or the healthy body image messages. And I’m pretty sure my kids found it totally hilarious that I kept reading the word ‘bum’ out loud. This is a FUNNY book.
ages baby to 12 years

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

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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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