New Beginnings by Rebecca Emin

The book is amazing and descriptive. It should be sold for people over 11 because people over 11 will get it. The bit I liked most was when Sam finally settled into the school and made loads of new friends and when Sam was getting bullied, her friends stuck up for her. At the end of the book Sam and Molly became friends because Molly sent Sam a letter saying I'm sorry.

Also the book was amazing so if you want to read this book, go ahead because it is amazing!

- by Sasha, aged 11

I loved the book New Beginnings. When I read it, I feel like I'm Sam Hendry. The chapters always leave me on cliff hangers.

I would recommend this book to others.

- by Phoenix, aged 9

Order a copy of New Beginnings by Rebecca Emin here

Ping and Pong - Santa

Ping and Pong, through the eyes of a 6 year old:

I like the bit where Ping said, "What if we can't get back up to the clock if we are stuck down here forever?" I thought it was funny!

There's another favourite bit of mine which I really thought was funny and that bit was where they waited and waited and waited for Santa and Ping just fell asleep straight away when they sat down!

I think this story is good for people who are learning to read and a good book to listen to and good to follow along and look at the pictures.

Thank you for giving me the book to read, it was excellent

Written and Dictated by Emelia Parker-Evans, Aged 6 x

Visit the Ping and Pong Website here

I am Going to Save the World – Written and Illustrated by Gail Richardson

My daughter and I sat together and read this on the computer as an ebook. She wanted to take sole control of the mouse, so I read aloud while she listened and did the all-important page turning.

I am Going to Save the World is written in clear, accessible language for children, whether it’s read to younger ones by parents or read by older ones themselves. The illustrations are sweet and tell us everything we need to know, complementing the writing perfectly.

I quizzed my five year old on some of the ecological issues as they arose and was so impressed to find out that yes, she did know about composting, recycling and leaving only footprints! We finished the book, she asked a couple of questions and then we read it again. This time, before I read the words I thought I’d see what she remembered of the story. She’d been paying attention and the message had sunk in quickly: wear a jumper if you’re cold instead of turning on the heating; take bags with you to the supermarket to save plastic and when you leave the room, turn off the lights.

This book is fully engaging and not only did we both enjoy reading it but, afterwards, she sat at the computer with her pencils and paper to copy some of the illustrations and words.

She reckons her cousin, Joel, would like I am Going to Save the World for Christmas and she’s put in an order with me for a hard copy to call her own, which she’ll be probably reading to herself by then. It’s a done deal because Gail Richardson’s work is already saving me money in energy bills!

By Becky

Order a copy of I am Going to Save the World here.

Ping and Pong - Grow

My Book review of Ping and Pong, Grow by Amy Trevaskus, Illustrated by Alison Heath

by Aidan Bishop, aged 11

Ping and Pong are Lucy's imaginary friends who live in a clock ... a Grandfather clock.

What Happened:

Ping and Pong go on a trip with lucy and her grandfather to the allotments (where people can grow food like Mr Bloom's Nursery) and find out how to grow food and Vegetables.

Then Ping and Pong go on a trip with the bees who have fun.

My little brother who is 3 years old pointed to the bees and said "Buzzzzz." So happy he enjoyed that part.

After that they helped Lucy to plant some seeds, Then Ping and Pong went home to bed in there clock house after a long day of fun.

Illustrations:

The pictures in the book were colourful and child friendly and it followed the story.

Aidan's opinion:

I think this book is a very good book for young children and they will want it to be read again and again, I also enjoyed reading it with my Brothers and sister on a rainy Saturday morning.

The Secret Diary of a New Mum Aged 43 1/4 by Cari Rosen

We share an armchair. She’s watching Mary Poppins and I’m wedged in there somewhere with a book and a cup of tea. I’m oblivious to the film but, it seems, I am disturbing her viewing. “Why do you keep laughing, Mummy?”

Because I’m reading Cari Rosen’s account of being pregnant, giving birth and raising a young child for the very first time in her 40s (and she’s far from alone - apparently, the number of babies born in Britain to women over the age of 40 has doubled during the past decade). And it’s very funny. Throughout. In the first chapter, I was worried that the author might have added too many self-deprecating or observationally comedic moments but, as I warmed to her style, I was happy for her to just bring it on.

It’s an easy memoir to read, an effortless journey of, “Oh, yeah, I so remember that one,” or, “Totally!” for any mother, regardless of age. The first half of The Secret Diary of a New Mum Aged 43 1/4, which deals with pregnancy and birth, got me thinking in earnest about my own experiences as a (not so young either) mum, while the second, which concentrates on Cari’s experiences as a real-life mum to a baby who becomes a toddler, is jam packed with astute comments as she comes to terms with the stumbles and joys of new motherhood. References to her own child are immensely cute, without any sense that she would consider hers to be funnier/prettier/happier/more intelligent than yours, while recollections of a 1960s and 1970s childhood are great fun.

It’s insightful too and the author has done her research, talking to other new mums of the younger and older variety, whom she quotes, bringing a wider perspective to motherhood in the 21^st Century. As for fatherhood, some of the quips and sideways glances supplied, through Cari, by her husband are priceless.

A recommended read! Especially if you've already said goodbye to 35. And then had a baby.

The Secret Diary of a New Mum Aged 43 1/4 by Cari Rosen is published by Vermilion and available to buy at £11.99

To win a copy of the book, see Weston-super-Mum's Competitions and Offers

Review by Becky Condron, author of Broody

Fairies with Attitude! The Valentine's Fae by Emma Shortt

I’ve always been an avid reader but, just lately, I’ve been stuck for what to read, so few books managing to hold my attention. Recently, I tend to open the pages, only to find myself switching off almost immediately, not being one to force the issue, knowing that life is far too short. But after trying out Emma Shortt’s new romantic novella, I seem to have overcome this inability to concentrate for any given length of time.

