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We have owned many toys, games and books over the years. Huge garish plastic ones, bright flashy ones, and ones that have been tossed to the side the second they have been taken out of the box. But over these years we've learnt which type of toys last the longest and bring the most joy for our little ones - our wooden kitchen for example was a gift for our eldest's 2nd birthday; she's 7 this year and it's still played with daily by her and our two younger children! As well as longevity being an important factor when looking for toys and gifts for our children, we also think that they should provide more than just fun. Of course that's incredibly important too, but an educational aspect is so key to our children's development. And WordUnited provide just that.

WordUnited is an independent publisher, bookseller and educational supplier of children’s books, toys and children's learning toys (birth to 11 years). They specialise in supplying those hard-to-find, good quality educational toys, books and learning resources - from their own branded books to famous brands such as Bigjigs Toys, Bloomsbury, Galt Toys, Hape, Leapfrog, Melissa and Doug, Orchard Toys and Usbourne. Each of their selected products support and complement the requirements of the EYFS and Primary National Curriculum. Another great addition to their website is their Free Resources Hub where they have a large range of free activity sheets, worksheets and printables which are perfect for anyone who is home learning at the moment (or in the future).

WordUnited sent us a selection of products suitable for each of our children to review. Lilah is 2.5 and absolutely loves imaginative play, especially with small world toys and baby dolls. She was sent the lovely TickiT Wooden Rainbow which has quickly become an accessory in her small world play. She builds the rainbow, then the arches become a slide for her figures, and then she's stacking it in different ways to make a tower. I love how the item has so many opportunities for fun and play - all while teaching her skills!

Parker is spaced obsessed so he was so thrilled to receive this Space Snap game from Usbourne. The images are beautifully bright and engaging, but the bigger size makes them easier for small hands to hold. At almost 5 he is doing really well with his games now, but this is fantastic for learning turn-taking, and helps keep him engaged as he tries to find the snap!

Indiana is just coming to the end of Year 1 and therefore is beginning to learn a very important skill - time telling. She received this beautiful Lift-the-Flap Telling the Time book (also by Usbourne), which is absolutely packed full of information but in a fun and engaging way. She's quickly picked up O'Clock and half past, and with the help of the interactive clock at the back I don't think it will be long before she's telling the time properly!

Finally, we received the Orchard Toys Pass the Word game for the older two to play and learn together. As with all Orchard Toys games, this is a great way to encourage learning alongside fun as you battle the timer to find the correct letters to build your word. It did quickly become a bit competitive (and not just with the children), but it was great fun and the littles were especially proud when they spelt the words correctly. We have a large Orchard Toys games collection already so this was a wonderful addition!

There really is a wonderful selection of toys, games, books and more on the WordUnited website, making it a perfect one-stop-shop for anything you need. The website was easy to navigate and use, and I absolutely love how our items arrived as the littles really felt like they were receiving special gifts (gift wrapping is a free option, as is adding a gift receipt). I would definitely recommend them and will be heading back for more toys and gifts in the future.

If you did want to order make sure to use the code wu4kids to receive 10% off! How fab is that?

This post was written in collaboration with WordUnited, however all opinions are honest and my own.

Christmas Gift Guide for 2 Year Olds | Christmas 2019

The products featured in this post were sent for inclusion in this gift guide, however all opinions are honest and my own. This post also contains affiliate links.

I am SO excited to start sharing my Christmas gift guides for 2019, starting today with my Christmas gift guide for 2 year olds. Lilah will be turning two just after the festive period, so I thought I'd put together and share a collection of gifts that I know she would absolutely love and enjoy. And hopefully this gives you some inspiration for any little 2 year olds you're shopping for this year!

Chicco Red Bullet Balance Bike

A balance bike is a great first bike to introduce little ones, as it helps them learn to balance on two wheels and gain confidence, before introducing pedals. The Chicco Red Bullet bike is suitable for children aged 2 - 5, as it features a height adjustable handlebar and saddle so it grow with your child. It's also made from super-light metal making it easy to take out and about - I could hook this onto the pram handle for trips to the park or if she got tired riding.

Personalised Books from The Personalised Gift Shop

I absolutely love gifting books, and these personalised books from The Personalised Gift Shop are absolutely beautiful. You can pick between either the alphabet and numbers set or the shapes and colours set, and both come presented in these lovely gift boxes. The books are great for teaching little ones; making it much more fun with the addition of their name throughout the books. They are made of hardwearing material so they should stand the test of time against toddlers too.

