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Tag Archives: Obsessive About Octopuses

Picture Books 2020 (and pirate fishfingers)

Posted on January 4, 2021 by Hannah

I hope you had a good Christmas and New Year despite the clouds of Covid hanging over all of us. Being in Tier 2 we were able to see some family on Christmas Day. It was a very odd feeling, … Continue reading →

Posted in Family and friends, Illustration | Tagged 2020, 2021, Alison Murray, Asa Gilland, book reviews, bubbles, children, children's fiction, Christian Robinson, Clare Helen Welsh, COVID-19, debut, Dino Duckling, Discover Kelpies, Emily Gravett, Extra Yarn, fishfingers, Francesca Simon, Hannah Foley, How Billy Hippo Learned His Colours, Jon Klassen, Last Stop on Market Street, Mac Barnett, Matt De La Pena, middle grade fiction, My Friend Earth, Northcott Theatre, Obsessive About Octopuses, Owen Davey, Patricia MacLachlan, picture books, The Perfect Shelter, The Spellbinding Secret of Avery Buckle, theatre, Too Much Stuff, Treasure Island, vivian french | 2 Comments
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    The Garden of Lost Secrets by @amhowellwrites was The Garden of Lost Secrets by @amhowellwrites was one of Eldest's recent recommendations for me - she loved it and thought I would too!

The Garden of Lost Secrets is a poignant read, set during First World War - the impact of the war and the outrageous loss of life is never shied away from. Clara is sent to live with her Uncle and Aunt on the country estate where they work, while her father recuperates from gas poisoning. I loved the mysterious plot, all added to by the atmospheric descriptions of the gardens and hothouses. But the thing I loved most about this book was the tangible sense of times changing. WW1 shook the old British hierarchy to its core, and there is a real feeling that children like Clara and Will are no longer going to accept the deference and silences of the older generations. 

#TheGardenOfLostSecrets #AMHowell #BookReview #ReadingTogether #parenting #MiddleGradeFiction #ChildrensBooks #KidLit #ChildrensNovels #WW1 #pineapples #mystery #garden
    Ignoring the news and determined to be cheerful th Ignoring the news and determined to be cheerful this morning... what better way than to celebrate the picture books we bought, borrowed or were given in 2020, and LOVED?! 😁 Some in there that have been around for a little while - funny how some books by-pass a child for ages and then suddenly, boom, something about the story clicks with them, and they can't get enough 😊 And I had to add How Billy Hippo Learned His Colours in there, didn't I?! 😉

Alongside this post I'd just like to take the chance to give an enormous shout out to all the wonderful book bloggers, reviewers and indie bookshops we follow on here. We have discovered so many wonderful books thanks to your recommendations... books we treasure. Three cheers and a bottle of gin for you all 💚💛🧡💜 xxx

#PictureBooks #2020 #ReadingTogether #Parenting #BookBloggers #Bookshops #LastStopOnMarketStreet #TooMuchStuff #ThePerfectShelter #ExtraYarn #MyFriendEarth #DinoDuckling #ObsessiveAboutOctopuses #HowBillyHippoLearnedHisColours
    Frosty morning on the allotment cleaning the green Frosty morning on the allotment cleaning the greenhouse and collecting ice 😁 And look... broad beans are coming up! 

#allotment #AllotmentJobs #GrowYourOwn #BroadBeans #AutumSowing #NewYear #vegetables #ice #frost #FieldBeans #GreenManure #MyBitOfGround
    I: Here it is... my advance copy of The Spellbindi I: Here it is... my advance copy of The Spellbinding Secret of Avery Buckle! 😍 Just in time for Christmas! 🎁🎉

Avery Buckle has always been different: part girl, part cat, and entirely confused about where she really belongs. But it turns out her tail isn't her biggest secret...

Plunged into an extraordinary world of witches, enchanted libraries and fantastical creatures, Avery discovers only she can stop a dark force from being unleashed.

But with a powerful enemy on her tail, can Avery save the magical world AND find out who she really is?

Take a fur-raising ride on an enchanted bicycle this Spring. The Spellbinding Secret of Avery Buckle is aimed at 9-12 year olds, but is really for anyone who loves a magical adventure! Out on March 18th 2021, but available to pre-order now! 

