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This is a blog written by two mums, designed to share our knowledge of, and passion for, kids books. We hope it will help you choose books for the little people in your lives.
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Have you guys seen this? Oh my, what a beautiful homage to Golden Books, which form such an integral part of so many childhood reading memories…
The skirt is comprised entirely of the illustrations from Golden Books sewn together with metallic gold thread, and the bodice is made from the books’ foil spines. Can you imagine? Having glimpsed how carefully Lou curates the Golden Books bunting she has done for We Heart Books, I can only imagine how painstaking this cut and paste would be…
Here are some shots of the garmet under construction…
Go to Boston-based fashion designer Ryan Noveline’s site for more breathtaking images…
1 Comments on A Golden Book gown fit for cinderella, last added: 4/4/2011
I really love it when Ned gets totally enamored with a book. It has been the case recently with an extraordinary picture book called Whateverby British author/illustrator William Bee.
We saw this book read on a great BBC/ABC TV show called Bookaboo. There have been many tries at creating TV shows to promote reading, mostly all of them have been daggy or the stories lame but Bookaboo is different and Ned loves it.
Bookaboo is the name of the character, a puppet dog who is a drummer in a heavy metal band and his tag line is ‘a story a day or I just can’t play‘. A UK celebrity features in each episode, turning up with the book bag to read a story to Bookaboo so that he can later play his drums in the band.
Looking past the fact that when I say celebrity I didn’t know who many of them were (although I did see Meatloaf on one episode) the stories they read are fantastic and thoughtfully chosen. The pictures are animated slightly which makes for great television and Bookaboo, the puppet, asks questions throughout so there is plenty of interaction with the story.
Ned loved it and laughed and laughed and then made me promise to get him the book. Ned’s dad and I have now read this fantastic book sooo many times between us.
Everything about the book is funny and clever. The text is great fun to read aloud and the pictures are a psychedelic, retro delight.
Billy the central character in the book is a little boy who is difficult to please – a theme that is recurrent at our place.
Billy’s father tries everything to get him excited, showing him something really tall or very small, the speediest spaceship and the smokiest train but Billy’s answer is always a very off hand ‘whatever’. Ned loves yelling out the ‘whatever’!
That is until Billy’s dad gives Billy this just deserts. Billy is swallowed by a tiger and what does Billy’s dad say? Whatever!!
I love this book and have read it a number of times to classes visiting my library. I really don’t think the ending is a problem. In my experience, kids get the joke just fine.
Holly said, on 3/2/2011 6:25:00 AM
This sound exactly like the 1962 book “Pierre” by Maurice Sendak in which Pierre replies, “I don’t care” to everything until he gets eaten by a tiger. The moral is, care!
Holly said, on 3/2/2011 6:32:00 AM
This sounds exactly like the 1962 book “Pierre” by Maurice Sendak in which Pierre replies, “I don’t care” to everything until he gets eaten by a tiger. The moral is, care!
Caryn said, on 3/2/2011 7:51:00 AM
Wow, I thought the same thing as Holly. Sounds just like Sendak’s “Pierre” although Pierre gets eaten by a lion and his parents freak out and get him out. Looks like a great book although I’m a little leery about recreating a classic from Sendak. I’ll have to give it a look. Thanks!
lisa said, on 3/2/2011 2:42:00 PM
B I G Bookaboo fans in our house! Dad even has a favourite, Al the Pub Landlord reads a Dirty Bertie book that’s just disgusting (but creates gales of laughter in our house). Great concept and love discovering new books in this way.
Lou said, on 3/3/2011 1:16:00 AM
I thought it was a good concept too Lisa. With literacy rates the way they are it’s nice to see a TV show that is really behind the books they choose and they are not just choosing educational titles they are going with books they know kids will love. More power Bookaboo!
Lou said, on 3/3/2011 1:19:00 AM
Thanks Jonathan, it’s great to know that you are using it in the classroom. There’s nothing nicer than hearing kids laugh especially at a good book.
Lou said, on 3/3/2011 1:21:00 AM
Caryn and Holly – thanks for pointing out the obvious similarities with Pierre – such a fantastic and classic book. I guess it is hard to be completely original with books but there’s no doubt that Sendak is the master storyteller.
Today we were mentioned on the lovely design blog Checks and Spots.
Clare who writes this gorgeous blog ordered the Charley Harper Memory Game from our store last week, click over to Checks and Spots see what she says about our little store.
