We spent a lovely morning in the park this morning in Carlton with Ned’s mate Oscar and his mummy. It was a little windy!

After our play and a lovely coffee from Tre Bicchieri, Ned and I went to visit my favorite shop Belki in Rathdowne Street. It’s a gorgeous gift shop that is just filled with the most beautiful collection of goodies; bags, jewelery, ceramics, baby things and more.

I couldn’t go past buying this little beauty for myself…

It’s a lined notebook made by Library+, designed and printed in Australia. They have created some gorgeous characters to decorate their stationary range that includes notepads, book marks and even library bags (I need one of those also). I fell in love with the jacket because of the parliament of owls on the jacket. I have always been fascinated by collective nouns and I quite love owls. Not sure why but I think they are pretty cute, maybe it’s because they are wise and bookish.

What I wasn’t aware of was that inside the cover of the book is a little library card in it’s own little pocket. Irresistible.

Then in their children’s section I found another gem. A picture book called Little Hoot about, yes, owls. I just had to buy it for Ned as an Easter present. The illustrations in this book are just divine, I’m just so glad I have discovered illustrator Jen Corace. It is published by Chronicle who design the most beautiful books perfectly.

The author Amy Krouse Rosenthal has created a story that is a twist on the usual getting children to bed routine. Little Hoot goes to school, plays with his friends and then wants to go to bed at a normal time like his non owl friends. However his mum and dad have different plans for him, of course he must stay up late and play like a good owl. Poor little Hoot is very grumpy indeed and counts down his play time until he can go to bed. It is such a fun take on reverse psychology I’m sure it is going to be read in our house many times.