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.
for all ages
If Goldilocks has to go back and apologise to the Three Bears, or if Belle decides she needs to go to university after seeing the Beast’s magnificent library, or if Jack enters into a partnership with the Giant and they build a theme park in the clouds…. you’re probably enjoying a fractured fairytale!
If you want to see a 1-3 year old child’s eyes glisten and their cheeks turn tight with grinning, their body tense in anticipation and their little hands curl in and out ready to reach out and touch – this is the book for you! You’ll need to be prepared to read it again and again and to constantly go back to a favourite page – but what a joyful time that will be. I know that because our Ivy is on to her 5th reading in a row!
ages newborn to about 4 years
Read MoreMy Two Blankets is a charming story about a young girl who ‘came to this country to be safe’ and the way she was able to reclaim a safe, happy and loved childhood. Positive, enlightening, it engages on many, many fronts.
ages early childhood to teen
Read Moreages 2 to 10 years
I particularly like the spoonerisms page in this great book - it comes with a little story about William Spooner – a teacher who would mix up sounds when he spoke. “One day, he accused a student of missing his history lecture but accidentally said: ‘You hissed my mystery lecture!’” And there's lots more fun to be had!
Age guide: 4 to 12
Our oldest boy, who is now an English teacher, had a thing for idioms. He was 15 by the time this book was published but still got a laugh out of it.
The bee in Ben’s bonnet is that he wants his large family to celebrate his birthday but they are all too involved with life to talk to him.
Each family member has something going on that is described in a well known idiom, for example, ‘Godfather Maurice was burying the hatchet’. The very funny illustrations flesh out the story
Read MoreA conversation about books + kids. A website resource and book reviews for educators, parents, grandparents. The main focus is emotional resilience.
