Children's Book Review - Hullabaloo by Gordon Volke

Hullabaloo


From a donkey called Drew, to hopping bunnies with grass to chew, this rowdy group of animals at the zoo are making a hullabaloo! Children will delight in this enchanting storybook, with humorous text and lively illustrations. Each spread describes each of the animals and adds another, resulting in chaos that is bound to amuse new and emerging readers and ensuring that this title is guaranteed to be picked up time and time again.

Price:  £5.39

Available from:  Top That Publishing

Suitable from: 3 to 5 yrs

Initial Reaction:  Great illustrations

Pros:

• Really funny
• It rhymes which I love.
• Kept BG’s attention
• Great Illustrations

Cons:

• None

Value for money? Average

Overall Reaction:  BG really enjoys this book; it’s funny and keeps her attention. She asked to read it quite often.  Big thumbs up from us

It is also available as a PDF download 

By Carol

Help Dora Help

BG is a huge fan of Dora the Nick JR, actually so I am. BG can now count to 10 in Spanish! 


If you haven't seen it Dora solves problems with the help of her friends Boots the Monkey and Backpack. She is bilingual and teaches children basic Spanish. 

Nick Jr with the support of The Princes Foundation for Children and the Arts has just launched the Help Dora Help Campaign.  Pre Schools and Nursery's can register for a free activity pack.


The free activity pack, developed by Nick Jr. education experts, follows the Early Years Foundation Stage development goals and provides stimulating learning opportunities with the theme of Dora the Explorer’s adventures. It contains six activity session plans, a practitioner’s guide and other teaching aides to encourage pre-schoolers to use their imagination, solve problems and develop their sense of physical adventure.

They can also apply for a £20,000 Dora Award Fund. 


The award fund allows pre-schools and nurseries to apply for a grant of up to £20,000 for educational and learning purposes. Runners up will be awarded discovery and learning equipment packages and Dora the Explorer will visit a selection of the successful nurseries. There will also be the opportunity for the nurseries to be featured on Nick Jr.  

Nurseries and Pre-Schools have until 22nd July to apply so let yours know now!


For full details and T&C visit the Help Dora Help Page. 

The Winners of the Pumpaloons are...

Carolina Johnson

Anna Aird

Well done!

The Winner of The Baby Peace is...

Karen Latif

Well done !!

Tried & Tested Travel and Holiday Products

Yantra Mat 

Price:  £33.56

Available from:  vit-shop.co.uk and other online retailers.

Suitable from: Adult use only

Initial Reaction:  “The Yantra Mat works on the principle of acupressure”.  It's a lovely looking mat rolled up into a handy tubular bag, rather as a yoga mat would.  When it is unrolled, the surface is covered in lots of 'spiked flowers' that work in a way similar to the old fashioned bed of nails.  I was excited to try this, because I had been suffering extreme anxiety and tension, and it claims to help this, as well as boosting sleep, energy level and helping general aches and pains. 

Pros: I was sceptical, really sceptical, but I have given it a good bash over the period of a month or so and it does work.  On the nights I use it, I seem to sleep better and wake more alert and the pains I was getting in my jaw have vanished.  I wrapped it round my head one night for a bit, and t gave me a strangely pleasant sensation.

Cons: It's spiky!  I wanted to use it without a t-shirt on but I couldn’t bear the pain.  I caught my finger on one of the spikes and it bled, so it's best to keep it out of the reach of children I think.

Value for money? Thirty-three quid for getting rid of tension? Definitely.

Overall Reaction: It's a strange concept, and you do have to use it regularly to reap the rewards, but the rewards are great.

Ideal for jet lag!

By Catherine 

Ways I have earned money (as I no longer work?!) since having my kids

I have been very busy earning money over the last 6 years of ‘not working’

• I have sold old books on Amazon
• Sold old highchairs, clothes bundles, cots and buggies on eBay
• I have sold my second hand baby /child stuff at NCT sales
• I have done online surveys
• I have done a very occasional lecture/teaching day on a freelance basis for m y old job
• I have done TONNES of car boot stalls
• I have run a Tiny talk baby signing business  1 morning per week – which I then sold for profit
• I have written a book and had it published
• I have been involved in market research groups
• I have mystery shopped
• I have developed my blog which now features the occasional sponsored post
• I have marked essays for my old work place on a freelance basis

You're totally worth it, but I'm a bit tired!

It’s a busy life being a stay at home mum!!!   In fact I know very few stay at home mums who don’t have to earn money.

I remember talking about this with my lovely mum and saying it seemed so unfair that it was so hard to manage on one wage these days. She laughed and said it’s always been hard, people were just less materialistic years ago and didn’t expect so much or desire so much. She told me she had done many things to afford to be a stay at home mum, hand sewing, stuffing envelopes, offering childcare. Sounds familiar!

What do you do to earn a bit extra?


By Becky at Baby Budgeting 

Out, About and Things to Do - Hoar Park Children’s Farm

Hoar Park Children’s Farm

Address: Hoar Park Farm, Ansley, Nuneaton. Warwickshire. CV10 OQU

Entry Fee: £2.50  (adults) £2.00 (children, under 3’s free, I think) plus 50p per feedbag.  Parking is free

Opening hours: March – October: 10am-5pm every day, November –February 10am-4pm every day

Suitable For: Everyone