National Teddy Bear Day 2020

Do you remember your first teddy bear? Mine was blue and very soft. It has been my comfort and joy for many years. If I had a bad dream, I hugged my teddy for reassurance.
My boys used to love their teddies as well, especially Eddie. He was obsessed with teddies, at some point we had a collection of over thirty teds of all sizes and brands.

Some of them were gifts from friends, some we bought in the specialist teddy bear shop or rescued in the charity shops.
I bought this Merrythought teddy bear, when my elder son was in primary school. Its cheeky grin lights up the book shelves where he's usually found.

The blue teddy bear from Merrythought joined our home, when Eddie was born. We have a shop in town called Teddy Bears of Witney. It's a total treasure trove and a museum of teddies.

With years, I have reduced the amount of soft toys in the house, but left a few as precious mementos of my boys' early years. We have an old (properly vintage) teddy which belonged to my husband, when he was a baby.

We even have a Paratrooper teddy, which we bought while visiting the barracks in Pisa where my husband served with the paras.

As the nation celebrates National teddy bear day today, we look back at some of the iconic teddy bears through history, exploring how our favourite characters have made the jump from the big screen to the cuddly toy that we snuggle up to when we head to bed.

Baby Thingz have done a research on the topic and with their permission, I'm sharing some of the interesting facts about the most iconic bears in literature and TV.

If someone asked you who is the most famous teddy bear of all, who springs to mind?

1. Winnie-the Pooh or Poor Bear as he is also fondly labelled, has been around for almost 100 years, having been created by author A.A.Milne back in 1926.
The Hundred Acre Wood inhabitant who has a yearning for all things honey is the lifelong friend of Christopher Robin and is one of the UK's most treasured teddy bears. A classic in teddy bear circles, he'll often be seem alongside fellow characters Eeyore and Piglet.

2. From simple origins - a comic strip in the Daily Express in 1920 - Rupert Bear went on to become a staple of children's culture when The Adventures of Rupert Bear TV series launched in 1970. Known for his eloquent accent, Rupert is also a style icon, thanks to his yellow checked trousers and matching scarf paired with a fetching red jumper that he wore for all of his adventures. He'll celebrate 100 years in November.

3. If you were born in the 1980s, you probably know all about Care Bears, our cuddly friends who lived in the clouds. The original line up featured just 10 bears, but multiple relaunches of the cult show have seen more than 30 different bears introduced.
The plush toys were developed with feelings emblazoned on their chests, with hearts, smiley faces, and rainbows indicating various emotions.

4. Yogi Bear
The Jellystone Park native, based loosely around Yellowstone National Park in the USA, first appeared on TV screens in America in 1958 as a guest on The Huckleberry Hound Show, but such was his popularity that just two years later the Yogi Bear and Friends show was spawned. His "Hey, Hey, Hey" catchphrase was voiced by Hollywood star Dan Akroyd when he hit the big screen.

5. Paddington Bear
One of the most nostalgic bears in history, Paddington was introduced to the world in 1958 in Michael Bond's book A Bear Called Paddington. With his customary blue duffle coat, Paddington arrived in England from Peru and has been entertaining children through the decades with his hapless adventures, getting into just as much trouble as Dennis the Menace.
The Adventures of Paddington TV series was launched in January this year as Gen Z was brought up to speed on the wonders of this furry friend.

6. Chiltern English
One of the original teddies, the Chiltern English teddy was first launched in 1915 and continues to be a comfort for youngsters across the UK. This classic can often be found in baby pushchairs on walks to the park, and such is the sentiment towards them that they often fetch three-figure sums at auction. Most people that own these vintage bears will only know too well about repaired eye sockets and patchwork elements that have helped them restore their childhood favourites.