In fact, with The Valentine’s Fae, just the opposite happened: I didn’t want to stop reading. Romantic, sexy fiction isn’t a genre I usually find myself browsing, so this short magical tale took me by surprise.

The story centres on the Valentine’s Fairy, Amelia: confidence-deficient, gawky, vulnerable, kooky, rebellious Amelia. We can see that she’s beautiful but she hasn’t realised it yet. Sent reluctantly by the Fae Council to the human world, armed with fae magic, to grant one wish on Valentine’s Day, she lands up as secretary to the “impossible, hot, annoying, hot, infuriating” Gavin Peters. Now, all Amelia has to do is discover his one true Valentine’s wish.

Emma Shortt writes with wit and originality and, at some points in the story, I had to let out a little cheer and a clap of the hands. The Valentine’s Fae is deliciously sexy and keeps the reader right on the edge, eyes not daring to leave the page. This fairy tale for adults flows effortlessly and it kept me gripped to the very end. And that is something to be celebrated!

Now, I just need to get hold of some of that fae dust ...

The Valentine’s Fae is currently available as an ebook and is published by Evernight Publishing.

For more of Emma Shortt's writing, check out her blog and her website.

Review by Becky Condron

Relax Kids!

I first put the Relax Kids: Magical Meditations for Superheroes CD on in our living room late on Saturday afternoon, after a fun-fuelled party where my 4 year old had been playing with most of her closest friends and partners in crime. She was excited and not a little boisterous. Ah, who am I kidding? She was approaching manic.

I explained that we were going to listen to some new stories and she acquiesced, up for something new and exciting. The first track on this CD, that is designed to help children to relax and de-stress while using their imagination to put themselves into the minds of some of our best known fairy story characters, is "Aladdin," a tale she’s already familiar with, mostly thanks to the CBeebies Pantomime at Christmas. Within a very short while, she had sat down, crossed-legged, just like the soothing, but not condescending, voice in the story suggested she do.

I let the whole disc run, noticing how she had completely chilled out and it’s fair to say that she stayed that way for the rest of the evening. When "Aladdin’s Magic Lamp" came on, I saw her rub the small lamp on my computer desk and then head over to the fridge. “Oh, it’s not there!” she said, disappointed. “What’s not?” I asked, half guessing. “The chocolate!” That had been her wish: she was Master of the Story and by now we were on track 11. Impressive: that’s staying power.

I must’ve drifted off into my own world at some point because when she routed through the freezer and pulled out a bag of peas to place on her toes to “get my feet cold,” it didn’t occur to me until later that she was simply playing the role of “The Snowman” (track 5).

When it was bedtime, I asked whether she wanted to listen to the CD again. She did. While she was brushing her teeth, I prepared the system for our meditative bedtime stories. “Don’t put it on until I’m ready,” she shouted, dribbling toothpaste down her pyjamas. As if I would.

Duly prostrate and comfy-cosy, I put Superheroes on again from the start. She closed her eyes to listen, wanting to get the full benefit of the experience. Two minutes into the CD, she asked, “How long can we have it on for?” Until it’s finished or you’re asleep, of course.

She never heard the end.

We have a copy of Relax Kids: Meditations for Superheroes to give away on the Weston-super-Mum Website .

The Relax Kids website has a range of CDs, books, Keyskills packs and many other products, as well as offering training, classes and publishing a magazine.

Ping and Pong - Splash

Book Review - Ping and Pong: Splash.
Written by Amy Trevaskus, illustrated by Alison Heath


"I've got you a present."

"Wow!" said my 4 year old girl.

Two minutes later, we started to read Splash, the first in a series of books about Ping and Pong. She's just started school and has recently learned most of her letters, phonetically of course.

As I told her how Lucy was going to the park with her two friends, Ping and Pong, miniature beings, who live in the clock in the hall, she listened. On the fourth page, My Girl let her fingers glide over a series of letters and voiced them, "P-I-N-G. P-I-N-G," she looked up to the ceiling. "Ping!" she announced suitably proudly. Then she searched the text. "P-O-N-G. Pong!" We both got excited. And so the journey has begun.

After school today, still with her uniform on, she sat down with Ping and Pong and read quietly to herself. I was unable to hear the words of the story, until she shouted, just like Pong does, "I LOVE PUDDLES!"

At bedtime, we revisted our new friends. She relayed the story, in her own words first. It went something like this:

"Right, what do you think is in the story?" I ask what happens. "That's Lucy. Look. Ping got all ready to go out in the park. She puts her boots on just in case it rained. They went out. What do you think happened? It's really good!" She turns the page, "Hello frog, where did you come from? I came from the pond." There is no frog in this story, it's called imagination ;)

"And what do you think happened? It's not good! It got raining and raining and raining. And Pong said, 'I LOVE PUDDLES'. And what do you think happened? She poured water out of her boot. That's Ping."

Then, she spells out ten words. We both get excited again. Cue my turn to read the story, this time in the author's own words, beautifully written and cleverly illustrated, one of those books that I actually enjoy reading and one that she hangs onto every word of, only interrupting me to give her analysis, "Pong likes to go up high in the swing, Ping doesn't like swings a lot." Or to ask a question, "Why is she taking the water out of her wellies?"

We finish reading our new book and she says. "I love Ping and Pong. I love your presents, Mummy. Thank you."

If only all bedtimes were this easy! She's asleep now: I wonder what she's dreaming about....

Weston-super-Mum has a signed copy of Ping and Pong: Splash to give to one lucky winner.

For more information about Ping and Pong and to order your own copy, please visit their website