Books are an essential aspect of our home, and as I was sorting out The Boy's books after Christmas time I realised that he has very distinctly moved into a new phase of story books. Hardback books are long gone, the amount of text on a page has increased and the font is smaller, and the subject matter is more detailed.
We've also had to find space on his book shelves for his own reading books, those which I've bought him to practise and develop his reading skills. I have in the past tried to keep his books constrained to just the dining room, but when I was sent a new book box to review, it was the perfect excuse to gather all of his reading books together in one place and bring them into the living room.
With an advertised space for up to 40 books and four sections of two different heights, it's the perfect size to sit in the corner of our living room and appeal to The Boy to sit down and flick through a book and have a go at reading it by himself. In reality we actually have a lot more books in the book caddy than that, with over 120 small reading scheme style books in there, we've definitely got something to suit The Boy's moods and improving reading ability.
I set the book caddy up for The Boy one afternoon to explore after school and he found it really enticing. The fact that the books are forward facing is incredibly useful, because actually children do judge a book by its cover, especially if they can't read the title!
The Tidy Books' book box measures 34 cm (h) x 54 cm (w) x 28cm (d) and had a lovely play clock which can be attached at one end (although it can also be removed when children are older) with moving hands for The Boy to practise reading the time on. Assembly was simple, the book box arrives flat-packed in a carry box, and it took me less than five minutes to put it together with the provided alan key. Made from sustainable wood, not MDF, the book box is also finished in a water-based lacquer which is a safe, virtually odour free lacquer which is better for the environment and is ideal for children and allergy sufferers.
I find it very reassuring that the product has been made in a very responsible manner with sustainable resources and harmless paints. The finish and quality of the product is amazing, there are no sharp edges or splinters of wood on the screw holes, and it's the type of book box which will be used for longer than a few years; I can see it being passed down through the family.
The Tidy Books Book Box is available in a dark petrol blue, white or natural finish, and is priced at £69.00. While that may seem a little more expensive than some cheap high-street alternatives, the comparative quality is indisputable and this is one of those cases where it's worth spending a little more for something that will last years.
However, I am very fortunate to be able to offer a Tidy Books Book Box to one lucky reader of TheBoyandMe. Simply fill in the Rafflecopter form below for the chance to win one.
I was sent this product for the purpose of this review, my opinion is honest and unbiased.
The Gruffalo – my youngest daughter is Gruffalo obsessed lol!
At the moment, my 3 year old is loving the Alfie and Annie-Rose books.
anything by the Ahlberg's or julia donaldson x
Currently my Harry's favourite book is the Stickman!
My little one is at nursery and is simply racing through The Oxford Reading scheme. The Kipper, Biff and Chip stories are so fab
Its changes weekly, but this week his favourite is Monkey Puzzle or Toddle Waddle
Gemma lopves The Secret Seven
The Jolly Pocket Postman
He loves reading lots of different books but the one we read the most is a Charlie and Lola book 🙂
horrible henry
Ashley loves our Winnie the Pooh Nursery Rhymes book. He getting into doing all the actions!
When he's at his house it's his Peppa Pig book!
Little Miss books
Mr Jelly, I kept all my old Mr Men books and am loving that he now loves them at 18 months old!
Spaghetti with the Yeti! Amongst many others, mostly about storms or vehicles 🙂
My daughters have the peppa pig book set and they love them, choose a different one each night before bed.
She's a bit young yet, but likes anything pop-up! X
I think today it's the Gruffalo's child. If you ask again tomorrow we'll probalby have a different answer 😉
anything jaqueline wilson x
the very hungry catipillar
This changes regularly as I adore children's books. At the moment I'd say Monkey puzzle
The tiger who came to tea
MY LITTLE GIRL LOVES THE GRUFFALO AT THE MINUTE.
A quiet day in the jungle x
Varies so much, but all the Julia Donaldson books are favourites including The Snail and the Whale.
(The very retro) Monster Can't Sleep by Virginia Mueller is the current favourite here…And a storage solution for the pile of books that live at the side of the bed is sorely needed!
