Paul & Paula shares their favourite books for kids. We cover books for all ages – from baby till teenager!
We love books and enjoy sharing what we read at home. With so many languages around us our personal library is big. The kids love to read and we all love to spend time in book stores. Enjoy our selection and have a look at our book store.
Wow! So, just a few days left and after a row of festive days we will enter a new decade. How exiting!
And I believe the best way to get started is rested, relaxed, and energised. Therefore, I will take a break until the beginning of January and today’s Friday List will be my last post for this year.
Of course I made sure to finish off with some fantastic goodies and finds!
Enjoy, and especially, enjoy your holidays wherever you are in this world. be surrounded by love, and more love:
This hanging kinetic mobile* is hand crafted out of wood pieces painted by hand, with great attention to the balance and movement.
Love! And perfect for all the little people who love books – this Children’s Book Map celebrates the magic of children’s literature. The illustrated map features references to 50 classic kid’s books.
I guess when thinking about a good gift for teens it has to tick quite a few boxes. Trendy, personal, useful for their daily life, stylish and, of course, something they really want.
My eldest is 12 1/2 so we are nearly there. In the teen stage. But I have to say, even the tween phase is so interesting. How her interests develop, things that get her engaged, and her reaction and opinion on big problems like the future of our world. The pureness and straight forwardness that for example my 7 year old is still so good at, is starting to fade away. Sharing your thoughts is not so ‘out of the pistol’ anymore…
But then she is also still my ‘little girl’ that loves nothing more than enjoying a good book with a cup of tea. Being creative and here her latest discovery is lettering. And wow, she did some very beautiful things. And yes, most of the things from my list today are approved by her too.
Here are some really cool ideas that I am sure a teen would love to find under the tree:
1. Sure to be one of the hottest gifts this year, and maybe even the next! The Nintendo Switch* allows you to play the latest Nintendo-developed video games. And the killer twist? You can play these games on your TV, and at any time you can un-dock the Switch, allowing you to enjoy full console games on the go. Altogether, the Switch features small, detachable Joy-Con controllers so you can play with a friend at any time.
2. 3 in 1 charging dock station. Non-toxic silicone material is used for this compact charging hub. And it is the perfect accessory to have on your bedside table or on a desk. The Charging Hub* supports your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods at the same time.
And the cable management holes on the rear side, preventing the cluttering of your cables.
3. Bullet Journal Set* with the most bonus : A high quality notebook set with 1 Bullet Journal Notebook, 15 colours fineliner pens, 5 pieces of reusable stencils, 6 sticker sheets, 6 washi tape, and 1 black gel pen. It is perfect for someone getting into, or wanting to get into a bullet journal. And this is so much fun!
4. The Big Life Journal is all about developing a positive mindset that encourages resilience, gratitude, and positivity. With this, teens can learn how their mindset is shaped by their thoughts and experiences. It also teaches them that, with practice, they can overcome anything. Inspire, create goals, and breed positivity!
5. This health & fitness Smartwatch* with heart rate, music & swim tracking includes on-screen coaching too. An all-day smartwatch that helps your sporty teen live their best life. Because it comes with sleep monitoring as well which tells you the time you spend in each precious sleep stage. Get them to move more, track it, and have fun! Plus, this watch will track any work out automatically – no need to switch it on!
6. A very stylish touch sensor night light* that is a Bluetooth 4.0 Hifi speaker, digital alarm clock, MP3 player all in one too. Great 48 colour changing bedside lamp with sleep mode. It is touch activated and you can fully control the brightness, colour and power.
7. If you have a teen girl, you probably know that they love to do their hair. Straighten, curls… and when it comes to hair must-haves, shine always comes top. Now you can get a straightener to help you create styles whilst caring for your hair too. If you want more intense shine, to tackle frizz or to have healthier looking hair in an instant then look no further. This clever range of tools* incorporate the next generation of advanced ceramic plates. Plus they are infused with special micro conditioners, so not only will your hair be styled to perfection, it will be shiny and healthy looking too.
8. Make your own Lip Balm Kit*. This kit is the perfect gift for teens. Inside the fully recyclable box, you will receive everything you need to make 5 of your very own lip balms, along with blank labels to help you get creative. And it is a great way to learn about what goes into making a lip balm, and also be sure you are only putting the most natural ingredients onto your body.
(various kits available incl. a ‘Make your own face mask’ kit)
9. The modern version of the iconic AF1*, combining classic style and modern details. The low design offers optimum soil adhesion and a classic look. This version of the Nike Air Force 1 features rippled leather edges for a cleaner, slimmer line and more refined details. The leather and fabric upper features external layers positioned at strategic points for a lifetime durability and support. The perforated inserts favor the breathability to keep the foot always fresh and dry. These sneakers are super trendy right now, and they go with anything!
10. Day Off Jelle Beanie* Hat!
11. This one is for those that enjoy programming and tinkering around. The Arduino is a starter kit* that features flexible and easy-to-use hardware and software. It includess a guidebook and 15 different projects to complete, taking you from beginner to expert before you know it. Think light sensors, heat sensors, electronic display screens, robotic things. This is perfect if you are interested to understand how gadgets work for example.
