the gruffalo and his child {what we're reading}

I am obsessed with children's books.

I loved books as a child

and have continued to be a book worm.

As a trainee and then a primary teacher

I bought hundreds of children's books for my own collection

which I shared with the children that I taught.

There is nothing like sparking children's imaginations through stories

and story time at the end of the school day was always one of my favourite times.

And now as a mama,

I am just as obsessed with children's books.

Possibly more so.

And it makes me so proud to see my children enjoying books,

to see that spark of imagination in my own babies,

to see the beginnings of their own journeys as potential book worms.

We have always read quite long stories with the beautiful boy.

He would sit down with us, all cuddled up 

to listen to us read The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child by Julia Donaldson

from long before his first birthday.

They were early favourites in this house

and they still are to this day.

They are regularly asked for, often as a pair,

and the little man will spend happy times 

hearing about adventures in the deep dark wood.

He joins in with some sections

and gets excited as he anticipates the turn of the page

and what is going to happen next.

The well loved appearance of these two books

is a testament to just how much we enjoy them.

The characters in The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child 

have captured the little guys imagination entirely.

Footprints in the snow were met with "Ah ha, oh ho" this past winter,

any snake, fox, owl or mouse we see at the zoo is from the "grussalo"

and we went on a magical trip to meet the Gruffalo earlier this year

which the little man still talks about regularly.

I love the fact that it's a story which proves that brain is better than brawn

and that being big and scary doesn't win, being smart does.

Just like when I was working as a teacher,

story time at the end of the day remains one of my favourite times in the day.

Snuggling with my two babies in their PJs

and getting lost in a book makes me feel so proud.

And the beautiful girl seems to be following her brother

and will sit happily for a long time listening to stories,

which is a good job really given how many stories her brother would like every bedtime.

She will flit between staring at the pictures on the page

and staring at whoever is reading the story

with a look on her face of complete amazement and adoration.

The lovely Kelle over at Maggie Stone

has started a feature on her blog about the books she and her gorgeous children are enjoying.

And as a fellow children's book obsessive asked her if I could join in.

She said that I could,

so we will be sharing our favourite books every Tuesday.

Maybe we'll inspire you.

Or maybe you'll share some gems with us.

I hope so.