World Book Day
Thursday is World Book Day across the UK. It may be a dreaded day of fancy dress nightmares for most, but it's also a celebration of writing, illustration and imagination that encourages creativity and freedom in our kids. We love the classics, such as Roald Dahl, Beatrix Potter, Shirley Hughes, Julia Donaldson, and Topsy and Tim, and nowadays there's even more to choose from. Children's books are bright, exciting and often magical escapes for our kids, so finding lots to read is essential. Thankfully, there's a few websites we love which supply lots of great books perfect for bedtime stories:
'The home of captivating storytelling', Small Print is a family-run online store passionate about selling imaginative and creative books and prints that both parents and kids will love. There's also a Book Club, in which you can buy bundles of books ideal for particular age groups, making it super easy to get it right.
Burp Boutique is your one-stop shop for bright, bold and unique books, toys and clothes. Priding themselves on being an alternative to the high street, they've got a selection of books ranging all the way from Bizzy Bear's adventures to Goblin Kings and Superheroes with feelings, all with bright and exciting illustrations.
Originally named after a beloved childhood toy, Bobby Rabbit speciailises in books, toys and accessories that little ones will love, even when they're bigger. They've got a big selection of books from new releases to some re-imagined classics. There's The Jungle Book, Alice in Wonderland and even A Midsummer Night's Dream all recreated with gorgeous child-friendly illustrations, perfect for introducing your kids to your favourite stories. There's also a 'Bedtime Stories' section, which combines style inspiration with fun storytelling for the grown-ups - what more could you want?
Chickadee Lit is a blog run by teacher, and mom-of-three, Megan. Determined to make storytime spectacular for busy parents and their kids, Megan writes about book recommendations and her top tips for reading with kids. You can also follow her over on Instagram for all the bookish inspiration.
For older kids who are excited to delve into fiction, there's lots of options for novels aimed specifically at them. David Walliams has recently become a best-selling author with his children's novels, and singer-turned-author Tom Fletcher recently released his first novel after writing for younger readers. One of my old favourites Jacqueline Wilson introduces pre-teens to the world of teenage friendship and childhood challenges, whilst author of We're Going On A Bear Hunt Michael Rosen introduces kids to poetry over on his YouTube channel.
There's loads more book-related inspiration over on Instagram, so there's really no excuse not to get reading. Some of our favourites are JSYAMSEK, KidArtLit, Kids.Books.We.Love, and kidsbookstagram.
And finally, if you're stuck for last-minute motivation for tomorrow's fancy dress, head over to This Lady Land for 5 super easy ideas!
