Written in 1977 by Shirley Hughes, Dogger is a timeless classic, especially in my heart. Dogger is about a toy dog, “a soft brown toy dog…with his fur worn in places because he was quite old. He belonged to Dave.” Dave takes Dogger everywhere and he is his special toy. Dave’s baby brother Joe is teething so he likes hard toys to bite and Dave’s big sister Bella (I love that name) takes seven teddies to bed every night but Dave only wants Dogger.

One day Dogger goes missing and turns up for sale on the toy table at the school fete. A little girl buys him much to Dave’s horror and he cries and cries until big sister Bella comes to the rescue swapping her lovely big new teddy with the little girl in return for Dogger.

I think what I really loved about this picture book was the reality of the story for me. My little brother had a toy Snoopy that he loved carrying around with him and I can remember cramming my bed with teddies, making sure each one was snug. Bella’s kindness has really stuck with me all these years, such an incredible thing for a big sister to do, to give up her wonderful new prize to get Dogger back.

Warmth radiates from Shirley Hughes’ illustrations, I love Mum with her cool ’70s head scarf and the ‘Darlek’ costume at the fancy dress parade. The double page spread of an aeriel view of the fete is mesmerising, the bunting flapping in the breeze and fresh sponges on the cake table. Her illustrations actually barely need words because the expressions of the characters are so perfect that they convey every emotion, this is equally apparent in her wordless picture book Up and Up, which I posted about here.

But don’t for one minute think that this book is outdated; Dogger is endearing every time I read it and I hope in a couple of years Ned will really enjoy it too. (It is quite texty so will probably be better for him when he is over two). I also know he will identify with Dave and his special toy, Ned has Hutch! This is an old photo of them together when Hutch looked new…

Dogger won the Kate Greenaway Medal, awarded for distinguished illustration in 1977. If you love/loved Dogger too, read this wonderful interview Shirley gave to the Guardian last year about the real life Dogger.

This news is a week or so old now, but I’ve been walking a centimetre or so taller since hearing that Melbourne has been named the second Unesco City of Literature. You can read a journo’s perspective of the announcement here.

I’ve just skimmed through the very impressive application that was put together in the bid. Now I’m swelling with even more pride, as I read about Melbourne as a ‘leading centre for the writing of children’s literature’. Of course I knew we were, but it was so lovely to be reminded of all the names of great kids’ authors who hail from my hometown and some of whom I’ve been lucky to meet or work with: Ivan Southall, John Marsden, Paul Jennings, Morris Gleitzman, Andy Griffiths, Graeme Base, Sonya Hartnett, Elizabeth Honey, Alison Lester, Kirsty Murray, Martine Murray, and Wendy Orr. It is also home to many children’s book publishers, children’s book-related centres such as Dromkeen and Books Illustrated, and various hubs for writers/illustrators generally. The Melbourne Writers’ Festival, which is drawing to a close this weekend, also has an active schools’ program.

More generally, we can apparently boast that more than anywhere else in Australia, we have the highest number of books published and the highest number of bookshops (per head of population). One bookshop for every 307 Victorians! Phew, there you go! (You can find a statistic on almost everything can’t you?!)

Part of the bid included the promise by the State Government for funding to create a ‘Centre for Books and Ideas’ at the State Library, which sounds like it will help to continue and broaden the support for writers, publishing and reading. You can read more about the reaction to the news by members of the industry here.

Can’t help but thinking it’s appropriate that our little blog about children’s books should also hail from a Unesco City of Literature - yay!

I know Lou reviewed a Berenstain book for When We Were Little Sunday last week, but a golden photo opportunity this evening means a repeat mention is required.

The book is Old Hat, New Hat by Stan and Jan Berenstain. It was, I am told, my very favourite book as a toddler - one of those ones that I knew every word of and could tell straight away if a page was skipped (which means, of course, that I made my parents read this book over and over ad nauseum…) Although I don’t remember this experience in detail, the book held fond memories for me, and it was one of the first books I bought when I began working in a bookshop.

The book tells the story of a bear who goes hat shopping, entering a store with his ‘old hat’ and surveying a display of new hats. The shop assistant provides a range of many hats to try, and models showcase still more, but every hat has a problem.

The repetition and rhyme are great fun and as a read-aloud it lends itself to indignant tones, at an increasing pace, as the bear becomes more fussy and the shop assistant more and more exasperated. I think one reason toddlers love this book is because it allows them to imagine being able to refuse and complain as much as they like! In the end, inevitably, the bear realises that sometimes a new model can’t replace a trusty old favourite.

At dinner with my mum and dad and two sisters tonight, we were discussing Dr Seuss and Berenstein Bear books and I brought out my copy of Old Hat, New Hat. Rowan had it read to him for the first time. I think he enjoyed hearing it almost as much as I did as a toddler, but not quite as much as much as my dad enjoyed reading it again. That was, until the fourth reading, after which Rowan still called out, ‘Again!’

