Book Review: The Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicholas Day with art by Brett Helquist

My 12 year old son is a non-bookworm reader and a keen artist, and although he enjoys fiction, he’s recently been gravitating towards non-fiction. This book – The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, A Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity (Random House, 2023) – is narrative non-fiction for kids, and had … Continue reading Book Review: The Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicholas Day with art by Brett Helquist

BookSwap!

Once a year, the PTC at my kids’ school organises a Book Swap and it is absolutely my favourite thing ever to volunteer to help with. There must be many ways of doing something similar. This one has the huge benefit of being absolutely cashless, and having (virtually) no book go to waste. (I love … Continue reading BookSwap!

Reading to my (slightly older) children: Children’s Classics

About a year ago, I decided the younger child was just old enough, and the older child still young enough, that I would read some classic children’s books to them both. It’s settled into a reasonably relaxing pre-bedtime ritual. Once the younger is ready in pyjamas, the three of us gather in her room. The … Continue reading Reading to my (slightly older) children: Children’s Classics