A Friday Fun Post… on a Saturday. It is starting to feel a bit like summer over here… most folk are busy with end of year exams, but there is a feeling of summer holiday anticipation in the air… We are having a lazy weekend… can you tell!!! And I do have some good news for all our readers… we have a fabulous book GiveAway for you, one a week for the rest of the month… so watch this space!!!
Book of the Week
The South African Alphabet by Alex Latimer, Published by Penguin Books South Africa. Well you know that we are avid fans of Alex Latimer, since we interviewed him last year. We were very keen to review this book, we love home grown books for kids and this is about as local as you can go. One or two simple words/illustrations for each letter of the alphabet and all words very familiar to the South African child. “B is for blesbok and braai” and “K is for kudu and koeksister…” It is quirky and fun and filled with South Africanisms. I am all for books that relate to a child’s own culture and our kids have really enjoyed this one… returning to it again and again. This book would make a fantastic gift for a young person and if you are looking to gift a friend overseas, it is a thin soft cover… really easy to post. Look out for this book it is definitely a keeper and will become the go to alphabet book for South African children everywhere.
This book was given to us for review purposes by Penguin Books South Africa, we were not paid to write the review and the opinions expressed are as usual our own.
Here are some lovely links from this week:
- Firstly did you know that Yuppie Chef has a new FREE cooking course: A Very Merry Festive Feast… and while you are at Yuppie Chef… take a peak at their Fluffy Churros with Chocolate Sauce Recipe… thank me later!!!
- I love following the beautiful Long Miles Coffee Project, their recent trip to Kenya is enough to make anyone pack their bags and grab their passports.
- If you are an instagram fan then this post is full of gold, dash over and read it: 10 Instagram Success Secrets I wasn’t going to tell anyone… by Katja Personal on Skimbaco LifeStyle.
- Looking for some photographic inspiration, prepare to be blown away by this 9yr old photographer…
- An excellent post as a result of the #CTMEETUP: What Brands want from Bloggers by Cindy Alfino.
- Babyccinokids Gift Guides are up and good to go, what can I say… heaps of eye candy, so much stuff to love here!!!
- Discovered TinkerLab’s Resource Page… scroll down and down it just gets better… arty crafty materials, books, blogs to follow.
- A Blast From the Past: And here are a couple of links to posts, this week, from previous years:
- 2008: Tin Can Alley…
- 2009: Sunday Snippet: Finding Time for Quiet Time…
- 2010: Homeschool Question: What Do Little People Do During School?
- 2011: Sunday Snippet: Se7en thinks About Advent Calendars…
- 2012: Table for Ten – Part 3: Fairly Frugal Grocery Shopping…
- 2013: Se7en + 1 are Virtually Visiting Museums…
And the se7en + 1th link:
And since we blogged about books all week… here are a heap of fab book links from this week… because – well books, reading, fun…
Book Links
- Puffin’s Reading List: War Stories…
- Usborne’s Top Picks – The Best Children’s Book Picks for National Non-Fiction November…
- And while you are at Usborne… here are their new books of the month…
- Have you met Nalibali: Right here at home… National Reading for Enjoyment Campaign…
- Why Picture Books Are Important, by Deborah Heiligman.
- If you are on the look out for fab new books then look no further than World Book Day: New Books for 0-5 yr olds; 5-8 yr olds; 8-12 yr olds; 12+…
- The Federation of Children’s book Groups has weekly round up on WW1 non-fiction for young readers.
- And since you’re looking, our friend over at Playing by the Book: Over the Hills and Far Away – A Breathtaking New Nursery Rhyme Anthology…
- Oh this is just an excellent read… Sally Gardener – dyslexia and me.
- Wonder based Library Programs, also by Playing by the Book… Our library is vastly improved from the terrifying place that it was a while back… but oh my, it has a long way to go. I cannot imagine our kids playing at the library, let alone messing!!!
- And last but not least… have you seen the Paddington Trail?
That’s us… Hope your weekend is a fabulous one…
I’m definitely buying that book. I’ve been looking for something uniquely South African to send to a few friends overseas and that book is just perfect!
We are having a good weekend, we hope you are too xxx
thanks for all the links – off to explore the TInker lab one right now!
Hay Zoe…links galore, it was clearly a great week online for books… I have to say I am loving the national non-fiction month… so many lovely posts. And your poetry book looks absolutely delightful!!! hope you have had a fun weekend!!!
Hay Mrs FF, This is a lovely book… really simple for little people and kind of nostalgic for the rest of us. I just love how local books are leaping to the fore and becoming the first choice of kids over here!!! Glad you have had a fun weekend… we took the break that we needed!!!
Is this the same Alex Latimer that wrote “The Space Race”? If you have not read it, do! It’s a wonderful story with heaps of tongue in cheek SA things. The whole Bookclub loved it
Hay Cat… The very same Alex Latimer, I was at the launch of that book. We interviewed him last year for the launch of the Jungle Book Stories… he is a great guy and I love his enthusiasm for all things South African. Hope you have a fantastic week!!!