12. Teenagers are all about their skin and also about the environment. Therefore, this My Clarins gift set, which has fruit and plant-based ingredients, will help them to be in all their natural and nourishing glory.
And it is a wrap. The gift guides for this year are done and I hope that I could inspire you a bit! Ho Ho Ho and wishing you a lovely and very festive time over the coming days and weeks.
One of our favourite weekend activities as a family is to visit a bookstore. Especially during the colder months but even during beautiful summer days, we cannot walk by a bookstore without entering. It is most likely something we handed down to our children because I always loved a good book and being in a shop full of them feels like paradise.
Which brings me to the next step – walking out empty-handed is nearly impossible. I cannot resist a good read and my eldest announces every other day that she just finished a book. This means: We need supply!
On a side note: We do get books from the local library too but once in love with books you know how hard it is to resist.
Plus: I love to give books. As presents for small and big. Sharing a good book with a good friend makes me happy. Gifting a beautifully illustrated children’s book with a heartwarming story makes me happy again.
And sitting down, reading a book, is nearly a gift these days with all the screens. And yet so important.
Therefore I compelled a Gift Guide with Children’s Books for this year. It was very hard to bring it down to 12 so consider it the best of the best:
1. This is a series highly recommended by my 12 year old, because ‘A Place Called Perfect’ is one of the best books in the world! It is filled with action and twists and turns. And if you love adventures and reading, then you’ll love this book. This book is about a girl called Violet who moves to ‘Perfect’ because of her Dads new job. 9-12 years.
2. We LOVE all the Crayon books and this is another amazing story and a must-have for the Christmas time. An absolutely wonderful book with cute little surprises and interacting pieces to take out and use! It’s best enjoyed after reading the other Crayons books (but not a must) because there are a couple of running gags from the series that pay off beautifully here. All ages.
Other crayon books: The Day The Crayons Quit and The Day The Crayons Came Home
3. Such a beautifully illustrated kids book, with a lovely and important written message within it. And all children (and adults) should have a copy of this. Most significantly, it teaches about respect and tolerance. After all, I love Oliver Jeffers’ books, and this is one of the best children’s book I have ever seen. From 3 years.
4. Dive into the world of business with this lively introduction, with bright, info-graphic pictures. Describing in a child-like manner how to start your own business, manage your money and beat the competition. Serious things made easy to understand. It explains things like global supply chains and interest rates as well. This book is perfect for kids or teens who want to start/understand a business. In short: Pure inspiration! From 8 years.
5. Bursting with eye-popping and informative lists from around the world. This book will keep your curious child entertained for hours. Discover Ancient Greek monsters, presidential pets, dizzying mountain peaks, super-fast animals … and what not to mention at a donkey’s house. 6-10 years.
6. This a big favourite in our house. And a very lovely and heartwarming story, reminding us to appreciate what we have around us! The illustrations and design are magical.
Moreover I love that the story is told mostly through the pictures leaving lots of room for having a conversation about what is going on. A book where your imagination can run wild as the artwork and the words complement each other perfectly. A message of family which makes it a lovely Christmas present. From 4 years.
7. How about living in a house with chicken legs which picks itself up and runs around the world while you sleep at night? It really sparks the imagination but the books has some real life lessons to be learned too. For example: Not to take your loved ones for granted, that the pretty girls are not always the nice girls and that the grass is almost certainly not greener on the other side. This book will make you question what’s important in life and what isn’t. And it explores love, friendships and the complexities of human relationships. 9-12 years.
8. My 9 year old boy loves this extraordinary compilation of 100 stories of famous and not-so-famous men from the past to the present day. There are people he admires and that do great things at the moment. And there are people he knows about and that did awesome things in the past. And some of them he discovered for the first time through the book.
Because Daniel Radcliffe, Galileo Galilei, Nelson Mandela, Louis Armstrong, Grayson Perry, Louis Braille, … all dared to be different. In essence, this book will educate and entertain, while also encourage and inspire. 9-12 years.
9. An unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. A family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. It is a series and the last book (4) was just published this year and read by my teen in about 3 days (one has to go to school too!). From 9 years.
10. Such a classic. And a book that is a firm regular in our house. Again, and again, and always funny. So much giggling.
Therefore I had to put it here because if you do not own it yet, please buy it!
In short, a fantastic kids book that stimulates great discussion about reading the expression of the bear to determine how he feels. Hilarious, for young and old! All ages.
11. In this wonderfully illustrated celebration of the world we travel far and wide – to Hong Kong, the Amazon, Antarctica, or India. From the villages, towns and cities where most people live, to the deserts and vast oceans that cover the surface of the planet. And there is so much to find in this book, every time we read it we find something new. Again, the illustrations are engaging and beautifully drawn. Pro: The book is suitable for many different ages, from spotting things, to starting to read it, or discovering facts. Altogether it is packed full of many interesting, weird, and wonderful things. All ages.
12. A 3D pop-up book that redefines how we tell a story. The Carousel of Animals is a book, a mobile, and a magical menagerie, expertly crafted for an interactive storytelling experience that can be enjoyed time and time again. In fact, a lion riding a dog, monkeys boxing a kangaroo, a fox steering a fire engine… . From 3 years.
