Stuff from Christmas that worked out: Klutz Spiral Draw and good deal on Melissa and Doug reusable sticker pad

I was going to say this is a good one to have on hand for birthday presents. It can be for a boy or a girl, looks reasonably sized when wrapped and is clearly not cheap crap, but when I checked the price on Amazon and Book Depository it had gone up quite a lot since I bought ours before Christmas. I paid around £8.50 but its now around the £12.00 mark. Worth keeping an eye on though, as the prices do change a fair bit on these sites.

Anyway, it turned out to be the cheapest way I could get spirograph stuff, the original being way more expensive. It works too - very easy to use and everyone in the house queued up for a turn. I'd definitely recommend it for ages six to ten.

Another deal available for for birthday presents, this time for younger kids is the Melissa and Doug Reusable Sticker Pad: Habitats. Its a good size, costs only €3.65 and like most Melissa and Doug products, is nice quality and well designed.

The Birthday Boys by Beryl Bainbridge and ice playing

I didn't know what this was about when I borrowed it from the library, I've become accustomed to grabbing a few books whilst keeping one eye on my youngest, and hoping for the best. Anyway, it is fantastic. About Scotts 1912 trip to Antartica, its one of those historically books that has all those tiny day to day details that make for a fascinating and often funny read.

And coincidentally, on the same theme, ice playing on the other side of the kitchen table. 

I got this idea from What Do We Do All Day. Just put a few toys and some water in a baking tray and leave it in the freezer for an hour or so. Its not not messy, but its only water, so no big deal. 

D'Aulaires' Book Of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire

I got this for one of my middle boys the Christmas before last. Having just come across the D'Aulaires books, I was blown away by how lovely they were and convinced myself that only a bad parent could resist buying this one. Even as I wrapped it I felt there was a good chance it might not wow him and labeled it From Mum and Dad lest it be considered not Santa worthy. But no, my nine year old was very happy with it. To be fair, he has always been into monsters and stories of the mythical variety, but it was an unexpected pleasure to see him poring over this day after day. It made up for the many times I despaired at the sight of him glued  to my laptop watching multiple episodes of Fairly Odd Parents and similar crap on YouTube.

I got his brother the audio version and can safely say all my kids must, if even just by osmosis, know the book off by heart. Read by Matthew Broderick, Sidney Poitier, Paul Newman and Kathleen Turner it has been the soundtrack of their bedroom for the past year. And, to make things even better, my friend Michelle of My Book Affair pointed out that a detailed knowledge of the classics will help throughout secondary school, particularly in Leaving Certificate English. I don't have a teenager yet but have a pretty good feeling that getting this knowledge in before then then is a good idea.

Published in 1962, I've heard this book called the gold standard of Greek Myths. And its a stunningly beautiful book.  On the days I have served weetabix for dinner and know tomorrows lunch bags will be bulked out with fig rolls, I comfort myself that if this book has been looked at, at least their little artistic souls are well fed.

Tuesday by David Weisner

Just a short post today. If you're looking for something about frogs who change t.v. channels with their tongues - this is a good one. It got me a few minutes of peace today anyway.

What was I Scared of? by Dr. Seuss

What was I Scared of? is the last story in The Sneetches and other stories and is one we have read quite a few times recently.

Its about a little Dr. Seuss creature who sees the terrifying sight of a pair of empty green trousers when he is out at night.

He has always been untroubled in the dark but now, these ghostly trousers appear everywhere. And understandably, they give him the willies.

But then, one evening, whilst picking a peck of snide, he sees that they are as scared of him, as he is of them. And they say "hi!" and make friends.

Completely daft and wonderful. 

P.s. I saw The Sneetches recommended on Dinner A Love Story. A great blog for kids books and recipes.

Heckedy Peg by Audrey Wood, illustrated by Don Wood

The illustrations are the reason I bought this book- straight after seeing these pages on the amazon look inside thingy, I clicked buy.

But once we got it, it was the story that made us all want to re-read it. Based on a sixteenth century children's game, this is the tale of a mother and her seven children, all named after the days of the week, and a wicked old woman called Heckedy Peg.

It is deliciously old school. The children are unsupervised, they play with fire, they play beside an open fire and they let a terrifying old witch into their home while their mother is out.

It all starts with a shopping trip. Before she goes the (slim, beautiful - after seven kids?) mother asks each child what they would like from the shop. And once she departs with her basket, Heckedy Peg arrives at the window.

With little difficulty she persuades the children to let her inside, so she can light her pipe.

Whereupon she turns each of them into different foods that she plans to eat for dinner! But she underestimates their mother, who is hot on her heels.

Look in the basket - everything the children requested is in there. And when she is told that the only way to save Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday is to guess which food each of them have become, these are her clues.  Its a very clever story, with just the right amount of danger and excitement.  (And its €4.50!)

Stuff from Christmas that worked out: Melissa and Doug Billy Magnetic Dress Up

When I was a little girl I really loved dolls. And since having boys, have kept an eagle eye out for any of them wanting one, because doll shopping would give me such pleasure. But there's no fighting nature and my first three sons were resolutely not interested. A power ranger figure was the closest I got. My fourth, just before his third birthday, saw one on a television add and started showing a little enthusiasm. I was thrilled! It would be the perfect birthday present! We were camping in France at the time and the nearest toy shop had beauty: the Corolle Bath Girl who came with her own blow-up arm bands - ideal for playing with in the pool. And SO cute!  I was very happy setting off from the camp-site with him in the back of the car to get it. But it was not to be, and we returned an hour a later with one happy boy and his new...chainsaw.

So, I think this is as doll-like as I'll get: the Melissa and Doug Billy Magnetic Dress Up. His Granny gave it to him for Christmas and so far, its been a success. I just leave it on the kitchen table and say nothing. He wanders in, it catches his eye and bingo - its time for me to put on the kettle because I know I'll have fifteen minutes to myself!