Friday, November 15, 2013

Friday Five: Books by Amber Stewart (and a giveaway!)


We recently discovered books by the author Amber Stewart when we came across the book "Little by Little" at the library. Co-incidentally, we were invited by The Groovy Giraffe to review two more titles by the same author ("Just Like Tonight" and "Bramble the Brave"), and we were of course game to do so!


So here's why we like books by Ms Stewart:

:: They have lovely, meaningful story lines. "Bramble the Brave" is about a little mole who is brave and has a sense of adventure. However, her sense of adventure doesn't apply when it comes to mealtimes, and she is a fussy eater that eats nothing but berries! The story follows Bramble as her parents try in vain to get her to try new foods. Eventually she gains the courage to sample new tastes, and finds that other foods can be just as delicious.

In "Just Like Tonight" we meet Button, a little bear cub, who worries about having bad dreams about a tree that he sees that resembles a big, scary bear. However, Daddy bear is able to reassure him with family stories, and Button is able to fall asleep with all these warm memories. And instead of having nightmares, his sleep is filled with sweet dreams.


:: The series of books cover various topics relevant to the difficulties and challenges that children may face, from fussy eating and night time fears, to starting school and learning a new skill. These are all issues that most children would face, and reading these titles are great springboards for discussing them with your kids!

:: These stories are simple enough to stay in a child's mind. And possibly have a positive impact on them. Junior J has been unwell for the past week or so, and has been most difficult during meal-times (to the point that he would need alot of coaxing to start on a meal, and would then declare he is full after taking a few bites). So imagine my surprise today, when he said that he would eat his porridge (something he refused to eat just the day before), because he is willing "to try new things like Bramble". I guess sometimes we may think that what we read or talk about may not register in their little minds, but these stories may actually help!


:: The stories are probably suitable for those three and up, but can also be appreciated by younger toddlers. Junior J loves listening to these stories being read to him, and Lil J also joins in when we read these books. Being a toddler with a short attention span, he does not follow through the whole story, but does listen when I simplify the story for him.

:: These stories are accompanied by lovely illustrations! The illustrations by Layn Marlow are simple and beautiful. Lil J loves pointing out various things in the books, like flowers and butterflies, and I find both boys sometimes browsing these books on their own.


If you're interested, The Groovy Giraffe stocks quite a few titles by Amber Stewart (remember to type "mm05" at checkout to get an additional 5% off their already discounted prices), and I think these would also make lovely Christmas gifts!

They are also giving away a copy of "Bramble the Brave" and "Just Like Tonight" each to one blog reader. Just follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter widget below to enter in the giveaway (please remember to leave your email address in the comments so we can contact you if you win!):

a Rafflecopter giveaway
PS: You can follow our book recommendations over here at our Facebook page.

PPS: The usual disclaimer. We received a copy of the two titles for purpose of the review. No monetary compensation was received, and all opinions are our own.

Mum in the Making

46 comments:

  1. Thanks for giveaway. Prefer Bramble the Brave.
    Email: joeycraftworkz(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  2. Bramble the Brave is what I need to tell my fussy little eater.

    Cmeilim@gmail.com, carol

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  3. Just Like Tonight pls.Thanks for hosting the giveaway.

    Robert_sim@yahoo.com, Robert

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  4. Hope can win "Just Like Tonight" for my daughter!
    Email: blinglim@hotmail.com

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  5. Thank you for hosting this giveaway!
    just perfect for my fussy daughter :)

    furrypawie@gmail.com, Jacquelene

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  6. I would love to win "Just Like Tonight" pls.
    Thanks for the giveaway.

    Eunice
    nikki_wee@hotmail.com

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  7. Either book is fine! :)
    simplymommie@gmail.com

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  8. Bramble the Brave! My kids are picky eaters sometimes! emailpamela(a)yahoo.com

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  9. I think my kids would like either book, but if I had to pick one, it'd be Just like Tonight :)
    mysmallthings@gmail.com

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  10. Bramble the Brave for me! Thank you.
    princessandtherock@gmail.com

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  11. Rambles the brave preferred
    lamwinnie@gmail.com

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  12. Bramble the brave sounds like the story my little gal needs. Having lived overseas all her life, moving back to Singapore comes with it a whole host of different foos s that she is not familiar with. So hopefully an exemplary bear will do the trick! Colortypesink@Gmail.com

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  13. Bramble the brave looks a great read. Our little ones are all brave in their own ways, we need to nurture that confidence in them. :) yewya.som@gmail.com

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  14. Just like tonight will be great!

