Archive | July 2022

The Antics Of Mrs Paws by Christine Gregory

Jul24

Wonderful

The Antics Of Mrs Paws by Christine Gregory is a wonderful collection of six stories for the under fives, about a delightful bear called Mrs Paws.

The book fires up the imagination of both children and adults, who are reading it, alike. Mrs Paws is brought to life under the masterful pan of the author.

All the stories are warm and welcoming, about everyday things that are easy to imagine – going on holiday, baking etc. They are told in the third person as the reader is drawn into the tale.

The book is beautifully illustrated. Mrs Paws is delightfully round and just crying out to be loved and hugged by all.

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Edward Bear Stories by Ruth Beavington

Jul24

Delightfully Charming

Edward Bear Stories by Ruth Beavington is an absolutely delightful book for young children or for anyone who is a teddy bear addict – that’s me!

There are ten stories around a range of subjects from a new baby to a beach trip to winter. All the stories are totally charming, appealing to all. I could not choose a favourite.

Every page has a photograph of Edward Bear wearing various appropriate outfits and in different poses and places. Each photo is accompanied by a sentence of writing, sometimes in rhyme. The photographs are packed with detail, giving you lots to talk about with your children.

Either at the beginning or the end of most tales there are questions or activities. Sometimes it is a choice – what do you like out of…? Sometimes it is hunting for a particular object on each page – for example, a yellow duck.

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Love Anthony by Lisa Genova

Jul24

Unconditional Love

Love Anthony by Lisa Genova is the most beautiful contemporary novel that filled my heart with love and spoke to my soul.

The novel has two main themes. Anthony is a young boy with autism. Lisa Genova has perfectly captured his voice within the novel. I worked with teens with autism for thirteen years and recognize Anthony as a beautiful, sensitive soul whom you cannot help but love.

Broken, hurting people is another theme as two women are trying to come to terms with loss. Their losses are different but their pain, grief and broken dreams run parallel.

When real life takes over, we sometimes lose sight of ourselves. “She can’t believe she stuffed so much of herself into a box, banished to the attic for so many years.” It is important for us to reconnect with ourselves and not to just wander through life under the label of wife, daughter, mother, sister etc.

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Lucky Jack by S. Bavey

Jul23

A Fascinating Account Of A Life

Lucky Jack by S Bavey is a marvellous read. It is the biography of the author’s grandfather who lived a long and eventful life from 1894-2000.

The book is fascinating and absolutely amazing to read of all the events that happened over the course of a very long life – several monarchs, the invention of the car and television, talking pictures, two world wars, walking on the moon.

Lucky Jack is the story of a full life lived well. There were tragedies and there was also some luck involved. We ‘hear’ all the events through Jack’s voice as the book is written in the first person. Jack has a very personable style, making it feel as if we are hearing from a dear friend.

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