At the moment my daughter is a fan of Mog The Cat books
Any Peppa Pig Book
the gruffalo
Mr Strong
The Gruffalo, my little girl loves it x
Any Thomas book
at the moment its Dear Zoo and Jack and the Beanstalk
My daughter likes any of the Biff, Chip and Kipper books.
How to Catch a Star
Magic Faraway tree
The gruffalo
At the moment my son loves Harry and the Dinosaur.
The Gruffalo
The Gruffalo
The Hungry Caterpillar
Mine loves this one particular board book called Mia Ballerina – it has about 12 words, and I have to read it at least three times every night! lol #killmenow
Manner-Man by Sherrill S. Cannon is the current favourite in our home!
My daughter loves all books, but Room on a Broom and Monkey Puzzle are her favourites
The hairy toe
Hungry Caterpillar
my son loves Beast Quest my daughter who knows!
My Friend Bear
My 5 yr old says his fave is gingerbread man
The singing mermaid!
Both my boys are currently in to anything by Dr Seuss!
My twin boys and I love Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy
Room on the broom
My grandson loves gruffalo
Jen changes his mind so often. At the moment its "trains"
The Gruffalo
Room on the Broom
My Son's is anything Thomas related, there really isn't a favourite with Thomas Tank Engine! My daughter loves Cinderella and more recently, Hairy maclary from Donaldson's Dairy! x
It changes all the time but at the moment is Don't put your finger in the Jelly Nelly.
My 6 year old is really enjoying Enid Blyton at the moment. He's just finished Adventures of the Wishing Chair and he's moved onto the Faraway Tree series. I used to love those books when I was younger too so it's great to see him enjoying them so much.
My 3 year old loves Zog at the moment :o)
D would absolutely love this, her favourite books are Mr Men books, she carries them everywhere.
at the mo its the dinosaur that pooped a planet…because it says pooped lol
The Gruffolo. I love it too!
The gruffalo
Red riding hood
Superworm
At the moment, her favourite book is The Grufallo's Child!
At the moment it's Winnie the Pooh, which is brilliant as it was a firm favourite for both of us as children 🙂
the whale and the snail
Where's Spot!
Spaghetti with the Yeti 🙂
the tiger that came to tea z
my son loves the dinosaur that pooped a planet 🙂
the gruffalo
At the minute my little man always fetches 'One Bear Lost' for me to read 🙂
My little lady loves the 'Pip and Posy' books.
The hungry caterpillar
At the moment we are into Mr Men and Thomas
There's a House in Mummy's Tummy
gruffalo at the moment
My boy lurrrrves The Lorax at the moment. Also The Magic Faraway Tree x
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The hungry catterpiller
the hungry caterpillar
Head, Shoulders, knees and toes at the moment!
"Little somethings" and "The Rainbowfish"
Amy loves Room On The Broom
The Mr Men books at the moment.
Guess How Much I Love You. 🙂
Currently some tele tubby books
at the moment its teriffic trains
Room on the Broom.
she likes a book we have with traditional fairy tales
Currently, it's a version of Peter Pan, with pop-up pages.
It is currently one of his Tree Fu Tom books 🙂
My grandson loves ZOG at the moment but he does stick to a few repeatedly for a few weeks then have a whole new wardrobe as such
We read room on the broom rather a lot.
My kids love The Snail and the Whale
Topsy and tim x
MY son loves The Snowman and the Snowdog at the minute and we're going on a bear hunt!
My daughter is now learning to read and will try and read any book but she likes me to read The Perfect Hug to her at night
Goldilocks and the three bears.
green eggs and ham by dr seuss
GIRAFFES CAN'T DANCE
aliens in underpants
This week it is Percy the Park Keeper One Snowy Night. Too many favourites to choose from! 🙂 x
the gruffalo
We LOVE Monkey Puzzle
My son's favourite reading book is 'Green Eggs and Ham' by Dr Seuss.
