A passion for reading...

www.unikgifts.co.uk not only has lovely toys & nursery pieces, it also features books. This is because Anna & I LOVE books & as keen readers we are hoping to pass this on to our little ones!

As an IT geek many of my friends & family are flabbergasted that I don't own an electronic device for my passion (not mentioning any names or trademarks here but I think you know). Surely the lady who owns a smart phone, a pro laptop & provides IT support for her family, her in-law family, her neighbours (the more elderly one) & who taught herself HTML & PHP while up with an awake crying baby would JUMP at the chance to pick up the next evolution of books? Surely she would? No???

No. And I don't believe those electronic devices are the next evolutionary step for books either, but that's a WHOLE other blog so I shall not digress.

There's a lot to be said for books that the electronic devices don't have. For starters there's the illustrations - our very own Victoria Plum drawings are the originals from one of the books about her. These illustrations make the story come alive for those that struggle to read the words. My little one will often guess what's happening next in the story because there's a delicate illustration there to show her. Some of the really old, beyond rescuing story books, have illustrations that can be framed as a lovely momento of a well loved story.










The smell of the book. Who hasn't walked into a large

old library & just stood there breathing in the smell of ancient leather bound books & knowledge? There's a magical muster that comes with a book, as if the writer & publisher added the sense of excitement & wonder that produces this magical scent. If you don't believe me then watch Disney's Beauty & The Beast - Belle knows she's in a library even before she opens her eyes (look who she breathes in the smell!).

The feel of a book. Pages are fabulous & it's a joy to turn them. Hence the phrase... it's a real page turner (this is now sadly used to describe films more than books). There's no way to describe the satisfaction of holding a book in your hand, turning the pages & coming to that point where you have read so much of the book that it sits comfortably in your hand & gives you a sense of accomplishment at how far you and the characters of the book have come. Also a twinge of sadness as you can feel there's only a shorter volume of time you'll spend together in the rest of this adventure.

So encourage your child to read, not with electronic devices (they have enough time with them for playing & watching things), but with books. Real books. Choose one of our delightful stories to help them on their way.

You never know, they like Belle could be starting a really big adventure in the world of reading!
Pop over to http://www.unikgifts.co.uk/products/artwork_peaspeavintagebooks.php and see which story adventure you'd like to take with your little one.

Are you sitting comfortably?

Are you sitting comfortably? Well then, I'll begin.
Many, many (in fact too many "many"s to mention) years ago a very young girl was given an award for reading in her school assembly. While the award has been lost in the sands of time, the privilege that went with the award has never been lost or forgotten. For that little girl was invited to the library to choose a book to read during break time instead of sitting with her class to have a story read to her.

She can still remember to this day the quietness of the school library, and the musty smell of old books. As you know she chose The Hobbit as her book to read (read this blog here) and she loved every minute of it. This early memory fostered a love for books that has lasted until this day.

In fact, she's now trying to foster a love for books and stories in her little girl. It's not an easy task in this age of technology; the TV, Daddy's iPad, Mummy's phone, and all her noisy toys are a wonderful distraction. But not at bed time. Bedtime is STORIES time.

We read at least 3 books to our little one before going to bed, sometimes we dutifully follow the words, sometimes we make our own stories by looking at the pictures... It doesn't matter, we turn the pages and point out things to each other sharing in the joy that each book & illustration brings.

As tomorrow is world book day, and many children will be heading off to school as their favourite characters of books they have read. Remember to take time in this busy world of technology to read a book to your child (doesn't matter how old, mine has been sent of to sleep with a story since she was months old). You never know what moment is going to spark that lifetime love of reading... it may just be with you!

Find out more about World Book Day here

Don't forget you can pick up a copy of the lovely letterpress printed Insectissimo over at u-ni-k gifts!