We enjoy making life that bit simpler for parents when it comes to anything book-related, so have put our heads together and come up with over 40 children’s book character costumes that are easy to recreate. Some require a bit more crafting than others but half term seems like the perfect time to get started and even enlist the children’s help too!
Don’t panic if you haven’t got your costume sorted yet, as we’ve got some super easy World Book Day costume hacks for you, plus lots of other creative ways you can celebrate with your young bookworms.
This month we sent our Parakeet subscribers the brilliant Noodle the Doodle by Jonathan Meres, a charming and super fun story inspired by his very own Labradoodle pup, Pablo! So for this month's exclusive interview, who else would want to meet than Pablo himself? Here he tells us all about life as a literary Labradoodle.
The book we sent our Cockatoo subscribers this month is a thrilling, atmospheric and very moving adventure story set in a vibrant city in the midst of an epic monsoon. It really had us on the edge of our seats! Here we quiz author Ele Fountain on what inspired the dramatic setting and which other adventure stories she would recommend you read next.
This month our Cockatoo subscribers have been reading The Orphans of St Halibutsby Sophie Wills. We love the book’s quirky humour, David Tazzyman’s amazing illustrations, and especially the brilliant and brave cast of characters. Here Sophie tells us what inspired the book and which other funny books for kids she would recommend you read next.
Our Parakeet subscribers are kicking off the year with a fantastic, swashbuckling adventure story, brilliantly illustrated by Mark Elvins and combining two of our favourite themes for this age group: pirates and detectives! Here author Derek Keilty tells us what inspired his new series and which other pirate books for kids he would recommend you read next.
2020 definitely isn’t making it easy for those that like to shop at the last minute – severe postal delays, supply issues and restrictions around shopping on the High Street aren’t a great combination. So, we've come up with a few really thoughtful ideas, for both adults and children, which can be sorted out quickly and easily from home. You just need access to a computer and printer!
This month we sent our Parakeet subscribers the first book in a delightful new series by Sally Gardner, The Tindims of Rubbish Island, which explores our impact on the environment and inventive ways to recycle. Illustrated by Sally’s daughter, Lydia Corry, the book introduces a fun new world of characters and adventures perfect for keen young ecologists. Here we talk to Sally about what inspired the book.
The book we sent our Cockatoo subscribers this month is a magical adventure story with a fascinating historical setting, packed with atmosphere, drama and intrigue. We loved it! Here we quiz author Jenni Spangler on what inspired the book and which other books with historical settings she would recommend you read next.
We’re all having to embrace a whole new Christmas shopping routine this year. And in the absence of big family gatherings, most of our Christmas gifting is going to happen by post. One way to make it easier for yourself is to choose gifts that can be shipped straight to the recipient, cutting out the middleman (you!) and minimising the risk of those precious parcels getting lost in the post. Here’s our guide to 9 of the best letterbox Christmas gifts for kids, tweens, teens and adults all sourced from independent UK businesses.
Of course, reading together is for life, not just for Christmas! But there’s something particularly special about the books we share with our kids at Christmas. Getting out the box of Christmas books is as much a part of our pre-Christmas preparations as decorating the tree.
There are so many brilliant Christmas books for kids to choose from, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Here we share our top recommendations for a bit of festive reading this holiday season.
Since we set up our business, we’ve been keen to ensure that it gives back to the wider community and are proud to be supporters of Coram Beanstalk. For every box that we ship to a subscriber, we make a donation to this fantastic charity which supports children who have fallen behind their peers in reading. 2020 has been a challenging year for us all and perhaps those with the least have suffered the most. Here’s a round up of the ways in which two of our favourite literacy charities – Coram Beantalk and BookTrust – are encouraging us to make a difference this Christmas