Thank you Clare xxx
0 Comments on We ♥ Checks and Spots as of 1/1/1900
Did you know we are on Facebook? If you like the posts on our blog then join our page on Facebook too. On Facebook we regularly post about new arrivals to our store and also include lots more links to all that booky cool stuff that we love and we know you do too.
Leave us comments and questions…let us know what your little ones (and big ones) are reading. And stay tuned for give away details and special offers from the we heart books store.
It’s a lot of fun. Click here or on our little book below to be taken to our Facebook page…
0 Comments on Want more we heart books? as of 1/1/1900
Here we are in our local glossy! Lou and I were interviewed for this week’s Melbourne Weekly about We Heart Books, how we started and some of what’s next… Can’t argue with being called ‘young at heart’! You can read the whole article here.
Katie and Rowan are reading the quintessential classic, Fantastic Mr Fox by Roland Dahl. They need one of these divine bookplates to pop in the front of their book…
This gorgeous bookplate is from the Etsy store Lineanongrata. The artist, Julia lives in the South of France and is a freelance illustrator.
Her art is spectacular and I think would make for sublime picture book illustrations.I think this is my favourite print, which is called Night Walk, along with the Polar Bear Angel but it’s very hard to choose.
Julia also writes a really beautiful blog called Lineanongrata.
Continuing our chapter reading adventures from my last post, my mum helped Rowan make a map of the Faraway Tree to accompany our reading of the story…
The post has created a visual reminder of the story, and Rowan regularly asks me to ‘read’ the story on the poster.
Our next chapter book has been Fantastic Mr Fox – we read this lovely edition with full colour illustrations by Quentin Blake. So much fun and adored by Rowan. Now we just have to draw the map of Mr Fox’s tunnels beneath the Boggis, Bunce and Bean farms…
2 Comments on A Faraway Tree Map, last added: 2/17/2011
How fabulous! We are in the midst of reading the Faraway Tree stories, up to The Folk of the Faraway Tree at the moment, and I’m loving reliving my childhood as much as Elliot is enjoying discovering it for the first time. What a great poster.
Chels
We Heart Books » Foxy Loxy said, on 2/17/2011 2:58:00 PM
[...] and Rowan are reading the quintessential classic, Fantastic Mr Fox by Roland Dahl. They need one of these divine [...]
Wow, a big thanks to Allison, creator of the gorgeous shop and blog Lark, for posting that Lauren Child has designed a collection of fabric for Liberty.
These are just two of her designs you can see more on the Liberty website.
Also on the Liberty website are collections designed or inspired by other children’s book illustrators like;
Jane Ray
Emma Chichester Clark
And Quentin Blake
What a stunning collection and perfect for a nursery! I will be keeping an eye out for these, thanks Allison.
2 Comments on Liberty via Lark, last added: 2/13/2011
I was so lucky to be in London on thursday and treated myself to some of the Quentin Blake fabric – utterly gorgeous! Most of the fabric designs are not overtly child-like – I think they would work well anywhere, not just in the nursery.
Lou said, on 2/13/2011 10:34:00 PM
Wow Zoe. What will you make with your fabric? I agree about not being just for the nursery. The Jane Ray in particular is very evocative. I want it all!
A little while ago I was gifted a divine little book by my aunt. She’d found it while having a clean up and it had originally been at my grandma’s house. The little book is ‘A Pixie Book’ called Happy Days that was published in 1954.
The ‘Pixie Series’ was printed in Great Britain by Collins – “Publishers For The Children”. There is a sweet little bit of text on the inside jacket that reads – “The Pixie Book Series. Ask your bookseller to show them to you, and build up your own Pixie Library”.
Some of the other titles in the series sound interesting, for example Kittie-Poosies?
The illustrator is simply listed as Eulalie and with a bit of searching I have found that it is Eulalie Banks a prolific and beautiful UK artist. She published her first book when she was 18 and worked extensively from the 1920’s through to the 1970’s. She was highly respected in the publishing world it seems, and was highly sought after for pieces of her art including painting a nursery mural for Charlie Chaplin’s house.
And the thing that thrilled me the most is that she did the original illustrations for Helen Bannerman’s Little Black Sambo.
In Happy Days the story is very sweet and simple. The characters are Jack and Jill and their dog Jippy. The story, in rhyme, follows their day from waking up to going to bed.
‘ The Bluebirds sing “Wake up and play.
Tweet tweet it is a lovely day.”
