When parents choose a book for their child, they are investing, consciously or unconsciously, in vital elements of their child’s development and sense of wellbeing. They are also sharing the huge pleasure of reading and recapturing something of their own childhood – so often shaped in no small way by favourite books too. “Particularly, when […]
Articles and information from Little Parachutes, the World's most useful collection of picture books that help children with worries, health issues and new experiences.
Author interview: Rachel Bright
Rachel Bright is a writer, illustrator, printmaker and eternal optimist. Her picture book, My Sister is an Alien, is a charming and funny portrayal of a little boy getting to grips with the birth of his new sister. Little Parachutes asked Rachel about her work projects, sources of inspiration and how her family life has […]
Picture Books About Healthy Eating and Table Manners
In an ideal world, the young children in our care would eat balanced, nutritious meals and snacks, and have perfect table manners. In reality, many children at some point in their childhood will be fussy eaters, perhaps avoiding vegetables and fruit, and push boundaries of what is deemed acceptable behaviour during mealtimes. Keeping kids healthy can […]
Author interview: Nadia Shireen
Nadia Shireen is an exciting new author and illustrator. Her first picture book, Good Little Wolf is proving to be a big hit with critics, parents and children alike. As well as being laugh-out-loud funny and a little bit wicked, the book explores the idea of being true to oneself and standing up to stereotypes. […]
The Evolution of Topsy and Tim
Topsy and Tim are the ultimate ‘situation’ books. We look at their extraordinary 51-year history. When Jean and Gareth Adamson set about creating a new children’s book in the late 1950s, they came up with a simple but novel idea: to write about ‘real’ children and the experiences they go through. The couple had visited […]
Should you always tell the truth to children?
‘White Lies’ are regularly told by parents for various reasons, including: to preserve a child’s innocence (“Father Christmas and the tooth fairy are real”), to avoid undesirable behaviour (“if the wind changes you’ll stay like that”), to promote healthy choices (“carrots make you see in the dark”) or to avoid awkward explanations or their own […]
Anxiety in Childhood
All of us get anxious – and tiny babies, toddlers and young children are no exception. Anxiety can start in the womb, the baby connecting with the feelings of the mother in utero. “Happy children become happy adults, and happy people are more productive, relational, loving, creative, mature, able, healthy and successful” Symptoms of childhood anxiety […]