10 Little Hermit Crabs is both an educational and appealing book for pre-schoolers. Lee Fox’s hermit crabs have great adventures which are related through changing rhymes. As they disappear one by one, little ones are introduced to number sequences and simple subtraction. Shane McG’s colourful illustrations have an almost collage feel to them, and his sense of humour is evident throughout the book, his pictures adding another layer of meaning to the story.
Deborah Roth Ledley is a psychologist who wrote this book after becoming a mother for the first time, and realising the many challenges that lay ahead as ‘me’ became ‘mom’. Her ‘calm mom toolbox’ contains simple strategies for making calm decisions, staying calm in both body and soul and practicing good communication skills. Ledley’s premise is that a calm mum equals a calm baby, so relaxation forms part of her recommendations in making daily life with a new baby manageable. Having realistic expectations and the developing the ability to ‘not sweat the small stuff’ are other ‘calm mom’ ideals that the book explores. The title of the book; Becoming a Calm Mom: How to Manage Stress and Enjoy the First Year of Motherhood is an appropriate description of Ledley’s work, and even though the book is rather American in tone and examples, some of the suggestions make plain, old fashioned good sense, even if it is dressed up in psycho-speak.
Artist: Helen Martin, Judith Simpson, Danny Snell Review:
It’s well-known that most little boys go through a stage of dinosaur fascination that can sometimes verge on obsession. The ABC Book of Dinosaurs is a chunky, child-sized board book with sturdy pages designed for plenty of use. Introducing dinosaurs in a way that is relevant to small ones, the authors have placed dinosaurs next to objects familiar to little people. A gentle rhyming theme allows the book to flow, and is ideal for a young audience. Just enough facts are included to give a brief overview of all things dinosaur, and the delicate illustrations are detailed without being overwhelming.
Review: As the number of kids with food allergies increases, so too does the need for parents to be aware and educated. Alison Orman wrote this book after struggling to find relevant Australian information on dealing with her son Noah’s severe allergies. Orman shares her insight into understanding the complexities of food labelling, travelling and eating out with allergies and preventing anaphylaxis. The book covers everything from highchair hygiene for babies, safe birthday parties and even includes advice on supporting teenagers to self-manage their allergies. A wealth of information for all parents with allergic children.
Sunny Days has two copies of Managing Your Child's Food Allergies to give away. Click here to enter.
