Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren and Lauren Childs

Currently reading: 

Oh, I loved this book as a child and when I saw this new gorgeous gift edition (illustrated by Lauren Child of 'Charlie and Lola' fame) I coveted it for a long time before buying it for my daughter for her birthday (kids are often convenient excuses to buy books:))

Except, I kept sneaking looks at it, and accidently left it out two nights ago and it was discovered, so I gave it to my girl early (Carissa will be 7 in two weeks) we have started reading it together and it is oh-so-much fun

Here is Carissa and I and Pippi :)
I bought the cute (more economical :)) paperback edition
Forgive my self-portrait style shot, half the book missing and C staring at her brother...

Anyway, the book is a chapter book, but it is so delightfully, gorgeously, artistically illustrated I had to take some photos and show it off. Afterwards, I realised there are already bundles of much more professional looking photos already on the net :D 

Here are my backyard shots I took this afternoon ~ flipping to any random page

Charming :)

So far, we are only a few chapters in and loving saying Villa Villekulla (multiple times each time it turns up).

It's perfect for reading together. It's very close to Carissa'a reading level, which means she likes reading along while still being read to (my boys still love being read to ~ I am not sure what age kids grow out of it but I read out loud to my year 6 students :))

Anyone else adore Pippi?

Or read Pippi as a child?

Have you seen this new edition around?

I really recommend it

I have even bought two more copies for two of my nieces :D

It is making me rather nostalgic for one of my fave childhood movies:

Oh my gosh, how fun was this movie? 

... which I haven't seen anywhere in Australia :/ Would love to have a copy, hey...

Also today: my son Reuben's 9th birthday. He got 7 new books and my boys* are in reading heaven. Is anyone interested in what my kids read? Might do some more children's books posts :)

That's all for now, mateys. See you around 

x Nomes

*My oldest, Samuel, is ten ~ so he is excited for the new book haul as well :)

Oh! and hello any new followers. Please say hi and comment so I can follow you back

(sometimes I cannot follow your little icon dooby back to your site...) Love, Nomes

Diary of a Wimpy Kid & Origami Yoda - MG Goodness :)

Reuben :)

So it was my son Reuben's 8th bday last week. Whoo Hoo! He got a bunch of books - most of which we've since read. My son Sam is 9 and he immediately snagged some of Reub's new stash of books too.

Here's what my boys are into - a couple of MG boyish recs :)

He got all four Diary of a Wimpy Kid Books. They are hilarious and have the coolest cartoons in them. Sam read the first three in three days curled upon the lounge amidst holiday noise and chaos, completely absorbed.

And then when we were out Sam spent some of his savings on the Do It Yourself Book. I absolutely recommend them!

Sam spent an afternoon scribbling away in this - I haven't read it, haha, apparently it's PRIVATE :)

opening in book one

Book five is coming out in November (and the boys are planning to buy it...)

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

I read a couple of chapters of this out loud to all three of my kids every day. They loved it. It's right in the pocket for their age level - they love hearing about kids just a bit older than them getting caught up in all sorts of ridiculous and embarrassing situations. They laughed a lot and snickered at some of the stupider characters. Funny funny stuff.

The story is presented in case files for all different characters and each case file has a slightly different voice/feel to it - which was perfectly fun for reading aloud and getting dramatically carried away with. There's cartoons scattered throughout and instructions on how to make your own origami Yoda.

This book is so original - a paper origami yoda that gives advice to middle school kids and possibly uses the force? Crazy genius. It really is made of win :) Plus, Yoda always talks in Yod-ese: "

Awesome post on designing the book cover for Origami Yoda

Sam bought this Star Wars book for Reuben - I think because he wanted it for himself, haha. They love stuff like this - copying the pictures and flipping through it in bed.

My parents visited and let my kids choose something at the shops (anything: toys, dvd's, etc - both my boys went straight to the book section :) and Reuben chose:

Which he has "already read" haha. Which he means he's studied every single page and skimmed the info. It's a very funky book -kinda addictive actually with some freaky stuff in there - my kids love stuff like that.

Reuben also got some Doctor Who activity books :) You can't go wrong, eh? :)

Any cool middle grade books you've read recently?

Any you recommend that you think my kids would love? 

(my boys are 8 & 9 and my girl is turning 6 this week)