|
|
| Book Reviews |
A selection of recent book reviews is shown below.
To view our complete list, please select a category and click "Show Reviews".
You may also add your own review (requires registration).
|
| The Mum Shop |
CECI JENKINSON
£4.99, Faber
First in a new series, ‘Oli and Skipjack’s Tales of Trouble’. Ever wish you could swap your mum for one who would let you do whatever you liked? Oli is delighted to find a mum shop that lets him do just that — or rather it lets him swap his mum for another one, but it doesn’t work out quite as expected. After his first attempt goes wrong, his second seems too good to be true. She drives a tank and will train him to be a secret agent, but she has ulterior motives and plans to use him in her anti-children plot. Will Oli realise the truth in time to stop her? Will he regret swapping his mum? All is revealed in this very funny, action packed story. |
| More in Children's Fiction... |
| What to Buy for Your Baby |
Liat Hughes Joshi and Caroline Cosgrove
£9.99, White Ladder Press
Publication date 8th Sept 2008: You’ve done it! You’re having a baby and you’ve told everyone the joyful news.
Suddenly there’s a bewildering amount of advice from friends, family and complete strangers on what you absolutely have to get for the new arrival. Of the enormous and ever-growing range of products available, it’s hard to know which are essential and which will simply gather dust. Even basic items like dummies can perplex – will it be orthodontic or cherry teat, latex or silicone? Do you want that expensive nappy disposal unit or should you just settle for a plain old bin?
This chatty and informative guide by Liat Hughes Joshi and Caroline Cosgrove explains what parents need for a new baby and how to avoid spending a fortune on necessary equipment. The unique combination of a parenting writer and the founder of acclaimed baby shopping service ‘Baby Concierge’ adds up to unrivalled advice for mothers-to-be and their families, by demystifying the process and offering tips on what is, and isn’t, worth buying.
The book is packed with practical information, tips and guidance on best buys, taking into account different lifestyles, budgets and preferences. It’s up to date with all the latest ‘must haves’ of the baby world, and a read through its pages will save the reader time and money by advising on how to make informed decisions while avoiding being overwhelmed by the amount of choices now available when it comes to baby gear.
|
| More in Parenting... |
| Food For Free |
Richard Mabey
£4.99, Collins Gem
Fans of Food for Free will be delighted at this new format -- ideal for carrying in a rucksack.
This new format of a 30 year old best-selling title provides a portable guide for all those who enjoy what the countryside has to offer.
Over 100 plants are listed, fully illustrated and described, together with recipes and other fascinating information about their use throughout the ages. The recipes are listed so that you can plan your foray with a feast in mind.
This is the ideal book for both nature-lovers and cooks, particularly with today's emphasis on the freshest and most natural of foods. There is also practical advice on how to pick plus the countryside laws and regulations on picking wild plants. |
| More in Cookery... |
| Ultimate Guide to Gaelic Football |
Gavin Mortimer
€9.99, Gill & Macmillan
Want to know how to score goals like Peter Canavan? Or how to save them like Diarmaid Martin? Top tips throughout this book show children how to improve their playing skills.
· Learn how to perfect hand and fist passes
· Improve tackling skills including the shoulder charge and slapping the ball from an opponent’s hand
· Practise punt, hook and penalty kicks
· Learn what the referee, umpires and linesmen do and what their signals mean
|
| More in Irish / Gaelic Books... |
| Provence & the Cote d'Azur with your family |
Frommer's
£12.99, Wiley
From lavender fields to sandy beaches, discover a destination with:
Picturesque hilltop villages with jaw-dropping views
Golden beaches bordering a dazzling Mediterranean Sea
Fast, exciting and glitzy resorts
Fairytale castles and gothic palaces to explore
Local food delicacies to delight all generations
Breathtaking nature reserves and parks
Let Frommer's show you where your family can:
Experience some of the most popular festivals in Europe
Discover artworks by Matisse, Picasso and Renoir
Try tree climbing, canyoning or white-water rafting
Enjoy a game of French boules with the locals
See hundreds of butterflies or visit a 'bird hotel'
See where the 'Man in the Iron Mask' was kept prisoner
Create your own unique perfume
We all know that planning a family holiday can be a nightmare. Which restaurants will cook off the menu to please small fussy appetites? Which beaches have clean toilets and safe bathing?