7. SuperTed was a hit with 90s kids as he shared one of their biggest fears - a fear of the dark. first appearing in a series of books, SuperTed was adapted into a cartoon, becoming the first British animated series to feature on the Disney Channel.
This everyday bear might have bypassed the history books after being discarded in a toy factory, but a visit to Mother Nature resulted in him receiving superpowers that allowed him to transform into SuperTed!

8. Brother Bear
This Disney animation bear has risen to fame since the Millennium with the moarl of the film drawing on brotherhood, and mutual respect. A great lesson for children and adults alike, Brother Bear hit our screens in 2003, with a sequel going direct to video in 2006. In the film an Inuit boy called Kenai is transformed into a bear after seeking revenge when his brother is killed by a bear. We'll have to wait and see if brother Bear can stand the test of time and become a household name like Rupert and Winnie though.

What other famous bears and teddy bears might be mentioned? My elder son loved a book about Corduroy Bear.
Then there's posh carefree Sebastian Flyte with his Aloysius teddy bear.
Mowgli and Baloo.
A sad bear from We're going on a bear hunt.
Jill Murphy's Bear family.
Umka, an adorable polar bear of my childhood, from the beloved Soviet animation.
Brave and unique Yanka the Bear from The Girl Who Speaks Bear by Sophie Anderson, inspired by the Russian folk tales.

On this National Teddy Bear Day, dig out your most cherished cuddly toys and join the conversation on social channels using #teddybearday. Relieving our childhood will often bring up memories of various toys and gadgets, but when you really home in on your most treasured moments, they'll usually involve a cuddly toy or teddy bear along the way.

Did you have a favourite teddy?

This post has been written in a creative partnership with Baby Thingz (there is no payment to declare).

Hannah the Spanner (book giveaway)

Many of us enjoy reading to our children at bedtime.
I have read a vast amount of books to each of my sons. I still do. Those evening hours are our special time. With my younger son, we have moved now onto Middle Grade/Young Adult fiction, but I still remember the picture books and simpler stories with great fondness.
Certain stories delight our kids even more, when they feature characters with the same name as a child you are reading to. My younger son loved stories where the characters were named Eddie. I also used to tell stories about him, which I invented (How Eddie got his name, etc).

Stuart Simmonds took his love of story-telling to the next level, and wrote a whole series of books which take their name from Stuart's eldest daughter. Hannah the Spanner series is written for parents reading to their children at bedtime.

Stuart comments, "Reading to Hannah and Lucy every night was one of my favourite parts of their childhood, it's something that both of them remember and talk about often. With a long summer break ahead of us, I hope these books give parents and children alike the opportunity to enjoy reading together. I have done my best to ensure they are entertaining for parents, as well as the kids - I know parents often have to read the same book to their children many times!"

Stuart is spot on when he talks about reading and re-reading the same stories. There are some books I can easily recite by heart, without looking at the lines, since I've read them so many times.

If you're looking for books that are ideal for reading together with your children, as part of home schooling or as a bedtime story, or just to keep youngsters aged 4-9 occupied, then we'd like to suggest the Hannah the Spanner series of illustrated children's books.

There are seven books in the series. Each book follows a different adventure for Hannah and the dreadful Aubrey:
- Hannah The Spanner and the Dancing Bear
- Hannah The Spanner and the Robot
- Hannah The Spanner and the Circus
- Hannah The Spanner and the Trip to the Moon
- Hannah The Spanner and the Diamond Robbery
- Hannah The Spanner and the Racing Car
- Hannah The Spanner and the Polar Bear.

The Hannah the Spanner paperback books are full of colourful imagery to keep little ones entertained, funny engaging stories to win the hearts of older kids, and a storyline that adults will appreciate too.
Each full colour book is illustrated by Bill Greenhead, who has previously worked on Charlie Smith Super Kid (Emma Lynch) and Animal Avengers (Malorie Blackman).

The books have proved to be such a great way to get children interested in reading, that Stuart has been inundated with bookings from schools in the UK and abroad asking him to visit to read the books and run workshops encouraging children to read.

