Recommended
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Children
BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
100 AUSTRALIAN POEMS FOR CHILDREN by Kathryn Griffith & Claire Scott-Mitchell
From emus to magic puddings, this feast of Australian poems for children is fresh and familiar.
ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND by Helen Oxenbury
For over a hundred years, Lewis Carroll's classic story of logic and lunacy has delighted young and old alike. More abundantly illustrated than previous editions, this award-winning interpretation is full of warmth and humour. The whole approach is contemporary and accessible: Alice herself is a child of today - casually dressed, personable, spirited. In Helen Oxenbury's hands, the topsy-turvy world of Wonderland is a wondrous place indeed.
BRINGING DOWN THE MOON by Jonathan Emmett
Mole thinks the moon is the most beautiful thing he has ever seen - and he wants it, but bringing down the moon is not as easy as he thinks. There are wonderful illustrations in this delightful story.
FAIRY TALES by Berlie Doherty
The twelve stories chosen by Berlie Doherty for this collection are among the best-loved and most enchanting of all. These classic tales have enthralled children all over the world for hundreds of years; in this beautiful book, the spell is deeper and more dazzling than ever. The fairy tales are: Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty in the Forest, Beauty and the Beast, Rumpelstiltskin, Rapunzel, Snow White, Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp, Little Red Riding Hood, The Fire-Bird, Hansel and Gretel, The Frog Prince, The Wild Swans.
GRANDMA'S SHOES by Libby Hathorn
This is a delightful story about the death of a loved one.
GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU by Sam McBratney
Sometimes, when you love someone very, very much, you want to find a way of describing how great your feelings are, but as Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare discover, love is not an easy thing to measure.
HAPPY BIRTH DAY - by Robie Harris
This beautifully illustrated book tells a child about how he was born. It shows the loving interaction of both mother and father with the newborn. The baby is shown breastfeeding and the overall message is how much this baby is loved.
HELLO BABY by Jenni Overend
A celebration of the birth of a baby at home, beautifully illustrated by Julie Vivas. This is a simple, sensitive and positive story about birth.
HI NEW BABY ! by Robie Harris
A sensitive and visually sumptuous portrayal of a domestic milestone - the arrival of a second child.
HOW WAS I BORN? by Lennart Nilsson & Katarina Swanberg
This book is based on the actual questions of a five year old girl who is to be a sister. Nilsson's photographs illustrate her questions: about how big the baby is, how he eats, and so on. By comparing the baby and his experiences to the young girl’s daily life, this book will be of great assistance in explaining birth to young children.
LIFETIMES: THE BEAUTIFUL WAY TO EXPLAIN DEATH TO CHILDREN by Bryan Mellonie & Robert Ingpen
A moving book for children of all ages, and parents too. It explains life and death in a sensitive, caring, beautiful way, and explains that all living things have their own special lifetimes.
MAGGIE'S WEANING by Mary Joan Deutschbein
Maggie's new little sister has just been born. Maggie explains to us why her little sister is breastfeeding and all about her own breastfeeding experience. She takes us through the joys of growing bigger and learning how to love without breastfeeding any more.
MICHELE, THE NURSING TODDLER by Jane Pinczuk
With mother's milk and daddy's hugs and special visits from grandparents, Michele blooms from an infant to a toddler, developing confidence and pride along the way. However, even as she becomes more independent, Michele can always return to the warmth of her mother's arms and the love of her family.
MOTHERS ARE EVERYWHERE by Karen Wallace
From the award-winning author of 'Think of an Eel' and 'Scarlette Beane' comes this lyrical and joyful celebration. Each page looks at something special shared between an animal mother and her children, and draws a parallel with a human mother and her baby. It is written in simple text, perfect for sharing, with an exquisite design. This book will make a perfect gift for a mother, grandmother or relative to share.
OLD PIG by Margaret Wild
Old Pig and Granddaughter have lived together for a long, long time. They share everything, including the chores, until the day when Old Pig does not get up as usual for breakfast. Calmly, she puts her affairs in order, then she takes Granddaughter on a last, long walk - looking and listening, smelling and tasting. That night, Old Pig and Granddaughter say goodbye in the best way they know. A tender story of living and loving, giving and receiving: a glorious celebration of the world.
ON MOTHER'S LAP by Ann Herbert Scott
This delightful book captures the love and security a little boy feels as he snuggles on his mother's lap, seeking and receiving reassurance that there will be room for him when his sister is there too.
ON THE DAY YOU WERE BORN by Debra Frasier
A celebration of our natural world as the author takes us across the planet with the moon pulling, the tides rising, the rain falling and a baby being born.
RUNA'S BIRTH: THE DAY MY SISTER WAS BORN - by Uwe Spillman and Inga Kamieth
An ideal book to help children prepare for the birth of a sibling or for children in general as a thoroughly enjoyable story book. It's both an informative non-fiction book, as well as a joyful picture book, told in an easy, understandable and realistic way.
SWEET DREAMS by Cooper Edens & Sheryl Abrams
Contains 36 bedtime wishes for you to share with a child, each accompanied by a vintage children's book illustration. Pull a card, recite the verse together, and slip the card under the pillow as you tuck your loved ones into bed and send them to dreamland.
