Friday Book Feature 1: The World's Worst Children

It has been a bugging thought to ask if Jazz would like to recommend and review books that made it into her favourite list. She reads a wide range of books. More than me. I am glad that she agreed to do a recommendation, and I am more than happy to share this online space with her love for books! So here's her first post of book review. All on her own, with very minor editing from Mummy. In case you start wondering on the grammar, structure and flow. Good effort from an eight year old, I thought.

MY BOOK REVIEW

The book I would like to recommend is 'The World's Worst Children.' This book tells the tales of the world's 10 worst children. The author is David Walliams. I am a big fan of his books.

The first child in this book is Dribbling Drew, a boy who dribbles drool. He causes disaster wherever he goes. On an adventure in the Natural History Museum, he fell asleep and created a sea of drool. He loves sleeping so much that he had heavy consequence of not being able to sleep for the next 10 years.

The next story is Bertha The Blubberer. Anything and everything would set her off. Bertha has a brother called William. She hated him the moment he was born. One day she had a wonderful idea, she would cry and cry and blame it all on her brother. She is a very dishonest girl. A lie will always be found out, and she got an extremely bad punishment. 

The third story we have, Nigel Nit-Boy. Nigel loved nits. What is so interesting is that this ordinary boy became the most evil villain who causes trouble wherever he goes, stealing toy and spelling rude words. In the end he was over. Now he is a new super villain. 

Fourth, we have Miss Petula Perpetual-motion. This is a story of a girl who could not stay still. She creates pandemonium wherever she goes. She goes to a posh boarding school, Modesty Place. On a trip to a porcelain museum, Petual got the head mistress into a lot of trouble. This always manage to get away. 

The fifth next revolting child is Peter Picker. He picks his nose to find snot. He wants to make it into the world's record of the biggest bogey, his gigantic ball of snot causes mayhem all around the globe. His giant ball breaks free and rolls around the globe with various land marks including Buckingham Palace, exposing Her Majesty The Queen sitting on the loo! The queen ordered her guards to fire at the giant ball of snot. Everyone returned to their normal places except one small boy.

Peter Picker Booger

Our sixth child is Grubby Gertrude, this girl loves being dirty if you entered her room you would see a rubbish dump. Her mother is a very clean and neat lady who wanted to clean up her room, but failed. Some thing had broken her vacuum cleaner, which in the end, that thing ate Gertrude up. 

Seventh, we have a really clever boy, Brian Wong who was never ever wrong. Wong feared that one day he might be proven wrong. His Math teacher was telling the class that nobody can count to infinity and Wong thinks that it can be done. He didn't want to be proven wrong, so he kept counting and forgot about his family and friends.

Eighth, Windy Mindy. She discovered she could break wind and had a list of things that would make her bottom burp. She is a very mischievous child. One day she discovered a new talent, she could use her wind to play the tuba. While playing at a concert at The Royal Albert Hall, it accidentally sent mindy flying into space.Never to be seen again.

Playing the Tuba

Ninth, we have Earnest Ernest. Ernest had made it to twelve years without cracking a smile. He had super boring hobbies such as collecting pencil, sharpeners and photographing traffic lights. His favourite hobby was guessing what type of metal objects were made of. His clothes and everything was grey as it was the colour of metal. His diet is cold peas. His mother brought him to see a professor. They succeeded in getting Ernest smile, but he laughed at the misfortune of others. 

Last but not least, we have Sofia Sofa. This girl glued to the TV. She would watch it no matter what was on. For watching it everyday, she soon became wedged with the sofa. She is now a half girl half sofa and half TV.

If you enjoyed this introduction, you should read this book! Followed by 'The World's Worst Children 2!'

MUMMY SAYS:
Amazon doesn't offer free shipping for this book
Book Depository offers it at $19.12 (Free delivery worldwide)
Popular online at $34.36
National Library Board, Call number: English WAL

Tampines Regional Library Re-opens!

Tampines Regional Library at Our Tampines Hub re-opens on 5 August with a refreshed new look and features. It is the first library to be relocated to commercial space. With this move, there is an increase of 76% floor area and 98% increase in seating capacity across 5 levels, providing more space for patrons to read and learn. 

We hopped on an exclusive library tour, through the different sections of the library that spans a total of 5 floors. The newly revamped library is impressive, smart and integrates very well with our developed nation of today. It's another local pride! Gone are the days of our old library scene that we  grew up with, the refreshed libraries are bigger, better and more interactive. What's even better is that, there's an increase of 25% in book collection! 

Let's get on a photo tour. 

There are 2 entrances to the library on level 2. This entrance is known as Ave 4, the other is Ave 5, if I recall correctly. If you are driving and wish to park near the library, considering we often check out with tons of books, you may enter through Car Park entrance C and park near lots V24. 