Stuart Simmonds is an accomplished cricketer and sports coach, he now runs a property business from his home in East Grinstead, Sussex. Prior to writing the Hannah the Spanner series, he wrote an autobiography on a life in cricket, titled Watching With My Heroes, which was widely sold through all major retailers.

The Hannah the Spanner series is available from Waterstones and all good bookshops, Amazon and direct from the Hannah the Spanner website - www.hannahthespanner.com

Social Media Links:
Twitter: @StuheadLtd
Facebook: @stuheadltd
Instagram: @studheadltd

GIVEAWAY:
If your children haven't discovered yet the world of Hannah the Spanner, you have a chance to win two books from the series - Hannah the Spanner and The Dancing Bear and Hannah the Spanner and The Robot (first two books in the series).

T&Cs:
The giveaway is open to the UK residents only.
Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.
The winner will be selected at random by Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email.
If no response is received within two weeks, then Chez Maximka reserves the right to select an alternative winner.
Open to all entrants aged 18 and over.
Any personal data given as part of the giveaway is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with 3rd parties, with the exception of the winner's information.
This will be passed to the publisher's PR and used only for the fulfilment of the prize, after which Chez Maximka will delete all data.
Please note, I am not responsible for dispatch or delivery of the prize. I'm only hosting the giveaway on the blog, for free.



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Lockdown Creative Activity - Help MAP Build The World's Largest Bouquet of Flowers

I've read that homeschooling is the ultimate test of your patience. It's true. I used to be a teacher and worked with primary school kids but I do find teaching my younger son is leaving me tetchy and impatient. To while away the lockdown hours, I'm trying to encourage him to do more art.

You can find excellent tutorials online, but if watching someone doing step-by-step is not to your liking, you might like to get some useful How to draw (insert a subject) books.

There are some interesting children's art competitions around as well. In the last few weeks, my son submitted his drawing to a couple of drawing competitions. I believe there's another one going on - check our Rodda's Insta page for details.

And it's not just children who could immerse themselves in fun art projects.

Over a week ago I was asked to spread the word about an inspiring art project hosted by The Museum of Art and Photography (MAP) in India.
While COVID-19 keeps us apart, the MAP is working to bring us together digitally.

Founder Abhishek Poddar wants your help to create the world's largest digital flower "bouquet of hope". It is a fun activity for the whole family while stuck indoors.

For Abhishek's parents 25th wedding anniversary in 1989 he surprised them with an art installation of 25 flowers. Twenty five of India's well-known artists created a single flower, one for each year of his parents' married life together, in the artists' own inimitable style.
Every image reminded them of a family or friendship moment, an incident or a story behind each painting.
"At times like these, we hold on to precious moments - of family times, of challenges we managed to overcome, of personal journeys we ventured on", said Abhishek.

MAP wants to send the world this virtual bouquet of hope, not just for this difficult time but for the future ahead.

Anyone and everyone is encouraged to join in and send an image from their garden or balcony, a drawing, painting, or even create a flower motif from an object or textile.

Images can be submitted to www.bouquetofhope.in (check out what beautiful flowers you can find there).

Image credits: MAP

MAP hopes you can join in on this fun arts and crafts project! So, get our your camera or iPhone and snap that pretty flower you have in your garden, or encounter on your walk.

Maybe embroidery is your hobby, or you love crochet? Do you enjoy drawing or painting?
I'm thinking of submitting my old water colour, which I painted over 10 years ago.

Or perhaps my Mum's acrylic art work which she painted last autumn for a friend, while staying with us.

I am also hoping that Eddie will draw a flower for the project. He's been busy drawing in the last week, but mostly Marvel characters and a cat.

This inspiring art project is encouraging you to add a flower to this symbol of unity. "Flowers are a celebration - of new life, of new beginnings. They often speak of the unspoken, exchanged as symbols of hope, love and courage".


