The Best Book and Yoto Card Collection Combinations

The Best Book and Yoto Card Collection Combinations

This is a collaborative post

Looking to gift some Yoto card collections this Christmas? Why not combine with the matching book collection to create the perfect gift for curious minds?

One of the biggest concerns I hear from parents considering buying a Yoto player is “Will take away the joy of actual reading?” A book before bed is often a huge part of children’s bedtime routine – a chance to sit down tighter, snuggle up and have some relaxing bonding time before they drift off to the land of nod. We also know that reading for pleasure is a huge part of the national curriculum and that reading a wide range of titles from different authors is key to building a good understanding of vocabulary as they grow up.

Using an audio player such as the Yoto doesn’t need to replace this, but can actually enhance your existing experience with books.

Yoto cards don’t have to be enjoyed alone. Whether it’s opting for Yoto Cards with ‘read along’ tracks at the end such as the Julia Donaldson Collection or choosing full card collections offering unabridged versions of the books, you can easily combine the physical books with the audio cards to offer the combined benefits of reading and audio.

As well as being huge fans of Yoto, we love buying our physical books at affordable prices from Books2Door, an online book retailer that offers substantial discounts from RRP. They’re currently got an extra 10% off their top picks for Black Friday too!

We’ve researched the best book collections that you can buy in both physical and audio form this Christmas to introduce some new titles to your child’s collection.

Best Yoto book collections for younger children

Julia Donaldson The Zog and Friends Collection

Julia Donaldson’s books are a childhood rite of passage, with adorable characters, fun rhyming stories and imaginative adventures. The Zog and Friends Collection includes six of my daughter’s absolute favourites, with the option to listen to the story alone or use the read-along track, encouraging children to read the words on the physical book and turn the page when they hear the music. This is a great way to help younger readers recognise words by sight – the more words they see, the faster they can become fluent readers.

Claude Rather Smashing Collection by Alex. T. Smith

Fun chapter books for early readers (or for slightly longer stories to enjoy with parents before bed), you simply can’t beat good old’ Claude – a series of laugh-out-loud adventures by Alex. T. Smith. Claude is no ordinary dog. He and his faithful friend Mr Bobblysock have a tendency to find themselves in the right place at the right time, becoming an unexpected hero and saving the day, wherever his travels may take him.

We love the idea of snuggling down with the book and listening along with the Yoto stories. There are five books in the Yoto card collection, while there are nine books in the book collection.

Best Yoto book collections for 5- 7 year olds

Magic Faraway Tree Collection by Enid Blyton

Of all the cards in our Yoto card library, the Magic Faraway Collection – specifically The Enchanted Wood and The Folk of the Faraway Tree, are Neve’s absolute favourites. If you were lucky enough to read this book as a child yourself, you’ll also love sharing the adventures of Joe, Beth and Frannie as they discover a magical tree in the woods round the corner from their new home.

Full of excitement, adventure and some amazing characters such as Moonface and silky that your children will never forget, this Yoto Collection is an absolute must. Combine with the physical books, and you’ve got some spellbinding tales that your children will want to enjoy over and over again. (Not only is the book collection 50% off RRP at Books2Door, there’s also an extra title too – Up the Faraway Tree!)

Best Yoto card collections

Rainbow Magic The Magical Party Collection

Another series my girls have both grown up loving is The Rainbow Fairies – there are so many books to choose from in this book collection – all with a sprinkle of magic, adventure and friendship – they’ll love trying to spot a fairy with their own name or the name of their friends. Yoto has a collection of 7 Rainbow Fairies cards from the Magical Party Collection. If your children enjoy the stories, the physical book collection includes another 14 exciting tales to explore, with some more specific vocabulary to improve their phonics and blending abilities.

Best Yoto card collections

Toto the Ninja Cat Collection by Dermot O’Leary

Another fun series by presenter turned author Dermot O’Leary, Toto is no ordinary cat. Heading on exciting nocturnal adventures, Toto and his brother Silver become unexpected heroes – with some subtle messages around friendship, inclusivity and not giving up even when life gets hard.

A great collection for early readers who are progressing to chapter books, there are four cards and four books to enjoy in this combination, with 39% off the RRP at Book2Door.

Best Yoto book collections for 7-10 year olds

The Worst Witch Collection by Jill Murphy

Not only is this one of Yoto’s best-selling Yoto card collections, but you can also get a HUGE saving off the book collection RRPat Books2Door, with 75% off the recommended retail price. Written by iconic children’s author Jill Murphy (who also wrote our favourite picture book Peace at Last) these delightful stories tell the laugh out adventures of accident prone Mildred Hubble as she starts her journey through Miss Cackle’s Academy for Witches.

Don’t let younger children be put off by the idea of a witch, these stories are absolutely delightful, with spellbinding adventures to enjoy.

