There’s something about ballet that tends to capture the heart of every little girl. Perhaps it’s the promise of taffeta tutus. Or because of enchanting fairy tales like the Nutcracker and Swan Lake that turn dance into pure magic.
The story of Anna Pavlova – a real-life fairy tale – is no less captivating; and one that is sure to inspire any fledging ballerina. Continue reading
You’d be hard-pressed to find a household that doesn’t have at least one Beatrix Potter tale stashed on the bookshelf. This year marks the sesquicentennial anniversary of Potter’s birth – and more than 115 years of inimitable storytelling. The late author has become a national institution, and her stories, many of which follow the long-eared, mischievous protagonist Peter (Rabbit), are considered bonafide treasures amongst young and old.
Plenty of us – parents in particular – are well-versed with the Potter anthology, but you might not be as familiar with these titbits of trivia… Continue reading
It’s been a long while since our favourite honey-addicted, yellow, mellow bear went on an adventure with his Hundred Acre Wood gang. With this year marking the Queen’s 90th birthday and 90 years since Winnie-the-Pooh‘s first publication, it’s the perfect time to bring Pooh back, to help celebrate a momentous b-day bash – London style!
Winnie-the-Pooh and the Royal Birthday is the newest story featuring the motley troupe of playthings (plus Christopher Robin, of course). Written by Jane Riordan and illustrated by Mark Burgess, the tale follows the journey from the magical woods all the way to the bustling, equally magical, city of London – where Pooh and pals deliver a thoughtful birthday present to the Queen at Buckingham Palace. Continue reading
Roald Dahl Day may be months away, but if you’re keen to build your little one’s general knowledge on snozzcumbers, oompa loompas, Roly-Poly birds, and big (but friendly) giants before the celebrations, check out Mother & Baby’s list of ultimate RD faves – does yours make the cut?
The Dahlian universe, run amok with dastardly beasties and unlikely heroes, teeming with tales of the fantastical, has been entertaining and captivating readers young and old for over seven decades.
From the very first smeary handprint, or scrawl on a scrap of paper, every bit of artwork our children create is infinitely special. But kids, forever struck by flashes of inspiration – and because arts ‘n’ crafts make up the bulk of early education curriculum – churn out a ton of stuff for home exhibition; and there’s only so much gallery space on the refrigerator door.
Short of ultimately stashing everything in the darkened recesses of storage, or gift-wrapping our entire domiciles in scribbled masterpieces, how, exactly, do we preserve all these precious childhood artefacts (without going hoarder mental)? Continue reading