About MAP:
The Museum of Art & Photography (MAP) is a new museum, being built in Bangalore, the Silicon Valley of India. It will be among India's very first major private art museums, with a goal to share India's artistic heritage while also igniting a new modern museum culture.
MAP connects India's past, present, and future by showcasing historical artefacts alongside modern and contemporary works, folk art, textiles, painting, sculpture and photography. The MAP collection currently has more than 18,000 works ranging from the 12th C to the present day.

Race with Ryan (game review)

October ended on a minor chord of a miserable drizzle, and November started with a torrential rain. On a rainy day like today, what will you opt to do - read, bake, sketch or play games?
Race with Ryan launched yesterday (1 November 2019), to the sounds of accolade. This new racing game is available on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PC.

If you are a parent of a primary school child, you might well be aware of the Ryan's World brand, a family-based production company. I confess I had to google who Ryan is, but it would appear I'm in the minority, and cheeky smiley chap Ryan is a world-wide phenomenon and one of the biggest names on Youtube.

My younger son is a gamer. He is happy to play Minecraft, Hello Neighbour and other games on his Xbox One. When we were offered a code to try a new game before its launch, he was thrilled to have an opportunity to trial it.

"Worldwide family entertainment publisher Outright Games™ in partnership with digital-first, kids entertainment studio pocket.watch's™ gaming division P.W.Games™ and Sunlight Entertainment, the family-run production company and creator of the "Ryan's World™" brand, announced the release of "Race with Ryan"™ the first-ever console game based on the massively popular global kids' brand "Ryan's World"™.

You can play on your own, or together as a family, racing to victory across multiple, magical worlds as Ryan and his friends - Moe, Gus, Alpha, Lexa and others.
The game features a four-player-split-screen to race with friends in multiplayer mode.

Race with Ryan is available on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PC.
Exclusively at Smyth's Toy Store in the UK for £29.99 and many retailers in the US including Target, Amazon and Gamestop for $39.99 with a version of the game which includes a limited edition race with Ryan collectible die cast vehicle exclusively available at Walmart in the USA and Big W in Australia.
"Race with Ryan" can also be downloaded from the PlayStation Store, Xbox Live, Nintendo eShop and Steam.

If you enjoy racing games, Race with Ryan is a colourful fun fast adventure. You pick a racer, then head to one of six magical locations, and off you go. Show your friends and family who is the fastest racer.
My son enjoyed playing this game, he said it is a great fun. He played on his own, but can't wait for his friend to come over after school next week so that they can race together.

The controls are easy, once you learn how to use them. There is an optional auto-acceleration and a tutorial which shows you how to play.

The game is aimed at children 3-6 years old, but at 9, my son had fun playing this game, so it might well be enjoyed by older kids.

"We had so much fun as a family when helping to create this game", said Ryan's father, Shion Kaji. "Players will see and hear Ryan and the beloved characters from Ryan's World as they experience the exciting race gameplay in different magical lands."

As one of the top kid content creators on YouTube, Ryan's channels received over 41 billion views to date, and amassed over 31 million subscribers, and growing (and my jaw truly hit the floor in amazement).

Image credits: Outright Games

Disclosure: we received a free code for the game for the purposes of testing and reviewing. All opinions are our own.

Dreaming of big adventures with Trunki

What is that suitcase,
So stylish and funky?
It's one and only
Bright-coloured Trunki.

What rhymes with Trunki? Monkey, funky, chunky, "bananki"... Eddie and I enjoy playing word games, like rhyming etc, especially when we are out and about. While taking photos for this post, we tried to think what words would rhyme with Trunki.

Even if you're not a frequent traveller, you must have spotted on your trips - in the airports and train stations - children walking with or sitting on Trunki. These pull-along, ride-on mini-suitcases on wheels have a unique, immediately recognisable design and stand out in a crowd.

Whether going away for a weekend, or travelling abroad, these suitcases are "designed to beat the boredom suffered by travelling tots".
They are made in the UK, are hand-luggage approved and have a spacious 18-litre capacity.