Check out these amazing food sculptures from Cooking for Monkeys:

So creative and so healthy at the same time! Not to mention combining my love of kids books and all things Japanese…

Pam, the author and creator of Cooking for Monkeys, is also a fan of Bing (see Lou’s review here).

Check out the Cooking for Monkeys site (and Flickr photostream) for more of Pam’s incredible food art - Curious George makes an appearance too!

When Ned was born his dad insisted we get a copy of Bears In The Night because he remembered it from when he was little.

Bears in the Night is one of the Bright and Early Books for Beginning Beginners series written by Stan and Jan Berenstain. There’s not much to this skinny little book but Ned’s dad can remember it word for word. The text is great because it matches exactly what is happening in the illustration and is repetitious which aids children in memorising the story - one of the first steps to reading. There are only 24 words used in the story but repeated over and over and over again.

There is also an exciting build up as the bears sneak out of bed late at night - what’s going to happen? - and then a big BOOO and back you go through the text until the bears are safe in bed again. It is quite fun to read aloud as you can use lots of different tones and speeds with your voice.

There are now so many Berenstain Bears books in print I’ve lost count (I think there are over 250),  although I do remember the favourite of my brother and I was The Bike Lesson. The Bears now have their own TV series and website.

With the usual mid-winter bugs in our midst, we have two sick boys on our hands. But fortunately a guest post from Lisa is filling a breach left by our current irregular posting… Thanks Lisa!

A guest post by Lisa, mum to Finnan aged 3 years, and Daisy, 9 months

After watching my other mum friends go back for a second swing at the parenting thing, it’s now our turn. It’s been a fascinating, challenging and surprising experience already. We are suddenly recalling the forgotten peculiarities of our first child at certain stages of his babyhood, whilst learning everything all over again with the preferences of our new baby.

Thinking about this, I was wondering which books we’ve read to Finn will captivate Daisy? She already idolises her big brother – will she go so far as to want to sit and listen to readings from his extensive collection of digger books?! In honouring the wonder of sharing books with little people, I’ve compiled a list, in no particular order, of the books that have captivated my boy in the past year or so. I wonder which of these will make Daisy’s list in a few years’ time?

1.    Duck in the Truck (Jez Alborough – see Katie’s previous post)
Finnan is known among our family and friends for his fixation with ducks. Add rhymes, great illustrations and a truck to the mix and this one’s a no-brainer for a long-term favourite.

2.    The Big Busy Book of Richard Scarry
Even the most energetic toddler can be quelled into at least 10 minutes of quiet reflection when reading about the animal inhabitants of Busytown. This omnibus has had a hypnotic effect on Finn at very key times: on aeroplanes, long and short car rides and while waiting impatiently for Banana Milks and Ham Sangas in cafes. As a consequence, I will offer up thanks for the genius of Mr Scarry for many years to come…

3.    First 100 Machines (Bright Baby)
This sturdy hardback (from Priddy Books’ wonderful First 100 series) has every truck, emergency and earthmoving machine a vehicle-mad toddler needs to know about. It’s been carted EVERYWHERE by Finn and still looks great. It has saved my life and sanity on numerous occasions, diverting imminent tantrums, preventing boredom at cafes so I can finish my coffee, and proving a salve at teary times.

4.    Green Eggs and Ham (Dr Seuss)
This has edged out Seuss’ other classic, One Fish, Two Fish, as the night-time favourite for our rhyme-crazy toddler. Great fun to read, and endlessly amusing when Finn’s favourite trucks and cars repeat the rhymes to each other when he thinks no one’s listening.

5.    Anything Thomas
Before becoming a mum, I vowed I’d always be available to read my children any requested book (which puts me in mind of a fun book for mums I found recently, called I Was A Really Good Mom Until I Had Kids!). When Finnan became yet another Thomas the Tank Engine devotee, I quickly renounced my vow and refused to read more than one Thomas story a day. Cruel I know, but there’s really only so much I can take of these little paperbacks. They’re small and cheap ($2.95), but I find the text clunky and TOO LONG for repeated readings. The Thomas and Friends series from the latest TV episodes are shorter and much easier to read. They’re sturdier little hardbacks, only marginally dearer ($4.95), with less text and very clear photographs. Finn’s dad Aidan is happy to read more than one a day, but I just can’t bring myself to go there, despite my pre-motherhood vows…

I’m a little ashamed to say this, but we didn’t have a copy of Goodnight Moon on our shelves until I bought a copy for Rowan this week. First published in 1947, I’m actually not sure whether this title was very prominent in Australia when I was growing up. It isn’t one I remember from my childhood, or even from my early bookselling days. Don’t know if I was under a rock – maybe other Aussies can shed some light…

I’m confident the same couldn’t be said of US readers, as the book seems to be have been a hugely popular classic there. It is of course very popular here now too. Numerous ‘celebrity mom’ citings of Goodnight Moon verge on the off-putting (especially if you have a perverse streak like me). Anyone from Hilary Clinton to Tori Spelling seems keen to mention Goodnight Moon. Even ‘our’ Cate and Naomi are fans.

