Just William CDs

Martin Jarvis turns in a fantastic performance as William in the BBC Audio CD series of Richmail Compton's 'Just William'. He gets the tone of hard-done-by William Brown just perfect and his rants against the unjustness of the world keep our kids and us in stiches on car journeys long or short.

In 'Home For The Holidays' William holds forth on diverse areas of life, which he believes he can significantly improve upon for all concerned. Topics range from how life would be improved if we were more like lions where Aunts were concerned 'Lions have Aunts all right, it's just that if they meet them they are as like as not to fight them.'

William also believes filling Christmas Stockings with nuts and oranges and things is 'tantamount to cheatin', New Year should be moved further away from Christmas so you might have forgiven everyone for the terrible Christmas presents before having to make your resolutions and fathers should be sent to school during the holidays so they are more prepared to avenge the wrongs done to their sons by teachers as they would have suffered just the same.

Classic stuff.

Cool tunes for kids

Don't know about you but I am fed up of watered down adult music being pushed at our kids and turning them all into pop tarts! Call me an old fogey but I can remember the days of kids music made FOR KIDS! Tony Blackburn and Arnold on weekend mornings with "Right Said Fred", "The Runaway Train" and "Puff the Magic Dragon" (I am all misty eyed as we speak) - proper children's music.

I have been on a mission to ensure my own kids get some of my old favourites and they do love CDs like "Childrens Choice" even though the recordings are not really CD quality. They quite often fire up this CD on a weekend morning to raise us from our bed.

"What a shame " I thought "that they don't make 'em like this any more". But I was wrong. "Colours Are Brighter" is a great CD with a series of new songs for kids by mainstream (more or less) artists. From the bouncy "Ninja Dinosaur" (who apparently is on a mission to bring his boogie beat to the Universe) and "Jackie Jackson" to the Kraftwerk-esque "Put it away" they are all great tunes although a couple may need to grow on you.

Now a firm favourite with my children.

New Spiderwick Novel coming soon

My seven year old son was so in to The Spiderwick Chronicles last year I can't wait to get him the new book 'The Nixie's Song (Beyond The Spiderwick Chronicles)' which is available later this month.
The books are written by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi and the original series ('The Field Guide', 'The Seeing Stone', 'Lucinda's Secret', 'The Ironwood Tree', 'The Wrath of Mulgarath') told the story of a family who move into a spooky old house only for the children to find a secret room with a strange book inside. Arthur Spiderwick's book describes the fantastical creatures in the world about him in great detail. Soon the children find themselves drawn into an adventure which they will be lucky to survive.
I expect this book to be every bit as exciting and do not expect to hear much from my son for a few days once the book arrives.

Great Stuff for Kids

There is just so much stuff available for kids - and most of it is just junk!

I am going to use this blog to highlight the cool stuff I stumble upon for kids. Whether I find them or find someone else has already discoverered it. For my own kids (currently aged 4 and 7) or friends/family or even for a completely unrelated kid.

The important thing is I must think the item is the big new thing, a cool new take on existing items or just a simple good execution of a good product.

I will ramble about books, music, TV & DVD, toys and more.