My son Eddie was super excited, when we were offered a Trunki for reviewing, he's wanted one for a long time.
Ordering online is very easy. You can choose one of the designer models like Una the Unicorn, Flossy the Flamingo, Boris the Bus, Pedro the Pirate Ship, Gruffalo etc.

Or design your own - just go to a Trunki customiser and choose the colours and design. Look at the paint palette and pick up a colour of the body, nose, stripe, horns, handle hub caps, wheels, cotton bag, shoulder strap and internal strap.

It was Eddie's job to choose, and he was playing with different colour schemes. Here is a collage of screenshots to give you an idea.

After a careful considerations of pros and cons of different colours, he has opted for his favourite colour - red - no surprises here.
Trunki aim to build and deliver a suitcase of your choice within 10 working days. All orders can be tracked via SMS or email. You will get an update when to expect your order.

You have to be sure about the colours you choose. Since it's a customised bespoke product, you cannot update the design, once the order has been placed.

Eddie was quite impatient, counting the days until his Trunki would arrive.

The bright red Trunki arrived with a Trunki birth certificate, i.e. a note which explains who made the model and when. It also comes with a free 5-year guarantee.

Its features include: Locking catches, 2-in-1 carry/tow strap, stuff pocket, teddybear seatbelts, horn grips, ID label and 18-litre capacity.

It is light (1.7kg) and easy to carry.

You can pull it behind you, holding onto a strap...

Or you can carry it over your shoulder... The strap is adjustable, you can make it longer or shorter.

It is made from the same lightweight yet durable plastic as adult suitcases.
And when you're tired, it makes a comfy seat. Maximum weight for a rider is 50kg (110lb).

Horn grips are there for stability.

We haven't had a chance to take our Trunki on a proper trip yet, but we're dreaming of big adventures and planning our future journeys.
Eddie's father is planning a surprise trip to Legoland, when they will stay in one of Windsor hotels overnight to be able to get to the park first thing in the morning. And then Eddie will have a chance to take all the necessities with him.
We are also going later this summer to Cornwall, and Eddie is eager to take the Trunki with us, packing his favourite games and books for a rainy day (there is always a rainy day or seven when we go to Cornwall).

Is your child a proud owner of a Trunki suitcase?

Disclosure: We received an online code to place a customised order with Trunki for the purposes of reviewing. All opinions are our own.

Space Dragons by Robin Bennett #BlogTour + giveaway

The whole universe:

every planet, star, black hole and life form

started with a single atom

exploding into a great void of nothing.

Right after that, came the Dragons.

When we were offered a chance to review Space Dragons by Robin Bennett, we immediately replied Yes!!!
A. We love books and films about dragons,
B. It's set in Oxfordshire (what could be more cool than having dragons in the neighbourhood?!)
C. We were smitten with the previous book by Robin Bennett, The Hairy Hand.
D. The publisher, Monster Books, is a local one, and we actively support local authors and publishers.
E. Did I say we love dragons?!

Stan Pollux lives with his parents and younger sister Poppy in a really old house on the edge of the village. Like most younger siblings, Poppy wants to explore her brother's room which is a forbidden territory for her. While sneakily stealing a crystal from his rock collection, she topples his most valuable possession - a super-expensive telescope - and breaks it. Understandably, Stan is extremely upset with her, while the mother takes Poppy's side.
In the evening, trying to set the telescope back up, Stan feels nervous. Everything feels creepy.
When he peers in, there is nothing but deep blackness - "it almost felt as if he was staring into a hole in Space, and as if, from the end of this long, dark tunnel, something was hiding. And waiting."
He looks again, and "an evil-looking eye, from the depths of Space, sprang open and stared back."