Check out @bookshop_org_uk to find your local bookshop. Here are a couple I can heartily recommend... @creditoncommunitybookshop @imaginedthingsbookshop

Incredible cover artwork by @xbonetp 🤩📚🤩

#AveryBuckle #ChildrensNovels #MiddleGradeFiction #KidLit #magic #adventure #witches #cats #bicycles #libraries #HannahFoley #XavierBonet #DiscoverKelpies @DiscoverKelpies
    This is one of my favourite Christmas illustration This is one of my favourite Christmas illustrations. It's by Margaret Tempest. Little Grey Rabbit's Christmas, written by Alison Uttley, was first published in 1939. It was another time of great uncertainty, World War 2 having commenced that September. Moldy Warp decorates a Christmas Tree deep in the woods for the woodland animals - everyone is welcomed under the glowing boughs. 

There's a lot to unpack in this illustration and the accompanying words, especially given the context of the time period, and Moldy Warp's role as a 'Poet to the Princes'/Priest within the books. Composition. Image orientation. Colour palette. Grouping of figures. Use of symbols. All this conveys meaning: forgiveness, magic, nature, humanity, solidarity, spirituality... I know, I know, pipe down... I've gone all Art History on you! But...there's sooo much depth to children's illustrations! 😍😍😍 They speak volumes about who we are, where we have been, and the narratives we treasure so much we impart them to our children. And I think the fact that, this year Christmas trees started popping up in windows around us from the middle of November, goes to show that the message embedded in this imagery is just as strong today as it was eighty years ago. 

Alright, enough now Hannah. Suffice to say... Happy Christmas everyone. Nadolig Llawen. Love and joy to you and yours. Peace on Earth, good will to all xxx

#Christmas #LittleGreyRabbit #AlisonUttley #MargaretTempest #ChildrensBooks #KidLit #illustration #ArtHistory #ChristmasTrees #HappyChristmas
    This year, instead of sending Christmas cards, we This year, instead of sending Christmas cards, we are giving a donation to Devon-based charity ARC. ARC is a homelessness and addiction charity. My partner is a trustee for them so we can say, hand on heart, with insider knowledge, this charity is a lean machine, ferociously passionate about transforming lives. You can find out more about their work via their website: https://arcinspire.co.uk/ 
Happy Christmas all xxx

#Christmas #ChristmasCards #CharityDonation #ARC #Devon #homelessness #addiction #trauma #charity #HappyChristmas
    Mine and Eldest's reading relationship has evolved Mine and Eldest's reading relationship has evolved since she started High School in Sept. We read less together, and more often swap our top reads, but I've not had many to send her way recently. I seemed to hit on a few that felt quite preachy, or had some lazy tropes I couldn't get past (my pet hate is the tropey portrayal of older women). That is until I read this absolute stunner, and I knew it was one to pass Eldest's way. Tropey old women, make way for Xan... 

Every year the Protectorate leaves a baby in the forest as a sacrifice to the witch. But Xan the witch, is a kind one. She rescues the babies, and takes them to happy homes on the other side of the forest, feeding them on starlight as she goes. Until one year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight, and that leads to all sorts of problems. 

The Girl Who Drank The Moon has flavours of a fable, and Ursula Le Guin undertones, but most of all, it's writing to savour. Gorgeous. Pleased to report Eldest loved it too!

Cover artwork by Yuta Onoda

#TheGirlWhoDrankTheMoon #KerryBarnhill #YutaOnoda #MGFiction #ReadingTogether #Family #parenting #UrsulaLeGuin #witch #magic #ChildrensNovel #KidLit #BookReview
    Wintery walks - happy hearts #Devon #countryside Wintery walks - happy hearts

#Devon #countryside #walk #family #parenting #winter #ropeswing #mist #fog
    One of my absolute favourite illustrators is Kozo One of my absolute favourite illustrators is Kozo Kakimoto with the 1970s Mister Bear series, written by Chizuko Kuratomi. The stories themselves are quite tame but, as with all great picture books, the comedy and characterisation in the illustrations works with the words to create charming stories. Feast your eyes on that composition, and the incredible use of negative space. The Japanese concept of Ma is all about negative space, "an emptiness full of possibilities, like a promise yet to be fulfilled." Check out another one of my favourite illustrators, @Kate_Leiper_artist, who has been exploring Ma as part of the #100DaysProject 😍😍😍

#illustration #PictureBooks #KozoKakimoto #ChizukoKuratomi #KateLeiper #100DaysProject #Ma #art #BookSwapping
    As a boy, the great children's author Alan Garner, As a boy, the great children's author Alan Garner, would tune into Welsh radio stations from his bedroom over the border in Cheshire. He couldn't speak Welsh but the sound of the language spoke to him. Later in life he argued that the way into understanding the ancient British texts that form the Mabinogian was to 'read' the sounds of the words as much as the meaning. 

