I'm pretty sure that our home is like many other young families' homes all over Britain in that the vast majority of the children's toys and books are stored in a large, cuboid, storage system from a well-known Scandinavian company. It's efficient, cheap and it works.
Only it doesn't.
It doesn't work for books.
Granted they fit, and you can actually get a lot of them in the sections, but the problem that I've discovered is that The Boy forgets that they're there. For the vast majority of the time he does not remember about his fifty or so books in the dining room storage unit because he can't see them.
There is a reason that libraries and book shops tend to have children's books with the cover facing outwards, because actually, children do judge a book by its cover.
That is the philosophy of a company who I am proud to be an ambassador for; Tidy Books. Tidy Books recognise that children, specifically pre-readers, actually only have the bright and colourful covers to use in order to select a book to 'read'. They can't read the title on the spine or the blurb on the back, and therefore it's important for them to see the picture clues on the front cover so they can select the book they would like to 'read'.
And so I found myself being sent one of their excellent children's bookcases which presents the child's books in an attractive way and means they can actually see the books that they have. Construction was easy, it took us fifteen minutes at midnight the night it came to pop it together. The next morning my husband screwed it to the wall through the pre-drilled holes to prevent topples, and it was all ready for The Boy.
The Boy walked into the dining room that morning after we'd put it together and said, "Oh wow, a new bookcase! And who bought me all those new books?"
He had no idea that they were his. Not because we don't read with him, but because he couldn't see them on a daily basis, and as with most children; 'out of sight is out of mind.'
We chose the Tidy Books children's bookcase in white (although it also comes in natural, blue and pink) and one without letters on it. The range comes with the aforementioned colourways with lowercase letters on, there is also a natural with uppercase letters and a plain natural. We went for the one without letters for longevity at his age, if he had been two years old then we'd have chosen a bookcase with letters on it to use as a learning tool.
The bookcase stands a little taller than The Boy at 115cm tall and is 77cm wide. But here's the best bit; as you can see from one of the photos above, it barely protrudes from the wall as it is only 7cm deep. Yet in these dimensions it can hold up to 85 books of varying shapes and sizes.
With four shelves, arranged at different heights (two for tall books, two for shorter ones) it is incredibly easy to fit them all in. We've arranged it so that the heavy hardback and noisy button books (technical term) are at the bottom, mid-sized storybooks on the next two shelves, and large pictures books along the top shelf. At present we have around 50 books on there and there is plenty of space for more.
Furthermore the bookcase, which is finished in an eco-friendly water-based lacquer, is made with wood from sustainable sources. The high-quality materials and easy construction make it a lasting investment, and it comes with a five year guarantee. Although I have no doubt that the bookcase will last for many years to come.
At £109.00 for the bookcase above, it might seem initially like a more expensive option than the cheaper identikit storage units I mentioned at the beginning. But then I counter this with the amount of money I've spent on books which used to sit on the bookcase not being read, and that seems like a more expensive option and a complete waste of money. The Tidy Books bookcases engage children in reading, and reading is one of the greatest skills a child can have; it unlocks gateways to new worlds of wonder and imagination.
And you can't put a price on that.
—
The very kind people over at Tidy Books are offering one reader of TheBoyandMe.co.uk the opportunity to own one of these bookcases in a natural finish with lowercase letters worth £119.00. To be in with a chance of winning, please fill in the Rafflecopter form below.
I am a Tidy Books Ambassador and was sent this product for the purpose of this review. My opinion is honest and unbiased.
Sir Scallywag and the golden underpants
My two year old loves Dear Zoo at the moment
What the ladybird heard by Julia Donaldson
The gruffalo 🙂
Ladybird books .x
D loves Prattchet's Hogfather.
Jen loves anything with cars on. No actual fave.
thomas the tank engine story collection
My child isn't here yet, he is due in November but I think he will be a big bookworm just like his Mummy. He already has a collection of books ready for his arrival!
they love all their books. my son loves horrid henry at the moment.
Whatever next is my little ones favorite at mo xxx
The gruffalo's child currently 😉
We have so many favourites. My daughter has started reading horrid henry books and loves them! My son loves peppa books, anything by Julia Donaldson and the three little pigs!
We're all loving the Meg and Mog books at the moments…..favourites from my own childhood 🙂
My boo loves her greedy goose and the golden child loves each peach
At the moment it's Hairy McLarey from Donaldson's Dairy 🙂 x
It changes daily! Always go back to things like the Gruffalo though
Dogger by Shirley Hughes
Stick Man!
