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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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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a delightful exploration of the nuances of family life, friendship and school

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a delightful exploration of the nuances of family life, friendship and school

ages 3 to 8 years
Henrietta is a ‘great go-getter’ with an ‘adventurous spirit’ and ‘great determination’.
She’s also ‘an explorer of life, and that includes trees, bugs, animals and all mysteries.’ She’s waiting for a new baby—and hoping for a sister. She’s also starting school, making new friends, having her first sleepover and doing all the things that lucky children do at that age.

There are disappointments of course

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the brilliance of Dr Seuss in rap video and political satire

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the brilliance of Dr Seuss in rap video and political satire

How many Dr Seuss books can (or could) you recite by heart? There was a time when I could rattle off the whole of Green Eggs and Ham while driving—Thomas would sit in his car seat behind me, flipping the pages at the appropriate moment while his two younger siblings looked on. I could give Fox in Socks a good crack too, though I did sometimes have to agree with Mr Knox:

“I hate this game, Sir. This game makes my tongue quite lame, Sir.”

All the Dr Seuss rhymes are brilliant for little kids who are learning to read, as that great-fun video points out.

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a very funny look at the importance of individuals and communities

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a very funny look at the importance of individuals and communities

ages 2 to 8 years
Here’s a brilliantly engaging and amusing story about 71 sheep, a ball of wool, and a wolf. With a superbly developed sense of the absurd, the storyline follows the sheep and their attempt to play a game of soccer: The sheep count themselves and realise that with 71 of them, they have the perfect number for a game of soccer!

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a lovely book for kids going through 'hard to find friends' times

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a lovely book for kids going through 'hard to find friends' times

ages 2 to 8 years
Do your little ones have imaginary friends? Some of mine did. It was cute to hear them chatting away to someone invisible—less cute when I once had to wait in the rain because an imaginary friend called Minga had to get in the car first and then took her own sweet time about buckling up her seatbelt! There are lots of good reasons to enjoy the imaginary friend stage, one being...

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