The gruffallo and angel baby
He loves Room on the Broom & Stick Man
always the gruffalo
Horrid Henry
The Gruffalo
We've just read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which is the current five of us all!
Stick Man
at the moment it is stick man.
I don't have a child…..yet, but my favourite book was Dogger by Shirley Hughes 🙂
He is obsessed with anything to do with Fireman Sam
The Cat in the Hat.
It's varied now! Favourites include Eric Carle and Julia Donaldson
the teddy bears picnic
Room on the Broom x
has to be the gruffalo x
Anything by Julia Donaldson – changes daily
My 3yr old loves his DC superheroes story book at the moment.
"Tiddler" by Julia Donaldson.
Horrid Henry is a firm favourite!
Maggot Pie!
My daughter is loving the set of 64 zoo lane books by An Vrombaut at the moment
Green Eggs and Ham
The Fantastic Fox
Charlie & Lola 'I am not sleepy & will not go to bed' my DD loves this book
The boys love Stickman xx
At the moment it's Hairy Maclary!
moshi monsters read a long – it changes weekly though !
Well at the moment my 2yro will have any book read to him that becomes handy,but his favourites are "Peepo" by the Ahlbergs or the "Tail of the Flopsy Bunnies" which was mine when I was little.
Little Red Riding Hood but it changes regularly
I guess curious George because I read it recently. He's too young for favorites, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have a huge collection already.
Just loves The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Any book to do with dinosaurs!! He also likes the Susanna Gretz Teddybears books.
The very hungry caterpillar is def the fave!
dear zoo.
Gruffalo
A Squash & A Squeeze!
Pip and Posy series
The Owl who was Afraid of the Dark
We're currently reading him fairy tales for boys, but mostly he just tries to eat the book lol!
my boy loves Noddy!
at the moment its peppa pig books
Green eggs and ham
his current new fave is mr tumbles book of counting
at the moment her Mr Tumble 2014 annual 🙂
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
the gruffalo 🙂
Three little pigs and little red hen @anna8301
Has to be the Hungry caterpillar!!
The Gruffalo for my 5 year old and The Gruffalo's Child for my 3 year old.
Anything he can bite at the moment (he's only little) 🙂
He is a real bookworm (like his Mummy!) and gets very excited by new books. He does love Thomas The Tank Engine stories and The Gruffalo certainly holds a special place in his heart.
It changes all the time! His current favourites are the Gruffalo and 'Mummy laid an egg' (Babette Cole). My friend has just had a baby so we read it a lot while she was pregnant and it answered all of Mushroom's awkward questions! I love this box, looks gorgeous
My son Horrid Henry & my daughter Maisy Mouse x
My son loves anything with Dinosaurs in at the moment. I couldn't pick a favourite- he reads 7 different Dinosaur books at least 10 times each everyday. As well as Dinosaur books he loves anything by Julia Donaldson- his current favourite being Tabby McTat. Would love one of these for all his books. Thanks for hosting this giveaway 🙂 x
Currently Room on the Broom
One called "Whos my mummy?" Little puppy, its got things to do inside it, lift, pull etc, its hardback so even better x
The Gruffalo
Pip and Posy and the scooter
My sons is room on a broom but my daughters is diary of a wimpy kid
Peppa Pig x
Peace at Last or anything with Thomas the Tank
Moomins – hide and seek lift the flap book
Diary Of A Wimpy Kid
Handas surprise
The tiger who came to tea
cinderella
Mouse & Mole and the falling star x
The gruffalo or dinosaurumpus 🙂
Stuck by Oliver Jeffers! I love reading this book now, and I am 23!
We're going on a bear hunt, love doing the actions to the story
Burlar Bill – a classic! 🙂 x
The BFG
My eldest daughter LOVES
My eldest daughter LOVES 'We're Going on A Bear Hunt' despite the fact it scares her when the bear is chasing them, bless!
Little red riding hood
Goldilocks and the 3 bears at the moment! x
The Highway Rat- Julia Donaldson
The gruffalo
His Can You See Me book is always a favorite at night.
