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.
Counting is fun. Counting backwards is even more fun. Counting funny animals backwards — best! In this totally charming book, animals line up roughly by size—and there’s a bossy seagull who keeps them all in line while they wait. The animals make cheeky jokes, push and shove each other and play a game of animal Word Chain. It’s all lots of fun and things build to a surprising and funny climax.
Read Moreages 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.
ages newborn to early childhood
In our house at least, Big Red Barn is a bedtime book. It’s the softly told story of farm animals bedding down for the night ... lovely, calming and reassuring. And elevating.
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.
Read MoreAge guide: 2 to 8 years & grown-up
With the friendliest looking boa constrictor ever greedily gobbling children on a nature walk with their teacher (it’s pink and green instead of the usual yellow and green or brown) – this is a joyful and funny book. It’s especially funny if you could possibly be one of the people the book is inscribed to: ‘all absent-minded parents and enthusiastic teachers’.
Which I imagine covers most adults at one time or another.
This is the story of a school nature walk gone horribly wrong, then most satisfyingly redeemed.
Read MoreAge guide: baby to early childhood
Perfect for young dinosaur lovers. There does seem to come a time in every child's life when dinosaurs are endlessly fascinating. This is a simple and short counting book - "One Stegosaurus standing in the sun. Two Compsognathus always on the run." - and so on.
A conversation about books + kids. A website resource and book reviews for educators, parents, grandparents. The main focus is emotional resilience.
