Like everyone I have had a complicated with food in my life. I grew up with Bridget Jones and Jessica Simpson both being called fat. The toxic body culture of the 90s and 00s has a lot to answer for. I like to think this has all gone away, but it hasn’t. Women’s bodies are still judged and constantly up for discussion. Is it any wonder so many women, and men, have eating disorders or an unhealthy attitude to food?
Bite Sized Peace is a fantastic book by Clinical Psychologist Dr Romi Ran. Full of information, help and logic. Dr Ran has her own methods which are proven to help people love their bodies and develop a healthy attitude to food. There are many gems to find in this book, and while I have managed to love my body enough and finally have my weight in control, this book is an essential resource for anyone struggling with any food-related issue. Just brilliant.
Why this book matters
A MUST-READ book for anyone finding themselves in a negative relationship with food and body image
Over 1 million Brits have an eating disorder, such as anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating. (NHS, 2021)
A study shows 30% of adolescents report that they restrict their eating or engage in binge eating. (Journal of Adolescent Health, 2021; International Journal of Eating Disorders, 2020)
Author Dr Romi Ran is a Clinical Psychologist and has worked with countless clients to help them obtain complete freedom from the constraints of disordered eating and body obsession
The way we see and eat food starts in the mind and is centred in self-worth – Dr Ran offers mindfulness eating techniques including helping people understand their hunger signals
In her brand new book Clinical Psychologist, Dr Romi Ran, shares techniques she has used and developed working with people challenged with food, eating and body image. Bite Sized Peace is a groundbreaking guide designed to help readers nurture a healthier relationship with their body and food and teaches how to then apply these transformative concepts to all aspects of your life.
Dr Ran has helped countless individuals to obtain complete freedom from the constraints of disordered eating and body obsession and her book is a culmination of her work helping clients challenge societal views and myths relating to diets, eating and weight. She supports clients to be their own expert and not rely on the advice (or rules) of others to nourish themselves, beginning with the acknowledgement that you are inherently worthy. Dr Ran’s methods include teaching people how to eat when they are hungry; choose foods that nourish their bodies; stop when they are full; and to eat mindfully.
Bite Sized Peace – Change How You Eat, Accept Your Body, Transform Your Life by Dr Romi Ran is out now.
* The long-awaited book from the undisputed doyenne of mum-hacks, Emily Norris *
THINGS I WISH I’D KNOWN:
My hacks for a tidy home, happy kids and a calmer you
Things I Wish I’d Known is the go-to guide for easy and original mum hacks and habits. Packed with honest, gimmick-free and relatable advice to create a more harmonious family life from the much-loved influencer with over a million followers, Emily Norris, it’s the ultimate parenting guide.
Like Emily Morris I am a mum-of-three children. It is full-on and a happy chaos. Parenting is joyful and full of the highest of highs, but it is also hard and relentless. Anything that can make your life easier can make a huge difference. Emily Norris’s book is full of absolute gems I will be incorporating into my life. From slow cooker hot chocolate stations to rainy day hacks Emily Norris is a master of the lifestyle hack.
Things I Wish I’d Known is a fantastic resource to elevate your life and make parenting easier. Few people enjoy doing housework and there is plenty in this book to make it easier. The book is broken into sections and is easy-to-read and find whatever gem you loved again. This book is fantastic resource for parents and I can’t recommend it enough.
“Being a parent is hard. It can be boring and lonely and stressful and it’s OK to say that out loud. But I truly believe that even the mundane side of motherhood can actually be rather lovely: there is joy to be found even in the mundane.
My motherhood journey hasn’t always been plain-sailing. I’d gone from being a busy marketing director to just ‘mummy’. I loved being a full-time mum to my boys, but I missed the adult interaction I’d had at work and, as a result, my self-confidence took a knock. One thing I really enjoyed was getting tips and ideas from other mums on YouTube. Picking up simple tricks while juggling the ups and downs of motherhood saved me precious time, energy and money – they even saved my sanity on more than one occasion!
Every single hack and habit I’ve written about has been tried and tested on my own family and I hope make Things I Wish I’d Known the ultimate go-to resource for all things parenting – and I hope helps make your everyday a little easier.” – Emily Norris
Things I Wish I’d Known is separated into five sections. The first four – Home Sweet Home, Food, Glorious Food, Travel & Holidays, School Rules – are split into two parts: one for hacks (a quick, clever, and often fun solution to a parenting problem and something you can implement right away) and another for habits (a longer term, behavioural and routine-based remedy focussed on running your household as efficiently as possible).
