Moldilocks and the Three Scares Book Review

I'll be honest, I'm not the biggest fan of Halloween. I believe it is something that has more American, and event that we've tried to adopt. However, my children whole heartedly disagree with me. They love nothing more than to dress up, pop face paint on and become their scariest selves.

So you can imagine my youngest's delight when a certain Halloween themed book arrived in the post.

Moldilocks and the Three Scares (as you can imagine) is an interpretation of the classic tale, Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

One chilly night Papa Scare, Mama Scare and Baby Scare take a stroll to let their very hot Alpha-Bat Soup cool. But while they are out, a lonely little zombie named Moldilocks sleepwalks into their haunted house, eats their soup, breaks a chair . . . . and maybe even answers the Scare family's nightmares.

Read With Me 2019 #43

Hello you lovely reading lot, a big, warm welcome to this weeks Read With Me. And a meaningful thank you to everyone who took the time to link up last week.

Can you believe that we are at the end of October?

We were on our half term break last week, which gave me time to catch up on a bit of reading and now begins another term at school.

My Sunday Photo 2019 #42

Peek Through Little Tiger Books Round Up

It's that time of the month where I share some fantastic books from Little Tiger with you. This month is all about the peek through book. You know the ones where there's a distinct hole cut out of the front and you're left wondering just what could be hiding within. These are always great when you want to introduce a bit more interaction with books instead of simply reading them. 

I have four, fantastically fabulous stories to show you, each one offering something different but equally wonderful.

On Sleepy Hill

As the sun goes down on Sleepy Hill the animals are nestling in for the night.

This beautifully illustrated picture book with intricate peek-through pages and rhyming text is perfect for bedtime reading.

What draws me to this book is the illustrations, they look like they've been sketched on the pages.

Through the Wall by Caroline Corcoran Book Review

This year has really seen me step outside of my comfort zone when it comes to what books I read. I've gone from a person who is a sucker for a good romance, in need of a happy ending to someone who really enjoys the unknown, a good thriller to get utterly lost in.

Caroline Corcoran's latest novel, Through the Wall, is the darker side of women's fiction with a focus on social media and the fact that we seem to have so much trust in strangers these days.

Lexie’s got the perfect life. And someone else wants it…

 Lexie loves her home. She feels safe and secure in it – and loved, thanks to her boyfriend Tom.

But recently, something’s not been quite right. A book out of place. A wardrobe door left open. A set of keys going missing…

Tom thinks Lexie’s going mad – but then, he’s away more often than he’s at home nowadays, so he wouldn’t understand.

Because Lexie isn’t losing it. She knows there’s someone out there watching her. And, deep down, she knows there’s nothing she can do to make them stop…

Life Lately

Do you know what, life has flown by this year.

I can't even remember the last time I came on here simply to write a post of my own instead of reviews. In all honesty I think the last time I put any sort of life update on here was right at the beginning of the year when I started my new job.

Everything has been quite honestly, chaotic.

So where to begin?

Well my husband and I have just reached the milestone of fifteen years together as well as eleven years married to one another. It's hard to believe that I've been with Mr Hazelden for almost half of my life now!

Read With Me 2019 #42

Hello and welcome to this weeks Read With Me. I know I repeat myself but I like to say thank you to everyone that links up every week. Your continued support really means a lot.

This week I wanted to share with you a wonderful book that I was kindly sent by the author herself. 

How to Write a Great Story which is written by Caroline Lawrence and illustrated by Linzie Hunter is a fantastic book, not just for children but for adults too. It is cleverly broken down into sections to really help an aspiring writer to get started on their story creating journey.

My Sunday Photo 2019 #41

The Family Gift by Cathy Kelly Blog Tour

I've always been a lover of books, I don't really have a favourite genre or even a most read author, I just love a great story and that is just what Cathy Kelly's latest novel The Family Gift is. I was lucky enough to have the chance to join this blog tour, which meant receiving an advanced reading copy, and now I get to share my thoughts with all of you.

Freya Abalone has a big, messy, wonderful family, a fantastic career, and a new house.

But that's on the outside.

On the inside, she's got Mildred - the name she's given to that nagging inner critic who tells us all we're not good enough.

And now Freya's beloved blended family is under threat. Dan's first wife Elisa, the glamorous, manipulative woman who happily abandoned her daughter to Freya and Dan's care and left the country, has elbowed her way back into their lives.

But Freya knows that when life gives you lemons, you throw them right back.

Can Freya put her family - and herself - back together?

Dreamworks Toothless Hatching Dragon - How to Train Your Dragon The Hidden World

My children are huge fans of the How to Train Your Dragon films (as am I). So when we got wind of a certain toy, which is going to be very popular, the kids were more than a little eager to get their hands on it.