Best Yoto card collections

The Christmasaurus Collection by Tom Fletcher

We are HUGE fans of Tom Fletcher in this house, with his magical Christmas tales making the perfect books to listen to or read during advent or the run up to Christmas. While it doesn’t include the very latest title Christmasaurus Carol (as this was only released last month), this Yoto card and book collection features the first stories about young boy William Trundle and his unexpected adventures with his festive dinosaur friend, the Christmasaurus.

Best Yoto book collections for 9-11 year olds

The Narnia Collection by C.S. Lewis

While there may be some ongoing debate about which book is the first in the series (spoiler alert – it’s surprisingly not The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe), no childhood is complete without this much loved series by C. S Lewis. MeePeter, Susan, Edmund and my namesake Lucy as they meet the white witch and Aslan the lion.

The Narnia Collection is a recent addition to the Yoto library, or you can save a ginormous 77% on the RRP of the complimenting book set at Books2Door.

Roald Dahl Collections

Last but by no means least, Matilda the Musical has seen a huge revival of interest in the classic tales by beloved author Roald Dahl. From the miniature bookworm Matilda to the revolting Twits and James’ Adventures with a giant peach, there are a number of Yoto Card bundles and Book Collections for independent readers to enjoy. Whether they opt for the physical book, listen as they read, or switch between a combination of the two, combining these sets makes a great gift for adventure readers. In the words of Roald Dahl himself, books can transport you into whole new worlds…..

Best Yoto card collections

Haven’t found the book collection for you?

Check out the full range at the Yoto Store now, and explore the huge range of book collections with humongous discounts off RRP at Books2Door. Don’t forget, if there aren’t the physical Yoto cards to match yet, you could read the story aloud and record on a Make Your Own card too, offering a unique way to enjoy the books together as part of your child’s bedtime routine.

Cureadosity Children’s Book Subscription Boxes – REVIEW

Cureadosity Children’s Book Subscription Boxes – REVIEW

This post is in collaboration with Cureadosity and contains a gifted product.

If you follow me regularly at Real Mum Reviews, you will know that we are huge book lovers in this house. Not only do I personally read a book every single night, but the girls absolutely love reading too. I have seen first hand with my eldest the difference that regular reading has made to her vocabulary, literacy and spelling, but even with my youngest who is four, the postive impact on her ability to pick out letter sounds and notice rhyming words within the text has been really noticeable. We read every single night before bed (usually one or two picture books) and I am always on the look out for new and engaging books to read with the girls.

I recently discovered Cureadosity, a new book subscription box for little book lovers or children aged 2-6 and I loved the sound of it. A great way to discover new reads and ensure a diverse bookshelf as well as a lovely surprise through the post each month too!

About Cureadosity

Cureadosity is a children’s book subscription box which was set up by parents Daphne and Alex, who were always looking for the best new reads to share with their young daughter.

A subscription box for children aged 2-6 years, Cureadosity can be purchased as a monthly, bimonthly (every 2 months) or quarterly box, and each box contains 3 specially selected picture books. Each box costs £20 plus a postage charge of £2.80.

The books within each Cureadosity Subscription box can be a mixture of hardback and paperback books and are always books that have been released within the last 3 months, meaning the chances of you getting a book you already own is pretty slim. Via their relationships with Publishers, Cureadosity can also sometimes get books ahead of their official release date, as well as exclusive or special editions signed by the author.

Cureadosity book subscriptions are a great alternative gift idea for book lovers or parents with young children, and unboxing the box when it arrived was a real treat.

Our Cureadosity May Box

We received the May Cureadosity Book Subscription Box last week and the girls were super excited when it arrived. You can see a full unboxing video on my instagram here.

cureadosity picture book subscription box

Boxes arrive between the 15th and 20th of each month, and come in a large Cureadosity branded cardboard box.

cureadosity picture book subscription box

The books are carefully packaged, and wrapped in tissue paper, with some additional packing materials to keep them safe during transit. Part of the excitement is opening up the lid and peeling off the sticker on the tissue to reveal the books below.

This month we received three fabulous children’s picture books as follows:

  • The Worst Best Day Ever by Sophy Henn (Simon & Schuster Kids UK)
  • The Rock from the Sky by Jon Klassen (Walker Books)
  • Charlie Chooses by Lou Peacock and Nicola Slater (Nosy Crow) 

cureadosity may books

The girls were particularly excited about The Worst Best Day Ever, which we had heard great things about in the kids bookstagram community, and it didn’t disappoint!

Not only was the Rock from The Sky a beauiful hardback edition but the Cureadosity box also included a signed bookplate from the authors of Charlie Chooses – a lovely addition that made the box that little bit more special!

The girls love complimentary activities when reading books, and it was great to see the addition of some colouring sheets and activities to complete alongside the stories. These were printed on high quality, thick paper and there was even a large Charlie Chooses poster too.