· Rainy day remedies including boredom beating activities such as mess-free painting, the painters’ tape assault course and learning ping-pong
· Nifty ways to tackle that housework to-do list, from the ‘one touch method’ to the essential cleaning products you can make at home
· Timesaving culinary tricks you’ll wish you’d known sooner including tips to make mealtimes easy, delicious easy-to-follow recipes for all the family and yummy snack ideas your kids will love
· The must-read guide to managing the school holidays, from how to survive long journeys, beach hacks and the unexpected essentials you’ve got to take with you
· Top hacks for the school routine, including time-saving tips for navigating the dash to the school gates, hassle-free homework and co-ordinating those extra-curricular activities
In the fifth and final section, Emily looks at some of the ‘bigger picture’ issues around parenting, often discussed on her channel, such as sleep, boundary pushing and post-baby relationships with partners.
And sprinkled throughout the pages are Emily’s ‘Moment For You’ ideas to encourage busy mum’s to press pause on everything else and prioritise yourself for a little while.
Emily Norris, mum of 3 and YouTuber, has been creating positive, upbeat and sanity-saving content for mothers with young families around the world since 2014. She has created a space on the internet to support others in navigating the highs and lows of motherhood through sharing her infamous hacks and habits, all designed to create a more harmonious life for any family.
With over a decade of experience Emily has built a community of over a million followers cementing her reputation as a trusted voice within the industry. Emily is an ambassador for industry giants P&G and has partnered with household brands including, Disney, Microsoft, Sky,Dyson, Google, Tesco, EGO, KiwiCo and HelloFresh to name a few. Emily shares her raw and honest take on motherhood and is an advocate for ‘doing your best’ and is regularly praised by the mainstream media for her ‘mind-blowing’ and ‘genius’ hacks.
Emily’s community spirit was the inspiration behind her YouTube series ‘Hack your Home’. Putting her hacks and habits into practice, the series see’s Emily clean and re-organise the homes of those in need of a helping hand. Emily and her husband Matt have recently completed their dream home renovation which they documented across their home account @emilynorrishome.
Things I Wish I’d Known: My hacks for a tidy home, happy kids and a calmer you by Emily Norris will be published on 7 March 2024 (Ebury, Hardback, £16.99)
The Bookbinder’s Guide to Love by Katherine Garbera
The Bookbinder’s Guide to Love is the ultimate witchy rom-com, set in a magical bookshop and featuring the perfect enemies to lovers romance. Readers who loved The Ex Hex and The Pumpkin Spice Café will love this bewitching storyline, and its spicy romance scenes. Out now.
As a lonely foster child, Serafina Conte sought refuge in handmaking journals – and writing her wishes into their pages. Now, in the witchy shop she shares with her two best friends, her journals have catapulted into the spotlight and are rumoured to manifest remarkable things.
But her plot hits a twist.
After the death of her mentor, Ford Sitwell, her only comfort is the box of antique books he left her. Except Ford’s suspicious grandson, Wes, wants them back! Sera won’t back down, but it’s clear Wes is seeking more – an emotional connection no book can replace. So, he offers to work in her shop for six weeks if she’ll help him get closure by sharing memories of his late grandfather.
Wes may seem grumpy, but he is devastatingly good looking…and maybe even kind. Surely nothing’s going to happen between them, or will Sera’s story take her where she least expected?
The (Fake) Dating Game by Timothy Janovksy
For readers of Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston and The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun, The (Fake) Dating Game is the sizzling, laugh out loud romantic comedy where the fun of a reality show competition meets the undeniable chemistry of two men who are only dating for the cameras.
Things are not going well for Holden James. His chance to audition for his favourite game show, Madcap Market, should have been great – a tribute to his mum, who died six years ago. Instead, he’s destroying the minibar in a grim hotel room… recently dumped and sliding into misery. But at least he has room service. It even comes with a sexy (smart-ass) concierge who arrives with pizza, Monopoly, and rather distracting forearms.
All Holden knows about Leo Min is that he’s beautiful, unexpectedly sympathetic, and the chemistry between them is off the charts. Maybe it’s even enough to convince the show’s casting directors that they’re a real couple. And if they can win the competition and the huge cash prize, all of Holden’s problems – his broken heart, buried grief, and complete lack of money and direction – will be solved.
Of course, nothing ever works out as planned. And love is an entirely different game…
Love Game by Emma Rae
Set in Wimbledon, South West London with a lot of real setting, this one was of particular interest to this SW Londoner.