Orchard Toys Number Street Puzzle

We are huge Orchard Toys fans in our house, but we actually don't own any of their puzzles yet! This Number Street puzzle is made up of 20 colourful chunky pieces, so they're easy for little hands to hold as well as hardwearing. It is suitable for ages 2-5 as there are different elements to enjoy as your child grows. Little ones can develop their hand-eye coordination by doing the puzzle, and then they can learn their numbers, counting and even animals through the pictures too.

JoJo Maman Bebe - Stacking Jungle Animals

These stacking animals from JoJo Maman Bebe would make a perfect stocking filler or small gift. The box has 11 beautifully painted wooden animals (including an elephant, tiger, giraffe and panda), that can be stacked on top of each other, or just simply used for imaginative play. They are a great size for little hands, plus a perfect size to pop into a changing bag to use when out and about!

WowWee Baby Shark Singing Doll

If like me, you haven't been able to escape the Baby Shark obsession, then this Baby Shark singing doll from WowWee would be the perfect gift! You can choose between Mummy, Daddy and Baby Shark, and they all sing 4 verses of the well loved song. What's extra fun about this doll is that the speed of the singing is determined by how fast (or slow) you open the sharks mouth. Baby Shark is super cuddly too, so even if you don't want to hear the song, he'll make a lovely snuggle companion.

Addo Woodlets Shape Sorter

You cannot beat a well-made wooden toy, so this Woodlets shape sorter from Addo would make a lovely gift this Christmas. Perfect for developing your little ones fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, it's a great way of teaching skills through play. I love that the shapes are different colours, which then match the colour around the correct hole on the cube, as it not only adds a touch of colour to the toy, but also makes colour recognition another skill they can learn too!

Baby Annabell Collection

Lilah, like a lot of little ones I know, is absolutely baby obsessed. So this Little Baby Fun Doll and Travel Cocoon Carrier from Baby Annabell, is going to be the perfect gift for her this Christmas! The 36cm doll is the perfect size for 2 year olds who are just starting to play with dolls, and features lifelike functions and sounds, as well as sleeping eyes when laid down. This doll also comes with a fabric nappy, cloth and milk bottle for really immersive imaginative play! As your toddler gets more confident with their play, you can introduce this lovely carrier so they can carry baby around just like you did! It is great for children of all sizes as it's adjustable and has a cushioned waist strap.

B. Toys Toulouse Lap Trec

This beautiful magnetic sketch board from BrightMinds is a great gift option for a 2 year old. No need to worry about them scribbling all over the wall / table, as they use the special magnetic pen (or one of the animal stampers) to make their creation instead. Then by simply sliding the green ladybird gently, the picture is gone and they can start all over again! The special addition on this B. Toys board is the bean bag cushion on the back, which makes it much more comfortable to place on your lap whilst drawing.

JoJo Maman Bebe - Fleur Personalised Push-Along Pram

If you are looking for a super special gift, then this Fleur push-along wooden pram is the perfect choice. Not only does it look beautiful with it's white frame and delicate detail, but you can also have the floral hood personalised with an embroidered name. How lovely is that? Of course it doesn't just look lovely - it's also smooth and sturdy to push, plus it's heavy enough to not tip over which can be a problem with flimsy plastic toy pushchairs.

I hope this has given you some inspiration for Christmas gifts for 2 year olds this year. Let me know what you're buying your little ones!

Flying with Little Ones | Tips from the Bloggers

Flying with little ones can seem scary, and I know many people who avoid it altogether. This doesn't have to be the case though! We've flown twice now with babies and once with a toddler, and both times the thought of the trip has been worse than actually doing it. 

You can see what we packed for our toddler Indiana (2) here, but honestly the best thing we did was take the iPad and of course lots of snacks! Then for Parker (and when Indie was a baby) a bottle on take off helped to settle him, and put him to sleep for a short while too. We then found taking it in turns with the baby helped. He was constantly entertained, and it gave each of us a break throughout as well.


This is what worked for us, but I'm very aware that all children are different. I thought I'd ask some fellow bloggers for their tips too, so hopefully with this list you'll find something that works for you! 