Unlike some other book subscription boxes I’ve seen that offer snacks and treats as an extra, I felt that Cureadosity has absoluetly no gimmicks, and that the items in the box were actually all really practical and related to the texts.

Our overall thoughts on Cureadosity

I think Cureadosity is a really lovely book subscription box for kids and excellent value for money. Bought separately, the books had an RRP of £27, and even at Amazon prices just under £22.

That coupled with the activities and the signed bookplate I felt made the cost of £22.80 including postage completely viable, and helped introduce us to new books that we may otherwise not have discovered.

The girls have really enjoyed all three books we received within the Cureadosity box, and I would happily recommend the subscription box to any family who loves reading with their kids.

I can’t wait to see what next months box brings! 🙂

Thank you to Daphne and Alex for gifting me this month’s Cureadosity box. It was an absolute pleasure reviewing this!

 

Lucy x

The Books you should be reading this February

The Books you should be reading this February

*I received advanced review copies of these books via NetGalley. This post contains affiliate links*

Those of you who follow my blog regularly will know that reading has been my saviour throughout lockdown and 2020. I am reading every single night without fail. It helps me sleep, it helps distract me from aimlessly scrolling through social media and it keeps my mind away from breaking news updates and scaremongering headlines.

I have read a HUGE 10 books in the last month alone – here are some new releases that you might want to check out this February!

For some much needed romantic escapism…

Mr Right Across the Street – by Kathryn Freeman

Well this was a lovely bit of an escapism at a time when the world feels like a very scary place.

Mr Right Across the Street is about Mia – the moves to Manchester from Somerset for a fresh start, escaping memories of yet another disastrous relationship. – this time a controlling and stalling ex boyfriend named Pete. She always seems to fall for the wrong men, so felt it was time to mix things up a bit. She doesn’t know anyone in Manchester but very quickly forms a friendship with her neighbour Stan – a 67 year old grumpy and overweight man with a heart of gold.

Other than that, the only people she sees whilst working from home are the Hot Guy opposite (who works out every day at 10 in his window) and Immaculate Woman, who sits at her desk every day looking absolutely perfect. Her sister reminds her that in order to meet new people, she actually has to step away from her desk.

She finally braves heading to the local pub and gets quite a shock when she sees the Hot Guy from opposite behind the bar. The manager of The Bar Beneath – Luke – finds Mia fascinating. Her not trying too hard, geeky and make up free persona is like no woman he’s ever met before and he finds himself really drawn to her. Mia however very quickly learns that Luke is extremely popular with the ladies, seeming to have history with a fair few of the women that come to the bar. Mia’s been hurt by bad choices before, so she declines his request for a date.

Then however, when Luke realises that Mia lives opposite and starts leaving notes for her in his window. Despite her attempts to push him away, Mia eventually agrees to go on a Non Date with Luke – after all she could certainly do with some more friends in a strange big city.

The characters are built up really well in Mr Right Across the Street, and I found myself really liking Mia and her intelligent, geeky, and stubborn ways (although I at times did want to slap her for some of the self sabotage and found myself willing her to take a risk!). I loved the adorable nature of her relationship with neighbour Stan, and the more I got to know about Luke the more I liked him, especially as some of his history and past was slowly revealed.

This book whilst a tad predictable in parts (again fairly standard for a rom com I feel), had a few unexpected reveals and challenges along the way and was well paced with lots of humour and smile inducing moments throughout,. The path to true love never did run smooth but that’s what kept my attention.

As with any rom com, there is a fair bit of cheese and I am yet to meet a man in real life who would be so free with his emotions and speak quite like Luke however, that’s what rom coms are all about. – a lighthearted, humorous and heart warming escape from breaking news and a great book to read before bed. If the reference to ‘Moby’ doesn’t make you laugh, then nothing will.

Mr Right Across the Street is out now at Amazon – get yours here.

My score – 4/5

The Psychological Thriller

The Dare by Lesley Kara (released on 18th February 2021)

This is my second book from this author, having previously read and enjoyed The Rumour so I was looking forward to what Lesley Kara had in store for her next book.

I absolutely loved The Dare.. A psychological thriller with lots of twists, turns and tension that leaves you compelled to keep on reading, I read the entire book in 12 hours with a sleep in the middle lol!

Lizzie and her best friend Alice and inseparable teenage girls. When Alice dies after being struck by a train on one of their regular walks, Lizzie’s memories of the day are hazy. An epileptic, Lizzie had a seizure and when she came to her best friend was dead.

After Alice’s death, Lizzie is alienated from her friends and Alice’s family, particularly her sister Catherine, are convinced that Lizzie had something to do with Alice’s death. Lizzie’s family move away and the traumas of her childhood are left behind.