My 17mo loves the really noisy vtech nursery rhyme book at the moment. Or any of the 'Thar's not my….' Range
Maiseys Rainbow Dream
Noisy Bottoms!!!!
The Gruffalo
The Astonishing Secret of Awesome man is Ben's favourite and has been for some time.
For Tyler it's A royal fairytale
Jackson loves anything Julia Donaldson
Lexi-Arizona loves her incy wincy spider puppet book
Ooh, we love so many different ones, but all my kids still love to cuddle up with me and read "When there were giants." It inspires them to ask lots of questions about our family and what things will be like when they grow up. x
One Ted Falls Out of Bed.
He's not yet arrived, but we already have a collection of Neil Gaiman picture books ready for him.
Addy doesn't really have a fave at the mo, she loves any book that has animals in and she in particular likes tactile books.
We so need a bookcase as you are right the ikea cabinets don't work x
Thank you for actually reading the review as well Kara and commenting on that, not just entering the competition 🙂
Oscar's favourite at the moment is rain or shine
We have Can you find 1001 Dinosaurs and other things – which is a firm favourite at the moment. But again we love so many different ones. We have a couple of 365 books that we read a story a night at bedtime.
my kids love the three little pigs
Currently it's Gruffalo or Goodnight Little One
She loves her Waybuloo book!
The hungry caterpillar
Monkey Puzzle is my 3yr old fav at the moment
Monkey Puzzle is my 3yr old fav at the moment alo g with the bear hunt
What the ladybird heard 🙂
My one year old loves his Curious George books at the moment 🙂
The tiger that came to tea
The faraway tree by enid blyton
Dogger 🙂
The super sparkly snowman 🙂 My daughter knows all the words and 'reads' along with me.
The Gruffalo x
James and the giant peach is our favourite book 😀
The Gingerbread Man! (I think because he's a cookie!)
The tiger who came to tea! Any Topsy and Tim, Alfie stories and Postman Pat…..my kids are pretty oldschool!
Moon Rabbit
Gruffalo
My little girl loves any books we get new ones every week from library, she really likes cinderella, she has that many books she really needs a bookcase
The very hungry catapillar
Clip Clop by Nicola Smee
myson love 3 little pigs
The Gruffalo
The Tiger that Came To Tea
baby brains 🙂
The hungry caterpillar
Jessamy adores What the Ladybird Heard by Julia Donaldson
Dave (the Cat who eats a LOT of beans with predictable consequences)!
My daugters in her early stage of reading so itll be baby boo 😀
My children love all the Mr Men and Little Miss Books
He or she hasn't arrived yet but we are collecting books already !
Maisie adores room on a broom and the snail on the whale
My daughter is only 5 months but read her The very hungry caterpillar and Guess how much I love you
Got to be The Gruffalo 🙂
My little one loves any of the 'thats not my' books (loves the lion at the moment!) x
My wee girl adores the big night night book!
The Gruffalo!
Love your book shelves!
The Jolly Postman is my favourite book, hehe!
Poppy's fave is Superworm at the moment whilst Rosie's is Goldilocks. I so need one of Hesse gorgeous bookcases for all our books!
at the moment any of the Biff & Chip books..Dad's Birthday, Floppy & the bone, Funny Fish…
Each Peach Pear Plum – although N's favourite seems to be The Tiger who came to Tea. Both retro classics though
Monkey see monkey do
The Mr Men books
Chronicles of Narnia – Craig is currently reading it to Dexter.
my little boys loves the was an old lady that swallowed a fly – it's a pop-up book that's great but he also likes each peach pear plum for sure reason he seems to mix the two up so i've never really sure which one he is asking for and is Mike the Knight made but really loves reading any of his books and more for sure….
it changes, Madam is reading the classic Beatrix Potter collection at the moment. x
I'm not cute
I love ready Milly Molly Mandy to my niece at the moment
Angela
Chocolate Mouse for greddy goose
Love the sustainable sources for the tidy storage. It would look great in one of our playrooms, perfect for an eco house! Fav kids book has to be The Gruffalo.
Currently my boy loves the Kipper books – especially the birthday party one :o)
My kids love any Julia Donaldson books especially aliens wear underpants 🙂
My little girl loves The Gruffalo and her Personalised Peppa Pig Nursery book
My 4 year old loves the Gruffalo, my 8 year old is obsessed with the Rainbow Magic Fairy Books. I love that they are keen readers 🙂
Great contest. Really want to win this prize – would solve a lot of storage problems in our house. Brodie's favourite book is Tiddler by Julia Donaldson, while Blake favours Small Knight and George by Ronda Armitage.