Much like a certain other hatching egg, the Toothless Hatching Dragon is an interactive toy which you first need to hatch out of its impressively big shell. My eldest daughter made the comment that she could now be the mother of dragons - if you watch Game of Thrones you will understand just what she was inferring.

Read With Me 2019 #41

Hello everyone and welcome to this weeks Read With Me, a big thank you as always to everyone who continues to link up, it is very much appreciated that you still take the time to visit this linky every week.

I lost my Kindle a couple of weeks ago (which I told you) and I'm yet to find it again. I feel like I've lost a limb. Where would a Kindle go to hide? I've searched high and low and I know I haven't taken it out of the house, I've even offered a reward to the children if one of them finds it!

My Sunday Photo 2019 #40

Revealing Rainbocorns Big Bow Surprise and Sparkle Heart Rainbocorn

My children (and I) were very lucky last year when we were one of the first people to open and play with what was then a brand new collectable, Rainbocorns. These adorable plushies from ZURU proved to be so popular that they are back again this year but bigger and better than before. Revealing Rainbocorns Big Bow Surprise and not forgetting their tiny counterpart Sparkle Heart Rainbocorn.

Unicorn Tales Guided Journal Book Review

Unicorns.

There is no denying it, my kids love unicorns (as do I.)

So when I was sent the Unicorn Tales - A guided journal for a magic life, I was really undecided whether to pass it on to my children or to selfishly keep it to myself.

In the end I decided on the former.

Get Ready to go on a Magical Journey!

Sure, unicorns are super cute and pretty. But , what's the real reason we love unicorns? Because they spark our imagination and help us to believe in the impossible.

Inside this book, you will learn how you can embrace all of the wonderful traits of the unicorn.

Get ready to have fun as you read, think, write and draw about kindness, happiness, individuality, creativity, dreams and so much more.

Lock Me In by Kate Simants October Book of the Month

As a blogger, more specifically a book blogger, I realise just how lucky I am. Getting to read many novels before they've even hit the shelves in the shops. Recently I was contacted by the talented author Kate Simants to ask if I'd take the time to have a read of her debut novel. Silly question really as my answer was always going to be yes!

Whatever you do, don’t open the door…

By day, Ellie Power has a normal life. She has a stable home, a loving boyfriend, a future.

But at night, she suffers from a sleep disorder. She becomes angry, unpredictable, violent. Her mother locks her in her bedroom every night, to keep them both safe.

Then one morning, Ellie wakes up, horrified to find the lock on her bedroom door smashed from the inside. She is covered in injuries, unable to remember anything about the night before.

And her boyfriend Matt is nowhere to be found…

What a debut!

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, I was kindly offered the chance to read the book by the author herself. I was under no obligation to actually write a review for it but how could I not.

It took me less than 4 hours to read (closer to three hours).

Read With Me 2019 #40

Hello all you lovely readers and welcome to this weeks Read With Me. A humungous thank you to everyone who managed to link up last week.

Can you believe this is the first Read With Me of October, we are officially into the last quarter of the year!

My Sunday Photo 2019 #39

My Happy Journal Review

It's a shame to say this but these days there is a high focus on the mental health of children. They are at a higher risk of developing depression and many young ones don't have the ability to really express just how they are feeling. One of my own children has suffered with sadness in recent months, struggling to remain happy with certain things happening at school really getting her down (I won't go into details). 

So when I saw a request to review a new product - The Happy Journal - I was quite eager to be among those reviewers.

Here's what the company has to say:

'This beautifully designed children’s positive mind-set and activity journal is overflowing with inspiration to ignite any child’s imagination and gratitude skills.

My Happy Journal is designed to celebrate and savour daily memories, encourage communication and laughter while bringing parents closer to their children.

It has heaps of fun facts and activities and 90 diary entries to complete while embracing mindfulness through moments of calm and a positive mind-set.'

Help children celebrate everyday joys.

These journals are wonderfully vibrant and filled to the brim with positivity.

I was kindly sent two, one for each of my youngest two daughters and they have used them each and every day since they arrived.

Inclusive Book Round Up from Little Tiger

As little ones navigate their way through life, they are always learning something new and a big thing that comes with growing up is all of the new people that they will meet and as their parent, it isn't always easy to explain emotions and the behaviours that can come with building these new relationships but Little Tiger are here to help.

In my latest book round up from Little Tiger, there is a great selection of paperbacks which are highly accessible for young children and guaranteed to help them be more mindful and better equipped to deal with all the things that life brings.

Happy

We breathe deep and expand like the galaxy. We breathe out many thousands of stars. And if ever we start to feel panicky. This reminds us just who we are.

In a world filled with drama and confusion at every turn, Happy is a book that will help children to really relax whilst being able to explore their own feelings. I think it will be especially effective on days where something perhaps has happened at school and they can't comprehend how to deal with it.