Now 20, Lizzie is living with her GP husband (something which is a huge reassurance to Lizzie’s parents) wher epilepsy is under control. Life looks like it’s starting to settle down, when suddenly the crank calls begin, a little train is left outside their house and the nightmares return. But are they really nightmares, or are they memories!?

The past starts to catch up with Lizzie and brings into question what really happened that day on the tracks.

A great read, I enjoyed the narrative changes and The Dare kept me guessing throughout.

Told between NOW and THEN perspectives, (with THEN being both before and after the incident), the story flicks between past and present to build up a back story of what happened on the run up to that fateful day.

My only slight critique is that the title of the book doesn’t really fit the main storyline of the book in my opinion – the Dare element is a very minor part of the plot. That said, I have no idea what I would call it instead and that doesn’t detract from the fact that I would recommend this book whole heartedly.

The Dare is released on the 18th February but you can pre order yours now on Amazon.

My rating – 5/5!

For a spooky read with a difference…

Shadow of a Doubt by Michelle Davies

As a 9 year old girl, Cara Belling was sent to a psychiatric ward and began a life in foster care, accused of murdering her younger brother Matty, who was suffocated by a curtain in the living room of their family home, To this day, Cara protests her innocence; stating that Matty was actually killed by a ghost called Limey Stan who had been haunting their house for years.

26 years later, Cara receives a text from her Aunt to say her biological Mother has died. With no contact all this time, she is shocked to discover that whilst she is not welcome at the funeral, her Mother has requested her presence at the will reading. When her Mum surprises everyone by leaving Cara the family home in her will, Cara is determined to find out why, returning to Heldean for the first time since that day.

Stepping back into the four walls of where she grew up brings back a lot of memories regarding the lead up to her brothers death and soon the strange encounters start again. Is Cara still delusional, or is Limey Stan back to finish what he started?

I LOVED Shadow of a Doubt – fast paced with lots of tension and suspense, I felt willed to carry on reading and discover the truth about Limey Stan and what really happened to Matty that night. The story, whilst in parts a little far fetched, really held my attention and left me constantly guessing people’s behaviours and motives. There were a fair few twists and turns along the way some of which I predicted, but even when I thought I had it all figured out, another unexpected turn led me down a very different path!

Shadow of a Doubt was my first experience of a book by Michelle Davies, but definitely won’t be my last! Out now at Amazon on kindle, hardback or paperback. Get yours here.

My score - 4/5

And for the Kids…

Love by Corrinne Averiss

This book is just gorgeous. With beautiful illustrations throughout, this story is an ideal read for younger children who are experiencing being separated from the ones they love – whether that’s due to Covid times in 2021, starting a new school or nursery, or who’s parents may live in separate houses.

The story reminds children that love is like a piece of string that can stretch and stretch – although you may not always be able to see who is on the other end – they are always there. Sometimes the string may get frayed or tangled. but true love never breaks.

Using the visual metaphor of string to represent love, it shows how new strings can form and old strings can last the test of time, even when challenges get in the way.

Adorable and the perfect Valentine’s read.

Love by Corrinne Averiss is available as a beautifully illustrated hard back book – get yours here. (Image courtesy of Corrine Averiss on Twitter)

The Best NEW Christmas books for Kids in 2020

The Best NEW Christmas books for Kids in 2020

***This post contains affiliate links. These books were received as advance review copies via NetGalley***

On the run up to Christmas, there is nothing better than snuggling up inside under a blanket with your children and emersing yourself into a good book. As someone who does Christmas advent with the girls and  has done since they were tiny, I am always on the look out for NEW Christmas books that truly embrace the magic of the festive season and remind us of the important things to celebrate in December.

2020 has been a really challenging year, and I am determined to make Christmas as special as possible, no matter what rules or regulations are in place at the time. The good news is there are LOADS of new book releases this season that are perfect for those cold winter nights, from preschoolers to tweens, here are the must have Christmas books for 2020 that your children can read on the run up to Christmas Eve or even unwrap under the tree. Keep checking back on this post as more of our faves will be added over the next few weeks!

Tinsel by Sibeal Pounder – released 29th October 2020 – Our Rating 5/5! 

The girl who invented Christmas….

Oh my goodness, what can I say about this book! Tinsel – the girl who invented Christmas is a story of friendship, determination, family and hope, with a strong feminist vibe, bashing down gender stereotypes, reinforcing the message that girls can be strong and brave too, embracing individuality and standing up for your beliefs.

At the start of Tinsel we meet Blanche Claus, an orphan child who lives under a bridge – she hates Christmas, and normally counts down the hours, minutes and seconds until it’s over and gone for another year. One night an old lady stops her and gives her a gift – a glass bauble and when she peers inside it she can see a scene moving inside – it actually looks like its really there – but it cant be – can it?