The Gruffalo
My little one currently loves the "That's Not My…" series from Usborne.
Great comp, I love these bookcases. Remind me of the little library at my primary school!
Right now my son loves the Beast War series of books and The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. He has always loved books but likes to have them read to him as he is dyslexic so finds it a struggle. The bookcase is a great idea, funny how it seems obvious when someone else thinks of it, especially as they have been staring us in the face every time we go into a library. I think they will encourage our children to go and pick one out. You can very cheaply display new books by purchasing at charity shops and boot fairs. You can pick them up at 10p or 20p and redonate them afterwards.
'You Choose' is the favourite at the moment.
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
any Julia Donaldson books but the gruffalo will always be up at the top
The gruffalo is the book of the moment 🙂
i have been wanting a bookcase since Burton was ooooh 9 months old maybe!!! guess what? we still dont have one for him or the boys I have a book shlelf of sorts now but its not how i want it – too high or a start! I like the fact that this one does not protrude too far out from the wall .
Burton and Jenson have lots of favourites but at the moment is it Room On The Broom for Burton and The Tiger That Came To Tea for Jenson x
rainbow magic fairy books x
A hard one as we LOVE so many! We actually have a small tidy books case which we love and a larger one for his room would be great! At the minute we are loveing "the very messy monkey" but I think "We are going on a bear hunt" is THE favourite but he does not even need the book anymore to enjoy it especially when out and about!
"The Tiger Who Came to Tea" is a favourite of ours at the moment
My 19 month old granddaughter has got lots of books and always 'reads' about ten in a session!
The Gruffalo
He hasn't yet started reading but I brought him a Lego Duplo book as his first book!
🙂
The perfect hug
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus
We love little rabbit foo foo
When Louis Got Eaten
Each Peach Pear Plum keeps my granddaughter's attention for ages. So many things to see and find.
When she was a baby it was 'guess how much I love you' and then we moved on to the Gruffalo 🙂
Today it is Dig, Dig, Digging
the dancing tiger
Our daughter loves Wow Said the Owl
jungle book ( ladybird books)
The Gruffalo
Suzy's Shoes
Horrid Henry
Stick Man
The Very Hungry Caterpillar is the current favourite
HE LOVES ALL MR MEN BOOKS
My 16 month old loves The Gruffalo Touch and Feel book x
It changes all the time but at the moment it's "Don't put your finger in the Jelly, Nelly!"
The very hungry caterpillar (Only for about the last 20 years!!) The Grandkids get it every visit lol!
Each Peach Pear Plumb, he's only little and mummy knows it off by heart!!!
The Very Hungry Caterpillar 🙂 xx
The Bears Umbrella, an old book that was my Wife's when she was little, still a favourite!
Changes all the time! At the moment his favourite is The Bear with Sticky Paws 🙂
Room on the broom
By Julia Donaldson
My little girl loves all the mr men and little misses books but in particular mr happy have read it so many time.s
At the moment my daughter likes Oh No George.
the gruffalo
Tabby McTat
My daughter loves The Jolly Postman and my son currently loves What the ladybird heard
he loves the handsome hog at the moment
a classic- the tiger who came to tea
Anything by Julia Donaldson!
the smartest giant in town
Currently it's the Fireman Sam annual 2011. Sigh. We're enjoying lots of story books too though and especially Julia Donaldson's new one 'Wake Up Do, Lydia Lou.'
The Gruffalo
The gruffalo
We are in desperate need of a new bookcase, as you said out of sight out of mind, my girls are often surprised when I bring out a book they haven't seen for a while. We love angelica sprocket it's a great book.
The gruffalo
horrid henry
My son loves his books, his favourite is normally the Gruffalo but we have been leaning towards a book called Scaredy Boo a lot lately
The gruffallo
my sons love oh no George probably because the dog is quite naughty!
We always had alot of fun with "Green eggs and ham" and other Sr Seuss books, they're great to read as they play with words!
