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Bookshops and libraries were once full of books of nursery rhymes for kids. I have a lovely collection of books of nursery rhymes for babies and toddlers which dates back to the years when my children were small but finding a good book of nursery rhymes these days can be hard. Yet nursery rhymes and poems continue to play an important role in the learning-to-read journey …

Nursery rhymes and poems are great fun to share with young children but did you know they also play an important role in building the foundations for learning to read? If you didn’t, you’re not alone. I didn’t know this when my children were small and today I find that most parents (and even a few fellow teachers) aren’t aware of how important nursery rhymes and poems are for little ones …

Have you read any Todd Parr books with your little people? I’ve been using a selection of Todd Parr books in the classroom for some years now and I’m always delighted when a new one is released. Todd was originally an artist but he’s now written over 35 books picture books for children …

October is Mental Health Month and 10 October 2023 is World Mental Health Day. As a mum and as a teacher, children’s emotional and mental health is a subject that’s very close to my heart. For several years, I’ve been collecting research about why some children seem …

For parents with a baby in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), reading aloud is not something that comes immediately to mind. And that’s not surprising. NICU parents say that the experience of having a baby who was born early and sometimes very unwell can be overwhelming. As well as the shock of their baby’s early arrival and/or illness …

Do you find it hard to choose good books for babies? Not too long ago, a new friend asked me how I choose the books I include in my book gift baskets for babies and I really had to think about it. When I’m looking through a book, it doesn’t take me long to decide whether I think it’s a good book for a baby but I realised …

Reading to babies is great fun and we know it’s important for their development. But why exactly does it matter and when should we begin reading aloud? The short answer is that reading aloud helps build our babies’ brains and promotes bonding so it’s best to begin at birth. The slightly longer answer, courtesy of recent developments in neuroscience, is …