New Arrivals!

Posted on October 15, 2012 by My Imagination Kingdom | 0 comments
Here are our new arrivals sorted according to age groups! (To read the reviews and get more information about each book, just click on the title of the book below)

Books for 0+



Birds sing, zebras run, and whales spout in this delightful follow-up to Look Look!, which has sold nearly 50,000 copies. Bold, black-and-white illustrations offer the clean shapes and strong contrasts best suited to young babies’ developing minds.The warm, simple text makes this a perfect first book for sharing with a little one who’s just beginning to look and learn. An ideal shower gift that’s sure to become a favorite with baby.

Tana Hoban has created an elegant solution for those who want to initiate children into the infinite wonders of reading. This picture book compels parents to talk to their babies as they share the wordless pages with their little ones. Black illustrations on a white background provide high contrast for infants' underdeveloped eyes. Soothingly familiar, silhouetted shapes--a leaf, a key ring, a bib, an elephant--will be recognized by the very young, and through these simple pictures, aspiring readers will begin to identify the link between the objects they see and the words their caregivers say.

Books for 1+


1. 
But Not The Hippopotamus by Sandra Boynton (Board Book)
"A frog and a hog cavort in the bog. But not the hippopotamus. A cat and two rats are trying on hats. But not the hippopotamus." A shy hippopotamus is hesitant to join in the fun that the other animals are having. But little by little, the hippo finds her courage. A fine and funny classic, with over two million copies in print, But Not the Hippopotamus is a favorite anytime book for little kids and their parents. 
Now in a Classic Board Book edition, "Dear Zoo" long has been a lap-time favorite. The story starts with a letter to the zoo requesting a pet. But as the colorful flaps reveal, most of the animals are inappropriate--until the perfect one arrives. 



In a great green room, tucked away in bed, is a little bunny. "Goodnight room, goodnight moon." And to all the familiar things in the softly lit room--to the picture of the three little bears sitting in chairs, to the clocks and his socks, to the mittens and the kittens, to everything one by one--he says goodnight.

In this classic of modern children's literature, beloved by generations of readers and listeners, the quiet poetry of the words and the gentle, lulling illustrations combine to make a perfect book for the end of the day.

4. Horns To Toes and In Between by Sandra Boynton (Board Book)

Serious silliness for all ages. Artist Sandra Boynton is back and better than ever with completely redrawn versions of her multi-million selling board books. These whimsical and hilarious books, featuring nontraditional texts and her famous animal characters, have been printed on thick board pages, and are sure to educate and entertain children of all ages.


5. Moo, Baa, La, La, La! by Sandra Boynton (Board Book)

 

A cow says MOO.

A sheep says BAA.

Three singing pigs say LA LA LA!

“No, no!” you say, “that isn’t right.

The pigs say OINK all day and night.”

The original Moo, Baa, La La La! sold more than 3 million copies when it was first published, and thirty years later this delightful board book remains a favorite among children and parents. Complete with silly rhymes and containing redrawn art that retains all the humor and charm of the original illustrations, this book introduces children to animal sounds like only Sandra Boynton can!

6. Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter (Hardback)

When Mrs. Rabbit begs her four furry children to stay away from Mr. McGregor's garden, the impish Peter Rabbit naturally takes this as an open invitation to create mischief. But when he is spotted by the farmer himself, the chase is on! A century after it was first published, Beatrix Potter's beloved tale of a certain naughty bunny with a taste for radishes continues to enchant readers. 


7. The Going To Bed Book by Sandra Boynton (Board Book)

No child likes going to bed and as every parent knows, their little treasures will try and delay it for as long as possible! Discover all the antics children get up to before going to bed, in this hilarious board book, written and illustrated in Boynton's own unique humourous style. The perfect way to read kids to sleep!


8. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson (Board Book)

No child likes going to bed and as every parent knows, their little treasures will try and delay it for as long as possible! Discover all the antics children get up to before going to bed, in this hilarious board book, written and illustrated in Boynton's own unique humourous style. The perfect way to read kids to sleep!

9. Where's Spot? by Eric Hill (Board Book)

Eric Hill's best-loved cuddly dog has massive toddler appeal and with this sturdy board book searching under the flaps for Spot is guaranteed to be a fun game. Youngsters love the repetition of "Is he in the clock? Is he in the box? Is he under the rug?" and your child will enjoy predicting what's going to happen next at each stage. Babies and toddlers from 1+ will want to return to this again and again.


10. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (Board Book)

"The very hungry caterpillar literally eats his way through the pages of the book—and right into your child's heart..."
—Mother's Manual

"Gorgeously illustrated, brilliantly innovative..."
—The New York Times Book Review


11. Where is Baby's Belly Button by Karen Katz (Board Book)

Karen Katz's adorable babies play peekaboo in this delightful interactive book. The sturdy format and easy-to-lift flaps are perfect for parents and children to share.

"Where are Baby's hands? Under the bubbles!"

"Where are baby's eyes? Under her hat!"

