Fifty years ago, Joy Adamson introduced the world to her story of life alongside an orphaned lioness called Elsa. Joy Adamson rescued the lioness when she was a cub and raised her at her home in Kenya. But, as Elsa was born free, Joy made the heart rendering decision to return Elsa to the wild.
Our lovely books are liked so much by the press that they are featured all over the place! From newspapers and magazines to blogs and review sites, we are calling on you to spot any Top That! books!
If you spot one of our books lurking around, drop us an email on hello@topthatpublishing.com, leaving your name and contact details, where you spotted the book, and which book you saw. All submissions will be entered into a prize draw, and on the 1st of every month we will announce a winner who will receive one of our brand new books!
It’s that time of week again! See if you can decipher which classic children’s books we have quoted from and comment with your answers below.
The answers will be revealed every Wednesday via our Twitter site: http://www.twitter.com/topthatpub
‘It’s never the wrong time to call on Toad. Early or late he’s always the same fellow. Always good-tempered, always glad to see you, always sorry when you go.’
‘All the same,’ said the Scarecrow, ‘I shall ask for brains instead of a heart; for a fool would not know what to do with a heart if he had one.’
Are you looking for something a bit different to do this weekend? Then why not try one of our top picks this weekend.
Local: Farmers Market at Jimmy's Farm
Held the first Saturday of every month, head to Jimmy's Farm between 10am and 2pm and browse the stalls of local suppliers for fresh, quality produce. The kids can also enjoy visiting all the animals on the farm including rare breed pigs, cows, sheep and goats, or wander around the nature trail and woodland walk. There will also be live music from Toni Vines.
The Little Rock Lighthouse
Children will be captivated by this comforting storybook with an integral nightlight mechanism. Written by Oakley Graham and illustrated by Sanja Rescek, the story features whimsical rhyming text that has been perfectly crafted for new and emerging readers to enjoy.
To buy the title, or for more information:
Six weeks has passed in a flash and the first day of school is fast approaching for thousands of children across Britain. However, for those just beginning their schooldays, this can be a nerve-racking time. How can you help to reduce your child's nerves and make the first days and weeks of school as easy a transition as possible?
A Q&A taken from Hartford Books Examiner:
'An author and poet, Spada was born, raised and currently resides in Methuen, Massachusetts, and is a graduate of the local high school. His interests include reading, history, philosophy, religion and sports, and his works have been published in 20 – 30 magazines, journals, and newspapers throughout the past decade. Spada’s most recent endeavour is Said the Kitty to the Cat, a children’s book that was released by Top That! Publishing in June.
Said one mother, ‘Although my daughter enjoyed reading Harry Potter and the Lightning Thief series, when this book came across my desk, she asked ME to read it for her – she giggled each time the refrain came. It is our new favourite way to end the night.’
1) What inspired you to write SAID THE KITTY TO THE CAT…?
It was February, 2009, and it was just before Valentine's Day, and I was thinking of what I could get as a present for my two little nieces, Annabelle and Charlotte. (Sisters, aged 7 and 6 at the time) I had made them up little gift baskets, with candy and a card and whatnot, but that didn't seem like enough. Anyway, I thought a poem might be best, as both girls are smart and love to read, so I conjured up a picture in my head of two cats (A cat and a kitten) trying to open up a book of candies without any luck, and the same line kept running through my mind again and again:
‘Said the Kitty to the Cat, said the Cat to the Kitty.’
Well, I wrote the poem, and afterward thought it might make a nice children's book, so I submitted it to publishers, and, well, the rest is history...
Every Friday we will be quoting from famous children's books!
See if you can decipher which books we have quoted from and comment with your answers below.
The answers will be revealed every Wednesday via our Twitter site: http://www.twitter.com/topthatpub
‘Don't go into Mr. McGregor's garden: your Father had an accident there; he was put in a pie by Mrs. McGregor.’
‘When the first baby laughed for the first time, its laugh broke into a thousand pieces, and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies.’
If you're stuck for ideas of how to spend your bank holiday weekend, here are our three picks this week.
Local: Kentwell Hall High Summer Tudor Re-Creation
Step back in time and experience life as a Tudor. Visit the house, garden and farm and take part in the activities on offer.
National: Kidsweek
An annual event, kidsweek gives children aged 5-16 years old the chance to see some of the top London shows for free, as long as they are accompanied by an adult paying full price. Running until the 3rd September, check out the website for more details and the full list of shows available.
When I Dream of ABC
Children will love to learn the alphabet with this enchanting book, filled with the things dreams are made of. A humorous exploration of the many strange and extraordinary characters that inhabit a fantastical dreamworld, encouraging children to learn their ABC. From shy dragons and opera-singing mermaids, to bossy queens and hot chocolate-drinking vampires, learning the alphabet has never been so fascinating.
To buy the title, or for more information:
http://www.topthatpublishing.com/title?id=4925
‘Henry Fisher's illustrations sit beautifully alongside the text, with a unique and quirky style that's hard to define. There are hints of collage, hints of dreamscapes, big, bold characters, and gorgeous textures. Every page is a joy to look at, and gets better each time you read through it. The text alone would be super, the pictures alone would be super, but put the two together and you've got something very special indeed. Highly recommended.’ The Bookbag
With Autumn fast approaching, the nights are drawing in and the weather's turning grey and dull. After the last six weeks of being able to let children outside to amuse themselves, how can you keep them busy in the coming weeks? How about getting your kids cooking? Cooking is a great family activity to get everyone involved. No matter what their age, there's a job for everyone. Younger kids can be in charge of mixing, for example, while the older children take charge of weighing ingredients. Cooking is a great opportunity for kids to learn and practise a whole new range of skills. It's also a great time to teach kids from a young age about food and the importance of a healthy and well-balanced diet.
If you're looking for some great recipes to get you started, check out our 'Things To Do' section and have a look at the three great 'Learn to Cook' recipes. All of the recipes have easy to follow, illustrated step-by-step instructions for you to create delicious home-made treats! A quick and easy veggie stir-fry is a healthy meal kids can make for the whole family. The cheesy straws make a great alternative snack for kids and for a sweet treat try the deliciously chocolatey chocolate chip muffins! Then upload a photo onto the website so everyone can marvel at your culinary creations!
Every Friday we will be quoting from famous children's books!
See if you can decipher which books we have quoted from and comment with your answers below.
The answers will be revealed every Wednesday via our Twitter site: http://www.twitter.com/topthatpub
'For I am a bear of very little brain, and long words bother me.'
'Well! I've often seen a cat without a grin; but a grin without a cat! It's the most curious thing I ever saw in my life!'