We filled a Trunki with various new toys, books, colouring etc that we got from cheapy shops and every so often got a new thing out to keep him amused during the flight - Beth Twinderelmo

Check what the airport has on offer to entertain little ones, a lot offer a free play area which can help with the boredom whilst waiting. - Laura dearbearandbeany

Pack a dedicated activity bag and just cram it with anything that you think your kids will enjoy and be entertained by. I crammed the iPad with fun games and downloaded as much Sarah and Duck off BBC iPlayer, sourced some inexpensive toys from Poundland etc, plus water pen drawing books. If possible, secure the waterpen to the notepad as we found pens and crayons to fall down and roll away quite easily. - Sophie sophieandlily

Put spare outfits/clothes into zip lock bags incase of accidents / spilt drinks / illness. Make sure mum and dad have them as well as the kids. Clean clothes go on and dirty ones into the bag so doesn't ruin anything else in the bag. - Ellie havingababyandlivingathome

Feed the baby on landing and take off if you can. It helps their ears adjust to the pressure. - Naomi lifebynaomi

Something we used different on the way back from Australia just recently was the insert bag for the Trunki. You have to buy it separately but it was great as we packed core things in that such as iPad, small toys, colouring books etc. Then you can leave the Trunki in overhead locker and then the insert fits over the magazine pocket. Always think a calm, relaxed attitude from mum and dad is the best advice ever. - Kerry allaboutamininorris

Use all your hand luggage space to pack games, toys, books, snacks for them... Anything that will keep them busy! And use bags instead of cases so you can pop them underneath the seat instead of the locker - Heledd yummyblogger

We bought the Usborne travel activity cards, they were fantastic, my daughter loves them and in the end used them the whole holiday, not just for travelling. They are wipe clean so can be used over and over. - Vicki cake escapes

Little magnetic drawing boards are a godsend! Oh and sticker books! - Lauren belledubrighton

We took a little miniature toy plane and talked all about it during out journey. Even though he'd only 2, Eli was obsessed and enthralled by the fact he was inside a plane like the little one he had. Take a fully loaded ipad or tablet - it WILL be your best friend, especially on a long flight. Be friendly to your fellow passengers .. you'll appreciate their niceness if your little angel kicks off during the flight - Cat rockandrollpussycat 

Plan flight times well, we always aim for 6/7 am flights as the excitement of the airport combined with a ridiculously early morning means they conk out as soon as they get on the plane - Becky themummyadventure

Never ever ever forget to put calpol into your hand luggage with a syringe. The one time you don't is usually the one time you need it on the flight! - Taslima Notmyyearoff

I think the main thing is to not overpack. It's good to have a change of clothes, a snack or two and a sticker book or game but other than that little ones probably won't need much. - Lauren mummyisagadgetgeek

Travelling with little ones is always going to be trickier, but it doesn't have to be stressful -  I really hope this list helps and gives you some ideas for the next time you fly. Thank you everyone who gave tips, I know I'll be using these next time we fly!

Get your Children Eating More Vegetables with The See & Eat Project

Paid Partnership

Despite all three littles eating anything and everything when we were weaning, getting them to eat certain foods now can be a real struggle. Five year old Parker in particular is incredibly fussy when it comes to meals, especially if they include vegetables that he has decided are 'yucky' or 'sooo gross'. I know that we're not the only parents who struggle though, which is why the See & Eat project was created.

Currently being led by the University of Reading and supported by the British Nutrition Foundation, the See & Eat project has just launched a new website that features a range of evidence-based activities and eBooks. These have been designed to help parents and carers to encourage young children to try - and hopefully enjoy - a wider variety of vegetables. All of the content on the website is available completely free of charge, and is available in English, Italian, Finnish, Polish, Dutch and French to ensure as many people can benefit as possible.

Books are something we introduced at a very early age with our three, and they quickly became a really important part of our daily routine. I know this is the case for many other families too, which is why See & Eat are using eBooks in their project. 24 eBooks have been created based on research that showed that visual familiarity in the form of picture books, can be an effective way to increase a child's willingness to try different vegetables. The interactive books and can be viewed (and even edited to add pictures and audio) using the app Our Story 2, on both a tablet or smartphone under adult supervision. 

I downloaded a range of the books to the app and let the littles decide which ones they wanted to read. Mushrooms are a particular issue in our house, so it was great to go through the book with them and show them where they come from and the different types you can get. The wording is simple and perfect for little ones to understand and Parker especially liked that he could read it himself. I printed off the vegetable colouring sheets from the website too, hoping that by them seeing what they look like, and becoming more familiar with them, it will encourage the littles to be more experimental with there vegetable choices.

Of course reading a book won't create miracles, but they are a great start to introducing different vegetables in a fun and simple way. Getting the conversation going and being positive about different food choices really can make a difference. You can even go one step further and let your little one help in the kitchen; cooking each vegetable you come across in the books or even growing your own in a vegetable garden. You never know what might happen!