Ave 4 library entrance at level 2

Book drop outside Ave 4 entrance

We brought our books along for return and the bookdrop area is just outside of the library entrance (Ave 4). It may be more ideal if there's shade and step ups for little ones at the bookdrop area. I mean the area is sheltered, just that the angle of the sun at that time was piercing in. Okay, because we were returning 72 books.

Upon entering, we were much attracted and welcomed by these little structures which residents of the hood will find them familiar. They are the icons that made up Tampines.

There's a moving train chugging on it

Design

The new Tampines Regional library is a modern interpretation of the kampong, keeping with residents' desire to retain the kampong spirit of the estate as expressed during the earlier days. It was designed with the Tampines community in mind. It gathered feedback from regular library patrons to craft cutomised spaces for all age groups including lounges for quiet reading, as well as selecting of furniture in the various sections. Absolutely thoughtful! 

Level 2

There is a gallery developed by the National Heritage Board (NHB) that showcases the evolution of Tampines from its rural beginnings in the early 1800s to the town it is today. 

NHB and NLB work closely on the integrated programmes within the gallery and library. Look out for monthly storytelling sessions by librarians on children books themed on Singapore's heritage and culture. It is a space targeted at families with young children.

For the first time, NLB will be integrating its cookery collection with People Association's Culinary Studio within the library! In addition to cooking classes, NLB will be supplementing the space with a digital display of recommended read and videos to facilitate learning.

Cookery books just outside culinary studio

Culinary studios

List of Tampines Regional Library Event here.

As we toured into the magazines section, we spotted a lovely equipment that promotes and encourages non-sedentary reading. Yeap, there's only one. Next to it, a comfy chair that allows one to read and enjoy the therapeutic view of a green soccer field. Nature green is good for our eyes!

Non-sedentary reading

Lovely view!

Level 3

This Early literacy floor is designed for parents and children. It has demarcated reading areas for children up to to 6 years old. Something interesting and inviting about this area is that all picture books are shelved in a front-facing manner, to enable children to browse the books by covers instead of book spines. After all, toddlers are attracted by visual appeals!

Spot too, the Peranakan tiles that weave into the kampong theme design. 

Lovely tiles

Front facing books

Personal reading space

There is currently a void space that will be transformed into an indoor playground at a later quarter. It's in the pipeline that entrance will only be admitted with a fee.

Chou Sing Chu Foundation has also donated 32,000 copies to the children's Chinese collection across two floors. They will also be holding regular Chinese storytelling sessions at the Early Literacy Library. 

Chinese Storytelling is held every first and third Saturday of the month, at 11.30am to 12pm.

Level 4

The Children and Teens space! The teen space aims to provide teens with a place to facilitate online and offline discussions. 2 screens are installed to kick-start social media conversations on current trends and issues.

2 screens to kick start conversations

Love this chair found here

Readily available stool to reach for higher leveled books

The Children section very much wow-ed my kids with their mint and newly added books! If your kids are into a series of reading like Geronimo, Weird school, Beast Quest and other popular series, the regional library is where you can hunt for them, in the complete range! As long as they are not on loan. And even if they are returned at other libraries, it will always be sent back to its original home.  

Geronimo found! 

For the book series lovers

Too many choices, too little loan quota

This was the stash Js swept off the shelves - My Weird school, My Weirdest school and Weird school daze series. Almost in complete volumes! I bet they had their hands first on these book, other than the librarian who shelved them. It's always nice to be reading books in excellent condition. So be kind and loving to library books!

Wonderful to be reading new books

On the same level, there is a smart space of collaboration between NLB and Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) - Pixel labs. It offers dedicated space with tools and equipment like the 3D printer, Arduino kits and green screen where photos can be edited into nice scene of the library. Programmes arranged by NLB and IMDA cover both tech and non-tech areas. They include hands-on workshops for students and families, programmes from the young to old. Programmes are free! 

A go with the virtual reality

You may refer to the programmes booking guide here. 

Level 5 

A study lounge can be found at this level. It is a designated space for quiet reading and features tables and chairs that provide a more private space for intense reading. Look how well lit the place is, with a table lamp for every individual.

Study Lounge

This is also the level where we can find our Singapore collection of books, by local authors. Glad we have a corner to showcase and be called our own! 

Singapore Collection

Level 6

This level is fully run by volunteers and aims to encourage users to self-facilitate while using library services. Besides large print books, this space also features Multimedia stations where users can browse digital and print newspapers, eMagazines and other NLB eResources. 

Cosy reading

Terrace seats serve as a programme space too

And we ended our tour on the final level, level 6. As a relatively new Mum, I need to highlight that there are 2 nursing rooms within the library. It's always a win to keep young Mothers in mind.