Books for 2+


"Guess how much I love you," says Little Nutbrown Hare. Little Nutbrown Hare shows his daddy how much he loves him: as wide as he can reach and as far as he can hop. But Big Nutbrown Hare, who can reach farther and hop higher, loves him back just as much. Well then Little Nutbrown Hare loves him right up to the moon, but that's just halfway to Big Nutbrown Hare's love for him.

"Good night, Gorilla," says the zookeeper. But mischievous Gorilla isn't quite ready to go to sleep. He'd rather follow the zookeeper on his rounds and let all of the other animals out of their cages. Little night owls can sneak along with Gorilla and see who gets the last laugh in this riotous goodnight romp. Practically wordless yet full of expressive art and hilarious, adorable detail, this book is sure to become a beloved part of children's own bedtime rituals. "In a book economical in text and simple in illustrations, the many amusing, small details, as well as the tranquil tome of the story, make this an outstanding picture book." --The Horn Book 

"A clever, comforting bedtime story." --School Library Journal


Books for 3+



This timeless Dr. Seuss classic was first published in 1960, and has been delighting readers ever since. Sam-I-am is as persistent as a telemarketer, changing as many variables as possible in the hopes of convincing the nameless skeptic that green eggs and ham are a delicacy to be savored. He tries every manner of presentation with this "nouveau cuisine"--in a house, with a mouse, in a box, with a fox, with a goat, on a boat--to no avail. Then finally, finally the doubter caves under the tremendous pressure exerted by the tireless Sam-I-am. And guess what? Well, you probably know what happens, but even after reading Green Eggs and Ham the thousandth time, the climactic realization that green eggs and ham are "so good, so good, you see" is still a rush. As usual, kids will love Dr. Seuss's wacky rhymes and whimsical illustrations--and this time, they might even be so moved as to finally take a taste of their broccoli.


Books for 4+



Where the Wild Things Are is one of those truly rare books that can be enjoyed equally by a child and a grown-up. If you disagree, then it's been too long since you've attended a wild rumpus. Max dons his wolf suit in pursuit of some mischief and gets sent to bed without supper. Fortuitously, a forest grows in his room, allowing his wild rampage to continue unimpaired. Sendak's color illustrations (perhaps his finest) are beautiful, and each turn of the page brings the discovery of a new wonder.

The wild things--with their mismatched parts and giant eyes--manage somehow to be scary-looking without ever really being scary; at times they're downright hilarious. Sendak's defiantly run-on sentences--one of his trademarks--lend the perfect touch of stream of consciousness to the tale, which floats between the land of dreams and a child's imagination.

This Sendak classic is more fun than you've ever had in a wolf suit, and it manages to reaffirm the notion that there's no place like home.

Books for 5+


'Once there was a tree...and she loved a little boy.'

So begins a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein.

Every day the boy would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk...and the tree was happy. But as the boy grew older he began to want more from the tree, and the tree gave and gave and gave.

This is a tender story, touched with sadness, aglow with consolation. Shel Silverstein has created a moving parable for readers of all ages that offers an affecting interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another's capacity to love in return.


Continue reading →

How does watching TV affect my child?

Posted on October 14, 2012 by My Imagination Kingdom | 0 comments


"A review of the evidence in the Archives Of Disease in Childhood says children's obsession with TV, computers and screen games is causing developmental damage as well as long-term physical harm. Doctors at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, which co-owns the journal with the British Medical Journal group, say they are concerned. 
Prof Mitch Blair, officer for health promotion at the college, said: "Whether it's mobile phones, games consoles, TVs or laptops, advances in technology mean children are exposed to screens for longer amounts of time than ever before. We are becoming increasingly concerned, as are paediatricians in several other countries, as to how this affects the rapidly developing brain in children and young people."
The American Academy of Pediatrics has also issued guidance, saying "media – both foreground and background – have potentially negative effects and no known positive effects for children younger than 2 years". The Canadian Paediatric Society says no child should be allowed to have a television, computer or video game equipment in his or her bedroom."
- The Guardian, Tuesday 9th October 2012

 

It is true that the profileration of mobile devices and technology has made it almost impossible for children to be isolated from it. At the same time, this has also become a contentious issue amongst paediatricians and education experts. We are seeing an increasing number of studies, similar to the one above, that call for parents to be more mindful of the amount of TV they are exposing their young children to. 

 

Without a doubt, the quality of children's television today has improved. However, this needs to be balanced against the needs of a child at that tender age.  In the same study above, Dr Aric Sigman, the author of the study says that the first three years of a child's life are critical for brain development and it is highly pertinent that children at this age interact with their parents eye-to-eye, and not with a screen. 

 

It is easy when you're busy and in need of some quiet time to leave your child in front of the TV or computer watching programmes by themselves. It definitely does the job of keeping them focused on something instead of pestering you for another snack or requiring your attention. But the easy way out for you may not necessarily be the best way out for your child. 

 

The next time you're tempted to place your child in front of the TV, think about how much more fun you might have spending quality time with him or her by interacting face-to-face with them. 

Continue reading →

 
Scroll to top