A chance encounter leads her to meet Rinki, a child who LOVES Christmas, and they share a mince pie picnic together. Every day that follows she returns to try and find her new friend, but she’s never there, leading her to believe it was all in her imagination. Some time they are finally reunited whilst Blanche is on an important mission and their Christmas adventure truly begins.

What if every child could have a gift on Christmas Day, just like the gift that the old lady gave to her?

A book that makes you question everything you know about Christmas – what if Father Christmas didn’t create Christmas after all?? I think Tinsel is a must have for children this Christmas. It would make an awesome advent read and absolutely NEEDS to be made into a movie as this is a Netflix film that would give Christmas Chronicles a run for its money!!

Santa Jaws – Mark Sperring and Sophie Corrigan – Released 15th October 2020 – Our Rating 4.5/5

Perfect for preschoolers and full of rhyming charm… 

Santa Jaws is a refreshing Christmas book with a difference. Down in the depths of the ocean, we. meet Shelly the Shark who absolutely LOVES Christmas and decides to do a good deed by setting up her very own undersea grotto for all the fishes to enjoy.

Not surprisingly they are all a little suspicious. Shelley is a shark after all. But when Sid the Squid stumbles across the grotto, she is over the moon. She’s never hung a Christmas Tree, or licked a candy cane and never built a snowman (which seems an awful shame).

Whilst somewhat taken back by Shelley’s Festive Disguise, she soon learns not to judge a book by its cover, and Sid and Shelley team up to create the perfect Christmas surprise.

A beautifully illustrated Christmas picture book with lovely rhyming prose throughout, this is a fun festive read with a difference that little ones will enjoy reading over and over again, chanting the words along with you as you read.

The Good Bear by Sarah Lean – Our Rating – 4.5/5 

What a lovely book for the Winter Season. The Good Bear is sure to give you the warm and fuzzies.

12 year old Thea’s parents divorced when she was young, and as such, she doesn’t see a lot of her estranged Father. One Christmas, she is encouraged by her Mother to go and spend Christmas with him and his new family in Norway. An aspiring writer, Thea hopes that her love of writing can help rekindle their relationship as Father and Daughter and asks him for a type writer for Christmas, just like the one her Mother has.

Nervous about meeting his new family, she arrives to find that everything is so different. The children are distant and cold. there is no tree, no decorations, and everyone seems to busy and preocuppied, even her Father Henry. When she opens what she thinks is her typewriter to see a pair of blue boots inside, her heart breaks a little. Her Dad clearly doesn’t know her at all.

She storms off to explore on her own and throws off.a boot in a fit of emotional rage. When retrieving it, she discovers something truly amazing – a big brown bear that has escaped from his captors, but rather than being scared, she finds him fascinating. They develop a strong friendship and she starts to visit him every day. When hunters threaten to capture the bear, it’s up to Thea to try and save him, but can she do it alone?

A heart warming story of friendship, bravery and determination set in a Scandi world, The Good Bear is a great reminder that not everything is how it seems on the surface, and that when we work together, we really can achieve anything.

12 days of Christmas by Lara Hawthorne – Our Rating – 4/5 

A classic song with seek and find pictures to die for… 

This song is one of my daughter’s favourite Christmas songs, after singing it last year at her school assembly carol concert.

The classic story / song of the 12 days of Christmas with absolutely gorgeous illustrations throughout – There is so much detail within the pictures and both my girls loved the scene at the end where you had to attempt to spot them all hidden in the picture.

This book would make a great Christmas Eve box addition or one for Christmas Advent if you do it. Whilst the song may be super familiar; there is something about the illustrations that make this book one to cherish.

 

 

REVIEW – Reading Eggs Mega Book Pack – Teach your child to read

REVIEW – Reading Eggs Mega Book Pack – Teach your child to read

AD – This post is in collaboration with Reading Eggs

Since Erin started reception in 2016, she has been on quite the reading journey. Those of you who have followed by blog for a while will know that it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. When Erin started school, she was one of the youngest in her class, and so when she was first introduced to phonics, she really struggled to grasp the concept of blending words and sounds. We were given the opportunity to trial Reading Eggs via the blog, and supporting her school work by using the app at home made a huge difference to Erin’s confidence and willingness to read.

In reception, her teacher advised us that like many children, Erin tends to learn more by ‘doing’, and as such, the one size fits all approach to teaching children how to read in schools didn’t entirely suit her. She was also a bit of a sight reader – learning to recognise frequently used words and being able to read them as a whole, rather than sounding them out. By combining a mixture of classroom based teaching, the Reading Eggs app, games and supporting worksheets, the technique of phonics and word comprehension really started to take shape, and now heading towards the end of Year 1, Erin’s reading has improved dramatically.

We were recently sent the Reading Eggs Mega Book Pack which is an ideal all round resource for children aged 3-7 who are learning to read, introducing children to phonics, spelling, sight words, writing and much much more. Here’s what you need to know.

