Going Gruffalo Crazy

http://www.gruffalo.com/index.html
Lately it's been all about the Gruffalo from my daughter Abby. She's been reading it at Kindy and will be going to a live performance in June at the local theatre.

Then on Monday the BBC animated feature was on ABC Kids and now the whole family has caught on. It was truly delightful and I haven't seen my two girls enthralled by a TV show since... ever! Its always nice to come across a book to TV translation which captures the true essence of the original... have you ever noticed that this only happens when the original author is in charge of the screenplay... maybe someone should be paying attention?

So today in my rounds I googled The Gruffalo and came across the official website. It is delightfully illustrated (as you would expect) and has so many lovely features including the games and activities page which has kept Abby entertained for a while this afternoon. There are some great resources for a Gruffalo birthday party that I quite like, but I may have a job on my hands talking Abby out of a Little Mermaid party.

The Gruffalo isn't available on DVD in Australia yet, but you can purchase it through the Gruffalo website or Amazon UK if you have a multi region player. Here is the trailer to wet your whistle in case you missed it on the box yesterday...


or this one... http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/mpd/permalink/m5ELK8WKNOX41

This also caught my eye, what a wonderful bedroom scene this would make!


and here's a link I found to a trailer for the live performance. Not sure if it's going to be the same one, but it looks fantastic if it is!

A grown up guide to colouring in

We love colouring in around here. So much so that we have almost an entire shelf on the bookcase dedicated to colouring in books. And don't get me started on the variety of crayons, textas and pencils that goes with it.

Being artistically challenged, I always go for the colouring books where someone with real talent has done all the hard work and I just have to fill in the blanks. Seeing as I do much of my colouring in with a 4 and a 3 year old, we all like to come out at the end with our version of a master piece.

These are a few of my very favourite colouring books which are great for both young and old.

With the recent movie release, Alice's already huge popularity has taken a staggering leap forward. But as with all the classics, the original is always the best. This is a 64 page abridged edition with colouring in pages of the originally published illustrations.

You really can't beat the Rosie Flo's and Johnny Joe's colouring books for a cross between paper dolls and colouring in. There is currently around 16 different books in the range.

Taro Gomi is the king of squiggles. His big fat drawing and colouring books are great fun as they encourage you to elaborate on his simple designs and complete the picture. Great for older children who are a bit beyond simply colouring between the lines and developmental learning and following direction

Issue 5 of Anorak is dedicated to colouring in. I love Anorak as it has a bit of everything for kids and every issue has a colouring and drawing feature and it's always something out of the ordinary. Issue 13 is all about drawing too!


Currently one of my favourite graphic artists is S Britt. His artwork keeps popping up in all the places I love... Junior Society.... School Years Journal.... and so many more. This is his clever little colouring book you can get from his store on Etsy! Oh and his website is my ultimate favourite too!

I'm sure there are so many more, these are just a few of my favourites. If you know of others, let me know, the collection always has room to grow!

Interview: Anorak Magazine

One of the most recent additions to the Monkeytail & Wellington virtual shelves is Anorak Magazine - The Happy Magazine for Kids.

I know from all the wonderful feedback we've been getting just how much everyone is loving Anorak and I've been eagerly awaiting a parcel that has recently arrived with some back issues from the early days of Anorak's inception. We now have the latest issue Volume 12 in stock a plenty and also back issues of issues 11, 10, 7, 6, 5 and 2... everything I could get my mitts on to be honest!


I've had some lovely echats with Anorak's co-creator Cathy Olmedillas. Cathy so kindly agreed to a little blog interview so I could get to know the mind behind my latest obsession.


Who are the faces behind Anorak?
Lots of lovely artists, doodlers & writers from around the world and Rob (aka artist Supermundane) our creative director & myself, Cathy.

How did you get started?
I had the idea floating in my head for a while but it’s when I met Rob that it became a reality. Because of our previous lives in publishing, we understood the ropes of independent magazine making so we had contact with printers and distributors. Rob started with creating the logo and doing sketches of Anorak, our blue fellow. Once we had an idea of a theme and content for our first issue, he commissioned other illustrators to help us bring our stories to life.