Here is my Aunty reading John Morris Jones' poem Seren Y Gogledd (The North Star in English). It's a poem that's special to our family. Swipe left and sound on. Whether you can understand Welsh or not, let the words speak to you.

#JohnMorrisJones #Welsh #Wales #ethnicity #language #poetry #AlanGarner #Mabinogian #SerenYGogledd #NorthStar
    I can't say I've got much sympathy with the Cathol I can't say I've got much sympathy with the Catholic vs Protestant gunpowder plot origins of Bonfire Night, but I love the idea of celebrating political protest, and especially the pre-King James 1st lighting of fires to ward off the harshness of winter. I'm missing gathering with friends and family this year, to wave a sparkling stick in the face of intolerant rulers, and gales and frost alike.

#BonfireNight #sparklers #Bonfires #marshmallows #winter #November #GunpowderPlot #Covid19 #lockdown #AmericanElection2020
    A few precious days at Robin Hood's Bay. First ti A few precious days at Robin Hood's Bay.

First time we've left the county since Feb and a new lockdown is announced. Sorry folks - we won't go away again!

Really wonderful to be back in Yorkshire anyhoo... both my partner's and God's own county (no relation 😉). Though, as one of my patient's said to me before we went; the Almighty might live in Yorkshire but we all know he holidays in Devon 😂 (seriously don't troll me, he said it, not me! 😁)

#Yorkshire #RobinHoodsBay #holiday #halfterm #beach #family #parenting #crab #sea #autumn #Covid19 #lockdown
    During lockdown books were difficult to get hold o During lockdown books were difficult to get hold of from our usual favourites, local bookshops and libraries, so we started bookswapping with friends, and we haven't stopped!

The Strangeworlds Travel Agency by L D Lapinski is one we book-swapped with our good friend @d.r.e.o.l.i.n (😘). Strangeworlds is a middle-grade debut that came out in the middle of lockdown so perhaps didn't get the coverage it might have done in more normal times, and it's really good! 

When Flick Hudson moves to a new town, she discovers The Strangeworlds Travel Agency...a place where you can travel to planets across the multiverse just by stepping into a suitcase! Anyone who loves Anna James' Pages & Co books will love this story. It's full of mystery, self-discovery, and best of all, magic!

Cover illustration by Natalie Smillie.

#ReadingTogether #parenting #bookreview #StrangeWorldsTravelAgency #LDLapinkski #MiddleGradeFiction #ChildrensBooks #KidLit #BookSwapping #Libraries #BookShops #Lockdown #Covid19
    Autumn 2020: I think I was supposed to let the Bla Autumn 2020: I think I was supposed to let the Black Futsu pumpkins ripen on the vine - oops! Thankfully there's always next year to try again 😊

#Autumn #Countryside #Devon #RowanBerries #sheep #BlackFutsu #SquahCrownPrince #JillBeLittle #Dartmoor #acorns #family
    Jumping on the bandwagon here but Orphans of the T Jumping on the bandwagon here but Orphans of the Tide by @struan_c_murray is pheNOMenal! The world has been flooded and all that remains is the last human city built on the top of a mountain. One day the high tide leaves a whale beached on a rooftop. Inside the whale, young inventor Ellie, finds a boy.

For anyone who loves The Northern Lights books by Philip Pulman or the Mortal Engines and Railhead series by Philip Reeve, you will love this!!! The second instalment will be out next year. I'm not sure if it will be Eldest's cup of tea but I'm going to leave it lying around, and talk VERY loudly about how good it was 🤭 - hopefully she'll give it a go!

Illustrations by @manuelsumberac

#Parenting #ReadingTogether #OrphansOfTheTide #StruanMurray  #BookReview #MiddleGradeFiction #MGFiction #ChildrensBooks #KidLit #NorthernLights #PhilipPullman #MortalEngines #Railhead #PhilipReeve
    Storm Alex #AllWeatherFamily #Devon #Autumn #Coun Storm Alex

#AllWeatherFamily #Devon #Autumn #CountrysideAdventures #parenting #cows #ivy #apples #mud #rain #gales #StormAlex
    Circle stones #Beachcombing #circles #pebbles #Po Circle stones

#Beachcombing #circles #pebbles #PocketTreasures
    It's was brilliant getting back to the library whe It's was brilliant getting back to the library when lockdown lifted. With restrictions tightening again and such a serious reading bug in the house we're keeping our fingers crossed they don't include libraries 🤞 Here are a couple of treasures we picked up recently...