“Good morning Bluebirds we are ready,”
Say Jack and Jill and sleepy Teddy.’
Jack and Jill are positively cherubic, their little cheeks glow pink and their hair falls in little waves around their faces. The colours are incredible and it constantly amazes me how these gorgeous old books are seemingly still as vibrant today and they were when first published.
Just out this month from Walker Books is a gorgeous piece of innovative publishing – that I just had to have! London A Three Dimensional Expanding City Skyline is a 1.5 metre foldout book, with the most incredible illustrations by UK artist Sarah McMenemy.
They call it a souvenir on the blurb but it’s so much more than that. Sarah has illustrated twelve of the most famous sites around London in her beautiful style that you can see more of on her website. I find her work a bit like that of Ludwig Bemelmans in the Madeline books and I have well and truly fallen in love with her.
Printed on both the front and back, Sarah’s recreation of the sites of London is simply perfect. My favourite spot and one where I have fantastic memories is the Royal Observatory…
I just want to walk into that painting and lie on that grass amongst the trees – do a bit of thinking about Greenwich Mean Time!
It is difficult to photograph this book and do it justice but you can see that this is definitely not only a souvenir, it is a gorgeous combination of innovative publishing and the most divine illustrations. The whole package is a delight, including the sturdy red box the book is packaged in and it is certainly beautiful for children but if you are like me then as an adult you’ll love it too.
If you have been to London with a child or are dreaming of a trip then this is such a lovely book to share. Ned has never been and we are dreaming but he has really loved the interactivity and intricacy of the book.
There is a New York version scheduled hopefully for around July and then fingers crossed for more wonderful cities.
P.S. Good things do come in little packages and you will not believe the price on this special little box! Check it out at your local Indie bookstore.
We will find anywhere to get comfortable and have a read in this house. This photo is Ned sitting in his new car seat, in the middle of the lounge room, reading!
He is always trying to find new little spaces to curl up with his books. Do your little ones do this too?
After seeing this trailer yesterday for the iPad app of the Oliver Jeffers picture book The Heart and the Bottle I have been dreaming of iPad’s since.
The beauty of the original picture book really shines through and teamed with the narration of the gorgeous Helena Bonham Carter it looks like they have done a perfect job.
I think it would take a very special picture book to translate well into an app and the only way to view it would be on an iPad or similar – you’d need a big, clear screen to get the full potential. The beauty of Oliver Jeffers illustrations is that they already have a beautiful movement on the page which allows the transformation into animation seamless and his poetic text is just made for a classic actress to narrate.
I think that it is because I have seen the physical book and love it that I am so excited about the app and I think that would be the same reaction of children – do you? I don’t think that the effect would be as great just owning the app without knowing what the original picture book was like.
Do you have an iPad? Do you have this app? What is it like? If you don’t have an iPad do you share my excitement after seeing this preview and would you like me, still buy the physical book as well as the app?
4 Comments on The Heart and the Bottle iPad App, last added: 2/6/2011
It is beautiful – just like the movie ‘lost and found’ added a new dimension to the book I think the app does the same thing for this book. It certainly doesn’t replace the book.
I’ve been secretly hoping to see the incredible book eating boy into an app or movie….
Kayte said, on 2/6/2011 7:27:00 AM
We are big Jeffers fans and hope that this app will soon be available in the US.
JP Roberts said, on 2/6/2011 10:03:00 AM
I’m a huge Jeffers fan as well. Any idea when this app will be released in the US? I’m also curious as to why it hasn’t been? Can’t seem to find any info about that.
Jessica said, on 2/6/2011 9:11:00 PM
Wish I could get this App!!! I love the look of it! Who knows when it will be available in the U.S. The book is published by Penguin here so it might take some time figuring out copyright issues, but not sure. If you like this then you should check out an App called, PEDLAR LADY. Wonderful storytelling where art and technology meet.