This is exactly the kind of specific information the With Your Family travel guides offer. They're packed with essential 'on the ground' advice on planning a holiday to please every member of the family - whether you're travelling with babies, small children or teenagers.
Each listed destination, activity and accommodation has been visited and tested - and only truly family friendly entries are featured. For more family fun, download the Frommer's Holiday Fun Pack at www.frommers.co.uk
|
| More in Holidays... |
| The Importance of Being Kennedy |
Laurie Graham
£7.99, Harper Collins
Nora Brennan is a country girl from Westmeath. When she lands herself a position as nursery maid to a family in Brookline, Massachusetts, she little thinks it will place her at the heart of American history. But it's the Kennedy family. In 1917 Joseph Kennedy is on his way to his first million and he has plans to found a dynasty and ensure that his baby son, Joe Junior, will be the first Catholic President of the United States.
As nursemaid to all nine Kennedy children, Nora witnesses every moment, public and private. She sees the boys coached at their father's knee to believe everything they'll ever want in life can be bought. She sees the girls trained by their mother to be good Catholic wives. World War II changes everything.
At the outbreak of war the Kennedys are living the high life in London, where Joseph Kennedy is the American ambassador. His reaction is to send the entire household back across the Atlantic to safety, but Nora, surprised by midlife love, chooses to stay in England and do her bit. Separated from her Kennedys by an ocean she nevertheless remains the warm, approachable sun around which the older children orbit: Joe, Jack, Rosemary, and in particular Kick, who throws the first spanner in the Kennedy works by marrying an English Protestant.
Laurie Graham's poignant new novel views the Kennedys from below stairs, with the humour and candour that only an ex-nursemaid dare employ. The Irish connection will fascinate and draw you in - bringing history to life in a way that other books can only dream of! |
| More in Books for Grown Ups... |
| Child Obesity - A Parent's Guide |
Judith Manson
£8.99, Need2know
Child obesity has been described as a ticking time bomb, which is now as big a threat to society as global warming. Overweight children are never out of the news and obesity rates are soaring.
This comprehensive guide to obesity, its causes and effects, shows parents, carers and those concerned about children’s eating habits, how to defuse the time bomb and tackle obesity.
Using expert advice and the latest information, this book will help readers to find solutions to obesity by offering practical advice and achievable strategies which can be used to help children obtain a healthy weight, develop good eating habits and an active lifestyle. Child friendly recipes, food facts and progress charts are included.
Whether you think your child may be obese, or want to find out how you can prevent obesity, this essential guide is packed with all the latest facts you will need to help children live healthily.
Key Points
What Causes Child Obesity
Diagnosing Obesity
Physical and Mental Effects of Obesity
Tackling & Beating Obesity
Healthy Eating
Exercise and Active Lifestyles
Readership
Parents, carers and teachers.
Contents:-
Introduction
1. What Do We Mean by Obese?
2. The Causes and Effects of Obesity
3. How Can I Tell if My Child is Overweight or Obese?
4. Getting Ready to Tackle Obesity.
5. Small Steps to Success
6. The Basics of Healthy Eating
7. Making Healthy Eating Happen
8. Getting Active, Staying Active
9. What Will Success Look Like?
10. Useful Contacts and Resources
|
| More in Health... |
| Something Beginning with P |
New Poems from Irish Poets by Seamus Cashman
€14.99, O'Brien Press
Now available in paperback at just under 15 euros for the very first time – this spectacular and highly acclaimed collection of specially commissioned new poems for children is already an established bestseller.
