Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: parents

  • Over the Hill and Up the Wall

    Over the Hill and Up the Wall

    In his very relaxed style, Todd Alexander brings us his somewhat lengthy thoughts on the process of aging, or rather learning to cope with aging parents and ponders just when is it that children become the careers of their parents, rather than the other way around, in his latest book Over the Hill and Up The Wall

    Todd and his partner Jeff left corporate life to move to the Hunter Valley taking up the challenge of a vineyard and Air B&B establishment; I mean how hard could it be, as well as collecting a menagerie of animals amongst which is Todd’s beloved Helga, the very spoilt pig.

    Covid saw them rethinking what they want to do, stay or go and as the market post-Covid for rural properties was booming to incredible heights they decided it was time to move again to something a little less busy.

    They eventually discover a new property, not all that far from the community they have come to know and love, but they have to convince Todd’s parents that this is the right thing to do, for all of them.

    We meet Todd and Jeff on a sweltering summers day, getting Jude and Pete into the van for a drive to deliver some wine, have lunch at a pub loved by them all and sneakily show Mum and Dad the new property. They have not left the drive of Pete and Jude’s and already the stress levels are mounting and the tension sizzles.

    Many who have lived with and looked after older parents, will relate to the pondering and tales told by Todd as he struggles to cope with parents who are past masters of manipulation, are definitely growing older, getting somewhat more forgetful and simple know how to create mayhem without really trying. It is s skill learned from their children over many years. 

    Funny, irreverent, filled with love for his parents delivered with a somewhat wry commentary, life in the Alexander family is anything but dull as they set out on a small journey, taken via a longer route, to eventually get to the new property and show Jude and Pete that it is not far from their home and they don’t need to move again.

    Readers who enjoyed Thirty Thousand Bottles of Wine and a Pig Called Helga will remember the trauma caused when they moved to a new home not far from Todd and Jeff. If it could be avoided no one wanted to have a rerun of the experience if it could be avoided.

    Funny, irreverent and very true to life, Over the Hill and Up The Wall provides amongst the trials and tribulations of the Alexander family, much to ponder such as why family Christmas traditions exist and when can you safely let them go and so very much more.

  • Grumbelina

    Grumbelina

    Grumbelina is a wonderfully wry, funny and very tongue in cheek look at what can happen when otherwise, lovely children turn into “Grumbelina’s’ somewhere around the age of three and a half to four years old.

    In this particular case, Hazel Spratt was a lovable, easy going little girl who was the very epitome of what every lovely little girl should be, that is until she turned three and a half, when at the particular time of exactly nine hours and four minutes past, something horrible began to happen.

    A huge GRUMBLE began to form in her gut and somehow this lovely little girl became Grumbelina, the grumpiest, most horrible little girl ever, or so it seemed to her poor parents. She became a little girl who only ever grumbled about just about everything. Oh dear me, what was going to happen.

    Parents everywhere will very easily relate to what is often referred to as the terrible twos, or the horrible fours, when their lovely children discover they too can make a significant difference in the home by simply being different!

    This well-known personality change has been captured to perfection by Esther Krogdahl and Aleksandra Szmidt, when creating Grumbelina, a book that is guaranteed to be a read again and again story in any home that is graced by small people learning to flex their might.  Lavish illustrations capture the tantrums, as well as the plotting and planning that surely must take place behind that angels face asleep pillow, just waiting for  fresh day with a new beginning, to GRUMBLE some more!

    Grumbelina is a fun filled look at life through a toddlers eyes, guaranteed to enlighten all parent of children of a certain, terrible age!

  • The Wild Way Home

    The Wild Way Home

    Sophie Kirtley has written her debut novel for children, The Wild Way Home cleverly intertwining present-day life with the Stone Age to present a challenging, absorbing, adventure. Her style is immediate and in the present tense. The reader feels as if the happenings are now and he or she is involved.

    As a part of a close and loving family, Charlie is about to have his eleventh birthday, while his mother is due to have a second child. Father is caring for the family as Mother has been unwell. The family live next to a forest where Charlie and his best friends play happily, hiding from each other, climbing trees, and exploring. Charlie is a collector and finds things in the forest from earlier times. On this day he finds a deer tooth, with markings.

    When the boy returns home, he finds his Mother has gone to hospital and the baby has been born. His father collects him and takes him to see his Mother and his new baby brother. Charlie is ecstatic to meet Dara and is amazed at his tiny size. It is then that the doctor informs them that Dara has a faulty heart and will need surgery.

    Charlie is overwhelmed and runs away to the forest where he soon finds himself back in the Stone Age. There has been a time slip and here the adventure really begins.

    A boy of a similar age, Hartboy, has fallen into a stream and is unconscious. Charlie drags him to the edge of the water, and together they face survival in a hostile forest. Wolves, bears and other wild creatures threaten the boys, but through cunning and support they manage to find a safe haven.

    The Wild Way Home is a gripping adventure as the reader is not sure how Charlie can return to his own world. We also wonder how he can find the courage to love and support his baby brother through the risky times ahead.

     

  • IS MY CHILD READY FOR SCHOOL?

    IS MY CHILD READY FOR SCHOOL?

    This small book is one that should be readily available to all parents of pre-school children. It is a wealth of information to prepare children for the important aspects of education and schooling. The book is well set out and easy to read and follow. Some of the chapters deal with issues such as, “The Age Debate, Physical Development, Emotional Development, Independence, Literacy, Numeracy, Selecting a School, Supporting your child through the first year,” and a reading list is provided.

    Many countries have different policies about the age that a child should begin school. Ideally, the school should cater for children at their individual stage when they first enter formal education. Most children will have attended a kindergarten and will have had some experience in separation, structure of time and play rules. This is a definite advantage for those beginning their schooling. For young children, the links between play and learning are strong, and help to develop many skills. The author stresses that teachers are the important ingredient in this mix.

    The chapter on physical development is excellent in its explanations of what sort of activities are needed to help with fine and gross motor skills. For a positive result in learning, students need to develop skills which will help them with spatial awareness and literacy skills. Sliding, swinging and hanging upside down, are just a few activities that are used to develop vestibular and proprioceptive senses.

    Looking at your child’s emotional development and independence, there is a checklist suggested that can help the parent decide if their child is ready for school, and to plan to strengthen issues which arise. A great guide! The author also looks at the child’s social development. There again, there are suggestions that can be used to help children learn to respond to a greeting, or to ask plainly for something they need. Friendships can be cultivated by parents to further children’s social development. Teaching positive social skills is part of a family responsibility, and again, we have helpful suggestions for language to use.

    It seems that the author has covered most aspects of pre- schoolers and their readiness to begin formal education. As a Specialist Educator, Mother and Author, Karen Seinor has had a great deal of experience in this area. The fact that she has written this easy- to- follow guide clearly outlines her understanding of the structure and steps that children follow in their development. She encourages parents to liaise closely with their child’s teacher, as the most support and help can be arranged for the child if needed.

    Is My Child Ready For School is a book which would benefit all parents who wish to give their child the very best start to education that is possible.