The See & Eat project is funded by European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Food, is being led by Professor Carmel Houston-Price at the University of Reading and is supported by partners including the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF).

Christmas Eve Basket 2015

Christmas Eve baskets seem to be the big thing this year! We did one for Indiana last year but obviously she was only one, so didn't really understand. This year she knows who Father Christmas is, understands presents and generally has much more of an understanding. So of course we had to continue the tradition, but this time add in some bits for Parker too!

We didn't want to go overboard as we know both of them will be spoilt on Christmas day, so just added some little treats we can all enjoy on the day. We went with something they could wear, read, watch, eat and a little extra treat to enjoy too. The basket itself is from eBay as I thought it would be useful for around the house throughout the year too. The ribbon I added myself to make it festive, and again was from eBay.

Firstly I added this cute little treat tray, for Indie to leave out for Father Christmas. I've seen beautiful personalised plates, but with the kids both being so small still I didn't want to risk it just yet haha. This one was from The Range and was really cheap. Also how cute are the little knitted characters?!

Of course they need new Christmas pjs! I was worried I wasn't going to be able to find matching ones, as you don't get many unisex items of clothing these days (what's with all the pink and blue?!). I found these gorgeous ones in Tesco and they were a bargain £6 each. I love that they'll be matching and in such cute pyjamas too.

Just like last year we got them each a book to read and then a Christmas film for us all to enjoy. I saw these 'Santa is coming to...' books and had to get one. They come personalised for your town and the story includes local areas, attractions and parks. The illustrations are beautiful, and the writing is big enough that in years to come Indiana can help us read it.

I love the 'That's Not My...' series so of course had to get another addition for Parker. These books are great for babies and toddlers, and I think both of them will enjoy this one. I got the penguin version last year, so went for polar bear this year! Both are from Amazon really cheap (we get most of our books from there).

I did buy two films for us to watch this year, but Elf managed to find it's way into the DVD player already haha. We also got Arthur Christmas for us all to watch. We first saw it last year and it's a lovely family film, complete with adult jokes which makes it fun for everyone! Again this is from Amazon for a couple of pounds.

As a little extra treat I added a couple of little presents that they can play with. For Indiana's first Christmas she was only 4 weeks old, so this rattle is the only thing we got her! It's now in her special memory box, so I wanted one for Parker too. He loves grabbing things now so this should Santa rattle should be fun for him. I got it in Mothercare's sale alongside a 'My First Christmas' vest for only £6.

For Indiana we got her this Toybox reindeer figure from ELC/Mothercare. She's obsessed with these toys and has quite a collection now. She loves role-playing with them - making them talk, go to sleep, play together, etc. They're great for her imagination and for only £4 I couldn't resist this reindeer to go with her Father Christmas. 

The last bits are little treats for both of us and Indiana to enjoy with the film. I got the idea for the 'Snowman Soup' hot chocolate cones from Sophie at Mumology. They're basically just hot chocolate, marshmallows and chocolate drops in the shape of a reindeer - how cute right?! These are from eBay and aren't that costly (I would have made my own if I had the time haha).

Of course no Christmas would be complete without chocolate coins, so I just had to throw these in too! We actually got these for Indiana when we went for breakfast with Father Christmas. I saved them and added them to the basket instead. I'm sure they're easily available for about 50p though.

Have you done a Christmas Eve basket? What have/would you put in yours?

DeeDee and DanDan's Busy Day | Book Review

Written in collaboration.

Reading is something I have always been passionate about, and therefore something we've tried to instil with our children from early on too. Whether this is through reading books together throughout the day, or snuggling down with a bedtime story every night, there's not a day that goes by that books aren't a part of. I am definitely one to think that you can never have enough books either, so when the creators of DeeDee and DanDan got in touch to review their new book, how could I say no!

What is the Book About?

Written by couple Aneta and Mariusz Wojcik, DeeDee and DanDan's Busy Day came about when the couple were trying to help their bilingual children to develop their speech and understanding. They studied the scientific research of the effects reading stories has on children's vocabulary, and then used this to create and develop their book. 

The book follows the format of 'normal' childhood development; firstly introducing simple words and objects for them to recognise and understand. Then moving on to saying these simple words and answering basic questions, and then finally giving them the ability to explain cause and effect. So by reading DeeDee and DanDan's Busy Day regularly, you should hopefully watch your child's speech and vocabulary develop and grow.