Prepare yourself for an adventure of a lifetime, as Stan gets kidnapped by the Planet Dragon Mercury. Suddenly the school bullies and Poppy's misdemeanour seem rather small and less significant.
Stan finds himself in an alternative universe, populated by the Space Dragons.
As Mercury tells Stan, at the beginning of humankind the dragons - Venus, Saturn, Mars, Mercury etc - were worshipped as gods. Until the day when the Titans came back from the far reaches of the universe, and the fight began over the prize in the Solar system, the only planet with its own life, the jewel of the system, Eden - Earth.
Now, thousands of years later, the Earth and humankind are under threat again. And Stan's sister Poppy is missing. She's been kidnapped by Pluto (Hades) as unknowingly to herself, she's got the most coveted prize of all - the Particle of Light. Stan is determined to save his sister and prevent the destruction of the Solar System.
Will Stan be able to rescue his sister and save the world?!

We were glued to the story from start to finish. What a terrifying sci-fi adventure with an unusual but very likable super-hero!

You will need to know your Greek & Roman myths pretty well to appreciate all the nuances of the story and the references to the ancient myths. It would help if you know who the Titans, Hades, Cerberus, Hercules etc are. Thankfully, we've been recently reading a book of Greek myths after watching Atlantis and Olympus. Even Stan's family name Pollux is an allusion to the Dioscuri brothers Castor and Pollux.

Just like The Hairy Hand, Space Dragons' book design deserves a special mention.
The sturdy cover with a striking image of a fiery eye grabs your attention immediately. There is a tiny metal pendant on the spine, which is a great detail.
The illustrations in the book are an eclectic mix of styles and help carry the storyline organically, adding all in all to the other-worldly atmosphere.

A magical and thrilling story, highly original, Space Dragons is a compelling read. This part fantasy, part mythical adventure, conjures up the deep bond between the past and the present.


About Robin Bennett:
Robin Bennett is an author and entrepreneur who has written several books for children, adults and everything in between. Listed in the Who's Who of British Business Excellence at 29, his 2016 documentary "Fantastic Britain", about the British obsession with fantasy and folklore, won best foreign feature at the Hollywood International Independent Documentary Awards, and his first book for young adults, Picus the Thief, won the Writers' News Indie Published Book of the Year Award in 2012. Robin is also a director at Firefly Press.

Many thanks to Robin Bennett, Monster Books and Rachel's Random Resources for our copy of the book!

This blog review is part of the blog tour, you can check out the other reviews here:

Giveaway:
If you like the sound of this book, you have a chance of winning one of 10 hardcover copies of Space Dragons by Robin Bennett.
T&Cs:
The giveaway is open to the UK residents only.
It might be run on several blogs, i.e. it's not exclusive to Chez Maximka blog, and I have no responsibility for the selection of the winner or dispatch and delivery of the prize.
Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.
The winner will be selected via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter, and/or email.
If no response is received within 7 days, then Rachel's Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner.
Open to all entrants aged 18 years or over.
Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners' information.
This will be passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfillment of the prize, after which time Rachel's Random Resources will delete the data.

Good luck!

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Words & Pictures Preschool Books

Podgy little hands clutching bright-coloured board books, and excited smiles all along - how many parents have these fond memories of sitting together and sharing a book with their little ones.
When our son Sash was a baby, we lived in the States, and I had subscribed to a monthly book box for his age group, which was usually a good mix of board books and cloth books. His love of books started then, and hasn't faded.
Then it was Eddie's turn to discover the world of books. And though we said Good bye to board books long time ago, reading in the evening at bedtime is our special time (Right now we're reading a Victorian steampunk adventure called Cogheart. I wonder sometimes, when Eddie will consider himself too "grown-up" to listen to his mother reading to him?! When this moment comes, I will most likely feel sad).

Reading aloud to young children creates a special bond. It's never too early to start reading, which helps babies develop language skills as well as a communication know-how.
When you read together and look at the pictures, tots observe and learn - starting with the basic concepts of turning the pages and following the text, pointing and exploring.

Board books provide a perfect opportunity for children to understand the world around them.

