We all know how vitally important it is to read to your child when they are little. A good bed & book routine not only calms them and gives you the best chance of settling down for the night, it’s also a really important time for you and your little one to bond and chill-out together. Reading helps them expand their vocabulary and feeds their imaginative little minds.
As they grow and begin to learn how to read themselves, a whole new world exists in books. This is why here at Mumbler, we are thrilled that we have the opportunity to work with Nosy Crow. Nosy Crow are a multi-award-winning children’s publisher that produce child-focused, parent-friendly children’s books for ages 0-12.
My son used to love reading but around a year ago, when he was 9, he really went off it and its been a huge battle to get him to read. A couple of things have happened over the last few weeks that have really changed this though. A few weeks ago we went to the Big Malarkey, Hull’s annual children’s literature festival, and he came home buzzing and wanting to read again! Next challenge – what to read to keep his interest? We picked The Secret Detective’s, one of Nosy Crow’s books for older children and he’s been hooked. It’s a really intriguing plot and he’s really go into it, he even actually took himself off to bed last night to read it before lights out time, result! There are FREE activity packs below for each book, I’ve just printed off The Secret Detective one for him to get started on next!
Nosy Crow have so many amazing books to choose from, but for our Mumbler Summer 2021 reading list, we’ve picked a few of our favourites to tell you about. There really is something for every age & interest- including a brilliant Olympics book, On Your Marks, Get Set, Gold which is so topical for this summer. It’s got loads of beautiful pictures of every sport in it, which will appeal to children, but each page focused on a sport & there are interesting facts & information about each sport. It really is a book which will appeal to kids and adults alike!
If you click on the title of each book, you can view the first few pages of each book.
We’ve also got some really cool FREE ACTIVITY sheets for you for some of the books. Click on the links below to download them individually or click here to see them all.
Suggested Age 3+
- Ruffles and the Teeny Tiny Kittens: Meet Ruffles, a typical toddler who experiences all the highs and lows of preschool life as he learns about the world around him. When the Teeny Tiny Kittens come to stay, Ruffles will have to learn how to share if he wants to make friends.
DOWNLOAD THE RUFFLES ACTIVITY SHEETS HERE
- The Cat and the Rat and the Hat: Cat wants Rat’s hat and will stop at NOTHING to get it. But when Bat arrives wearing a fancy cravat, well, what could be better than that? With a hilarious, tongue-twister text, slapstick humour, bright neon artwork and colourful, comic characters.
DOWNLOAD “THE CAT AND THE RAT AND THE HAT” ACTIVITY SHEET HERE
- The Wide Wide Sea: A lyrical and inspirational picture book about protecting nature where preschoolers get to follow a seal on an unforgettable journey through the sea and along the beach. Published in collaboration with the National Trust, who protect over 700 miles of wild coastline in the UK.
DOWNLOAD THE “WIDE WIDE SEA” ACTIVITY PACK HERE
Suggested Age 5+
- Wigglesbottom Primary: Dino Chick The strangest things happen at Wigglesbottom Primary! When Year Two is chosen to look after some eggs that are about to hatch, they KNOW something is strange about one of them. Hilarious and fully illustrated, early readers will be giggling all the way through.
- On Your Marks, Get Set, Gold: An exciting, laugh-a-minute guide to every Olympic and Paralympic sport from former sports journalist Scott Allen. With bold, energetic illustrations you’ll learn about some of the greatest Olympians in history, the skills and equipment you need and even what your chances are of becoming a champion.
Suggested age 7+
- A Monster Ate My Packed Lunch: Hilarious, illustrated school-based antics from Blue Peter Award winners Pamela Butchart and Thomas Flintham. Join Izzy and her friends on a trip to a big lake where a monster seems to be interested in eating their crisps!
DOWNLOAD THE FREE “A MONSTER ATE MY PACKED LUNCH” ACTIVITY PACK HERE
- A Foal Called Storm: Jasmine’s dad is a farmer, and her mum is a large-animal vet, so Jasmine spends a lot of time caring for animals and keeping them out of trouble. With illustrations throughout, this book is ideal for younger readers who love animals.
Suggested age 8/9+
- The House on the Edge: Where has Faith’s dad gone? Why has he left his family living in an old house perched on a crumbling cliff top? A great mystery with real heart featuring hidden treasure, sea ghosts and a thrilling adventure.
DOWNLOAD “THE HOUSE ON THE EDGE” DISCUSSION NOTES HERE
- The Secret Detectives: Inspired by The Secret Garden and Agatha Christie, join Isobel aboard the S.S. Marianna where she tries to solve a murder mystery. One night, she sees someone being pushed overboard but the next day, nobody seems to be missing…
DOWNLOAD “THE SECRET DETECTIVES” ACTIVITY PACK HERE
DOWNLOAD “THE SECRET DETECTIVES” DISCUSSION NOTES HERE
- The Life and Time of Lonny Quicke: Lonny is a lifeling. He has the power to heal any living creature and bring it back from the dead. But he pays a price for this gift – by lengthening the creature’s life, he shortens his own. A modern day fairytale about family, secrets and a terrible power.
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