I missed out on The Children of Green Knowe by Lucy M Boston as a child so have loved catching up on such a classic as a mum. It's just as good as I'd hoped! I love British children's novels from this era...spine shivery mysteries, and such evocative regionality which seems to be out of fashion at the moment.

Michelle Magorian is best known for Goodnight Mister Tom. She's an incredible storyteller. Back Home is set at the end of WW2. Rusty returns to England after five years of being an evacuee in America. This is another story which beautifully explores the complex relationships between mothers and daughters. We loved both Peggy and Rusty, but Rusty in particular, so earnest and full of life. This was also the first book I've read that really properly brought home to me what it was like for women being put back in their box after all they had done to keep the country going during the war. 
(Cover illustration: David Frankland)

#Libraries #BorrowingBooks #ReadingTogether #SharingStories #parenting #ChildrensFiction #MiddleGradeFiction #KidLit #TheChildrenOfGreenKnowe #LucyMBoston #BackHome #MichelleMagorian #WW2
    Last week my eldest started High School, and today Last week my eldest started High School, and today my littlest started primary school. From a global perspective this is huge...two girls in education is something to celebrate! But here am I staring into my coffee re-living all the skin memories of my babies. In some ways the little children phase of my life has passed in a flash. In other ways, it's felt like it would never end! 

What's the perfect way to process complex emotions? Spot on...I'm heading to the allotment after this to shift a massive pile of manure.

#processing #parenting #manure #allotment #GrowYourOwn #FirstDayOfSchool #EducatingGirls #coffee #digging
    Eldest starts High School tomorrow so last bit of Eldest starts High School tomorrow so last bit of Summer Reading...
Eldest's school bought each year 6 child a book of their choice to celebrate the end of their time with them (how lovely is that? 💖). The Time Of Green Magic by Hilary McKay was Eldest's choice. She came to me one evening, waving it in the air..."Mum, you have to read this. There's a kind of monster in it but don't worry because it all works out okay. It's funny and magical. You'll love it." She was right 😊
(Cover artwork by @drawnbydawn)

A Pocket Full Of Stars by @aishabushby: When Safiya's mum has a stroke and goes into a coma, Safiya finds herself transported into her mother's memories. Can she find the key to saving her mum in time? This is a beautiful book from cover to cover. The scenes in Kuwait are especially evocative. Peer group and friendship themes felt very timely for the move up to High School. The complex relationship between mothers and daughters is so delicately depicted. You'll need tissues for this one!

#TheTimeOfGreenMagic #HilaryMcKay
#APocketFullOfStars #AishaBushby #BookReview #SensitiveSoul #BookRecommends #MiddleGradeFiction #ChildrensFiction #KidLit #ChildrensNovel #London #ivy #Kuwait #MothersAndDaughters #books #BlendedFamily #magic
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  • Hannah’s Current Reading

    Data from Goodreads

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      The Infinite

      Patience Agbabi

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      My Name is River

      Emma Rea

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      The Grey King (The Dark is Rising, #4)

      Susan Cooper

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      Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks

      Jason Reynolds

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      Greenwitch (The Dark is Rising, #3)

      Susan Cooper

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    Hannah FoleyFollow

    Writer, District Nurse, amongst other things. Kelpies Prize Winner 2018. Represented by @FraserRossLA. @Soc_of_Authors @SCBWI_BI #NHS

    Hannah Foley
    Han_FoleyHannah Foley@Han_Foley·
    13 Jan

    Anine is one of my favourite illustrators, and is also a truly terrific person...

    Anine Bösenberg@AnineBosenberg

    Hello #PortfolioDay my name is Anine and I'm an illustrator looking for work! Not to brag, but I can draw horses AND bicycles. Also looking for representation 💖

    🌻http://anineillustration.com
    💌anine@anineillustration.com 4

    Reply on Twitter 1349272270485790720Retweet on Twitter 13492722704857907201Like on Twitter 13492722704857907204Twitter 1349272270485790720
    Han_FoleyHannah Foley@Han_Foley·
    12 Jan

    New blog post: Nasal passages
    https://blog.hannah-foley.co.uk/2021/01/12/nasal-passages/

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