The New Small Person: welcoming a new baby can be a tricky business!

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The New Small Person: welcoming a new baby can be a tricky business!

Three-year-old Ivy is excitedly awaiting the arrival of a baby brother in a couple of months. She’s looking for things that will be the same and different for them. 

He’ll be little and she’ll be big. But, after a bath: ‘he’ll have a naked bottom just like me’.  Both true. 

Ivy is pretty keen for this baby to arrive. (So am I, truth be told.) Still, there’s bound to be some adjusting to do. 

The New Small Person is all about the adjustment – and the process.

Ages 2 to 8

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life lessons about tipping points and the need for balance

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life lessons about tipping points and the need for balance

ages 0 to 8 years
‘It’s like ...who sank the boat!' That’s how my family often describes an overwhelming day, too much of something, or a time when we've gone one step too far.

In this story, there’s ‘a cow, a donkey, a sheep, a pig and a tiny little mouse’ who decide to go for a row on the bay. One by one, they gingerly climb in the rowboat and restore the equilibrium before the next passenger. Finally it’s the tiny little mouse’s turn and so in it jumps. You can guess what happens next I’m sure!

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an exploration of what it means to be a friend—for good or ill

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an exploration of what it means to be a friend—for good or ill

ages 4 to 12 years
Friendships are seldom perfect, especially when the friends are new to forming and maintaining relationships outside their immediate family. Purdy (the cat) and Barker (the dog) have a solid but anguished sort of friendship. It’s the sort of friendship that will be instantly recognisable to many kids and their parents (or teachers)...

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the absurdity of war laid bare in a pro-peace story for nations and families

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the absurdity of war laid bare in a pro-peace story for nations and families

A brilliant tale of a duck who calls a halt to war, and the warriors who are led to peace. It's great for entrenching a desire for peace and for overcoming fear of unknown.
ages 2 to 12 years / emotional resilience

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everything is relative!

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everything is relative!

ages newborn to 8 years, but adults and teens will get a kick out of it too
Theodore Roosevelt apparently said that 'comparison is the thief of joy' and that's almost always true. But in this great-fun story, comparison is the key to all sorts of funny and joyful moments. Great lessons wrapped up in a hilarious and fast moving story.

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hooray for a decent prince and a woman with a bit of spunk!

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hooray for a decent prince and a woman with a bit of spunk!

ages 2 to 12 years
A brilliant gift book. We have quite a collection of princess-and-the-pea stories, mainly because Alec (our second son) was called Princess for quite a few years after a camp where he slept on a whole pile of mattresses. This one is great. Prince Henrik needs to find a proper princess to be his wife - and he does! 

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