The Hungry catterpiller
Superworm is a favourite at the mo
no real favourites except for our family favourite that is way too young for them now. The very hungry caterpillar
The Gruffalo!! 🙂
The Gruffalo
The Gruffalo
Can't You Sleep Little Bear – Martin Waddell
The very hungry Caterpiller. My 3 year old knows it off by heart and sits down with the book to read to her 16 month old brother. It's so sweet to watch
The BFG
The gruffalo
We love the Tiger who came to tea
The hungry caterpillar
Dinosaurs wear underpants
The gruffalo 🙂
Chimp and Zee
Little puppy
thomas the tank engine story
At the moment my daughter loves High in the Clouds by Paul McCartney. Xxx
Anything peppa pig x
we are loving the gruffalo at the moment x
The Hungry Caterpillar
Loves Thomas the Tank Engine books
Room on the Broom 🙂 I love it too! x
Blyton's Magic Faraway Tree
We have a group fave bedtime story; I'm Not Cute! by Jonathan Allen – I do lots of silly voices and we have lots of hugs and cuddles, prefect bedtime reading.
Fab review, I have seen this tidy and always wondered if its worth the cost as it seems a little on the expensive. I currently have to bookshelves in my boys bedroom. The top shelf is out of reach. I think my sons would definitely got more enjoyment out of their books if they could reach/see them all just the same as your son.
My fave tidy Books Storage is the pale blue with the alphabet, its really cute, fun and eye catching.
just a stat: I once heard that 1 in 5 children dont have 1 book at home. Thats very sad! Its nice to see on hear so many parents love reading to their children.
Lucy x Thank for hosting a fab giveaway
Right now it's The Tickle Book. Tickle monster rules!
The Gruffalo! Or anything with Charlie and Lola, or Peppa Pig 😉
We have two favourites at the moment, the hungry caterpillar and dear zoo.
Holly loves her Mr Men books x
aliens love underpants
Room on the Broom
The Gruffalo
Dinosaurs love underpants
Sam I am 🙂
Good Night, Moon 🙂
-Allie @ LunaVida
What the ladybird heard
My nephews is the gruffalo 🙂
the teddy bears picnic
We love reading Each Peach Pear Plum!
We alternate currently between The Gruffalo (in Scots) and The Very Hungry Caterpillar (with some fab made-up actions).
I'm praying for a change soon.
Max loves the Pip & Posy books
my little girl loves dear zoo
Our favourite is Rumble in the Jungle
the very hungry caterpillar. still have my copy as a child and now read it to my 4 month old daughter 🙂
The Hungry Caterpillar
The tiger who came to tea 🙂
The gruffalo (original & in Scotts) and also the hairy toe
My daughter loves the book "oh what a busy day by gyo fujikawa
Christopher Nibble by Charlotte Middleton
My son loves The Baby's Catalogue
Tractor Ted in the Summer 🙂
Dear Zoo is my sons favourite book
Peter Pan this week. Commotion in the ocean last week….. Etc
The Snail and the Whale
Peepo, we both love it
My daughter loves the 'Thats not my' books, currently the 'Thats not my dinosaur'!!
Mog the Forgetful Cat by Judith Kerr
my kids favourite book has got to be peppa pig books
Moomin adventures
my granddaughter who lives with me loves rabbit foo foo i think its because i run a rabbit and small animal hotel 🙂
The Hungry Caterpillar is a favourite for both my children (1 & 4 yrs old) – they really love books and we have lots of them so would love this fantastic Tidy Books Childrens Bookcase.
Favourite book of my daughter's at the moment is Mog the Cat
THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLOW
My 22 month old boy loves Mr men books and my 7 yr old boy likes Harry Potter
My little's girl's current favourite book is Mo Monkey's Smelly Jumper and it only cost us 20p! Brilliant x
Mr Gum
Mr Gum and Beast Quest
The Gruffalo
My little one loves topsy and tim and their many adventures
my grandson loves 'tell the time with mickey' from the disney store
Any Poppy and Sam (Usborne Farmyard Tales) book
Dinosaur Day Out
8 yr old loves diary of a wimpy kid and 5yr old loves dr seuss
My daughters favorite book is Mr. Doodle has a Poodle.
My daughter loves The Thomas The Tank Engine books
Whatever next!
My lb loves touchy feely book like the It's not my… series
Both my boys love Thomas the tank books, we spend most of our weekends looking for them in carboots, charity shops etc. My boys enjoy going to bed 🙂
My boys love Titchy Witch!
Currently my daughter's favourite book is "Peepo Baby" which we got free in her Book Start pack. She can't get enough of it at the moment and we read it twice every night!
Peace at Last and anything Thomas the tank engine.
