• Booklists,  Fiction

    Favourite Felines

    August 8th is International Cat Day! In children’s literature, we find so many memorable felines – from the Cheshire Cat to Greebo, Mrs Norris and Crookshanks, Macavity or Tom Kitten – we all have our favourite cat who adds that extra special something to the story. To celebrate this day of furry friends, here are The Curiosity Cupboard’s top five picture books where cats take centre stage in their very own stories! Six Dinner Sid This has been a firm bedtime favourite for nearly 30 years – the story of a sly cat who manages to get six dinners every day by fooling six neighbours into thinking he is their…

  • Booklists,  History

    Moon Landing 50th Anniversary

    On 20th July, 1969 the Apollo Lunar Module Eagle landed on the moon. Six hours 39 minutes later on 21st July Neil Armstrong became the first person to step onto the lunar surface, followed soon after by Buzz Aldrin. To celebrate this moment in history, here are The Curiosity Cupboard’s top ten choices for books to inspire your little astronauts and curious space explorers! Knowledge Encyclopedia Space! This laviously detailed book is the perfect go-to for all things space. With amazing illustrations, photographs, cutaways and star charts, this is full of amazing facts on the solar system and beyond. Taking topics such as the planets, asteroids, space stations and comets,…

  • Blog

    International Women’s Day

    If you were asked who your favourite female character was, who would you choose? It’s a tough one isn’t it! There are so many great women in literature – Jane Eyre, Miss Marple, Elizabeth Bennett – and in children’s literature the list would certainly include Jo March, Lucy Pevensie, Fern Arable, Matilda Wormwood and Hermione Granger. So who would I pick for my favourite heroine? I feel spoilt for choice, so thought I’d look beyond the classics and the names everyone perhaps knows or recognises. I want to point you in the direction of just a few heroines in children’s fiction that I have fallen in love with – those you…

  • Book Reviews

    Sky Song

    In the snowy kingdom of Erkenwald, whales glide between icebergs, wolves hunt on the tundra and polar bears roam the glaciers. But the people of this land aren’t so easy to find – because Erkenwald is ruled by an evil Ice Queen and the tribes must stay hidden or risk becoming her prisoners at Winterfang Palace. Join Eska, a girl who breaks free from a cursed music box, and Flint, a boy whose inventions could change the fate of Erkenwald forever, as they journey to the Never Cliffs and beyond in search of an ancient, almost forgotten, song with the power to force the Ice Queen back. As we are currently in the season of days with cold…

  • Blog

    Creating A Peaceful Bedtime Routine with Books

    Life can get pretty hectic at times, with busy schedules and lots of opportunities to take part in. We all have good intentions to slow things down, say no to the rush and be more mindful of our time, but we also know that it’s not always possible, or controllable. Whether it’s the late train or busy crowds, the cascade of appointments or parties, lessons, the latest work deadline or the myriad things that can make demands on our time – life doesn’t always go at an ideal pace! In these busy moments, we can often feel like our peace has been lost in the commotion, and the balance of…