Rhyming with Richard Johnson!

Happy World Nursery Rhyme Week everyone! Launched in 2013 by Music Bugs this unique event is designed to promote the importance of nursery rhymes to the under 7s and to provide families and Early Years practitioners with ideas, inspiration and resources to help ensure that nursery rhymes are celebrated and enjoyed in our homes and classrooms everyday.

Just released by Usborne Publishing, Musical Nursery Rhymes is the perfect addition to any child's bookshelf! Press the buttons on the pages of this delightful book to hear the tunes for seven well-loved nursery rhymes, including Humpty Dumpty, Little Bo-peep, Sing a Song of Sixpence and Hey Diddle Diddle. This charming volume includes the words for each rhyme and delightful illustrations by Richard Johnson with 'finger-trails' and cut-out shapes to discover. What more could you ask for!

Get your own copy here!

It's Raining Cats and Dogs!

Last night saw the young (and perhaps not so young, in some cases!) take to the streets dressed as werewolves, witches and black cats! Whether you favoured a canine or feline theme, you are sure to love Gareth Lucas' new collaboration with Usborne Publishing!

From Pugs to Persians and Schnauzers to Siamese, the latest in the 'Look and Find' series offers the best of both worlds with each superbly illustrated page teeming with cats and dogs (and a few other animals) to spot, match, count and talk about. A perfect gift for any little witch or warlock!

Get it here!

A Lady Had the Floor!

We kick off the @FCBGNews The Federation of Children's Book Groups Non-Fiction November in style with these fabulous and topical illustrations by Alison Jay for Boyds Mills Press! These wonderful pieces are for an upcoming project 'A Lady Had the Floor' - the factual story about Belva Lockwood - the first woman to run for president of USA in 1884 for the equal rights party, a long time before Hillary Clinton!!

Belva Ann Bennett Lockwood  was an American attorney, politician, educator, and author. She was active in working for women's rights. The press of her day referred to her as a "suffragist," someone who believed in women's suffrage or voting rights. Lockwood overcame many social and personal obstacles related to gender restrictions. After college, she became a teacher and principal, working to equalise pay for women in education. She supported the movement for world peace, and was a proponent of temperance.

Lockwood graduated from law school in Washington, D.C. and became one of the first female lawyers in the United States. In 1879, she successfully petitioned Congress to be allowed to practice before the United States Supreme Court, becoming the first woman attorney given this privilege. Lockwood ran for president in 1884 and 1888 on the ticket of the National Equal Rights Party and was the first woman to appear on official ballots.

We think you will agree that Alison has certainly done justice to this pretty awesome woman!

Images copyright Calkin Creek/Boyds Mill Press 2016