We’ve not done any book reviews for a while. We’re still both reading – I completed my 2015 52 book challenge back in October, and N’s still loving his books. Now phonics teaching has started, I’m expecting him to be reading simple words after, if not by Christmas. Exciting times.
Recently we were sent a couple of new books from the shine-a-light books range. I’ve not come across these before, but they’re definitely a new and unique concept.
In the books, there’s obviously the story, but some of the images are hidden from normal view. Instead you need to hold the pages up to the light, or with a torch behind to see the full pictures.  It’s a fun way to get children interacting more with books, and wanting to read on to see the next pictures.
The 2 new books, launching in January, are On the plane, and On the Space Station. N’s been really interested in these books from their arrival, even though usually he’s not into planes or astronauts.
The books really simply explain what goes on in a plane and airport – from air traffic control, to the hold, pilots, air stewards and safety, and from a rocket launch to living on a space station. N liked trying to guess and then spot the hidden items once the pages were held up to the light. It’s certainly a novelty factor that works for a 4 year old.
We simply held the pages up the light rather than getting out a torch. It worked well, although it did need holding carefully to keep the other pages from blocking the view.
The books prompted other conversations about flying and space, relating to other story books N has about the same topics. They’re reference books, so we prefer to read them during the day rather than bedtime.
N doesn’t seem to mind, but for me the illustrations seem quite dated. It’s probably due to the muted colours and simplicity needed for the shine-a-light component of them. We usually like brightly coloured books, and these don’t jump out as being so. I’d say then, that they’re better for older pre-schoolers and up who do still have staying power while ‘reading’.
If you want to try out the books, do enter my compeitiion to win one of 3 pairs of these books. Just answer the question in the comments, and complete the rafflecopter.
Terms and conditions
- UK entry only, over 18s
- Giveaway closes 11.59pm 28th December 2015
- Entries will be validated according to the rules of entry
- There are 3 prizes of 2 shine-a-sight books.
- The data of anyone that enters won’t be passed on to any third parties or used for any unsolicited marketing communications.
- Winner will be randomly chosen, and will be shown on this post, and may be shared on social media.
- Winner will be notified via email, and will need to respond within 2 weeks otherwise a further winner will be drawn.
- Prize will be sent out directly from the publishers in January.
- This giveaway may be featured on Loquax, Prizefinder and Superlucky
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Disclosure: We were sent 2 books for the purpose of review. All words and opinions are my own.
108 Comments
Heidi
the gruffalo xx
my two like all kinds of books but one of the faves is the fairy tales book they have and enjoy the three pigs most
My favourite book is ballet shoes , love the characters in that .
I look my sons new book The Incredible Intergalactic Journey Home he loves seeing his name and finding our house in the book
Matilda reminds of being a child
I love the Gruffalo…its fun and so cleverly written…I’m not sure if myself or my children love it more 🙂
Mrs pepperpot
The Gruffly because my kids love it
The gruffalo is my little ones favourite x
magic porridge pot was awesome
I loved the enid blyton famous five books as a child I would imagine I was having their adventures
I like The Snail and the Whale – always brings a tear to the eye
My favourite children’s book is Wanted a King by Maggie Brown
my daughter loves music books
The current favourite right now and for the last few weeks is Night Before Christmas; little one’s on a santa kick. Usually it’s Mr Men books
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt is our favourite
The magic faraway Tree. It was one of the first books I ever read through choice. Up till then I hated reading, I found it hard work, something I had to do at school. I got it for Christmas & it changed everything. It opened up a whole new world for me. I love to read anything & everything.
I love the secret garden because its a lovely story
We read so many with our little ones it’s hard to choose a favourite but the Gruffalo is always in the mix. Fabulous! These books look amazing! Personally I’ve just read The Martian. Really enjoyed it! Need to watch the film now!
My granddaughter loves music books
The gruffalo is a firm fav in our house
I love the book Marley and Me . I read it before the film came out,there were parts that were so so funny…i was reading it oo a train and looked mad laughing away to myself. But it was also so very sad. A real insight into the amazing bond and love these dogs bring to our world xx
Ghee tiger who came to tea – its a classic
My favourite book is rebecca
Wind in the willows loved it since childhood
My all-time favourite book is Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. This wonderful book introduced me to and developed in me, a huge love a literature, which led on to my degree and career now!
My son loves Stick Man
My favourite kids book is Dogger and has been since I was small! I can’t read it to my daughter though with requiring tissues!
We love the Gruffalo in our house. Great story and fun to read!
