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Kelly

Children’s Summer reading basket

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Our Summer reading basket is full of beautiful books to complement the season and the Australian landscape.

Summer for us is usually bright blue skies, long grasses washed to a yellow-white colour and a blazing sun. And although we have had some soaringly hot days this year (up into the 40s), we’ve also enjoyed wonderful storms bringing cooling relief, with weeks of more gentle temperatures (in the early 20s).

My children love exploring our reading basket each time it is changed. The books I make available follow the seasons and festivals of the year, helping us maintain a rhythm to our days.

Books in our Summer reading basket

Rules of Summer

by Shaun Tan

A new book for Max, about the rules children make up for their games through Summer. An intriguing book to spark the imagination, filled with illustrations of Summer landscapes.

Max is really rather taken with this story and with puzzling out the rules!

All Through the Year
by Jane Godwin and Anna Walker

Follow an Australian family through their year. Long days in January at the beach, cooling air in March as the leaves turn colour, and the shortest day and longest night in June. This book relates the seasons to our part of the world with whimsical illustrations and a lovely rhythm.

A lovely story that could be added to any seasonal reading basket.

A Year On Our Farm
by Penny Matthews and Andrew McLean

Nature and the seasons are explored through an Australian family’s life on a farm is this lovely story. With little bits of humour to capture the imagination.

This is one of Max’ favourite stories, and again could be added to any seasonal reading basket.

Today we have No Plans
by Jane Godwin and Anna Walker

A book that takes us through what can be a busy family week, ending with a wonderfully amazing day in which there are no plans!

To us, Summer is like a day with no plans ~ as it stretches on, people are more relaxed and days less structured.


Pip the Gnome
by Admar Kwant

This simple board book takes us through the seasons with Pip the Gnome. We meet his friends the robin in Summer and a wren in Winter. This book is not based in Australia, but translates well because it does not anchor the seasons to the months of the Northern Hemisphere.

It is one of Ruby’s favourites, and a good bedtime read.

Two Summers
by John Heffernan and Freya Blackwood

This story contrasts two Summers on the farm, when a friend, Rick visits. One year they play in the dam and help with the animals. The following Summer there is a drought and things are tough.

Many parts of Australia are in drought and this story nicely illustrates the impact.

Many of these enjoyable books were recommended by my friend Jackie from My Little Bookcase. I find it rather hard to resist the books she recommends! Pop on over to see for yourself *grin*

What books do you have in your Summer reading basket?

Happy reading,
Kelly

January 23, 2014 by

Memories

 

My older brother Mathew passed away unexpectedly towards the end of last year. It is hard to think about, let alone experience. And this is why I have been away from this space.

Mat and I lived a long way from each other, but kept in touch by calling each other every few weeks. He loved to get a rise out of me by talking politics, and we chatted about our kids and the things we were up to.

I’ve been thinking of Mat a lot, and thought I would share some memories and photos here…

Memories

Mathew’s first birthday

~ my brothers and I grew up playing in the pine forest behind our home. We would spend hours up there, making cubby houses, climbing trees and having adventures. One day my younger brother stepped on a rusty old house nail and couldn’t walk home, Mathew carried him all the way.

~ during one primary school Easter holiday, Mat and my younger brother fed their Easter chocolates to the horse up the road. I am sure this wasn’t good for the horse, but it really puzzled me – why would you give away chocolate?

Mathew at my wedding

~ one Winter we went to the beach to visit my grandparents who were holidaying there, and even though it was really cold, my brothers and I (spurred on by Mathew) ran into the sea fully dressed! We had a ball, until we got out and realised how freezing it was! Luckily there was a warm fire and hot chocolate to warm us up again.

~ Mat liked making up great games. We had a few we played regularly while growing up. The balloon game was one of my favourites (and I am sure it is a game played by kids everywhere!). We had to keep the balloon off the ground for as long as we could, by passing it between each other, making it hard for the next person to get. If it was your turn to keep it in the air and it touched the ground you were out. We played this game often in the Winter and it is possible a few light shades may have been broken!

~ Another great game he made up was a grass rolling game. We had to roll down the grassy hill next to our home and roll over each other too! I can’t quite remember the rules, but I sure do remember the fun we had!

Mathew in the Army

Every now and again, I find myself having imaginary conversations with Mat, when I read a news article and know we would have loved to debate the issue. And Dino Boy and I have been enjoying one of Mat’s favourite childhood stories, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie.

Mathew at my wedding

I think that is all I would like to share for now, but also that I am ready to be back in this space.

Warmly, Kelly

January 20, 2014 by