At first reading, the text of Goodnight Moon may almost seem a little glib. But you soon realise its charm. The rhyming, lilting text is mesmerising and the repetition of the words and illustrations is just so comforting. It is the quintessential bedtime story.

The book got a resounding nod of approval from Rowan. He is going through a stage at the moment when he often resists new books, especially at bedtime when he refuses anything unfamiliar. But he picked up Goodnight Moon with some curiousity and happily listened to a first reading and then requested THREE further readings.

There’s a lovely post over on Collecting Children’s Books discussing the identity of the ‘quiet old lady’ who features in Goodnight Moon. Worth reading, especially if you remember the story from when you were young.

Further to my post on wordless books, the publisher of Wave, Chronicle Books, have released a video of the book on the net.

Chronicle are really leading the way in discovering new ways to promote their beautiful books, you can see more of their book trailers on their website and also posted on Youtube. Their blog is also fantastic.

I don’t have a particular time and place associated with my memories of The Velveteen Rabbit, but the story was firmly a part of my childhood, as it was for many before me… I hadn’t realised how old this book was, first published in 1922! The text was written by Margery Williams and it was illustrated, most famously, by William Nicholson. Anyone you know have an original edition? Check out how much one of those treasures is worth at Bookride (a blog about rare and valuable books with entertaining commentary)…

I just love the narrative style of this story, it is the perfect book to read aloud. Many of the beautifully composed sentences are filled with irony, or with a quiet understatedness that seems to be typical of early 20th-century children’s publishing. It’s a style that’s inclusive, drawing the young reader into assumptions or generalisations while using grown-up language: “He was naturally shy, and being only made of velveteen, some of the more expensive toys quite snubbed him… [The Rabbit] didn’t know that real rabbits existed; he thought they were all stuffed with sawdust like himself, and he understood that sawdust was quite out-of-date and should never be mentioned in modern circles.”

Despite the old-world setting of this book – with its descriptions of the nursery toys, playing in the wood and scarlet fever – it has the ultimate timeless subject matter: a child’s relationship with a favourite toy. How easy it is to identify with the toy rabbit, who is at first ignored, then gradually becomes a much loved companion and before long one without whom the little boy can’t sleep. When I was little, I felt a real connection with the story, and I distinctly remember likening details of it to elements of my own life: the description of the gardener’s bonfire location is inextricably linked to a memory of our own backyard incinerator.

I also had a very special rabbit toy myself, which must have been given to me as a baby. It had a bell inside it, and was much loved, with patches of fur worn off. One day I lost ‘Bummy’, and although he was replaced with an identical newer model, it was never the same, and even today, I feel a lingering sense of loss for this toy… Isn’t it strange how such a toy can imprint on us emotionally?

When Brad and I were choosing readings for our wedding, I knew when I came across a passage from The Velveteen Rabbit that it had to be part of our ceremony. Two of my little sisters did a beautiful rendition of the passage on becoming ‘Real’:

“What is REAL?” asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. “Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?”

“Real isn’t how you are made,” said the Skin Horse. “It’s a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become REAL.”

“Does it hurt?” asked the Rabbit.

“Sometimes,” said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. “When you are Real you don’t mind being hurt.”

“Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,” he asked, “or bit by bit?”

“It doesn’t happen all at once,” said the Skin Horse. “You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints, and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”

Last week Chelsea left a lovely comment about a photo of Ned and his bookshelves. She asked to see some long shots of the shelves which by the way are from Ikea (Expedit). We have one large one and a small one in Ned’s room and another large in our living room, all in white. Because we live in a unit we don’t have a lot of room but I have found these shelves really handy for ALL our books (although I still have boxes full in the garage) and also great because they are really deep so you can also display your trinkets.

Please excuse the photography, here are some shots from Ned’s room…

Charlie, sans Lola who is visiting a friend…

Horton Hears a Who…

So many books, so little time…

I like to display some favorite books standing so they are more like an artwork…

One of the other great things about these shelves is that there is plenty of room to display things on top…

Ned also has books on the shelves in our living room, it’s where we keep the up to the minute favorites and Ned loves sorting through them everyday. That’s when they end up like this…

Ned’s dad just commented tonight after he had shelved everything that Ned loves to look at them all neatly lined up and then he systematically chooses the ones he wants off again.

If you want to see a really cool use of the Expedit have a look at this post on Ohdeedoh and then you can follow the links to Super*Junk’s Flickr Stream.