We very much enjoyed our library tour and are very glad to have Regional libraries like such within neighbourhoods. There are currently 3 regional libraries - Jurong, Woodlands and Tampines. These are where the most resources and titles are housed. 

We have also recently made life a little easier by downloading the NLB Mobile App. It allows us to read on the go, borrow, renew, reserve, as well as pay fines through it. Which means, I have 5 cards less to bring out! Borrowing just got more convenient.

You do need to download the app, if you've not.

Aren't we blessed to have resourceful libraries with a good range of titles and facilities?! Heartfelt gratitude.

Books Bug at NLB

Are you a frequent visitor at the National Library? We are! It is however only this recent that we started hunting and collecting book bugs! This initiative must be Pokemon inspired. Instead of using a device, walking everywhere to catch mons, we collect bugs by borrowing books. Each loaned receipt allows you to tikam for an envelop of 2 bug cards. If you have 5 members, like us, in the family (each has a card), you can get up to 10 cards.

What do you do with these cards? There's a game to it, which we have yet to discover. Collection in process.

Photo credit: NLB

There are a total of 84 cards to collect. 60 basic designs and 24 shiny designs. To collect basic cards, simply present the receipt of 8 loaned books at the redemption booth (Only up on weekends). To redeem shiny cards, we can attend a programme at the library OR submit a completed discoveRead activity sheet at the redemption booth.

Mystery Items come in the months of June and November. We missed June and so we've no idea what this mystery is. We'll be doing it this month! Complete the quiz at the bottom of the discoveRead activity sheet, and bring a matching book bug card to the redemption booth.

So yeap, the same activity sheet for both shiny card and mystery item.

And then, there's the playoff, where you can receive the limited edition book bugs badge. Join the playoff to battle against other Book Bugs collectors and stand to win a prize. Visit the different Book Bugs zones where you can catch a live demo of the Book Bugs game, mingle and trade cards with other Book Bugs collectors. Exchange the original Swap Pass at the Swap Pass booth or participate in the activities in the craft zone to redeem a Shiny Card that you missed. Registration required here.
 

The original Swap Pass will be available at the redemption booth. This playoff is only open to the 7 years old and above. 

I have to applaud NLB's initiative with this buggy programme. It really did get the kids frequenting the library more! Instead of bi-weekly, till the loaned books due date bug us to return, we are going weekly. These book bugs will definitely send your kids bugging you for library trips! 

And remember, redemption  booths are only up on weekends. At all libraries, except Chinatown, Esplanade, Orchard and Sengkang. But, if you happen to be there on a weekday for borrow, keep the receipt and come by to redeem on weekends! 

When do you start? Now! Collection began in June and only till December 2016. Never too late. The ultimate goal is not about completing the bugs collection, but the process of collecting and all parents will love... getting the kids excited about books! Over and over again.

Another good things must share post. We gotta go catch them all now.... not Pokemons, finally.

Roald Dahl books your child will love!

It would have have been Roald Dahl's 100th birthday this month. A familiar story writer if you grew up reading his books. 

In the eyes of many, Roald Dahl is one great storyteller since history. His stories have been fancifully imagined and ever captivating to the little readers out there. If your kids are between the ages of 6 to 12, his books are likely to work through the heart of theirs. It's a shame that not all his books made it into my childhood reading list. I am however, very much glad that Jazz is taking pleasure in reading almost of all his books.

Jazz may be an avid reader, but she is also one picky reader who selects her books with an interesting synopsis. Once she gets hold of a good read, she is likely to dive into it repeatedly. I find it amusing at how she can read and re-read a book more than once. I guess, good things are meant to be savoured over and over again.

In midst of her huge Roald Dahl collection, I asked her for 4 best titles that will delight any child in devouring from one page to another. Here's what she recommended:

1. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

We know right! This has got to top the list. 

Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory is opening at last! But only five lucky children will be allowed inside. Mr Wonka devises a plan to hide 5 golden tickets beneath the wrappers of his famous chocolate bars. Charlie Bucket can't believe his luck when he finds the very last of Mr Willy Wonka's Golden Tickets inside his chocolate bar. He wins a magical tour around Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory and sees the most amazing creations. One by one, the other four children on the tour cause some major trouble and are carried  away. Charlie is the only child who doesn't cause trouble, and Willy Wonka tells him he won! What did he win? The whole chocolate factory. Mr Wonka wants someone to take over for him when he gets old. 

It's a very sweet and heart-warming book to devour.

After reading this book, you may want to hunt down its movie. There are two adaptions of it, we caught the 2005 released, directed by Tim Burton. A nice and heart-warming watch. So good, that we caught it more than once.