Why is it called anorak? (Makes me think of train spotters)
Trainspotters are a constant source of inspiration!
It just came in a flash of inspiration, when we were looking for words relating to fashion & collecting stuff. We wanted Anorak to be something people collect and cherish, just like trainspotters collect and cherish… err.. train time tables!! And let’s face it for those of us brought up in the 70s and 80s we all had to wear an anorak at one point hence the perfect connection with childhood..

Which is your favourite issue so far and why?

Argh that’s a tough one: every issue is themed and we have really loved working on all our themes. The one I have most enjoyed writing is the WORDS issue. Rob’s favourite issue is the CHOCOLATE one.



What do you see in the crystal ball for Anorak's future?
Lots! We have an issue coming out Mid September with a BUGS theme. We have just launched a design competition amongst art students from around the world. (Details here)
We have made some Anorak tote bags, which are now available in our shop. We have a colouring book coming out soon too. We are a small business so we still get mega excited about everything we achieve.


How do you find your contributors and artists? Anyone you'd love to work with?
Rob finds them all, he is a well connected chap! We would love to work with more kids, we have lots of little editors in the UK but would love to involve more kids from around the world. Lately, we did a project with the Akshara in India (http://www.aksharafoundation.org/), they did some wonderful drawings for us, it almost made us weep. (Drawings will feature in our Winter 09 edition)

Where do you look for inspiration for Anorak?
Thoughts just pop in our heads. For me, being a mum helps! It’s a weird process but it seems to work. Two major things that have inspired me are the Pink Panther and Yellow Submarine cartoon by the Beatles.

What is on your style radar for kids fashion/toys/art or other.
I fell in love with a lovely & new British label called Let Them Eat Cake. It uses vintage fabrics to create dreamy dresses. Gorgeous. Recently discovered Edwina Simone, she makes wonderful hand-drawn plates with owl motifs. And Chloe Owens is another favourite, she uses vintage fabrics to make lovely purses and cushions. We will be introducing these last two in our shop next month.

Thanks Cathy :o) Make sure you check out the Anorak Blog here too!

You can find all the latest issues of Anorak in store at Monkeytail & Wellington here

Doodlers unite...

Our new favourite magazine for kids Anorak has just launched an awesome competition for all art students & recent graduates to design a cover for the Winter edition of Anorak.

The terms and condition are pretty simple. Open to all art students around the globe, you must come up with an innovative design for the cover of our Winter issue of Anorak magazine. The cover must contain the following words: ‘Anorak the happy mag for kids’ and must be fun.

All the details are available here on the Anorak blog. The ultimate prize is of course seeing your artwork gracing Anorak's cover and be forever immortalised as a doodler extraordinaire but you can also pick up a nice little booty of prizes such as Tate goodies picked by Anorak’s creative director, Supermundane, worth £100 and a doodling pack from Sharpie Pens. there are also three runner-up prizes.

What are you waiting for? Get doodling!


PS - We will have more copies of Anorak, including a few back issues arriving at the MTandW Store in the next few weeks!

Book Week 2009: Picture Books - A Visual Delight

The picture bookshelf at home has recently extended to it's second shelf. We have a lot!! Here are a few of our favourites which are on regular rotation.

Sock Monkey Goes to Hollywood
Its no secret that I adore sock monkeys! This is my all time favourite sock monkey book. In this adventure, Sock Monkey the actor has been nominated for an award, but to attend the gala event he must have a bath! I also highly recommend checking out Sock Monkey Boogie-Woogie and Sock Monkey Rides Again.


And the Train Goes...
Full of fantastic retro style illustrations using bold colours and some very witty detailing, it's the rhyming nature of this train tale that I love so much. especially fun to read aloud, you find yourself really getting into the clack, clack clickety clack of it all.


Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus
That crazy pigeon, always up to something! Author Mo Willems was a script writer for Sesame Street for over 9 years and I love each and everyone of his books, but this is the standout. When the driver leaves the bus temporarily, he gives the reader just one instruction: "Don't let the pigeon drive the bus!" But, boy, that pigeon tries every trick in the book to get in that driving seat.