This could be a great opportunity to share Black Friday deals. But I won’t. Ha! And I guess that I do not need to do a whole speech on why not because in the end… either you go get those (questionable) discounts or you don’t.
I am still here to share some of my favourite things I came across over the last weeks. And that I believe you will enjoy too. And in the end you may be treated with a lovely deal, because it is Black Friday after all.
However, and most importantly, I want you to have a smooth start into the last month of the year. A slow weekend to enjoy with some good articles, inspiring interiors, and delightful things for small and big.
Enjoy my December edit, a little bit festive, but not too much:
OMG! The best! A Love Letter Blanket*. Write your own custom letter to a loved one so they can wrap themselves up in love. Make it extra personal by using your own handwriting, or keep it simple by using a font! The blanket will be custom made for you. Such a sweet present!
And have a look, the other blankets* are pretty ace too.
Since I watched ‘A Star is Born’ – I am a Lady Gaga fan. Before I never really cared and thus did not know much about her. But her story should be shared. Because there is a lot of inspiration that can help others. This interview with Oprah is good!
New book: Tells the tale of Garbage Dog surviving the streets of a big city and discovering the true meaning of family and friendship.
This Sunday Antoine does not have a football match so I am planning a visit to Daunts in Marylebone (you gotta love a great bookshop) and see the festive decorations. And then we will light the Christmas Lights in our little corner of London. A lot of neighbourhoods organise their own events to kick off the festive season. And this Sunday it is our turn. Street food, choirs, dancing, friends, and of course the lights that will be switched on…
Enjoy your first of Advent weekend and see you back here on Monday!
You know that I have a very soft spot for books and reading in general. And so do all my children. My eldest is the biggest bookworm and probably transferred some vibes to her brother who also enjoys reading. Leonor, now 7, was so eager to start reading that she literally raced through the stages and is reading chapter books already.
For myself – I love to read and actually do not take my phone with me when I go to bed but read. And in some cases, this keeps me awake longer than a phone because once I love a book it is really hard to put it down.
Long story short – there are a lot of books in our house, for big and small, and I never left any behind throughout our moves. I just cannot! Book stores have a magnet and we all enjoy spending some time in there (great rainy day afternoon activity…). Josephine is four and cannot read yet, but she sure adores books and loves to browse the covers.
And I will never say no to buying a book. mainly because I share the addiction but also because I believe it is a fantastic hobby that I want to entertain. Obviously, it is also much better than staring at a screen or playing online games.
So when publishers or writers contact me it is the same – I just cannot say no. And when Emily from Parrot Street contacted me about her children’s book subscription I was happy to try it out with the kids. And to share it with you, of course, too.
Let’s have a look at the mission of this fun children’s book subscription called Parrot Street:
The goal of our book subscription is to introduce you and your child to books, authors and genres you may never have discovered. There are so many books out there, beyond the classics and the bestsellers, that we think your children will love reading. And we are careful to choose titles that aren’t pitched at any specific gender.
Every book is hand-picked by Emily and her partner Sarah. And they create a bespoke activity pack to accompany it. Which I think is a genius idea. Children love to ‘make things’ and receiving a book in the mail is great but much more fun if there is something else with it.
The subscription is aimed at children between 5 and 11 years. When you sign up you can choose between the Parakeet or Cockatoo reading groups. Parakeets are younger readers (aged approximately 5-8) and Cockatoos are more confident readers (aged approximately 8-11).
We received one each including the fun activity packs:
The parcels fit through your letterbox and have your child’s name on it, kids love to receive mail. It is like a monthly little treat!
‘Inspire their love of reading with a monthly book subscription designed to help your child unlock the many benefits of reading. Children who read for pleasure do better at school. It helps to develop imagination, creativity, empathy, and confidence. Our subscriptions encourage the reading habit by making it fun.’
Everyone in each age bracket is sent the same book. Like a real book club! Emily and Sarah research new titles and speak to publishers to find great books that are not on every bestseller list. The priority is to select a wide range of books that are not aimed at girls or boys specifically. And that is well written, with great characters, and lots of themes to get us thinking. A brilliantly bookish gift for both keen and reluctant readers.
What are those activity packs you want to know?
Each activity pack comes with games, puzzles, instructions for craft projects and more, and is inspired by that month’s book.
Bonus: A small bonus gift accompanies one of the activities in the pack too!
Do you have a little bookworm at home that loves everything books? Or you want your child to discover the amazing world of books. I think this club is great for everyone. You could start with a 3 months subscription to try it out. They even give you the possibility to add another activity pack for siblings to enjoy the monthly mail together. And if you have children in different age groups you can easily add them to your account.
To sum up: I think it is a great idea. And I do love the fact of receiving a personal package with a great book every month plus an activity pack. It does engage reluctant readers more easily!
By the way, books make great gifts and you can gift a subscription or buy a gift voucher.
PS: Parrot Street donates to a charity for every pack sold!
All images by Paul & Paula
We received packs for the children in return for this post. No compensation. All words and opinion are my own!