REVIEW - Reading Eggs Mega Book Pack Bundle

The Reading Eggs Mega Book Pack

The Reading Eggs Mega Book Pack contains all of the Level 1 and Level 2 books and matches the first 80 lessons of Reading Eggs, making it an excellent resource to support the app based activity.

The Mega Book Pack includes:

  • 80 x reading books
  • 400 x stickers
  • 8 x mini posters
  • 8 x Activity Books
  • 2 x packs of durable Flashcards with games

The idea behind the Mega Book Pack is that children can LEARN, READ and WRITE. First they learn particular sounds and words in the in app lessons, read stories to bring what they’ve learned to life, and then practice WRITING the sounds and words in the supporting activity workbooks.

The Reading Eggs Mega Book Pack is suitable for children aged 3-7 and retails at £69.95, and each book pack comes with a 14 day free subscription code for Readingeggs.co.uk

Reading Eggs Alphabet Flashcards

A fun way to introduce reading and writing for early readers is via thee Reading Eggs Alphabet flashcards, which are an interactive and practical way to make learning the 26 letters of the alphabet fun. The cards offer the potential to play 7 different games which will help children learn to identify letter shapes, hear letter sounds, match pictures to words and sounds, put letters in alphabetical order and read and spell simple words.

REVIEW - Reading Eggs Mega Book Pack - Flashcards

Reading Eggs ABC Reading Flashcards

For those who are slightly older, already started at school or who are already familiar with the alphabet, the ABC Reading Flashcards allow children to learn up to 40 high frequency sight words. In order to read fluently, children need to learn to read these words instantly by sight, and they inclulde words such as ‘I’, ‘am’, ‘have’, ‘they’, ‘this’ and ‘you’.

The ABC Reading Flashcards also provide 36 word building cards – allowing children to mix, match and conbine them to create more than 135 words.

There are 5 fun games that can be played with the cards including letters and sounds, blending sounds such as Ch, Sh, and Th, Rhyming Words, Sight Words and Making Sentences.

The Flashcards are an excellent way to practice reading and phonics skills and build spelling skills, and are great for travelling, being small enough to pop into a bag and play on the go. Erin in particular liked practicing her sight words with these flashcards, and the pride when she was able to read all 40 was pretty plain to see.

Reading Eggs Book Packs

The Reading Eggs Mega Book Pack includes 8 Book Packs with 10 books in each, which can be used on their own or in conjunction with the Reading Eggs app. Each book pack matches up to a series of lessons on the app. After each lesson, children can practice reading the supporting book number from the pack and apply the skills they have learned.

Each book pack comes with a 14 day subscription to Reading Eggs, so you can sign up as and when you want to work through the content.

The books are fun and engaging, with bright colours and fun characters or ‘critters’ throughout.

Erin particularly liked the addition of the poster which came inside each book pack. After reading each book, children are encouraged to add the “I can read this book” sticker to the relevant place on the map as well as the relevant Reading Eggs Critter/ character. There are also additional stickers in the pack to such as Star stickers and Praise stickers like ‘WOW’, ‘Good Job’ and ‘Great Reading’ so you can stick on to clothing as a little reward.

From a parent’s point of view, I found this a really fun way of recording Erin’s progress – a bit like a reward chart which previously worked really well with Erin when she was potty training and trying to get her bed upgraded to a cabin bed! 🙂

I think this reward chart, combined with the printable certificates you can get at the end of each map on the Reading Eggs app is a real motivator for little ones learning to read.

REVIEW - Reading Eggs Mega Book Pack - Book Map / Poster with Stickers

REVIEW - Reading Eggs Mega Book Pack - Books

REVIEW - Reading Eggs Mega Book Pack - Book Map / Poster with Stickers

Reading Eggs Activity Books

After completing the lesson, and reading the supporting book, children can then practice some practical activities around the content in the supporting activity book. The practical element of the Mega Book Packs was probably Erin’s favourite – again due to her learning style I find the lessons really sink in when she does some practical work to support it.

There are 8 Activity Books in the Reading Eggs Mega Book Pack, and each book has content to support each lesson on the map.

Each lesson has four different activities for children to work through, including handwriting activities and letter sound activities, as well as the correct form of letters, shape and formation,

REVIEW - Reading Eggs Mega Book Pack - Activity Books

REVIEW - Reading Eggs Mega Book Pack - Activity Books

REVIEW - Reading Eggs Mega Book Pack - Activity Books

Overall, I think the Reading Eggs Mega Book pack is an absolutely fantastic resource, and for children like Erin who prefer a variety of methods when learning, it provides a varied and fun way to bring their reading to life, in a much more enjoyable way than simply practicing reading a book at the end of the school day. I wish we had been able to work through this from the very start of Erin’s journey, as now nearly 6, her knowledge is at the later stages of the pack.

