Friday, 20 August 2010

Sunday, 15 August 2010

Review: When I Dream of ABC by Mr Henry Fisher




For more info please visit www.topthatpublishing.com

Review: Hiku by Nicole Snitselaar and Coralie Saudo




For more info please visit www.topthatpublishing.com

Review: Baby Bear and the Big, Wide, World by Debravka Kolanovic and Ellie Patterson.




For more info please visit www.topthatpublishing.com

Review: Cub's First Winter by Rebecca Elliot




For more info please visit www.topthatpublishing.com

Saturday, 14 August 2010

Sunday, 1 August 2010

Review: Photo Frame and Whiteboard


Are you fed up of the notes gathering dust on your old cork board?? Well here is the perfect solution; this stylish photo frame and whiteboard from www.gettingpersonal.co.uk.

Taking this item out of the packaging and I was immediately greeted with a sturdy silver (also available in black) frame. Dimensions are 49 x 49 cm. The frame goes around the memo board and the 12 photo spaces of varying shapes and sizes. This is a great activity for involving the youngsters; get them to select some of their favourite photos and they can then be cropped down to fit the frames. You could even change the photos as the months go by; theming them. Summer memories, Christmas memories, Halloween memories..... The list goes on......

Once the photos are in, you can start using the whiteboard. While this has a practical use for adults this can also be a fun element to use for the children. My son was immediately drawn to writing on the whiteboard as it reminded him of the ones he has seen in school. He needs to practice his writing over the summer and so this is the perfect way to enable him to do this. He will happily write away and then take pleasure in wiping it away and writing something new. There's no chance of losing the pen either as it has a little magnetic pad in the nib and so it neatly clings to the memo board, always there awaiting to be of service when you need to write your next note.

I love this 'Photo Frame and Whiteboard' as there is something oddly comforting about seeing photos of happy memories every time you go and put a reminder or note on the memo board, it surrounds you in a warm happy feeling. It makes you feel that your family life is running smoothly and orderly and you have visual evidence of this in the photos. It's the re-iteration that the way you run a household is the right way by the evidence of the happy faces in different memorable places surrounding the words.

www.gettingpersonal.co.uk certainly has the edge in finding beautiful and yet practical items for the home. If you haven't visited their site, go and check out their site now :)

Review: Big Beach Sports 2 for Wii


Big Beach Sports 2 returns with five entirely new entertaining and energetic outdoor game offerings, including more traditional sports such as rugby, cricket, disk golf and football. Players are also invited to participate in competitions featuring surfing, canoe, water rocket and dune buggy races in either single player mode or through multiplayer challenges, going head to head with up to four players. Additionally, players can use the Wii Balance Board to ride the waves for a full body surfing experience.

Features:

• Play on land and in the water - become a pro at all 8 sports: Canoe, Cricket, Disc Golf, Dune Buggy, Water Rocket, Rugby, Soccer, and Surfing!
• Ride the waves - Balance Board compatibility provides a full body surfing experience
• Show your team spirit - customise your character with your very own team jersey
• Take on the competition - play against up to 4 friends across multiple courses

Big Beach Sports 2 returns with five entirely new entertaining and energetic outdoor game offerings, including more traditional sports such as rugby, cricket, disk golf and football. Players are also invited to participate in competitions featuring surfing, canoe, water rocket and dune buggy races in either single player mode or through multiplayer challenges, going head to head with up to four players. Additionally, players can use the Wii Balance Board to ride the waves for a full body surfing experience.

  • Play on land and in the water - become a pro at all 8 sports: Canoe, Cricket, Disc Golf, Dune Buggy, Water Rocket, Rugby, Soccer, and Surfing!
  • Ride the waves - Balance Board compatibility provides a full body surfing experience
  • Show your team spirit - customise your character with your very own team jersey
  • Take on the competition - play against up to 4 friends across multiple courses

Review: The biggest bonus about the Wii is that not only are you playing a computer game but you can jump around and keep active. If you have a balance board then this game will be brilliant for you! In our opinion this game was much more fun when playing against friends as we were then madly competing against each other.

If you don't own a Balance Board then there's no need to worry as the game can be played solely through the Wii remote. The six seaside games are perfect for playing over the Summer holidays to get you in a sunny mood. Our favourite game was 'Surfing' as it offered us the chance to be able to use the balance board for our very own personal surfing experience. Performing the actions of the sports with the Wii remote is exhilarating and leaves you wanting to play more.

Our second favourite was 'Disc Golf' as it was a challenge being able to get the discs in to the holes. As you progress in hardness you start to have more and more obstacles to avoid which offers a bit of a brain workout as you have to really think before aiming.

You have the choice in playing short games or partaking in tournaments. The tournaments were fun as if you play through then you can unlock characters and win trophies.

This is a budget release and is available from www.amazon.co.uk at the moment for just £9.93. So for being such a cheap game there is a great play value in the game content.

Brilliant! 4/5