Today I invite you to look at the latest preschool books from Words & Pictures with me.
They cover a variety of preschool learning topics. Each book has clear guidelines for parents on the back of the cover, indicating the benefits for learning, i.e. helping build cognitive skills, developing hand-eye coordination etc.
These beautiful books will keep children entertained for hours.

Let's begin with Tales from Nature - a captivating series of books for preschool learning.
Bee and Ladybird by Magali Attiogbe provide the perfect first introduction to nature for young children.

New in the successful Tales from Nature series, join Ladybird and Bee as they go about their day.
These board books are bright, sweet and engaging. Each follows a simple story, with basic facts about insects. For example, the Bee says: "I have two wings, two antennae and lots of fuzzy hair. I am a bee!" As the bee works, collecting the nectar, you follow her to the beehive and learn facts about the queen and the hive.
Each page features bright, bold illustrations and includes a window or a flap to encourage children to read on and discover what happens next.

The Parents' Guide on the cover explains that each book from the series:
- Inspires a deeper knowledge of the world,
- Helps build cognitive skills,
- Encourages hand-eye coordination.

Tales from Nature: Ladybird takes your little ones on another adventure into the wildlife. It also gives some basic facts about ladybirds: their appearance, food preferences, life cycle.

Both of my boys loved bath books, when they were tiny tots. I remember how delighted Eddie was with one of his bath books which also was squeaking when squeezed.

First Concept Bath Books - Shapes and Colours (£8.99 each) - are light colourful books.
Illustrations by Ana Seixas are whimsical, playful and amusing.
Your babies and toddlers will be entertained while in the bath.
This brand new series of bold, graphic bath books is all about exploring first concepts, like shapes and colours.

These squeezable, touchable, foam-filled books are full of fantastic colour which helps to develop children's sensory awareness.
They are very light, and absolutely adorable. Shapes have lovely friendly faces and do acrobatics on each page. Colours have smiley images which remind me of Hey Duggee.
These two books will appeal to babies and preschoolers, who learn their colours and shapes.

Peep Through First Concepts Books by Jane Ormes
First Words and Count 123 (£7.99) are delightful board books, which combine preschool concepts with the original art illustrations. The interactive format is great fun.

All pages come with the peep through holes/windows onto the next page. Learn to count with birds, animals and plants.

The books encourage children to peep through each hole onto the next page. The sturdy pages are great for little hands, and help practice coordination and develop motor skills.
Both parents and children will interact, looking at the exquisite illustrations with clever die-cut shapes.

The pictures are beautiful, crisp and clear. These are stylised images, in vibrant colours and patterned textures.
First Words will improve your child's vocabulary with animals and objects from everyday life.

I loved the illustrations in these two books so much, that I had to find out more about the artist Jane Ormes. Check out her website JaneOrmes.com and have a look at the shop (there is a gorgeous print of a Mr Smoulder, a Cornish cat, a Poldark of the cat world).
Jane's illustrations are a fabulous introduction to art. I can easily see these designs as framed prints, or used as patterns for fabrics and stationery.

"The Words & Pictures preschool range specialises in high quality novelty and interactive learning books, encapsulating laughter and imagination, because opening a book should also open a child's mind to possibilities; innovation, because children should be encouraged to create, not imitate; inspiration, because good books should make children want more - more books, more information, more of life. Our books represent a powerful and positive opportunity to open children's minds to a world of discovery, striving to be the very best, in the same way that we all wish for children to be the very best they can be."
Words & Pictures is part of The Quarto Group.
Check out Quarto Kids on Facebook and Quarto Knows on Twitter.

I wanted to showcase these lovely books, even if we don't have babies in the family any longer (my boys are 17 and 8 now). We agreed with the publisher's PR that the books will be passed onto a special needs nursery in town, and I know that children will love them.

Disclosure: I received a selection of books for the purposes of reviewing. All opinions are my own.