2. Matilda
 

Matilda Wormwood is only five years old, but she is an exceptional genius. Unfortunately her parents failed to notice that. During her toddlerhood, Matilda asks her Dad for a book and is pressured to watch television instead. She discovers the library and reads the classics, not simple children's books. She is however, chastised by her parents for her intelligence. Worse, her horrible headmistress Miss Trunchbull is a bully who makes life difficult for Matilda's teacher, Miss Honey, and her friends. But what Miss Trunchbull doesn't know is that Matilda has a trick or two up her sleeve, she has supernatural powers that can manipulate objects. Matilda uses this to her full advantage both with her parents and Miss Trunchbull. Just as her parents are caught in a cheating business scheme, and about to move, Matilda moves in with Miss Honey, where the two live happily and smartly together.

You will be very amazed at the wits Matilda possesses, as you read along. Matilda won the Children's Book Award shortly after it was published in 1988, and it has continued to delight audiences ever since.

Again, do hunt down its movie after reading. A lovely watch that our family enjoyed tremendously. Released in 1996 and driected by Danny DeVito. There's a musical on it too! We haven't got an opportunity to catch it.  

3. The BFG

The Big Friendly Giant is unlike other giants. For a start, he doesn't like to eat people and it's not long before he becomes orphan Sophie's very best friend. He is one giant who captured dreams and kept them in bottles for children to enjoy while they were asleep. The dream-hunting giant takes orphan Sophie back to his cave in Giant Country, where he lives surrounded by nine other fearsome giants who spend every night guzzling down humans. Sophie learns that the giant is called the Big Friendly Giant (The BFG) because he does not eat humans. Sophie isn't able to go back to the orphanage because the BFG is afraid she'll tell others about the existence of giants and he'll be forced to live in a zoo. 

The two devise a plan to mix up a nightmare for the Queen of England so that they can stop the giants from ever eating another human being.  Or, as the giants call them, human beans. The BFG speaks in quite a turned-around way, but we always understand him. He tells Sophie, "Words...is oh such a twitch-tickling problem to me all my life. So you must simply try to be patient and stop squibbling. As I am telling you before, I know exactly what words I am wanting to say, but somehow or other they is always getting squiff-squiddled around."

The name, Sophie was inspired by Roald Dahl's granddaughter, Sophie Dahl. And as you can read, speaking in proper language is not BFG's forte. So if you are one fussy parent about reading perfect English, this may be a book you want to delay or avoid. Just in case, he begins speaking and writing like one. But it really is one great story! 

And yes, the movie adaption is in the cinemas! Oh wait, is it still showing?

4.  The Witches

The witches is an award-winning story by Roald Dahl about a boy, his grandmother and a hotel full of witches. It's not a fairy tale, but about real witches. 

This is a book about 'real witches', the ones that absolutely loathe children and are always plotting to get rid of them. The Grand High Witch of all the World has gathered together the witches of Inkland for an annual conference at the Hotel Magnificent in Bournemouth. Their agenda is the elimination of all the children in the country and the prospects for their young victims look bleak. But the Grand High Witch and her cronies have reckoned without the spark and ingenuity of a young guest at the hotel and his rather brilliant grandmother.

It does sound a tad creepy, but if my not so brave girl can handle, I'm sure it would delight any child. At least we know, Roald Dahl's stories are always with a beautiful end. "Read how the witches schemed to turn the children into mice, but failed" said Jazz.

Once your child gets onto these books, read on to these other titles by Roald Dahl. Highly recommended by Jazz too. 

• Fantastic Mr. Fox
• George's Marvelous Medicine
• The Twits 

Are any of these your child's favourite too? 

A good storybook helps encompass reading as part of a lifestyle, and a good book is any book your child likes. Reading is probably the best tutor for any child. 

If your child has not started on chapter books, read a chapter a day to your child nightly. It will send your child sweet into dreams. And of course, use that animated voice when reading the BFG. It will be fun!
 

GIVEAWAY 
Books are gifts that you can open again and again. Here's the dessert - We love that children read, we love that children visit the library and we want to advocate the love for reading. We don't have the riches of the World, but we would like to bless 2 little readers with the titles "Charlie and The Chocolate Factory" and "The BFG" with our pocket money. Not from Jazz's collection, as she really treasures them.

To join the giveaway, we will be happy and appreciative that you:
1. Like Mum's calling on Facebook

2. Leave a comment on this Facebook post to tell us which title your child will like, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory OR The BFG

That's it! And of course, we wouldn't mind that you share this post with your friends, because reading is for everyone, and sharing is caring!

Giveaway ends on 10 October, 2359hrs. 

This giveaway has ended, Congrats Chong Swee S. and Jessie L!