Man on the Moon: (A Day in the Life of Bob)
It's Bob's job to keep the Moon clean and tidy. He gives guided tours and lectures and even sells little souvenirs to the moons daily visitors. he's always on the look out for aliens, but Bob knows there aren't any aliens on the Moon. Or are there? A cute look at the Man in the Moon myth and what such a job may entail. Lots of aliens hiding about staying out of Bob's sight.



Fancy Nancy Bonjour, Butterfly
The french speaking iridescent azure butterflys are the reason Abby is going to the butterfly farm for her 4th birthday. Fancy Nancy has many posh adventures, but our little nature lovers have a fondness for this. Fancy Nancy is excited about Bree's Butterfly Birthday, but then she has to go to her Grandparents wedding anniversary party instead. She is at first disappointed, but getting to stay in a grand hotel and attend a party soon has her enunciating in french again.

Sunny [With CD]
The illustrations to this adorable little story are made up entirely of stunning photographs. In this story, Sunny and his friends are having a hootenanny. There are two other adventures about Sunny's friends, Snowy and Chinook and Windy. A lovely gift size book, Sunny comes with a CD of music from the story.



Mutt Dog!
One of the first picture books we every owned, Mutt Dog is the story of a scruffy Mutt who lives by his wits in the big city. Mutt Dog is brave and fast and gentle and loyal and smart, but he's also hungry, and he doesn't have a home. Then one day his luck changes, and he at last finds a family--and a cozy, loving place to belong.



I am Not Sleepy and I Will Not Go to Bed (Charlie & Lola)
I love everything about Charlie and Lola! The books of course, the TV show, the merchandise. Everything! But this story is a favourite just because it is so cheeky. Lola is trying every trick in the book to get out of going to bed, despite Charlie's help. She finally gives in once all the tigers have had their pink milk, whales have been shooed down the plug hole and the two dancing dogs have lent her some PJ's.

Busiest Firefighters Ever!
My husband and I can quite literally recite this story word for word, cover to cover with out even sneaking a peak. We pull out this amazing feat of memory endurance on long car trips. You really can't go past the Little Golden Books for fantastic stories, awesome illustrations and lasting memories.



The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me
Easily the master of the children's tale, the Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake combination is a match made in heaven. A giraffe with an infinitely expandable neck, a pelican with a magical retractable beak, a dancing monkey, and Billy, a small boy with a dream, team up to make the most amazing ladderless window-cleaning company ever invented!

Book Week 2009: Perfect Hump Day Helper Assistants

Hump day needs all the help it can get. I must say I don't own a lot of these types of books, but the few I do have I cherish. For some reason I'm drawn to the activities that seem so obvious, if I'd only thought about it for a while. This usually means that they fall in to my appropriate skill level also :) Here are my Top 5...

The Creative Family: How to Encourage Imagination & Nurture Family Connections
This I consider my craft bible for hump day's at home. It's part arty and craft guide and part parenting guide. Loads of easy to do crafty things using regular things found around the house and the back yard. The author Amanda Soule is the voice behind the delightful blog SouleMama



See and Sew: A Sewing Book for Children
I have only just recently acquired a copy of this little treasure for myself. The tasks are probably a few years off my little ones, but I've learnt so much about sewing myself it's fantastic. It's an easy intro to sewing that doesn't require a machine and has simple step by step directions for 16 tasks. Author Tina Davis is also behind other gems Look and Cook: A Cookbook for Children and Sow and Grow: A Gardening Book for Children


Art and Crafts for Kids ("Australian Women's Weekly")
These may have been around for donkeys years, but that's for valid reasons. An Aussie bible for mums, teachers and child care workers with projects on drawing and painting, printing, collage, weaving, puppets and more






Softies: Simple Instructions for 25 Plush Pals [With Patterns]
There is no doubt that the Japanese are the masters of the cute softie genre, only problem is it's near impossible to find any of their awesome craft books in English. Author Therese Laskey has combined patterns from 25 plush artists around the world.