I love Little Women. I love the family values that are in it, and it’s such a lovely story. I look forward to introducing my children to it as they get older.
i’ve always liked the velveteen rabbit, it was my favourite childhood book and has become my childrens favourite, its a sweet beautiful story
The Magic Faraway Tree
My 3 year old daughter absolutely loves reading, we enjoy lots of different books, but she absolutely loves the Gruffalo books, she loves doing the actions as we read xXx
anything by john grisham
I love The Lovely Bones – a brilliant story
harry potter
My granddaughters love the Magic Rainbow Fairies
My favourite book is Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky for the way it examines the human condition.
Room on the Broom. We know all the words with out the book!
My son loves the hungry caterpillar
Monkey puzzle because it has great pictures
Winnie the Pooh as its a classic
Richard Scarry books are so fun 😀
grandaughter love apple tree farm books
The Hungry Caterpillar – Great!
We love super worm at the moment
Love the Puddle Lane series – reminds me of my son’s childhood.
We love Winnie The Pooh, because he is a bear of very little brain
I love Gruffalo
The Gruffalo. It’s been my favourite for a long time (since I was a nursery nurse) and I read it to my kids when I was pregnant too. I make sure we do lots of voices too!!
The wrong way around world.. It always raises a few laughs! <3
From The Holy Mountain by William Dalrymple – quite simply the best travel book I’ve ever read!
The Hungry Caterpillar my son loves it
Alice in Wonderland for all the crazy characters.
The Hungry Caterpillar loved it as a kid-classic!!
Paper dolls by Julia Donaldson… only became known to me as my children keep asking me to read it.. it’s beautifully written and leaves a large emotional lump in my throat 🙂
Superworm all the way 🙂
The Hungry Caterpillar. Love the holes in the board book.
The Owl who was afraid of the dark by Jill Thomlinson. It reminds me of school and sitting round litening to stories by my favourite teacher, Mrs Peaker. She used to do fab voices for it. I’ve just bought it for Eli too.
The Velveteen Rabbit
I have fond memories of reading the Little House on the Prairie series.
Anything by Richard Scarry, I love him as a child and my son and daughter both love him, brilliant stories and lovely illustrations.
Grandsons is Horrid Henry, mine are any by Josephine Cox
famous five go off in a caravan as i got it in devon on holiday in 1970s.
Harry Potter, liked it when I was younger, still like it now and so do the kids!
upside down world
room on the broom x
My favourite book to read to the kids is called the mummy shop as we can do lots of silly voices for the different characters!!!
We love Stick Man its fun to read
We love Stickman as we love the pictures and know it off by heart nearly x
The Hungry Caterpillar, just love the story
The Jolly Postman. I used to love reading all the little letters.
Love the faraway tree due to the magical story’s it contains
I love The Twits!
From the books in the prize :- On the Plane, useful for interacting with child in preparation for a flight on a plane. I like the Very Hungry Caterpillar.
The Tiger Who Came To Tea has been a favourite of mine ever since I first read it x
The very hungry caterpillar
Were going on a bear hunt, the kids love it
We really love ‘Room on a Broom’ 🙂
I liked reading the diary of adrian mole
I love anything by Julia Donaldson. The illustrations and language used brings the story to life and engages my little one
i love roald dahl books
Love the ladybird books
What a neat idea! My favourite book is the secret diary of Adrian Mole – it’s so funny! 🙂
bible because feel GODs heart
When reading with my children I still love the jolly postman
The Famous Five were my favourite as a child,I don’t have a favourite adult book but I love reading psychological thrillers.
I loved anything Enid Blyton as a child, now as a adult its Harry Potter!
We love Dear Zoo – We love reading about all the animals.
i like Stephen king books great writer x
We love the Gruffalo
We love the book called Penguin
Our favourite book to read is the little red hen & the 3 little pigs
My favourite book is Perdido Street Station, and my son’s is The Highway Rat by Julia Donaldson
dear zoo, first book my little dude ‘read’ to me
the Gruffalo!
I loved I’Houdini the great escape artist hamster because it was very funny and I love hamsters.
Tiger who came to tea as reminds me of my childhood xx
I love the tiger who came to tea because it’s such a random story but the kids love it!
We do love a bit of Dr Seuss Green Eggs and Ham its fun and easy to read
the tiger who came to tea- i loved it as a child and my kids love it too! Its a funny story!
I love the Gruffalo – lovely plot and gorgeous illustrations!
I love the Wishing Chair by Enid Blyton because it is so imaginative and magical.
I liked all the Enid blyton books and my favourites were secret seven
I still love Malory towers, and luckily my daughter does too! X
i always liked a book called mervyn the mouse my mum used to read it and did loads of voices
the kids love the gruffalo