WTBA is a collection of and conversation about powerful books that strengthen, elevate, inspire and help to grow powerful, resilient kids. We're a book oriented guide for parents, grandparents, educators, aunts, uncles and anyone involved in nurturing children and caring for friends.
Art that is created for picture books is amazing stuff – it’s diverse, it’s accessible, it’s designed to help tell a story and it’s right there in front of us. To gaze on, ponder, critique, adore or wonder at.
Art created as a stand alone piece is a different story, pardon the pun. In this collection, we’ve selected 6 books designed for children to view and appreciate and talk about the paintings and art works of the masters.
Read MoreConnections—momentary or spread over a lifetime—change the world. Here are 5 favourite books that help to provide a foundation for children so that, when the moment arrives, they will be ready to make a connection.
Ages 4 to grown-up
I mentioned to my adult children that I was going to do a top 5 on ‘poo’ books, and Terence the Toilet was the first book they each thought of!
When you’re a ‘bog-standard’ toilet, chances are there are magazines left in the bathroom with you – magazines that show ‘exotic bathrooms in exotic places all over the world’. And that can leave you feeling restless and unsatisfied.
That’s what happened to Terence – and I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that most of us have felt that way too after leafing through the magazines left in the bathroom.
Read MoreAges 2 to 12 years
Wanna hear a joke? There was once a family of moles who decided to go for a walk in the sunshine. First there was Daddy Mole, then Mummy Mole, then Sister Mole, then Brother Mole, then Baby Mole – all walking in a line with their noses to the ground.
Suddenly Daddy Mole stopped and said, “I smell honey – do you smell honey Mummy Mole?”
Mummy Mole sniffed the air and said, “I do smell honey – do you smell honey Sister Mole?”
Sister Mole sniffed the air then said, “I do smell honey – do you smell Brother Mole?”
Brother Mole sniffed the air then said, “I do smell honey – do you smell honey Baby Mole?”
Baby Mole sniffed the air and said, “I don’t smell honey but I do smell mole-asses!” (Molasses – get it?)
My kids thought it was the funniest, most risqué joke they’d ever heard when my Dad told it – on the day we bought The Story of the Little Mole
Read MoreA parent's fondest wishes charmingly expressed with Alison Lester's classic illustrations - a perfect new born or baby gift (for the parents or the baby).
ages newborn to grown-up / Australia, heartwarmers
Ages 4 to 12 years
Vesuvius is a problem solver – and Rome has a big problem. A poo problem.
No one knows what to do with all the poo. It’s so bad that ‘Some people even dropped it into other people’s pockets when they weren’t looking.” (Now if that line doesn’t bring at least a grimacy smirk to your face I don’t know what will.)
Because poo is such a problem, it’s also a “forbiddenus wordus’, which leads to a whole slew of hilarious euphemisms like ‘huge daffodil’ and ‘cola cube’. Aside from all the usual uses for a poo book, this one does a great job of teaching how and when and why to use a euphamism.
Vesuvius – clever if marginalised chap that he is – figures out the solution: tunnels and rain.
Read MoreAges 4 to grown-up
Fair warning – this one is kind of gross. It’s the story of a fly who learns that swimming can be very dangerous – well, if you go swimming in a toilet bowl. The fly is merrily swimming away when suddenly everything goes dark, then it starts to ‘rain’ and then a huge (brown) ‘meteorite’ comes crashing into the pool. It really is gross.
I’ve given away the punch line – but when you read this out loud try not to give anything away until the dreadful realisation comes when the fly hears “a voice saying: ‘Mum, Mum! I’ve finished.’” It’s a brilliant moment – usually followed by all manner of groanings.
So – why read such a gross book?
Read MoreA conversation about books + kids. A website resource and book reviews for educators, parents, grandparents. The main focus is emotional resilience.
