a funny, creative take on REALLY BIG adventures—they're not always what they seem!

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a funny, creative take on REALLY BIG adventures—they're not always what they seem!

ages 4 to 10 years
Sometimes we just need an adventure, where we get to try new things, see new places, learn, grow and test our limits. Mostly our adventures are quite small and close to home, but sometimes they're really BIG, taking us to far-off places and distant lands.

Sir Charlie Stinky Socks is a bold brave Knight and one day he decides that it’s time for a really BIG adventure. So

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thank you heart.png

Hello!  If you're new to WTBA, welcome, but if you're a regular you'll have seen that we had to take time away from the site for pretty much all of August—for close family health reasons.

This small note is to say Thank You! to all of you who have continued to visit and support WTBA while we were away.

We're happy to say that most of the health issues are resolved, everyone's doing well, and new posts will start again on Monday.

Thank you so much once again for your support, we're hugely chuffed and grateful.

xo Joan, Kim, Samantha, Jesse, Louisa

The Darkest Dark: in overcoming fears we become free to reach dreams about who we want to be

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The Darkest Dark: in overcoming fears we become free to reach dreams about who we want to be

ages 4 to 10 years
Chris Hadfield (astronaut, musician, author, celebrity crush for stem-loving women around the world) has said: "Every single thing that you learn really just gives you more comfort.”

He was talking about taking the opportunity to learn any skill, any idea, at any time—embracing the notion that knowledge is power and that with knowledge comes freedom. And one of the freedoms most everyone seeks for their children is freedom from fear, real or imagined. The Darkest Dark is about just that: overcoming fear. It's also a love story, a promise, an inspiration.

It's the story of a boy, his love for space, and how that love overcomes his deepest fear: fear of the dark.

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it's hard to choose from these 4 seriously gorgeous bookends!

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it's hard to choose from these 4 seriously gorgeous bookends!

Mostly, bookshelves at our house are premium real estate and packed tightly from end to end. But every so often I try to lighten up the look a bit—and then I need something to hold everything upright. So I’ve taken to searching online for great bookends, just in case.

Here are four that I’m thinking about, plus one set that I’m really not contemplating. (But it's seriously beautiful!)

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5 books to tickle a toddler's senses

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5 books to tickle a toddler's senses

ages newborn to 3 years
Angus is a sensory toddler. He loves to get his hands (or mouth, or any body part) into anything with an interesting texture—the sheer delight on his face as he plays with his mashed potatoes and the joy he emanates from trying to eat bubbles in the bath is wonderful to see.

It's also wonderful to see his love of all things sensory extending into his love for books—thanks to these five beauties: 

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the growth of a baby from conception to birth carefully explained; perfect for soon-to-be older siblings

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the growth of a baby from conception to birth carefully explained; perfect for soon-to-be older siblings

ages 2 to 10 years
There’s quite a collection of pregnancy/new baby books on my shelves (favourites: this one  and this one) and I’m forever on the lookout for others with a fresh and interesting approach.

This one, 9 Months, is great:

Each month of a pregnancy—from conception to birth—is given a two-page spread that clearly sets out the stages of a baby’s growth.

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a terrific, fresh take on the harsh, fascinating world of Australia's convict era

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a terrific, fresh take on the harsh, fascinating world of Australia's convict era

Whenever I take a trip to Sydney I try to visit a few historical sites—and the romance and horrors of it all mean that I then find myself hunting for solid early Australian historical fiction. Which is how I came to be reading The Monsarrat Series.

Monsarrat is a white-collar convict—he’s bright, literate and has had an earlier arrogance beaten out of him during his convict years. When book 1, The Soldier’s Curse, begins, he’s part way through his second term.

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