The Tiger who came to tea
Both my girls love gruffalos child. They know it off by heart!!! X x
the gruffalo
We love reading Gobolino the witches cat
The christmas bear, it's a pop up
Mister men and little miss books, they can't get enough of them
Either The Gruffalo Child or any Hairy Maclarey story!
Peppa Pig: The Story of Prince George
Red Riding Hood 🙂
The jolly postman
Each Peach Pear Plum
The very hungry caterpillar!
Alice in Wonderland
We love Dr Seuss
The Gruffalo
Mine loves Room on the Broom (or in his words 'onthe broom, on the broom'
The Singing Mermaid
Tiddler. x
Tiddler
the mr men books
the very hungry caterpillar 🙂
My 3 year old has a Disney Princess book with all the classic stories in such as Cinderella and Snow White. She absolutely loves reading this every night.
The Gruffalo
The night before Christmas.
A firm favourite of my sons is dear zoo, he loves anything to do with animals, he also recently discovered Q pootle 5 which he loved but its a tongue twister for mummy xx
The very hungry caterpillar
Loving Mr Men Books at the moment xx
We're Going On A a Bear Hunt
MR MEN X
The Gruffalo's Child.
Last week I lost count of the number of times I shared 'Emergency' with my grandson 🙂
Gruffalo
the gruffalo, she knows it word for word
Dinosaurs in the supermarket
Topsy and Tim
Any Sarah and Duck books at the moment.
He loves dear zoo and he has just found a q pootle 5 book which he loves, such a tongue twister for mummy to read though 🙂
Curious George books. That little monkey is well loved in our house 🙂
Suzy's Shoes
englebert sneem
The Hungry Caterpillar
the gruffalo 🙂
Any of the Fast Fox, Slow Dog series, but especially Chicken, Chips & Peas
My godson loves Mucky Duck or any Spot books at the moment.
A multi story book called 50 toybox stories they love it 🙂
guess how much i love you
The Jolly Postman!
The Very Hungry
Caterpillar 🙂
Anything where he can go rarrrr while listening to the book being read to him lol xx
Hop on Pop
Superworm
wheres my teddy
Aaaarrgghh! Spider! by Lydia Monks
he's loving all the Biff, Chip and Kipper books at the moment 🙂
Big Bears Bottom!!
Harry Potter! (I may have influenced this decision slightly…)
The Gruffalo
Dear Zoo – we have the lift the flap version and the touch version, we have to read them both at the same time
My little man loves We Are Going On A Bear Hunt
Rabbit Ears
Currently my daughter loves room on the broom and my son loves sofia the first.
Mr Stink – David Walliams
The very hungry caterpillar finger puppet book. She loves getting kisses from the caterpillar!
Hungry Caterpillar Book + we have the Board Game, Letters Game ……… my daughters absolute favourite
Horrid Henry Series- also all Ronald Dahl books- my son reads them over and over again
Jack and the Flum Flum Tree
The Gruffalo
My 2 year old tends to love whatever her current library books are. But for a guaranteed classic probably Room on the Broom
Sharing a shell
Six Little Chicks by Jez Alborough is his fave, though also anything by Julia Donaldson and Lynley Dodd.
The Gruffalo
faraway tree stories
The Gruffalo – my youngest daughter is Gruffalo obsessed lol!
The Smartest Giant in Town and How to catch a star.
tell the time with thomas
The BFG
Hungry Caterpillar
At the moment its 'We love you hugless douglas'!
the Hungry Caterpillar
little red ridgin hood
We're going on a bear hunt is a favourite here!
Books about dogs
Mine love the Rainbow Fairies series … not keen myself but with three girls its all fairies, glitter and pink 🙂
My oldest son enjoys the zombie books.
The Gruffalo and I love it too 🙂
The Gruffalo (I like it too lol)
The Gruffalo and the Gruffalo's Child.
Where the wild things are 🙂
My youngest loves the tiger who came to tea x
They love spot the dog
Current fave is we're going on a bear hunt!
One Ted Falls out of Bed
The Gruffalo
The hungry caterpillar