I should not wish time away I know, but I am so looking forward to the day I can read to Florence. I loved the time I spent reading with my daughters when they were small and neither of them would go to sleep at night until Mum had told them a story. They had their favourites which they would choose over and over again; Each Peach Pear Plum; Mr Magnolia; The WIld Washerwomen; Burgler Bill and others too numerous to mention. Each daughter has kept their childhood books and they will now be passed onto darling Florence
and she has a ready made library waiting for her.
Since Florence was born I have had so many lovely messages from my contacts at publishers, cards and congratulations and this from people who have never met me and, which is even nicer, they are sending me books for her. Bloomsbury sent me some first books in black and white some months ago and Florence has had these nearby her and looks at them now. These were reviewed by me - here.
These books have also been sent to me by Bloomsbury and they are all simply delightful.
When the World is ready for bed - Gillian Shields with illustrations by Anna Currey. All in simple verses of what to do before getting ready for bed and thinking on the day just gone. Gentle and soothing.
The Bloomsbury Nursery Treasury - Patricia Borlenghi with illustrations by Eleanor Taylor. Full of familiar stories, Goldilocks, Henny Penny, Three Little Pigs and many more.
Bear Flies High - Michael Rosen with illustrations by Adrian Reynolds. A bear visits a fun fair with his four young friends and flies high on a roller coaster. Gorgeously coloured pages and so eye catching
Stormy Weather - written and illustrated by Debi Gliori. Baby animals, including snails, foxes, rabbits and polar bears all tucked up in bed while a storm rages outside. Will make every child feel warm, cosy and safe.
These two enchanting books were sent to me by Adele Geras; the first My Grandmother's Stories - a collection of Jewish folk tales with illustrations by Anita Lobel is just sooo lovely that I am tempted to hold onto it myself, but I won't. I will have enormous pleasure in reading this to Florence when she is older.
Wishes for you by Adele and Cliff Wright is quite simply all that you would wish for a child or, indeed, for any of us - 'Light from the hill spilling into the sky', 'kisses to wake you', warm sun on your face'.
And, finally, one of my favourite children's books of all time The Wind in the
Willows by Kenneth Grahame. I did not read this until I was an adult but hope that Florence won't leave it as long as I did before making the acquaintance of Ratty, Mole, Toad and Badger and learning that there is nothing quite so wonderful as 'messing about, simply messing about in boats'
This edition is a newly published one by Oxford University Press in their wonderful World's Classics series of which I am a huge fan.
So what can I say but a heartfelt thank you to Bloomsbury, Adele Geras and OUP. Being a grandmother has made me so happy and all those of you out there in Randomland have been so kind and generous it is hard to express how I feel - I leave it to your imagination.