I would definitely recommend Reading Eggs to any one with a child aged 3 and above who they would like to support with their reading. I think the pack is excellent value for money, and the fact that children can move onto each pack at their own pace, with a new subscription code each time, means that there is no rush or pressure to complete it all in one go.

Children all learn in their own way, their own time and in their own style, and I am a strong believer that one size does not fit every child. By experimenting with the range of approaches offered by the Reading Eggs Mega Book Pack, you can easily learn which style suits your children best, and help encourage and support their learning at home.

You can learn more about Reading Eggs Mega Book Pack on the Reading Eggs Website here, as well as check out our original review of the Reading Eggs App here.

Want to win a Reading Eggs Mega Book Pack of your own? 

Thanks to the team at Reading Eggs, we have 1 Mega Book Pack to give away to one lucky reader worth £69.95. If you have a child who is starting school in September, this could be just the prize for you!

Reading Eggs Mega Book Pack Giveaway

To enter simply use the gleam app above. Our standard giveaway terms and conditions apply. Giveaway opens 22nd September 2020 and closes at 11.59pm on.18th October 2020 UK entries only. GOOD LUCK!

 

 

REVIEW – Wonderkid Educational Subscription Boxes

REVIEW – Wonderkid Educational Subscription Boxes

Now that Erin’s started school, I try my best to include some educational playtime in our evenings and weekends. It can be hard at times, especially since her younger sister arrived on the scene, to do some of the activities we used to do when it was just the two of us, and I think Erin has really missed that undivided attention. In a world where we are surrounded by technology and TV screens, I always try and have just a little one on one time, where we can sit and read or play together, and I can help embrace Erin’s curiosity and encourage her learning in an informal and relaxed way.

As someone who has spent much of my adult life recruiting into STEM subjects, I have always been a little disheartened by how few females came through the doors when our vacancies came up. I have always told Erin she can grow up to be whatever she wants to be, and for me, opening her eyes to the prospect of careers in science and technology is absolutely part of this. She has a very curious mind, and loves to know how things work. Now she is five and in full time education, the amount of “Why?” and “How?” questions are rapidly increasing, and it’s great fun to watch her making sense of the world.

We were recently contacted by Wonderkid Subscription Boxes – an educational subscription box service for children, to see if we would like to review their Wonderkid Junior boxes. With each box having a specific theme covering science, history or philosophical topics, this sounded like a fun way to incorporate learning and provide inspiration for some of our activities, and I was keen to see what each box had in store!

Over the last few months, we have trialled two different Wonderkid Subscription boxes and here is what we thought.

What is Wonderkid / Wonderkid Junior?

Wonderkid is a quarterly subscription box for children (delivered in March, June, September and December) and is aimed at two different age groups – Wonderkid (suitable from ages 7-12) and Wonderkid Junior for children aged 3-6. These are of course recommended ages only, and younger children may also benefit from Wonderkid boxes with parental supervision.

Each box includes approximately 6 – 8 (4-5 for Wonderkid Junior) carefully selected, high quality items centred around a particular theme including quality books and games by top publishers and manufacturers, as well as Wonderkid’s own unique magazine developed to ensure both parents and children get the most from each edition. Past editions have included Ancient Greece, Space, Dinosaurs, and Insects, Bugs & Creepy Crawlies.

Our Experience

We were sent two boxes from the Wonderkid Junior range, and I have to admit, when the big yellow box arrived on our doorstep, even I was a little bit excited to crack it open and see what was inside. Erin loves ‘unboxing’ and surprises, so enjoyed tearing open the tissue paper to reveal the goodies nestled inside.

Our First Theme  – Space

For our first Wonderkid Junior box the theme was Space. Erin has recently learnt a lot about space in reception at school, including her frequent rendition of ‘The Planets Song’ (which mostly gets sung in the bath), so she was very excited to see that this was the theme of her first box, and quickly started exploring the contents within.

As featured in our images above and below, our box contained:

  • A bespoke Wonderkid magazine with puzzles, games, activities and learning concepts – this was a great way of introducing this quarter’s box, and to help us parents or guardians find fun ways of engaging with our children using the contents. The magazine also contained puzzles, learning hints and activities.
  • Two paperback story books – ‘On the Moon’ and ‘The Way Back Home’ – the latter of which is by the author of one of Erin’s favourite books “The day the crayons quit” – she immediately recognised the author’s drawing and text style so was quite excited about this one.
  • An interactive lift the flap book – ‘Look Inside Space’ – a very educational Osbourne book with flaps revealing lots of hidden secrets about rockets, space stations and planets. A great book for us to read together.

  • The Usborne Space sticker book – a great independent activity; this book is packed full of stickers which can be added to a number of different beautifully illustrated background pages to create their own space scene. A fun way of bringing out your child’s imagination, Erin has always been a huge fan of sticker books, and this one didn’t disappoint.