THE LITTLE PRINCE by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
A pilot forced to land in the Sahara Desert meets a little prince. The wise and enchanting stories the prince tells of his own planet with its three volcanoes and a haughty flower are unforgettable. A strange and wonderful parable for all ages, with superb illustrations by the author, first published in 1945.
THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR by Eric Carle
A classic and much-loved story which will be lots of fun for any child. There are lots of holes for tiny fingers to explore and this interactive book teaches children about numbers, days of the week and time and is beautifully illustrated.
WE LIKE TO NURSE by Chia Martin
A gorgeous book reinforcing positive messages about breastfeeding for children. This book features large bright pictures of animals and short, simple sentences that make it ideal for reading to toddlers.
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE by Maurice Sendak
The story of Max's adventures when he sails away to the land where 'Wild Things' are has become an acknowledged classic of children's books.
WHO IS THE WORLD FOR? by Tom Pow
Tom Pow's poetic, resonant text, accompanied by Robert Ingpen's stunning naturalistic art, is a rousing celebration of the world with its many diverse creatures and habitats. All over the earth, in deep roomy seas, on high green trees, in ice and snow, baby animals ask their parents "who is the world for?" In a house in the city, the boy asks his father too, receiving the same reply: "The world is for you."
WILL THERE BE A LAP FOR ME? by Dorothy Corey
A beautiful story about Kyle and his special place, his mother's lap, which is getting smaller as the new baby grows inside her. Kyle wonders whether there will be a lap for him, but comes to realise that there are still special times for him with his mother.
YOU AND ME, LITTLE BEAR by Martin Waddell
Little Bear wants to play, but Big Bear needs to gather wood, fetch water, and tidy the Bear Cave. So LIttle Bear patiently plays all his bear games by himself. But when Big Bear takes a break, instead of playing with Little Bear, he falls asleep! What will Little Bear do now? With fond understanding, Martin Waddell and Barbara Firth create another classic tale that rings with familiar feelings for children as it offers parents a gentle reminder to make time to play.
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CREATIVE PLAY
CREATIVE PLAY by Dorothy Einon
This book provides hundreds of ideas for play and games; and information on how to involve your child playfully in day-to-day adult activities, advice on the best children's books and lots more...
MAGICAL CHILD by Joseph Chilton Pearce
This classic work questions common attitudes and practices regarding childbirth, parenting and educating children. The author says human children are constantly seeking new knowledge and experiences, which is how they develop intelligence. He advocates valuing of 'fantasy play and magical thinking', where children do things that do not make sense to adult minds. He warns against imposing adult logic on children, arguing magical thinking fuels cognitive development.
THE GENIUS OF PLAY by Sally Jenkinson
Celebrating the spirit of childhood with Sally Jenkinson, an advocate for the importance of children's play. She is a former Steiner kindergarten teacher, who lectures, writes and advises on early childhood issues.
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SPECIAL NEEDS
AFTER THE TEARS by Robin Simons
In this book,parents talk about raising a child with a disability and although a difficult subject to write about, this is positive and easy to read.
BREASTFEEDING SPECIAL CARE BABIES by Sandra Lang
A very thorough book which includes the basics of positioning and attachment, the milk supply and relactation, expressing and storing breastmilk, breastfeeding and common drugs, and the full range of breast conditions and problems and how to resolve them. More far reaching than the title suggests.
CARING FOR YOUR PREMATURE BABY by Alan Klein & Jill Alison Ganon
This practical resource covers: Coping with the complex emotions that often accompany an early birth; how to be an active participant in caring for your baby in the neonatal unit; understanding medical complications and the range of possible treatments; preparing for that wonderful day when you take your baby home.
DIFFERENT KIDS; GROWING UP WITH ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER - by Sue Dengate
This compelling book tells how a former teacher and mother found surprisingly successful solutions to her children's behaivour and learning problems, some of which were associated with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). A focus on real life case histories makes this book a friendly, practical manual. ADD is explained and all possible treatments and medications are elaborated upon. All aspects of ADD from television to allergies and age difference to behaviour management are targeted.
DOWN SYNDROME: A PROMISING FUTURE, TOGETHER by Terry Hassold & David Patterson (Eds)
This book provides a comprehensive and up-to-date look at life with Down Syndrome. Designed to meet the needs of parents and professionals, it addresses a variety of critical medical, developmental, educational and vocational issues. This includes advocacy skills. The editors also cover controversial and high-profile issues surrounding alternative and non-conventional therapies.
PREMATURE BABIES by W H Kitchen et al
This book brings about meaningful two-way communication between the parents of newborn baby and the caregivers supporting them. Includes descriptions of the difficulties faced by premature babies; positive suggestions and much more.
RITALIN FREE KIDS - by Judyth Reichenberg
YOUR PREMATURE BABY - 0-5 YEARS by Nikki Bradford
A definitive guide to every aspect of having a child who is born too soon. It is the only book that informs and supports parents right from their babies' too-early birth and then on into their growing years.
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