Super Duper Art & Craft Activity Book
This book has over 75 projects for kids from quilted placemats and bark rubbings to feet puppets. Never more a dull moment

Book Week 2009: Treasure the Classics

I am an avid reader and it is something I really really enjoy doing for the simple pleasure of it. I can remember thinking within moments of finding out I was pregnant with Abby that I couldn't wait to start building her a library of wonderful stories so I could pass on my love of the written word straight away. I immediately started researching vintage and antique first editions of my favourites, and how to finance the purchase of the library of my dreams ;p

Both Abby and Ella now adore story time and we read several books a day. However we've made several attempts to read the classics, but unless they have lots of vivid pictures, they're just not interested. I know it's just their age, but I can't help myself, I want to read Alice in Wonderland to them NOW!

Here is my top 10 list of beautifully illustrated children's classics, which if they don't already, will be gracing my bookshelves very soon!

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll's complete and unabridged text are graced with the unique perspective of Alison Jay's illustrations. She shows us an exhilarating Wonderland, where Alice, the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, and all the rest are playfully quirky and adorably fanciful. Full colour illustrations on nearly every page makes this lavish edition a perfect introduction to the novel.


The Wind in the Willows
The original version of the much love tale of Rat, Badger, Mole and Toad with Illustrations by E H Shepherd is hard to come by these days. However this edition with Kenneth Grahame's classic story and outstanding illustrations by Patrick Benson is a beautiful combination it it's own right.




Pippi Longstocking
Astrid Lindgren's story of the adventurous nine year old Pippi Longstocking is now 50 years young! This latest incantation has the divine illustrations of none other than Lauren Child of Charlie and Lola fame. Pippi Longstocking has just moved into Villa Villekulla where she lives all by herself with a horse, a monkey, and a big suitcase full of gold coins. Pippi thinks nothing of wrestling a circus strongman, dancing a polka with burglars, or tugging a bull's tail. That's my kind of girl :)

The Jungle Book
Not to be mistaken for the Disneyfied version, Rudyard Kipling's classic Jungle Books One and Two in this edition comprise of the original short stories. Not only does this attractive volume feature the beloved tales of Mowgli, the "man cub" raised by wolves, and Rikki Tikki Tavi, but also the lesser-known but wonderful stories of Toomai, the boy who gets to see elephants dance; Quiquern, who saves his Eskimo people from starvation; and Kotick, the white seal.

Charlotte's Web
Who didn't cry when they read this story in primary school? The unforgettable story of a girl called Fern who loves a little pig called Wilbur. It tells how Charlotte A. Cavatica, a beautiful grey spider, saves Wilbur from the usual fate of nice fat pigs, by a wonderfully clever plan - a plan so original that no one else could possibly have thought of it! This hardback edition is accompanied by the original illustrations by Garth Williams and has been in print for more than 50 years.

Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats
T S Eliot’ s famous collection of nonsense verse about cats was the inspiration for the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats did you know? This edition features pen-and-ink illustrations by Edward Gorey and was originally penned by Eliot to amuse his Godchildren and friends in the 1930's. A fun musical and rhythmical read following the adventures of Mr. Mistoffelees the trickmaster, old Deuteronomy, a laid-back cat, Rum Tum Tugger, a contrary cat, and Macavity, the famous master criminal.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 100th Anniversary Edition
Celebrating over a hundred years in print, this is only 1 in 15 books in the Oz series written by L Frank Baum. This lavishly produced facsimile of the rare first edition contains all 24 of W. W. Denslow's original color plates, the colorful pictorial binding, and the 130 two-color illustrations that help make" The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" so special and enduring.


The Magic Faraway Tree
Enid Blyton's classic tales of Joe, Beth and Frannie and their adventures in the Faraway Tree series are making a resurgence in popularity. I must have read this series a hundred times between the ages of 6-8 and I loved it and found something new each time. Enid Blyton is the master of the children's tale and is the author of some 800 publications including novels, story collections, some non-fiction and magazine articles. WOW!