Can a player on the court be a keeper at home?
Elle’s love language is food. But finding the right kind of work in her industry is difficult. After multiple different stints and temporary work, she lands her dream role: a personal chef to huge tennis star, Nicky Salco. It’s just a bonus that he’s handsome and athletic…but totally off limits.
The pressure is on, and not just in the kitchen. As Nicky trains for hours on the court for Wimbledon, Elle treads carefully around his brutally judgemental fiancée, while also trying to ignore her own boyfriend’s cheating habits.
But the temperature rises when Nicky’s training leads him to get hungry late at night and Elle is the one tasked with keeping his belly full. Despite being worlds apart, their late night rendezvous seem to lead to more than what they intended.
Should they risk the lives they have already built, for the lives they truly want?
A sizzling, forced-proximity sporting romance that fans of Hannah Grace and Ali Hazelwood will fall head over heels for.
It’s out on May 24th and I loved it. Great characters and setting.
Still Unwritten by Caroline Khoury
Loved this. Great characters and story. Drew me in from the first page.
Forty-eight hours to find her passion. Seven days to find his way back on stage. One chance to take a risk on love.
If Fran doesn’t nail this audition for a major TV role, she’s officially done as an actress. She just needs to tap into her inner seductress… who doesn’t seem to exist.
Enter stage right: Jae-seung.
To Fran, he’s just her landlord’s ridiculously hot nephew, helping her rehearse. To the rest of the world, Jae-seung is lead singer of global sensation, JYNKS – and he’s missing in action.
Together, they embark on an international journey of discovery: Fran, to track down her estranged mother and unlock her tightly guarded heart; Jae-seung, to continue (reluctantly) with his tour rehearsals. The chemistry between them is off the charts. But Jae-seung’s life is in South Korea, under strict contracts and constant scrutiny. Would a fling unleash Fran’s passion, or break the heart she’s learning to open?
A fast-paced, forbidden romance for fans of Helen Hoang, Lindsey Kelk and Ali Hazelwood.
Frenemy Fix-Up by Yahrah St John
Accountant Colin Anderson is a workaholic. Shay Davis is finally living her dream of owning a yoga studio. They may have gone to school together – but that’s where their similarities end. He’s Mr Corporate, hustling late into the night, while she flows through sun salutations and half-moon poses.
So when a health scare pushes Colin to make a few life changes, he knows where to turn. If he’s going to alter his work-life balance, he’ll need the right woman – and to do that, he must prioritise his health. Who better than Shay to help whip him into shape so he can win back his high school girlfriend?
The catch is, she only has ninety days to do it. And they can barely stand each other. But as their sessions start to heat up the studio, Colin and Shay move further and further away from what they thought they wanted…
***
Perfect for fans of:
Frenemies to lovers 🔥
Spice 🌶️
Opposites attract ❤️
The Devil in Blue Jeans by Stacey Kennedy
Deal with a devil
Moving to Montana to buy a dive bar with her two best friends sounded like the perfect plan to Charly Henwood. And after her cheating ex-boyfriend destroyed their relationship and their nightclub, she’s determined to focus on herself, her friends, and their business.
But it turns out the regulars resent newcomers swapping their craft beer for an extensive cocktail menu. Especially The Naked Moose’s previous owner, Jaxon Reed. The last thing Charly needs is a cocky cowboy telling her how to run her bar, or her life. But they make a deal – if Jaxon agrees to be the prize in a charity auction, Charly will make the bar a little more cowboy-friendly.
Except Charly finds herself doing battle with a man who is determined to win her over. And if her resolve goes up in flames, her heart is sure to follow…
The Booksellers Association (BA) hasIndependent Bookshop Week 2024 Announces Ambassadors and Early Initiatives announced this year’s official campaign spokespeople and initial plans for Independent Bookshop Week (IBW), the annual celebration of independent bookshops across the UK and Ireland. It will take place between 15-22 June 2024 with Hachette UK returning as the headline sponsor.
This year, renowned broadcaster and author of Murder at the Monastery (6 June 2024), Rev Richard Coles, celebrated journalistand author of Everything is Everything: A Memoir of Love, Hate and Hope, Clive Myrie and award-winning novelist and author of In The Shadow of the Wolf Queen, Kiran Millwood Hargrave will be participating in IBW as official ambassadors. They will also be appearing at bookshop events all across the UK – with more details and venues to be revealed.
Independent Bookshop Week 2024 returns with a packed line-up of exciting initatives from the inaugural Big Book Club to the sixth year of High Five for Bookshops supported by National Book Tokens and many more.