Over our summer holidays I have started reading novels to Rowan. There are mixed feelings for me… I’m sad that we no longer have a pile of picture books to consume every night – but excited about all the possibilities of old favourites and new authors we can share together. (And I can’t wait for the day – a while away yet – when we can start Harry Potter!) We will still of course read picture books together – hopefully for a long time yet – but they no longer have such a status of centrality in Rowan’s life…
At 4 and a half, Rowan seems more than ready to sit and absorb the story. We started with a wizzbanger – The BFG of course. It was a hit, and Rowan uses lots of Roald Dahl’s wacky words in every-day speech now. We grow snozzcumbers in our vegie patch and occassionally Rowan will wake up and tell us he has had a phizzwizard. The role of reader was shared around between Rowan’s dad, his aunty and me, all of whom hold The BFG very close to our hearts…
Next up was The Enchanted Wood by Enid Blyton. The photo above is of Rowan’s grandmother reading this book to Rowan. She told me that when she was growing up, she read Enid Blyton’s books to her youngest sister, who loved it so much that one day she and a neighbour jumped in their pedal car and set off to find the Enchanted Wood.
We are reading my childhood copy which now has browning pages and a splitting spine. But aren’t these illustrations divine…
6 Comments on Our era of chapter books begins…, last added: 1/20/2011
I have an Enchanted Wood that looks much like that (though I am not sure my copy has the special coloured-in illustrations!). I must get it out and read it to my boys (4 & 5). I think they’ll love it.
Wendy Braun said, on 1/18/2011 4:31:00 PM
The number of stories written by Enid Blyton boggles my mind! We never had the pleasure of reading this one…
One of our son’s favorite first chapter books was MY FATHER’S DRAGON by Ruth Stiles Gannett. It’s a great transition from picture book to chapter book – full of imaginative fun and adventure! (and there are two sequels).
Nicci said, on 1/19/2011 1:54:00 PM
There is something wonderful about being able to snuggle down under the bedclothes with my child and to read a novel without having to look at pictures, as we form our own pictures in our minds. I love catching a glimpse of the images my son has built – he’ll make a comment and I’ll realise that his view of a character or a place is quite different from mine, and all the more interesting for it!
Karlee said, on 1/19/2011 1:57:00 PM
Rowan and Owen must be talking because the BFG was the first chapter book we started reading. I too have the Harry Potter books at the ready to introduce once Roald Dahl has been read. My favourite read from childhood (apart from The Faraway Tree series) was the Famous Five…which, surprise, surprise is another Blyton book
Annie's Organic Baby Blog said, on 1/19/2011 7:11:00 PM
After reading Moomintrolls (twice!) we have moved on to the Phantom Tollbooth… and after that will be Pippi Longstocking
lisa said, on 1/20/2011 1:48:00 AM
What a very timely post Katie! I’ve made a concerted effort these hols to make time for Finn’s desire for a bigger story. We started small with Poor Fish, a very funny Aussie Nibble written by the very talented children’s editor and writer Jane Godwin. The story of one boy’s love of Auskick and his young brother’s heroic championing of a missing goldfish has a knockout punch for the 3 and 5 year olds when they least expect it – a toilet joke. Had ‘em in fits.
We’ve just finished The 27th Annual African Hippopotamus Race, a 70s standard that was read to me and my country school classmates by our stern language-loving headmaster over a few hot afternoons. I’ve had this tucked away for years, and am so glad Finn enjoyed it. I used to have the same edition of Enchanted Wood like you and Liesl but it’s nowhere to be found sadly. Definitely putting it on the list though, and though Roald Dahl scared the bejesus out of me when I was a kid, I’m going to try BFG out on Finn asap. Would love to read more suggestions!
Last year I posted a gorgeous animation clip called Hedgehog In The Fog. A wonderful comment was left on the post by Zhen directing me to a copy of a book based on the film Hedgehog In The Fog on Amazon. The book is based on Francesca Yarbusova’s sketches to the award-winning animated film directed by Yuri Norstein (Norshteyn) and is simply beautiful.
There is even a statue of the little hedgehog in Kiev, which you can see a photo of here.
Intrigued by Russian animator and director Yuri Norstein I started to see if I could find some more of his animated films and what I found is incredible. The backgrounds alone in his films are just magical. Seasons and Goodnight Children, both below are my favourites but you should also have a look at The Heron and The Crane, Tale of Tales and The Fox and The Hare.
Norstein hasn’t released a film for 20 years and his work in progress The Overcoat is highly anticipated. You can find out more about his amazing animation technique here.
It was so exciting to hear today that our absolute favourite book of 2010 is the recipient of the 2011 Caledecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children! A Sick Day for Amos McGee is a first book by a young husband and wife team, Philip Stead and Erin Stead, and gee we can’t wait to see what else they come up with! Philip’s gentle words are exquisitely paced and partner perfectly with Erin’s stunning pencil and woodcut artwork in sepia tones and splashes of soft colour.
