Booklists

  • Booklists,  Nature

    Caterpillars & Butterflies

    Learning about the life cycles of caterpillars and butterflies is such a fascinating topic, and can take you down many paths – learning about what caterpillars eat, identifying the different plants, researching how they accomplish their transformation into butterflies, and of course discovering the myriad varieties of butterflies! Going on a nature walk to spot butterflies is always a fun activity, or you could encourage butterflies to visit your garden with the plants you choose! Books are a fantastic springboard into any new project, and below I have picked some of my favourites for you to discover. Stories can open up the world of caterpillars and butterflies, sparking a child’s…

  • Booklists,  Nature

    Ponds & Frogs

    Who remembers pond dipping? Grabbing a net and bucket, pulling on your wellies and seeing what strange creatures were lurking beneath the water. Pond skaters and water boatman, frogspawn and snails! It is such a perfect activity for children to get hands-on with nature – hunting, identifying, drawing and recording their findings. It can take you down many different paths – learning about the life cycle of frogs, the world of dragonflies, the secret creatures that live beneath the water, or even finding out about the larger animals that rely on the pond. I had in mind to find lots of lovely story books with a pond theme to share…

  • Booklists,  Nature

    Spring Stories

    Have you started spotting the signs that spring is here? There are buds and blossom appearing on the trees, birds are building their nests and the daffodils are blooming! It feels like the perfect time to pull together all your favourite spring books, and brighten up your bookshelves with some new stories! These are a few of my favourites, that you just might be tempted to add to your collection! Which spring story is your favourite? A downloadable copy of this list is free to download from our shop: Spring Stories Book List – The Curiosity Cupboard I hope you enjoy this list! Do let me know which books your little…

  • Booklists,  Festivals & Celebrations

    Valentine’s Day Picture Books

    It’s that time of year where everyone feels a bit more loved up! Although usually aimed at couples having candlelit dinners and eating boxes of chocs, I think it is also the perfect time for family and loved ones. A simple family meal, being mindful of each other and just keeping that message of togetherness throughout your day, how you mark the day doesn’t have to be complicate! With that in mind I’ve picked a few of my favourite picture books and board books with a love theme! Perfect for snuggling up for bedtime reading with your little loved ones.  A downloadable copy of this list is free to download…

  • Booklists,  Festivals & Celebrations

    Books for Lunar New Year

    Lunar New Year will soon be upon us. This festival, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, celebrates the beginning of a new year in the traditional lunisolar calendar. The first day of the celebrations depends on the phases of the moon and so the date varies from year to year. Explore the customs and history of this festival with these favourite picture books! I’ve also included some traditional Chinese tales for those wanting to take their explorations further. The perfect springboard to explore this wonderful festival and be inspired to create your own celebrations to mark the occasion. Some books may unfortunately be out-of-print now, but can hopefully be…