EXCLUSIVE POEM
With the success of poems created by Brian Bilston, Hollie McNish and Dean Atta, critically acclaimed spoken word performer George Mpanga, known for his artistry as George the Poet, has created a bespoke Independent Bookshop Week poem to support the campaign. The poem will be shared on social media at 6pm on Wednesday 19 June.
HIGH FIVE FOR BOOKSHOPS
High Five for Bookshops, the successful national giveaway from National Book Tokens, is back for a sixth year. The giveaway supports indie bookshops across the UK and Ireland to reward their most loyal local customers.
Bookshops participating in Independent Bookshop Week each receive 100 vouchers with unique codes, which customers can use to claim a £5/€5 National Book Tokens e-Gift card to spend instore.
Since its launch, High Five has continued to grow year-on-year, with 92,000 vouchers sent to indies in 2023 – a 200% increase since 2019. The giveaway is a valuable, footfall-driving asset to the annual Independent Bookshop Week celebrations.
BIG BOOK CLUB
Launching this year, the Big Book Club strand of IBW will celebrate the role of indies in bringing people together via a shared love of reading. The Big Book Club will see indie bookshops across the UK and Ireland holding book club evenings on the same day, on Wednesday 19 June. Participating bookshops confirmed so far include: The Beckenham Bookshop, Booka Bookshop (Bridgnorth), Booka Bookshop (Oswestry), Book-ish (Abergavenny), Book-ish (Crickhowell), Hungerford Bookshop, Jaffé & Neale, The Mainstreet Trading Company, and Wantage Bookshop.
BOOKSHOP CRAWLS
All booklovers are once again invited to organise their own Bookshop Crawl to celebrate IBW. The Bookshop Map on the homepage of the Books Are My Bag website is a useful resource to find your closest local indies and plan your route.
INDIE TWINNING
With its success making it a firmly established strand of IBW, Indie Twinning returns for a fifth year, with independent publishers and independent bookshops teaming up to develop bespoke programmes of activity across the country. Look out for special offers, exclusives, social media take-overs, bespoke bookshop windows and much more.
GUEST BOOKSELLING
Authors, poets and illustrators are invited to get involved with IBW with Guest Bookselling. Allowing guest booksellers to learn more about a new side of the booktrade and supporting local indies, and an exciting opportunity for bookshop frequenters to have a chance encounter with authors, poets and illustrators, this is a win-win for all!
Bookshop.org, the online bookshop with a mission to support and celebrate indies in the UK, will again be offering free shipping on any purchases made on the website the last weekend of IBW, Saturday 22 and Sunday 23June 2024.
Rev Richard Coles, said: “Booksellers around the market towns and cathedral cities of the UK have been so very genial and welcoming to me as I’ve spent many an enjoyable day visiting them to talk about Canon Daniel Clement, parish murders and dachshunds. I wouldn’t be in the wonderful position that I now find myself in – crime writer! – without their considerable efforts and support, so I am hugely grateful. It all began for me with an independent bookseller, The Oundle Bookshop, in Northamptonshire where, when I was 8 years old, my grandfather bought me my first proper book – The Complete Sherlock Holmes Short Stories – and without knowing it set me on this gilded path.”
Kiran Millwood Hargrave, said: “Independent bookshops are like treasure troves staffed by the most erudite and lovely dragons. Each knows their hoard inside out and I feel so lucky whenever I get to visit and ask for their recommendations, coming away with hidden gems and glittering storytelling riches. I love the high ceilings of Forum Books in Corbridge, the gorgeously-painted windows of Booka Bookshop, the pitch perfect curation at Porty Books and of course the dazzling array at my local, Mostly Books. But every shop I visit is distinct and precious, and offers an experience as unique as the people who run them – and that is what makes indie bookselling such a vibrant and vital part of the book world.”
Hazel Broadfoot, President of the Booksellers Association, said: “This is such a wonderful celebration of indie bookshops, and everything they bring to their local communities. Bookshops are not just about selling books – they connect people with books and authors – and each other! Independent Bookshop Week is an opportunity to shine a light on their hard work and creativity that brings so many cultural benefits to their high streets. In my bookshop, Village Books Dulwich, we have our planning under way – we’ll be joining in the fun and hosting lots of events for our customers of all ages to celebrate the power of books and reading.”