This is a book we have recommended over and over to our friends at our markets, and it’s always an absolute joy when a book like that receives the highest level of recognition.
Here are some more beautiful images from this treasure of a book. There are a few copies currently available in our store.
A complete list of the American Library Association Youth Media awards with some interviews with the authors is available here.
For today only in the we heart books store we are offering a discount of 50% off all Christmas themed books. We will be packing and shipping orders today and first thing tomorrow so you still have time to place orders if you are in a capital city.
Just enter LMXMAS at the checkout for 50% off all our Christmas themed books and remember that everything arrives beautifully gift wrapped. This offer is perfect if you’d like something gorgeous to read on Christmas Eve. Stock is limited and we only have one copy of some titles left.
We hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and get lots of lovely reading done in the New Year.
0 Comments on Last Minute Deal on Christmas Books… as of 12/24/2010 11:59:00 AM
Please excuse my dodgy phone camera work here….Since attending childcare this year Ned loves holding his own story times in his ‘book corner’. Today he pulled up his little cane chair and began reading Baby Boomsticks to an audience of a ‘Wonky Donkey’, two matchbox cars and a plastic toy from the bath all lined up on the suitcase at his feet.
I couldn’t help but giggle, I love his play acting and I love that he thinks he should share his love of books with his toys – even if they are a rather mottled bunch.
There are so many Christmas books around, many are branded and icky. We think that we have a rather beautiful selection in our store because they are only books that we ♥
There is not a better time of year to buy some gorgeous books and share them with the family. We are offering all our friends 20% off all our Christmas themed books until Sunday the 12th of December. You can see a selection of the stunning collection here…
That third image is beautiful – I’ll have to check that one out! Of course I already own Toot & Puddle…
Sue said, on 12/6/2010 12:59:00 PM
I agree with Melinda re the image.
I have a special library of Christmas books brought out once a year, along with the tree and other decorations.
For many years I bought one (or two) each Christmas and I am sure my children each have a favourite.
I am looking forward to sharing them with 2 grandchildren this year.
It’s really hot in Melbourne today and I’d like to be sitting under a mushroom somewhere reading a book today – like this sweet little mouse…
I found this on Etsy this afternoon and fell in love. The artist is a mum of four from the US. You can check out her Etsy store for many other gorgeous creations or her blog called myko bocek studios.
0 Comments on Sitting under a mushroom… as of 1/1/1900
….that’s what Katie and I are moonlighting as at present. We have three big markets coming up where you can come and visit us and the beautiful books we have found.
Firstly we will be at the HUGE Mathilda’s Market this weekend (Sunday 9-1) at Caulfield Racecourse. There will be over 100 stall holders this time making it the biggest ever and if you need presents for children this is the place to be.
Then Katie will be jetting across to Adelaide to the beautiful Magnolia Square Pop Up Event in Norwood. This will be our first at Norwood and we are excited as we know that the City of Churches will love our books.
And finally from the 2nd to the 5th of December we will be at St Kilda Town Hall for the final Magnolia Square of 2010. And yes that right it’s over four incredible days!
So that’s us covered for the next couple of weeks – busy little elves!! We have some exquisite books for this Christmas that we will have at all these events and will also be continuously updating the website. If you can’t get to one of these events, remember that you can email us, jump on facebook or subscribe to our newsletter and chat to us anytime.
1 Comments on Busy little elves…, last added: 11/17/2010
One of the books that went flying of the stand at Magnolia Square was the most gorgeous edition of Red Riding Hood. This is one of those pop-ups that just takes your breath away with the paper engineering genius! Louise Rowe uses a leaf motif as a theme for her illustrations, and the sepia tones are staggeringly beautiful.
I love the red riding hood story, the feelings of innocence, strength, security and risk beautifully rolled into one great edge-of-your-seat story. Do you know Angela Carter’s version? I just re-read it tonight and it is so deliciously adult…
I’m not sure if red riding hood is de rigueur at the moment, but I seem to be spotting her everywhere… Love, love, love all these…
8 Comments on Whatever, last added: 3/3/2011
I too have the Harry Potter books at the ready to introduce once Roald Dahl has been read. My favourite read from childhood (apart from The Faraway Tree series) was the Famous Five…which, surprise, surprise is another Blyton book 
Amazing! OK, I don’t exactly adore the dress itself (reminds me of Barbie bling), but I do admire its cunning. Thanks for sharing.