Biggles Story Collection Vol 1
The legacy of James Bigglesworth, better known in flying circles as Biggles is also making somewhat of a comeback with a two volume collection of his adventures now available. First editions and also vintage copies of any Biggles book by W E Johns will bring you big bucks these days. In this edition "Biggles in France" - Biggles discovers that air combat is becoming more sophisticated; "Biggles Defends the Desert" - fighting the arid conditions of the desert is a desperate business; and "Biggles: Foreign Legionnaire" - Biggles and Ginger enlist in the French Foreign Legion.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Can you imagine Roald Dahl's tale of the five luckiest children in the entire world and their visit to Willy Wonka's famous, mysterious chocolate factory without Quinten Blakes illustrations? I know I can't, in fact it almost feels like sacrilege to ready any other version. This is high on my list of favourite books of all time, at let me tell you, a lot of Roald Dahl's stories are in that list.


All of these books can be found at Fishpond.com.au

Book Week 2009: Board Books for Littlies

This is my top 10 pick for Board Books for littlies (in no particular order). All are much loved books from my own childhood and are among my children's favourites. All these books can be found at Fishpond.com.au

Curious George Story Book Collection Boxed Set

There isn't anything I don't love about Curious George! Although originally he got off to a rocky start what with being kidnapped from the jungle by the man in the yellow hat and all, but his adventures are just so charming and make me smile. The TV show and movie are all big hits in our house as well!

The beguiling little monkey is featured in four books in this boxed set: "Curious George and the Bunny, Curious George and the Rocket, Curious George Goes Fishing" and "Curious George Rides". Includes a sturdy, reusable, carry-along box.


A Child's First ABC Alphabet

We call this the "crack book" because of the way the illustrations have that old cracked painting look. But there is so much detail on each page and a hint to the next letter in every picture. I credit this book to my daughters extensive knowledge of the ABC!


The Very Hungry Caterpillar

What child or adult for that matter doesn't love this story? And can you believe it was first published over 40 years ago? I particularly love this adorable story of the glutenous caterpillar who ate too much in the board book version as it withstands many explorations by little fingers and lives to tell the tale again another day.

That's Not My Puppy

I've lost count how many of these books we have. I started reading them to them when they were first reaching out to touch new things and our collection has grown and grown. Now at 4 and 2 1/2 they will still choose these off the bookself. Titles in the USBORNE TOUCHY FEELY BOOKS series encourage interactive play for babies and toddlers. On each page there is a different texture waiting to be discovered. The bright illustrations and the simple text develop sensory and language awareness.

We're Going on a Bear Hunt
"We're going on a bear hunt. / We're going to catch a big one. / What a beautiful day! / We're not scared"

I love to read stories that have a rhythm and require a bit of theatrics. Michael Rosen has written so many books I love, but this is my favourite. Do you know the song?

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes

I always think that this is such a lovely gift for a new baby and parents. Such a sweet simple story from Mem Fox, she really does have a way with words!

"There was one little baby/who was born far away./And another who was born/on the very next day./And both of these babies,/as everyone knows,/had ten little fingers/and ten little toes."

The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew it Was None of His Business

This appeals to my sense of humour, and everyone knows that little kids think toilet humour is both disgusting and hilarious. The first book I ever bought my nephew was a gift pack including a little mole with a poo on his head :) This is the tale of a little mole who wakes up one morning only to have one of the other animals 'do its business' on his head. The Little Mole then sets out to track down the culprit to exact his revenge in his own little way.

Guess How Much I Love You

This is the much-loved classic that children will simply cherish."I love you right up to the moon - and back." The story of Little and Big Nutbrown Hares' efforts to express their love for each other has become a publishing phenomenon, selling more than 18 million copies worldwide. First published over 15 years ago, this lovely new edition is one that children will ask for time and again.

Down at the Station

Another of those great rhyming sing a long stories that are great to get the little ones involved in. They'll be singing along with you in no time. It's a Play School favourite too, so chances are if your not familiar with it, they are!



On the Day You Were Born

"On the eve of your birth ... the Earth and her creatures with the Sun and the Moon all moved in their places, each ready to greet you the very first moment of the very first day you arrived."

Every child loves to hear the story of how he or she came into the world, but usually very little attention is paid to how the world was in that magical moment. The book has simple, bright pictures and each illustration and theme in the book (migrating animals, gravity, glowing moon, rising tide, etc.) is explained in simple and direct language that can be used to teach older children how nature works on our planet, and how Earth works in the universe.