  • Activity wise, this Space themed Wonderkid Junior box also contained game called Space Snap – a fun traditional card game featuring all the different planets and lots of space related items! Not only is Space Snap a fun activity to entertain your child, but brings in a bit of discreet learning to playtime.
  • Finally, and something really different in our space themed Wonderkid Junior box was the Freeze Dried Astronaut snacks. This was a real conversation starter, and I was able to talk to Erin about how astronauts couldn’t eat normal food in space due to zero gravity and all the mess that would result. I was able to show her the small freeze dried chunks of chocolate strawberry and vanilla ice cream, explaining how each one was frozen versions of her favourite dessert, and she was amazed at how much they tasted just like the real thing!

Second Box Theme – Dinosaurs 

With the first box having been such a big hit, I was excited to see what the second box had in store, and this time our theme was Dinosaurs. Erin immediately told me how dinosaurs ‘used to live on earth but how they had died and that we couldn’t see them anymore’. This again was a great conversation starter, and we had a little chat about how dinosaurs had become extinct and what that meant. I really loved watching Erin nod along as we discussed the different types of dinosaurs, including how each one looked a little different and how some were vegetarians just like her Aunty Helen! 🙂 We also had quite an eye opening discussion when she said ‘dinosaurs are for boys but I like them too’. I’ve always been aware of how much gender bias exists when it comes to toys and career choices, so we had quite an in depth chat about how boys and girls are totally able to like the same things, whether it be dolls or robots, dancing or maths.

This Dinosaur Themed Wonderkid Junior box contained:

  • A bespoke Wonderkid Junior Dinosaurs magazine, with lots of really interesting facts and fun activities about al the different dinosaurs.
  • 2 x traditional story books – ‘Crunch Munch Dinosaur Lunch’ and ‘Old McDino had a farm’. We had never read either of these books before, so these made for fun bedtime reading, with Crunch Munch in particular being a really fun story with a great rhyming lilt.

  • The third book ‘Nibbles the Dinosaur Guide’ was a little more interactive, and a great one to sit and read together. With fun peekaboo holes so Erin could guess what dinosaur was coming next, and lots of flaps and surprises, this book was full of great illustrations and loads of fun facts about dinosaurs, presented in a really relatable and entertaining way. It even had their names written phonetically to help children pronounce some of the trickier species, resulting in Erin showing off to her Grandad all the different names she had leant.

  • Similar to our previous box there were two extra activities in our Wonderkid Junior box in addition to the books – ‘My First Dinosaur Snap’ – a fun game aiming to match up dinosaurs with their written name – a slightly tougher version of traditional Snap but something that could put into practise the phonetic names she had learnt from the book above.
  • Finally there was the ‘Glow in the Dark Mould & Paint Dinosaur Magnets’ kit – Erin was really excited to see this, having always been a big fan of painting and pottery. She was even more excited when she realised that the kit not only involved painting the dinosaur magnets with glow in the dark paints but creating them in the moulds first. With six different dinosaurs in the kit, this was also a fun way to reinforce the learning of different names as we created our masterpieces!

Overall as a parent I really love the concept of the Wonderkid Subscription boxes. I love the fact that there is a different theme each quarter and that if you wish you can keep this a surprise from your child, adding to the excitement at the point of unboxing. It’s great that the theme is always educational, building on their natural curiosity and teaching them things that they may not necessarily have been exposed to in their realtively short time on the planet! 🙂

By opening Wonderkid with your child and engaging with the contents, parents can be involved in supporting learning in a fun and entertaining way which doesn’t feel like a chore. For me personally, Wonderkid was a fun activity for us to do together whilst Neve was napping, ensuring some quality time whilst at the same time being confident she was benefiting from the activity.

Erin loved the theme of the two boxes we received, and all the contents were high quality and engaging. She loved the fact there was a mix of both books and activities, and plenty to keep her entertained over a longer period of time as opposed to something that was over and done with in one fowl swoop. In both the boxes we received, at least one of the books offered a little something extra than a traditional story book, and I really liked the element of interactive discussion and the conversations this created with Erin.

In terms of value for money, when bought individually, the contents of our box added up to around £5 less than the cost of the box itself; so whilst the stand alone box didn’t offer huge discounts as such, Wonderkid definitely took away the hassle of trying to source them ourselves, and grouped them into a theme which aided Erin’s learning. The Wonderkid Subscription boxes can also be purchased annually (saving around an additional £2 a box), at which point, the value of the contents seems to more substantially outweigh the price based on the examples we have seen. For that reason, the Annual Subscription option would be my personal preference, as not only does it offer quarterly surprises and entertainment for Erin, but saves me the most money in the long run too.

You can learn more about Wonderkid and Wonderkid Junior on their website here. You can also receive a 10% discount on your first order so you can give it a go for yourself!

*This is a collaborative post*