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  15. I'd like to win Bramble the Brave, please!
    nova67(at)singnet(dot)com(dot)sg

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  16. I would love to win Bramble the Brave because my son is such a fussy eater, and he really fears eating anything new or unfamiliar.

    Thanks for this great giveaway. Hope to win!

    Cheers

    Audrey sweetsweethalo@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh Bramble the Brave please! As you know, I struggle to get Noah to eat, just like you do with Junior J. Hopefully, he will learn to be 'brave' about trying new foods too.
    Adeline
    growingwiththetans@gmail.com
    http://growingwiththetans.com

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  18. Just like tonight!
    Thank you for hosting!

    walk_of_life(at)live(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi, I would love to have Just Like Tonight please!

    Thanks
    Josephine
    jspcafe_jose@msn.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Just Like Tonight
    lornat28@yahoo.com

    thnks!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thanks for hosting the giveaway. Would like to win a copy of "Bramble the Brave". Thanks

    Linda
    wfclinda@yahoo.com

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  22. Would like a copy of "Just like tonight" for Sophie as she's always worried she'll get bad dreams when she sleeps. Thanks for the giveaway :)

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  23. Hi, would love to have "Just like tonight". My kids sometimes wake from bad dreams and i'd like to tell them it's ok. Thanks for this :) dancingant@gmail.com

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  24. I would love to win a copy of the book "Just like tonight" because my gal is always worried about having bad dreams before her bed time..

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  25. I would love to win "Bramble the Brave" for my kids!

    Thanks very much,
    Cyndi
    limcyndi@hotmail.com

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  26. I'd like to win Bramble th. brave for my daughter! My email add is ehlana23@gmail.com.

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  27. "Bramble the Brave" Thanks!
    My email add is beloved.gina@gmail.com

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  28. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  29. Bramble the Brave, I hope I will win!!

    kohwingman@yahoo.com

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  30. Thank u for hosting. Like to win 'just like tonight'.
    Email add: xihui14(at) gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  31. Thanks for hosting this. Either book is fine for my kids!
    Email: hpchengs@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. Bramble the Brave, actually both books are fine. :)

    tinkene@gmail.com

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  33. Bramble the brave! daffodil_garden@yahoo.com

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  34. Thanks for hosting this giveaway! I'd love to win "Just like tonight".
    Email: cheryl_siew@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  35. Dana would love to read 'Just like tonight', I love books with beautiful illustrations and storylines which children can relate to. Thanks for this giveaway.

    Angelinesim(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  36. 'Just Like Tonight' will be an awesome read for the children before bedtime! Definitely the perfect book to read before sleeping to ensure sweet dreams :D

    Mabel
    amazinglystill@gmail.com

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  37. "Just Like Tonight" for us, please;)! TIA.

    khor.pc@gmail.com

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  38. Thanks for the giveaway. I would like to win Bramble the Brave for my gal who is fussy & less willing to try new things.

    Shirley Yong
    shirley@yong.sg

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  39. Bramble the Brave
    chiu.crystal@gmail.com

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  40. I would like Bramble the Brave for my boy. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Judyfoo@me.com

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  41. I love warm fuzzy stories like "Just like tonight"! This would be perfect to wind down to just before bed with my two little babies. :)

    Adora / adora.tan.richer@gmail.com

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  42. Bramble the brave
    A good chance to instil confidence in a child
    Shuijing / marcia_267@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  43. Bramble the Brave for me! (just realize my comment was not shown)

    Diana
    blogaaholic@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Diana,
      My apologies! I think blogger might have swallowed up your comment previously. However, its been logged in the Rafflecopter widget so it was counted as an entry. :) Thanks for taking part!

      Delete
  44. Thank you Justina... for the early Xmas gift!!!! :))

    ReplyDelete

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