The first page of the book takes you through how to use the book to get the most from it. Of course you can just go through the book like any other story (especially as every child goes at a different pace), but this is here to help. 

Who are DeeDee and DanDan?

Of course the book doesn't look and feel overly 'educational', but actually an inviting and colourful book with some lovely illustrations. You are quickly introduced to the family as they take you through your day. You have Mum, Dad and their children - Older brother Leo, DeeDee, DanDan and their baby sister DoDo, and their dog PomPom too. Each page of the book takes you through different parts of their day, all of which will be familiar to your child/ren; including breakfast time, nursery, a trip to the park and the shops, and of course bedtime.

As well as lovely illustrations on each page, there's the simple story to read, and then 3 sections of interaction for you to enjoy with your child (as explained above). Younger children can help find the items in the illustration, and then tell you what each person is doing at this part of the story. Once your child has more understanding you can develop the story by asking them questions at the bottom of each page. Just remember to keep it fun with your child, and don't push them for answers if they aren't interested or ready for it yet. Reading is meant to be enjoyable not a chore!

Where Can I Get the Book?

My youngest Lilah is 3 and has really enjoyed reading DeeDee and DanDan's Busy Day with me, and sitting and going through the book by herself too. She really enjoys finding the pictures in the illustrations and can happily answer a number of the questions now she's that little bit older. I think it's great that the sections of the book are so relatable, especially to show Lilah what lunch time will look like at preschool, as this is going to be something she will be doing herself soon. Of course her favourite page is 'Getting Dressed' as she loves pointing out DoDos nappy.. you'll have to get the book to find out why!

The book is available NOW in hardback on Amazon and currently retails at £14.99. You can also buy the book directly from their website where you can order multiple copies for a reduced price. Make sure to follow DeeDee and DanDan on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date with everything too!

Christmas Gift Ideas for 5 - 10 Year Olds | Christmas 2021

 The products featured in this post were sent for inclusion in this gift guide, however all opinions are honest and my own. This post also contains affiliate links.

It's that time of year again when I can finally start sharing all things Christmas! And after last year's festive period being so different and disappointing, I think I'm going to try and make this year as Christmassy and special as ever! For my third and final Christmas Gift Guide this year I'm going to be sharing some products that I think would make perfect gift for older children and 5 to 10 (and beyond). Hopefully this gives you some inspiration this festive season.

Science Optical Illusion Set

First up we have this fun Optical Illusion Science set - sure to excite young minds and keep them busy! Made in Italy, the box contains a whole selection of products including 3D cards and glasses, a periscope, spinning top and puzzle. Lisciani is a worldwide educational company that has designed developed and produced games for children for over 30 years. 

Kuhn Rikon Children's Knife Set

My little ones love to help out in the kitchen, but of course their safety is always on my mind. This fun knife set by Kuhn Rikon has been designed to be safe for children (and its design is super cute too). The set contains a knife with straight edge, a knife with a serrated edge, and 'duck snipper' scissors. They are made of strong Japanese stainless steel, making them sharp enough to cut soft food, but safer than adult knives. They also feature 'ears' to act as hand guards to keep little fingers away from the cutting surface. 

Tybo Tie-Dye Set

Tie-dye seems to be a popular craze at the moment, so I know this Tybo XL 'tidy tie-dye' set from Tybo would be a big hit this Christmas. The kit includes everything you need to create fun and colourful tie-dye designs in a mess-free way! All you have to do is load up the mixing chamber, add the dye (there are 6 dyes included), and then turn the handle to transform items such as t-shirts, hoodies and even jeans. 

Science Mad! Chemistry Lab

A gift for slightly older children, this Chemistry Lab set from Science Mad! would made a great gift for inquisitive minds. The lab set is well equipped with a selection of 10 different chemicals (however you do need to supply household items such as salt, vinegar, etc for some of the experiments). There are more than 80 experiments to enjoy so your child really can go wild with this one!

The Adventurer’s Activity Journal

Personalised gifts are such a lovely idea for Christmas, as they really do add that extra special touch. The Adventurer's Activity Journal by BookBlock is packed full of ideas to get little minds thinking and creating. The journal takes the reader on a journey across the globe, to learn about new cultures and countries in a fun and exciting way. There are 192 interactive pages including puzzles, crafts and games throughout, and even stickers to add when a task is completed too. The cover is personalised with your child's name too so it really feels like a special book for them!

