Children's books

Hi Nankate,

Thank you for taking the time to have a look at the website, feedback is incredibly valuable and very helpful. I have tried to keep it simple and easy to navigate but I too was unsure whether it needed more colour. I thought perhaps a patterned background could work quite well.

I will go back and try a more colourful approach!

What a fabulous insight you must have into the world of children's literature being a mother of a famous author. I imagine that must be very interesting.

Thank you again for your insight and time.

Best wishes, Laura

Hi Laura,

So pleased to see that you are moving ahead with your book business.

I have looked at your website in detail and I like how you have kept it simple and uncluttered, however I do miss not having any colour on your Home Page.

It was so nice when I saw your colourful family photo and the Book Nook highly coloured logo. I personally think the website would be enlivened by a splash of colour, it is too austere at present.

I do speak from some experience as my son is a successful children's author and we regularly review and comment on his book covers and other promotional material.

However if you disagree with my comments I shall perfectly understand.

Best of luck. NanKate

Hello and thank you all for your feedback.

This is my website www.explorertales.com if you have any time to have a look then any feedback would be very much appreciated.

Best wishes, Laura

Thank you Grannyactivist. Yes, I see your point. I will think on it.
Best wishes, Laura

Hi Laura,
I too am passionate about getting books into children's hands from the earliest possible age so I sort of like the idea. However I suspect that people who would buy books for grandchildren are the ones who keep abreast of what's happening in the world of children's literature and will already know what their grandchildren like.
I suppose I just can't imagine buying books for children to be too much of a 'struggle'. I see a book I think the child might like, or I read a good review, I phone the child's mother to check it's not already bought and then I buy it.

Hello Nankate,

Thank you for your informative and interesting email.

You have given me some things to research and look into.

I don't think my initial message was very clear. My idea was to offer guidance to those who struggle with finding good books for their loved ones as gifts. I realise there is an option through amazon and reviews are an incredibly insightful method of gauging how good a book is but some people seem to feel saturated with choice and unsure of where to start.

Thank you again for taking the time to write your thoughts. It is very much appreciated.

Best, Laura

Hello Laura.

I too am passionate about encouraging children to read and here are a few pointers that may help you.

If you are looking for books for children who are reluctant readers or dyslexic then the publisher Barrington Stoke have a great online catalogue of books which have been read and assessed by children. This publisher has books by many great mainstream children's writers who have written books especially for these less able readers.

My second suggestion is to go onto Amazon and look at 'Hot future releases childrens adventure books'. They then give the top hundred books about to be published.

Also from Amazon you can find the most popular childrens books from the past and present.

If you go onto publishers website, say Puffin Books they have lots of information about authors and their books.

Just to get you started here are some authors who are well worth investigating in my opinion.

Eoin Colfer
Andy Briggs
Charlie Higson
Julia Donaldson
Chris Bradford
Sophie mcKenzie

If you look up their names on Amazon you will see the books they write and how their readers have reviewed them

Finally it would be good to look up on the internet who are the long listed, short listed and winners of children's book awards for the last few years, then you will find the top notch authors very quickly.

Hope this has helped.

Hi Ninathenana and Anya,

Sorry you're right. It does look a bit spam... ish (!?)

I currently run a creative activity, book based pre school group based on high quality literature. If you would like to have a look at it it's www.explorertales.com (apologies I can't find the link button).
Many parents and grandparents that came to the class would seek advice regarding book choices as they wanted to buy books but weren't always sure sure about which ones.

That is a very good point Ninathenana and there would be preposting correspondence regarding the options and a generous refund policy for books already owned.

Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know of your thoughts, it is really appreciated.

All the best, Laura

No business name or web site Anya but who knows

Spam?

Sorry to sound slightly negative.
If the recipient lives some distance and is nit seen by the giver often how with out asking the appropriate adult for a list would they know what books the recipient already has.
I see my DGSx2 every week but I couldn't list all the books they already have at home.