Featuring work by 103 leading Irish poets, this beautifully illustrated anthology is a book for the entire family to treasure - and reccomended for every primary classroom!
With stunning illustrayions, this magnificent anthology includes poems from: Seamus Heaney, Thomas Kinsella, Máighréad Medbh * Paula Meehan * Brendan Kennelly * Michael Longley * Rita Ann Higgins * Matthew Sweeney * Biddy Jenkinson * Desmond O'Grady * Richard Murphy * Nuala ní Dhomhnaill * Celia de Fréine * Cathal Ó Searcaigh * Frank McGuinness * Julie O'Callaghan * Tom McIntyre * Paul Muldoon * Dermot Bolger * Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin * Frank Ormsby * Siobhán Campbell * Dennis O'Driscoll * John Montague * Moya Cannon * Peter Fallon * Mary O'Malley * Micheal O'Siadhail * John F Deane
Published by the O'Brien Press in association with Poetry Ireland. Supported by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
|
| More in Schools... |
| The Games Book: How to Play the Games of Yesterday |
Huw Davies
£5.00, Michael O'Mara Books
Have you ever struggled to remember your favourite childhood game so you can teach it to your own children? Do you love to reminisce about the good old days when it was all just good old-fashioned fun? The Games Book has the answers.
Packed full of traditional indoor and outdoor games from yesteryear, it contains something for family members of all ages to enjoy. Each game has instructions and some hints and tips for beginners and there are fantastic illustrations throughout. An ideal companion for rainy days and family holidays.
With a classic 1950s retro look, The Games Book is a great gift for every family member.
Entries include:
• Spooky games – Murder in the Dark
• Playground games – What’s the Time Mr Wolf?
• Swimming games – Marco Polo
• Card games – Gin Rummy
• Paper games – Consequences
• Ball games – Sevens
A fantastic compilation of traditional indoor and outdoor games, played by generations of youngsters and their parents before them.
|
| More in Children Activities... |
| World War II |
R G GRANT
£17.99, DK Hb
Subtitled ‘The events and their impact on real people’, this book clearly explains the lead up to the war and the political
background behind it and then goes through all the major events and developments. It explains the impact on people at home and has a little bit about the after-effects. There are enough words to be informative without being daunting and they are aided by lots of photographs, maps, charts and timelines. Aimed at older juniors and above, it gives a fascinating insight in an important part of our history and includes a DVD with dramatic eyewitness testimonies and live footage. |
| More in Children's Learning... |
| Daddy Hug |
Tim Warnes
£5.99, Harper Collins
A beautiful picture book for parents and children to share all about the love between a father and his child.
From spiky hedgehogs and slimy snakes to bouncy sheep and buzzing bees. . .everbody loves their Daddy Hug!
Beautiful family gift to celebrate Father's Day...or any day! |
| More in Seasonal... |
| Doctor Who: Wishing Well |
Written by Trevor Baxendale/Read by Debbie Chazen
£9.99, BBC Audiobooks
The old village well is just a curiosity – something to attract tourists intrigued by stories of lost treasure, or a visitor just making a wish, except something alien and terrifying is lurking inside the well, something so utterly monstrous that it causes nothing but death and destruction…
Who knows the truth about the well? Who wishes to unleash the hideous force it contains? What terrible consequences will follow the search for a legendary treasure hidden at the bottom? No one wants to believe the Doctor’s warnings about the deadly horror lying in wait – but soon they’ll wish they had…
Featuring the Doctor and Martha as played by David Tennant and Freema Agyeman in the hit series from BBC Television, Wishing Well is read by Debbie Chazen, who played Foon Van Hoff in the TV episode Voyage of the Damned.
Debbie Chazen reads this gripping story of a terrifying force that lurks in an ancient wishing well over two hours and 30 minutes, on 2 CD's. |
| More in Audio CD Books... |
|
|
|
Buy Now!
Buy Now!
Buy Now!
Buy Now!
Buy Now!
Buy Now!
Buy Now!