Showing posts with label Baby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baby. Show all posts

Wednesday 28 July 2021

Book Review: Big Book of Baby Knits by Marie Claire Editions

 Big Book of Baby Knits
by
Marie Claire Editions
 
80+ Garment & Accessory Patterns
 

Publisher: Fox Chapel Publishing

Publication date: 24th August 2021-US

                      4th November 2021-AUS

Genre: Non Fiction / Craft

RRP: $22.99US

Preorder on AmazonAU: $26.19AUD

Pages: 192

Format read: eBook

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley


 

My review
 
I can't go past a knitting book and The Big Book of Baby Knits has a gorgeous cover which would immediately entice me to pick it up and have a browse.
 
In the front of the book is a section on getting started with basic stitch terms and abbreviations.
Each finished item is beautifully photographed. 
The book includes a vast array of baby items including: 
Blankets
Booties/shoes/socks 
Hooded jackets
Toys
sleeping bags
Beanies
Pants
Tops
Tunics
Overalls/rompers
 
Patterns have instruction for age ranges: newborn to 6months or 3months to 12 months.
There are only two patterns that go beyond the 12 month age. 
 
The majority of patterns are simple stocking stitch pattern with a couple of cable stitch patterns and one Intarsia pattern. 
 
I loved that this book features a modern take on classic baby knitting patterns with the colours of grey and navy used. I also liked the hoodie patterns and the long knitted baby pants. I would probably buy this book just for these patterns.
 
There are 7 patterns for toys that each match one of the clothing patterns. They are a cute addition although I don't have any interest in knitting toys. 
 
As babies have moved from booties and bonnets to shoes and beanies The Big Book of Baby Knits features lots of up to the minute patterns for the modern baby.
 
As I looked through the patterns for something to knit I found that the instructions are not fully explained leaving a lot up to the assumption that the knitter knows what to do.
I'm a lazy knitter and I just want to follow a pattern stitch for stitch and not have to work out each step.
The stitch pattern is definitely for beginners but you may want to have an experienced knitter on hand to go through some of the instructions. One pattern I simply gave up on because I had no idea what the instructions meant.
 

 The jacket I knitted
 
3 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐
 
 
 

Monday 6 August 2018

Storybook Corner Book Review: Sea Life - Alphaprints (Children's Picture Book)



I'm very happy to post my first review with my mini reviewers Dot & Jay.
They loved listening to the books and telling me what they thought of them. 

Title: Sea Life - Alphaprints
Author: Roger Priddy
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Publication date: 31st July 2018
Pages: 20
RRP: $9.99
Format Read: Board book
Source: courtesy of the publisher 


 
Alphaprints goes under the ocean to meet 20 fabulous seas creatures, from the tiny seahorse to the big, blue whale. This casebound board book has a creature on each page, with a light-hearted rhyming couplet that tells you something about each character. Each fingerprint is embossed, making this book both a visual and tactile experience that babies and toddlers will want to repeat.


 


Alphaprint board books are made with durable heavy grade board with a high gloss finish. The book features a vast array of sea creatures amusingly formed with fingerprints and household items. The shark has leaves for fins, the hammerhead literally has a hammer for a head, the crab has pegs for claws, all cleverly photographed to look real and intriguing, thus drawing the child in for a closer look at each picture.
The pictures are bright and feature a tactile element in the raised fingerprint.
Dot enjoyed this book and its catchy rhymes which have a good cadence making the words flow off the tongue. She liked searching the photos for the everyday items that made up the creatures. The dolphin is made from a banana.
When asked what her favourite picture was she reeled off about ten names so let’s just suffice to say she liked them all.
For her, the most exciting part was this can be used as a craft book and below is the craft we made from the book. She has already picked out the jellyfish and octopus to try next.

                                               



  Jay liked the tactile feel of the pages and how easy it is for him to turn the board pages. The bright and simple photos keep his attention long enough for me to read the rhymes before he turns to the next one.

My favourite thing about the book is the high gloss pages make it easy to wipe clean from sticky hands and baby dribble. Also the paper used is from sustainable forests.
*I received a review copy from the publisher.

Our rating 5/5           📘📘📘📘📘

As both Dot and Jay loved the Sea Life book I purchased Alphaprints First Words.

With unique Alphaprints artwork and over 30 words to learn, this is a fun first book to encourage and improve speaking skills.




Again the photos are simple and brightly coloured to attract a baby or toddler’s attention.
Priddy once again uses the art of fingerprints with added everyday items to photograph unique pictures of animals, toys and food.

The tactile feel to the pages gives an added dimension to the pictures. The book is divided into groups with each spread showing a different group of items, pets, in the park, things that go, on the farm etc. Each item is clearly labelled underneath with five items per two page spread.
This book is to encourage and improve speaking skills however can be extended for older children by asking and discussing what else could go in each group displayed. Dot enjoyed this game which involved thinking and categorising.

Once again Jay loved the tactile feel of the pages and the bright pictures and was happy to point to the pictures I named. We will continue to work on his vocalising skills.
 
Our rating 5/5             📘📘📘📘📘 





 Roger Priddy left school at 16 with just one qualification—in art. He went to Berkshire College of Art and Design and trained as an illustrator. His first job in children’s books was working with the publisher Peter Usborne, at Usborne Publishing, and then he worked with Peter Kindersley at Dorling Kindersley, where he spent 16 years. Priddy became Creative Director of DK’s Children’s Division and was Managing Director of the children’s mass market publisher Funfax when it was acquired by DK.

In 2000, he created Priddy Books with John Sargent at St Martin’s Press to create innovative and imaginative titles for children, from first books for babies through early reference titles for older children. Since then, over 30 million copies of Roger's 200 plus books have sold worldwide, with five of his books—My Big Animal, My Big Truck, Happy Baby Words, Happy Baby Colors and Puppy and Friends—each selling over one million copies. He is also the author of Big Board First 100 Words; Big Board Books Colors, ABC, Numbers, and Bright Baby Noisy Monsters. His creativity has been recognized with numerous industry awards. Priddy lives in London with his wife Zena and their four children.