FAMILY MATTERS Y
CHILDREN’S
WHEN Sid Gibbons gets brought to task by his mum for his naughty deeds, he invents an invisible friend, Kevin, to take the blame.
Later that night, a strange light fills Sid’s bedroom and he is transported to a wonderous new world of make-believe where he comes face to face with his fluffy monster Kevin and a host of other invisible friends.
Lots of colourful illustrations and clever rhyming text bring this imaginative tale to life, teaching youngsters that owning up is the best thing to do when things go wrong. The most requested bedtime book in our house so far this year! THE Salty Dogs are on a quest to recover their treasure, but first they must battle the notorious Sea Monkeys. Can pink poodle Captain Fifi and her band of pug-nacious pirates triumph?
It appears all is lost when their ship is sunk, but the pups have the last laugh when the treasure chest is finally opened...
Each page of this comical, offbeat tale of piracy and plunder is packed with visual jokes so there is plenty to keep youngsters amused. OUR children probably enjoy listening to bedtime stories but what about writing their own?
Leading direct bookseller Book People is inviting youngsters between the ages of 5-11 to create a picture book on the theme of friendship. The winning author will then have the chance to work with leading children’s illustrator, Alison Brown, to have their book brought to life and published by Little Tiger Press.
The competition is open for entries now and the closing date is October 2. Here head judge Claudia Winkleman explains how she got involved and talks about her and her family’s reading habits: I WENT through a slightly naughty phase but I’d like to think that that lasted for about two days.
I was quite studious, my mum and dad liked us to work quite hard so I think I was probably a bit of a swot. which I started learning at age 16. I also loved classical civilisation but I was slightly obsessed by neoclassical architecture and columns and I once did an essay about 5000 words worth just on the Doric column, which was my favourite. We had the most brilliant history of art teacher who just introduced us to Titian and Rembrandt and Jura and everyone in the class MY kids are reading but only when I take their tech away.
My eldest son likes crime, he loves Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie. Anything that has got an ‘ooooo’ at the end. My daughter is really good at reading generally. And my youngest son likes Mr Men, Dr Seuss and The Gruffalo (Julia Donaldson) books, anything written by that amazing woman.