Emma Bradshaw, Head of Campaigns at the Booksellers Association, commented: “Independent Bookshop Week is one of the highlights in the book industry calendar. Throughout the week, we aim to celebrate not only the vital role the independent bookshops play in their local communities, but also the work of individual booksellers. We are thrilled to have the support of so many parts of the book trade; it’s a joy to see everyone brought together by the joy of books and a love for independent bookshops. This year’s programme of events, initiatives and exclusives is sure to be better than ever, and we’re very excited to kick off the celebrations in June!”
David Shelley, CEO Hachette UK, said: “We’re proud to continue our headline sponsorship of Independent Bookshop Week, an integral part of our happy and important partnership with the Booksellers Association. Independent bookshops are the beating heart of our industry, and this is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the vital work that they do, up and down the UK and Ireland, getting our author’s books into the hands of readers with such passion and dedication.”
Follow the latest developments via social media: #IndieBookshopWeek @BooksAreMyBag
The largest Spring gathering of the international publishing industry assembled at Olympia today, as The London Book Fair kicked off its first day. Thousands of exhibitors and visitors from the UK and around the world gathered to do business, share expertise, network, and attend sessions covering topics including platforming marginalised voices, sustainability, tips for writers, social media, and new global trends.
Gareth Rapley, Director of The London Book Fair,said: “What an amazing opening day of LBF! It’s been brilliant seeing global publishing all under one roof and the excitement in the room has been so great to see. the buzz has been incredible. From our International Author of the Day, Taylor Jenkins Reid, to the Selfie Awards and incredible talks from authors including Gavin Esler, Lemn Sissay, Kit de Waal, and Joe Haddow, it’s been an incredible first day. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back across the next two days.”
Clockwise from Top Left to Bottom Right: Gavin Esler, Lemn Sissay, Kit de Waal and Joe Haddow on Author HQ, A busy Olympia for The London Book Fair 2024, Taylor Jenkins Reid, International Author of the Day, Jonathan Karp of Simon and Schuster in conversation with Porter Anderson
Jonathan Karp, President and Chief Executive Officer at Simon & Schuster, and Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief at Publishing Perspectives, held the opening keynote address, which explores S&S’s outlook on the evolving world of content and the innovative directions they envision for the future.
Jasmine Richards, Founder of Storymix, Vicky Palmer, Creative and Marketing Director, Hodder & Stoughton, Ken Wilson-Max, Publisher at Kumusha Books and HarperCollins Children’s Books, and Hannah McMillian, Director at Midas, delved into their expert advice on how to prepare for the publication of your next book, with
Lisa Sharkey, Senior Vice President Executive Director of Creative Development at HarperCollins Publishers, Ain Chiara Bensenouci, Publishing Consultant, Jojo Schlattner, Senior Social Media Manager and Ashley Baugh, Associate Director at Midas, shared how authors can use social media to boost their brand and promote their books.
International Author of the Day, Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times and Sunday Times Bestselling author of Mailbu Rising and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, joined Leonel Teti, Editorial Director at Urano World on the Main Stage to discuss her career and inspiration behind the strong women featured in her popular quartet. Guests at The Fair were excited to hear that Reid’s new project will involve “a good love story.”
Jaclyn Swope, Senior Account Manager at Nielsen BookData, provided an insightful talk of the local and global factors driving varied book markets in 2023, through the combined data of Nielsen BookScan and GfK. The talk revealed that there were over 1bn book purchases in 2023, the top three countries for book sales were France (325m), UK (199m), and Italy (105m)t, and Colleen Hoover remains on all top five bestseller lists across EU and outside.
During the How I Write panel, authors Gavin Esler, Lemn Sissay, Kit de Waal, and Joe Haddow, shared a glimpse into their writing life, and offered insight into how they wrote their best-known books and poetry, find creative inspiration in the everyday, value feedback from the people around them, and how important it is to uphold the human voice in all writing.
Alexander Buchler, Director at Literature Across Frontiers, Dr Richard Davies, Publishing Director at Parthian, Bianca Bellova, Author, and Shelia O’Reilly, Board Member at European & International Booksellers Federation celebrated the European Union Prize for Literature and its evolution and impact on translation across European literacy scenes over the year.
Sir Chris Bryant, Shadow Creative Industries and Digital Minister visited The Fair, adding: “It was a pleasure to visit The London Book Fair and to see the UK’s publishing industry in action. The sector is a huge driver of economic growth in the UK and we are proudly the largest exporter of books in the world. We need to address publishers’ concerns so the industry can thrive and continue to contribute to the wider success of the UK’s Creative Industries.”
