Fiction Fridays #7 Laura's Star

Laura told the little star all her secrets,

and it seemed to sparkle more brightly than ever.

As if it were listening.

As if it understood. 

I have long since had a copy of this book and shared it with many children that I have taught over the years.  It is such an enchanting, lyrical story with a wonderful magical quality.  It's the perfect calming book for bedtime and it's beautifully illustrated, complete with a star that really shines. 

Fiction Fridays #6 Miss Polly Had a Dolly

Miss Polly had a dolly who was sick, sick, sick

So she phoned for the doctor to be quick, quick, quick...

This book is always a winner for several reasons:

1) It involves singing to the song, and rapid turning of pages which always adds to the fun

2) Freya loves the actions i.e rat a tat tat on the door

3) It's very quick (great when you have had enough and want to get small children to bed!)

So perhaps not the most literary or inspiring of children's books, but a lot of fun and even more so now that Freya is able to join in most of the rhyming. 

Right, now back to posts about quilting!

Fiction Fridays #5 Where's Spot

Firstly, I can hardly believe that it is that time of the week again, I was only reminded when I saw a fellow blogger and friend's Fiction Friday posting, and even then I was slightly confused - all the days have merged into one!  (And thank you for the mention by the way, we think you and your posts are fabulous too).

Anyway, here is this weeks entry, one of Freya's favourites, and I have to admit, one of mine too. 

It is one of those hardback books that come as a little adorable box set with the toy Spot, and I couldn't resist.  Freya loves lift the flap books, and this is the best of it's kind, with a 'surprise' jungle animal behind each flap.  We have a hilarious time with this book - when she lifts the flap with the lion behind it, I make a loud 'roar' noise, making her jump, sending us both into fits of laughter.  I think she is getting wise to my games as she is starting to remember which aniimal is behind which door, but she still loves it, and she loves making Spot eat his dinner at the end of the story too.  It's all too cute, but I guess you have to be there.

Freya has been the lucky recipient of a few new books this Christmas, and I look forward to posting about them in the coming weeks.  Happy Reading and Happy New Year from me, Freya and all the characters that we have met in Fiction Fridays so far.  :-)

Fiction Fridays #4 The Very Helpful Reindeer

I have managed to get myself into gear this week and am pleased to be able to post my festive Fiction Friday offering, just in time for Christmas.  This week I have chosen 'The Very Helpful Reindeer which is a charming little book, complete with sound effects to enhance that magical, Christmasy feeling.  I wish I could say that Freya has enjoyed reading it with me, but for some reason, she is

just. not. interested.

Such a shame!  It really is a delightful story about yes, you guessed it, a reindeer, who ends up helping no less than Father Christmas himself, and in true children's storytelling fashion, saves the day.  I used it a lot last year with the children that I was tutoring at the time (ages ranging between 6 and 10 - no one is too old to enjoy a Christmas story with sound effects!) and they all loved it. 

 Outside the window,

the falling snowflakes

sparkled.

Santa flicked a magic spell from his fingers.

He sent happy Christmas dreams to Rory

and to sleeping children

everywhere.

On that note, all that wishes to remain is to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  May it be filled with family, friends, fun, food and festivities and I look forward to blogging again soon. xx

P.S extra special thoughts and love to my blogging friend on the other side of the world - you know who you are - thinking of you xxx

Fiction Fridays #3 Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell

This is a charming little lift-the-flap book that I bought for Freya before she was born.  I made her a little story sack and I was particularly pleased with myself because I managed to use computer software to turn the front cover of the book into a little cross-stitch design which I then stitched to go on the front.  I searched high and low for lots of little animals that featured in the story and while I don't have all of them and there is a slight issue with scaling (note the giant frog and an elephant smaller than the lion for example!) these things are neither here nor there to Freya and she loves pulling out the right animal as she lifts the flaps.  It is certainly one of my favourites and I have even bought Freya the giant 24 piece floor puzzle which she can complete almost all by herself. 

I love fiction Friday's, I have so many more books and props that I can't wait to share.  And it will be such a lovely record for Freya when she is older.  Can't believe this is my 3rd post already...where is the time going?!  It will be Christmas before we know it.  And rest assured, there are lots more books on Freya's Christmas list! 

Fiction Fridays #2 Miffy at the Gallery

I think I must lead a very simple life because I woke up this morning with the happy realisation that it was Ficiton Friday again and I could finally post my next installment...

This book is a firm favourite with Freya, and I have lost count of the number of times we have read it.  And now it is requested even more given that I have bought her a co-ordinating bag and little Miffy, who we affectionately refer to as 'Orange Miffy.'  (This is to avoid confusion as we have quite a few Miffy Rabbit's in our house, of varying sizes and colours.) 

As the title suggests, Miffy does indeed go to the gallery, and she looks at many different works of art and sculpture; how cultured our furry orange friend is!  It inspires Miffy to think about what she would like to be when she grows up...

I love the rhyming in this book and the simplistic pictures.  Although it has got to the point where I don't even need to look at the words anymore as they are, along with many other stories, etched on my brain forever.

Looking forward to posting again next Friday (I have a feeling I will still be posting Fiction Fridays when Freya is at University!!) please do join in if you have a blog, it's so much fun.  (see the link to @homedad on the right hand side for full details).

Fiction Fridays #1 - Owl Babies

Now you may be wondering what on earth this post is all about.  Nothing whatsoever to do with patchwork and quiliting, and even less to do with obtaining a City and Guilds qualification. 

But Fiction Fridays is something that I have seen on another blog called @homedad (see link to the right) and I just couldn't resist joining in.  @homedad's blog gives a full description of what it is all about; in essence it is a pictoral celebration of all things literary for children, and of course, only on a Friday.  All in all it combines many of my favourite things - children's books with their wonderful words and illustrations, photography and blogging.  I will also be adding some props to go with my books for Fiction Friday's, as it is something that I try to do as much as possible with Freya to really bring books to life. 

Anyway, enough waffle, here is my first installment...

Here is the text again in case you can't read it (note to self - use bigger writing/larger piece of paper next week).

They sat and they thought

(all owls think a lot),

"I think we should all sit on my branch said Sarah.

And they did.

All three together. 

The text is not, as suggested, the first line of the book, but from my favourite page, somewhere half way through.  I love the slow, melodic pace of this story and of course that one of the main characters has the same name as me. 

As for what happens, it's a simple story.  The baby owls are getting worried because they don't know where their mummy has gone.  Will she come back? And where has she been? You will have to read it to find out.  But it's safe to say that there is a happy ending. 

It's a must read for all children under 5, and even more fun when you have a little owl to read along with you. 

Right, time for me to focus! A post is coming soon about my very nearly complete experimental applique sample.  I just need to stop blogging and get on with it!