Red Letter Days Experiences

With three children of varying ages and only a small house, there's only so many presents and gifts we can add to the collection each year. That's why we love to ask for days out or experiences as gift instead - and Red Letter Days have a whole host of fun days out that both children (and their grown ups) can enjoy. We are currently a Harry Potter obsessed household, so I know Parker would be over the moon to receive this The Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour and Afternoon Tea voucher.

The website is super easy to use as you can filter not only by the recipient, but also by budget and age, making it really easy to find a suitable gift. From animal experiences, climbing at GoApe!, and even a chocolate experience day with Hotel Chocolat - there's so many to choose from! Vouchers have to be claimed and booked by the recipient, so they can pick a suitable date for them to go too.

Skid Markz

If you have a child that finds the word poo hilarious, then this one is for them. A fun and silly game for all the family, Skid Markz combines drawing with crazy instructions, to create works of art that your fellow players have to guess. There are 100 'bone cards' with 400 'doodle words', so the game can be played again and again without getting repetitive (a big flaw with other games on the market). Are you a 'poo-caso'?

Personalised Artwork by Emma's Botanicals

If you're looking for an extra special gift for a loved one, then these prints from Emma's Botanicals would be a great choice. Emma hand paints the flower or plant of the month of your child's birthday, so if your little one has a December birthday for example, you can ask for Holly like the artwork pictured. The artwork is beautifully presented and of incredibly high quality. Such a special gift!

Tomy Mache Magic

Another creative gift, the Mache Magic from Tomy allows children to create unique paper mâché crafts by just using toilet paper and water - how easy is that? You don't need to buy or use messy paste or batteries, and everything else is included to get creating straight away! Simply add layers of toilet paper, twist & press, leave to dry over night, and then once dry it's time to decorate. The box contains instructions and ideas of what to create, but I think this is a great gift for encouraging self expression and creativity.

Prints from Ink & Drop

If you're buying from a child who already has plenty of toys, then why not treat them to some gorgeous prints or canvases from Ink & Drop. They create high-quality, beautiful art prints in a range of styles and price ranges - there's something for everyone! I loved these fun animal canvases for younger children, and I think any of their children's designs would look fab in a child's bedroom or playroom. Sizes range from 21x30 to 100x150 and you can choose from a range of frames too, including these clever magnetic wooden hangers that are really easy to use (these come as standard with canvas prints).

That's Magic! Big Box of Magic Set

If your child likes to entertain and amaze, then this That's Magic! Big Box of Magic Set would be a perfect gift for them. The bumper set comes with (nearly) everything they need to perform 325 amazing illusions and tricks - some everyday objects such as cotton thread, a spoon and pencils and paper will be needed for certain tricks. The easy tricks are supported by online instructional videos, so your budding magician can perfect their craft before giving you a spell-bounding performance!

Double Ditto Game

Double Ditto is a fun party game that older children and adults will love to play together - ideal for around the table at Christmas! The player picks a card, reads it out loud and then everyone has to quickly write down 2 answers that they think the other plays will write. The fun then arrives as everyone has to read out their answers to see if there's any matches - who knows what crazy, funny or even rude answers could be shard! There are 400 category cards so it's a perfect game to play again and again.

Ladybird Books

Books always make fantastic Christmas gifts, and these two new releases from Ladybird books would make a fantastic choice this year. My Skin, Your Skin by Laura Henry-Allain MBE (and illustrated by Onyinye Iwu) is a really powerful book, created to help children and adults have meaningful discussions about race and anti-racism. The book also explores how important it is for children to celebrate their achievements and greatness. Such an important book to have in any child's bookshelf.

Everything Under the Sun by Molly Oldfield is a beautiful collection of 366 questions asked by children from around the world. We all know that children ask everything weird, wonderful and sometimes unanswerable, so this book aims to answer some of those questions in a fun and joyful way. A lovely touch with this book is that famous faces have also got involved - you can find out 'where ideas come from with award-winning illustrator, Rob Biddulph. Find out why you taste things differently when you have a cold with Michelin star chef, Heston Blumenthal. Learn about everything from how astronauts see in the dark to what the biggest dinosaur was with experts from the Natural History Museum'. I know this one's going to be a big hit!

ReaXion Xplode Game

ReaXion sets take dominos to the extreme! The tiles are built in an innovative X shape and are light weight with thicker edges, making them easier to set and up and use. The shape also allows them to be connected together to make epic set ups - made even more extreme with the use the linX connectors to make even larger constructions. This Xplode set contains 150 tiles, 75 linX, 2 cubes, 2 spinners and 4 wheels, so there are hours of play to be had!

If you're looking for more inspiration, why not check out last year's guides here and here!