The 2024 BookBrunch Selfie Awards winners were also announced with Julia Boggio, taking home Best Adult Fiction for Shooters, Jill Michelle Smith and Jennifer Watson taking Best Children’s Book for Extraordinary Extinct Prehistoric Minibeasts: A First Guide to Fossils, and J F Penn winning Best Memoir/Autobiography for Pilgrimage: Lessons Learned from Solo Walking.
The Final Party by A. A. Chaudhuri was one of my books of the year when it was released last year. Fantastic writing and a brilliant plot made her one of my new favourite writers. When Under Her Roof dropped through my letterbox I was excited. Taking a very real issue (housing) and making a twisty stalker thriller that grips from the first page. It’s perfect for fans of dark thrillers. If you liked You you will love this. I didn’t see the ending happening. The novel is gripping and dark. Under Her Roof is a fantastic thriller that is tense and keeps you guessing all of the way to the end. I was fully immersed from the first page and the book has stayed with me. A. A. Chaudhuri has made her name as one of the best thriller writers today. Brilliant.
It seems too good to be true…
When struggling writer Sebastian finds a room to let in a palatial Hampstead residence he cannot believe his luck. The rent is ridiculously cheap and he immediately feels a connection with his beautiful widowed landlady, Adriana.
It is.
Things take a dark turn when he finds out what happened to the last lodger. Could this be why the house is a fortress of security, and why Adriana seems so fragile? Adriana doesn’t want to talk about the death and sadness that seem to follow her wherever she goes and Sebastian has secrets of his own.
Now someone is watching their every move and there is nowhere to hide.
This house of light becomes a dark nightmare as the threat ramps up – what does the watcher want? And how far will they go to get it?
A gripping, twisty thriller perfect for fans of B.A. Paris, Shari Lapena and Lucy Foley. If you were hooked by Netflix series You or The Watcher then you will love this. Out June 13th.
World Book Day is upon us and The Gruffalo a first read for 1 in 8 children.
The Gruffalo most popular first read for British children as nation prepares to celebrate World Book Day
One in eight children have The Gruffalo read to them as their first book
The Very Hungry Caterpillar and That’s Not My… series complete the top three
44% of parents read to children from birth
However, those parents who were late to reading themselves could be stunting their own child’s progression
As the nation prepares to celebrate World Book Day on March 7, a new study has unveiled that The Gruffalo is the go-to book when it comes to reading to our children for the very first time.
The survey, commissioned by The Works, aimed to uncover reading habits among parents and children and whether our own experiences of reading influences how we read to our children, as well as the top books we read to children today.
And the results proved overwhelmingly favourable towards Julia Donaldson titles, with The Gruffalo taking the crown as the number one read book to children. Joining The Gruffalo among the most popular, but just outside the top 10 were the likes of Zog and Room on the Broom, meaning one in five children have a Donaldson book read to them as their very first story.
Donaldson books were joined by some old favourites, including The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which is still the second most read book to children as a first read despite being over 50-years-old, while the That’s Not My… series, written by Fiona Watt, is the third most common set of books read to children as their first reads.
The full top 10 first books parents read to their children:
The Gruffalo
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
That’s Not My…
Guess How Much I Love You
Peppa Pig
Spot
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
Dear Zoo
Winnie the Pooh
Harry Potter
When it comes to the age in which we’re reading to our children, book lovers will be pleased to see that 44% of parents pick up a book to engage their children in storytime from birth, while a further 27% of parents do so from under the age of two.
However, the study also revealed that 10% of adults today don’t remember reading their first book until they were in secondary school, resulting in parents 20% less likely to read to their child under the age of two. Alongside this, less than one in five parents that don’t recall reading until after the age of 12 will introduce reading to their own children from birth.
World Book Day takes place on Thursday March 7, 2024. The Works are supporting the charity and are encouraging children and parents to bring their £1 book token into stores between February 15 and March 31 to exchange their token for a book from the World Book Day 2024 range.
When Estella’s Revenge arrived at Frost HQ I made an audible gasp. The gorgeous cover, the fact it’s a retelling of Great Expectations, Miss Havisham’s daughter is the main character…, I mean, come on. what is there not to love? Was I let down? Not even a little. The writing is exceptional and the story is dark and delicious.
It is obvious that a huge amount of research went into this novel, but also a very deep love for Great Expectations and the characters. The love and knowledge is obvious in every single page. This book is original, gothic and completely unforgettable. It belongs on the shelf next to Great Expectations itself. When reading the novel it feels like not much has changed for women, yet there is hope in this novel. Of women saving themselves and enduring. Of survival. A must-read.
