Zoe and Beans The Magic Hoop a book by Chloe and Mick Inkpen a review.

What a delightful book at first appearances from the Inkpens... My son lived Kipper books when he was younger. though at 12 he is a little bit old now. However I now keep a look out for wonderful and inspiring books especially for boys who are the hardest area to target. Again that involves 'doggy poo' has got be a winner for boys.... it won't put them off that the main character is a girl because in their eyes she will be well cool . ( typical six year boy speak, I assure you!)

You can't really see it on here but the title and pictures are glossy on the cover. This gives the look that the characters are ready to jump off the page. This is indeed what the story does for you and the children and you become enthralled with the words.  The size of the words brings the story alive as does the way the typeface is set . The words are engagely illustrative they portray the characters bringing them off the page, it is very very indicative of their book characters on the pages indeed.

The book tells of a little girls adventures after finding a hoop it isn't an ordinary hoop as you will see. Zoe's dog called 'Beans' is a  bit lazy but it will do any thing for a 'choccy teddy', like jumping through the hoop which turns out to be magical. That's where Zoe's adventures start Beans when he jumps through the hoop he transforms into Beans the rabbit, then Beans the mouse( I know I can hear you yawning already check the book out to see why ) Beans the snappy crocodile.....

The best as they say is yet to come in the form of 'Beans' the elephant , there is no way that an elephant is going to fit though a small hoop is there?... Well to see the end of the story you  will just have to either buy it or check it out your local library. My local library has a wonderful reading scheme this summer which centres round a circus theme .So this book is an ideal candidate to begin your life long love of books.

I am sure when I read this to a class of children they will be a fit of giggles. Lovely and endearing please check out and the other books in this series. 

Selling Mr T's organ...... and a competition

What price do you put on education if you go to a state school. There is the constant demands from an early age for trip money. If you do not pay your child will suffer blah blah. Now this is hard enough in this economic climate if you have one child but one if you have more the pressures are even greater. Now J my son is a truly able sportsman

Now its been a constant ask all through his school life so far for trips,charity , school PGL but I was not prepared for the shook of the cost of senior school. Now J does not go to private school just a academy school but it s like private school. For the off there was trip after trip  first skiing, then cricket , three lots of rugby, singing . Now I am pleased my son is talented I really am but I felt the need to draw the line somewhere so I said NO to the rugby tour. He was a little crestfallen but he got on with his life, We all have to make sacrifices in this world.

Then came the school sports award night. J had already won various certifaces for academic achievement being best in his class etc glowing report etc. Model child, etc not stereo typical of Only
child syndrome. Well on the night he picked up award after award culminating in the sports personality of the year. Basically the teacher said if there was a tiddlywinks team he's be in . Now faced which this pride how could I refuse to NOT send him on the rugby tour. So another cost for me so far these trips total up as £750 for skiing, £120 for cricket, £350 for rugby not to mention £50 for another rugby trip ,£25 for singing trip and another £25 for another rugby trip . I try not to  add it up, knowing it is such a scary amount. And all this is before spending money, clothes etc. This is where i cam e up with a plan to sell stuff on that internet auction site. Good opportunity to clear out etc and help pay for all these trips. First up was Mr T's organ he didn't use it any more , it was just there gathering dust. I know it was hard but I just had to let it go.....

There you've seen it Mr T's organ, also I started selling his train set as well. All little amounts help, the school were puzzled as I started paying off these little amounts and indeed ring to ask me was this right. You do what you have to do so your child has a better life etc, but at what cost.?

So to perhaps help you with your costs a little by not going to the gym , I am offering some large hot pants suitable for sizes 16-20 its a fitness thing best you scoot over http://www.zaggora.com/products/HotPants.html to see. Now I was given these but I have decided these as a prize ( this is not a sponsered post) .These are new and unworn I have to add.  So to win these just comment below with an extreme cost you've had to face doesn't have to be child related.


So I ask you follow 1. Follow my blog.

2. Comment below
3.Come and say hello to Rollie(my cat)  via @needaphone


Closing date is the 31 August

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It would mean the world to me to get one of these for my special needs work with autistic children.

Rainbow Fish bites again ....

One of the things that really inspires me is my brilliant job, its cool I get to play all day as an special needs teaching assistant.  I have started to  love doing crafts , this is really important in promoting fine motor skills in children. Also it is an important catalyst for their writing skills, especially in boys who are notorious for not like writing. For boys if you can tailor the activity or story right then it will grip them and they will be away writing or crafting or indeed both.

Why not craft and make up stories with your children here are a few that I down and ones that can lend themselves to any story.

And of course you can't forget "Olivia " the bozz eyed Octopus...

sssh Olivia is really really shy... This was my attempt at creating a magical aquarium / island in my classroom where I work. The children love to read their stories in this little aquarium den. There are fish glued on to the blue film which is the water of the aquarium.

This is Sharky the shark . Next we have a little weeny Octopus she is Olivia's sister .

I think this lovely lot would have a great time in the sea : don't you? . So please get crafting and see what idea's you can come up with .