No No Charlie Rascal 🙂
green eggs and ham
The hungry caterpillar
The Hungry Caterpillar
The Gruffalo
the gruffalos child
Tiddler by Julia Donaldson. X
Good Night Little Bear is our current favourite
ladybird books
Dinosaurs in the supermarket
My two year old son has so many books I don't think even he can pick a favourite, story time each night is usually about three books, but he loves Dear zoo, where's my teddy and bear hunt at the moment
It changes on a daily basis but currently we're back to room on the broom
It has to be the Gruffalo here.
It had never really occurred to me before why libraries have children's books laid out in that way but it does make sense. Much like The Boy, Harry often thinks a book is new because I have retrieved it from the bottom of the box or similar!
We love what the ladybird heard!
my two love adventures of the wishing chair 🙂
my 3 year old loves anything peppa pig and reads the stories herself by looking at the pictures. my 6 year old likes the aliens love underpants books
spot the dog
My sons favourite book is Monkey and Me and Mrs Pirate.
Tiddler
Hungry Caterpillar
We love all Julia Donaldson books and anything with dinosaurs recently!
The Gruffalo
My son's collection of Ladybird books.
The jolly postman 🙂 I read it as a little girl to
Z's is dear zoo at the moment although he loves anything with trains or dogs in it.
Mr Tickle, my son loves it.
Peppa pig goes swimming
The Gruffalo
Moomins are cool
anything horrid henry for us
Lullabyhullaballoo by Mick Inkpen 🙂
Finn loves reading, but Gracie the Lighthouse Keeper's Cat is a favourite at the moment as the cat on the front looks like our cat Missy 🙂
Red Rocket and rainbow jelly
At the moment Tori and Arthur both love A Very Proper Fox by Jan Fearnley. It is quite funny and had lovely pictures 🙂
dinosaurs in the supermarket
Dirty Bertie
My boys love Roald Dahl books, The Witches is the current favourite.
The three billy goats gruff – lift the flap fairy tales!
Underpants Thunderpants!
My 3 1/2 yr old loves Smartest giant in town , Freddie and the fairy , Charlie cooks favourite book x
Two little bugs
We're Going on a Bear Hunt – he loves joining in with the sounds!
The Hungry Catterpillar
At this precise second, probably Peter Pan as it's just been read. but it changes every day, either that or he says 'all of them'!
Current favourite is The Smartest Giant in Town closely followed by Stick Man.
We too change every day but a recurrent favourite is Hairy Maclary
Petit Boy loves his Cars 2 story, has to be read EVERY bed time!
Little rabbit foo foo
Z loves Beast Quest and the Secret Seven. Miss C loves The Gruffalo!
My boy's favourite book is currently the Lego Star Wars Visual Dictionary. A favourite book the we read together is Love You Forever. =)
I used to love fantastic mr fox! My son's favourites are any cat in the hat books 🙂
Hairy Maclarey all the way here!
Cinderalla at the moment
The Very Hungry Caterpillar! 🙂
Mine don't have a favourite book as they love them all but if I had to choose one I love reading to them it's Dear Zoo
The hungry caterpillar seems to be the favourite at the moment,although she is only two and a half my daughter loves books we are running out of space….
When they were both younger both boys LOVE Whoosh around the Mulberry Bush! A great book x
Five Minutes Peace 🙂
The Gruffalo
He loves Mr Men's books, all of them 🙂
Where the wild things are
Changes all the time but at the moment it's Mr Skinny
My daughter is very into the Topsy and Tim books, her favourite quite worryingly is Topsy and Tim go to the dentist! she likes the whizzy drill lol
Winnie the Pooh
My DD loves Lullaby Moon
My son loves mog the forgetful cat at the moment, makes me read it at least 3 times at bedtime! 🙂
Peppa Pig
The Gruffalo
Dear Zoo
The Gruffalo
We all love Winnie the Pooh :}
Big Bears Bottom
My daughter hasn't a favourite as such but likes reading books about fairies x
He doesn`t really have one favourite we go through so many different books each week,i always have new books to read so neither of us gets bored.
The favourite changes from day to day – at the moment we're loving "There's a house in my Mummy's tummy" 🙂 X
My little boy loves The Selfish Crocodile 🙂
Magic faraway tree
peppa pig, my mummy
Guess How Much I Love You?
The Gruffalo
sharing a shell !
William loves reading science books, Tornado Alert is his fave at the moment
gruffalo
Peepo at the moment
Peppa Goes Swimming 🙂 x
Six Dinner Sid
Her current favourite is either The Princess and the Pig or Eat Your Peas but we always go back to her Blue Kangaroo books.
He loves Richard Scarrys Busy Busy World