Happy International World Book Day! Our College librarian, Pippa Jacobi, shares a different kind of book list that has something for everyone. These books will engage and challenge the whole family.

Pippa Jacobi

College Librarian

 

The Board Game Family 

by Ellie Dix

Many parents feel as if they are competing with screens for their children’s attention. As their children get older and become more distant, parents worry about the quality of the already limited time they share. They want time in which to reconnect, but don’t know how to shift the balance. In The Board Game Family, teacher and educationalist Ellie Dix aims to help parents by inviting them and their families into the unplugged world of board games. The benefits of board gaming are far-reaching: playing games develops interpersonal skills, boosts confidence, memory formation and cognitive ability, and refines problem-solving and decision-making skills. Available on Kindle.  

Den Building

by Jane Hewitt and Sarah Cross (Jane Hewitt has attended Arts Festivals at Wellington Shanghai)

Every child needs a special space of their own where they can let their imagination run wild. When you become a den builder, the most ordinary of spaces can become a magical, secret world. A den, or a fort, is a special space that you create for yourself, a space where you can use your imagination, a space where you can play, or read, just chill out or be creative. In Den Building, Jane Hewitt and Cathy Cross show you how, with just a few household objects and these imaginative ideas, you can make hundreds of wonderful dens, with minimal mess and fuss. Using found items, creativity and imagination you can transform any space into a completely new environment.Available on Kindle.  

The Little Book of Thunks: 260 questions to make your brain go ouch! 

by Ian Gilbert

A thunk is a beguiling question about everyday things that stops you in your tracks and helps you start to look at the world in a whole new light. The author guides you through the origins and uses of thunks and demonstrates how this powerful little book can develop philosophical thinking for all ages. Remember there are no right or wrong answers to these questions. How liberating is that? Available on Kindle.  

The Philosophy Shop Edited

by Peter Worle

The Philosophy Shop is a veritable emporium of philosophical puzzles and challenges to develop thinking in and out of the classroom. Imagine a one-stop shop stacked to the rafters with everything you could ever want, to enable you to tap into young people s natural curiosity and get them thinking deeply. Well, this is it! Edited by philosophy in schools expert, Peter Worley and with contributions from philosophers from around the world, The Philosophy Shop is jam-packed with ideas to get anyone thinking philosophically from children and young people to adults.  

The Numberverse 

by Andrew Day

The Numberverse addresses the conceptual development of numbers and shows how to build firm foundations in maths – ideal for use by primary and secondary teachers (of children aged 7-13 years old) or parents who want to inspire their children, but perhaps never enjoyed maths themselves. The Numberverse is especially for people who don’t like maths. If you’re one of those people who find maths boring, hard, annoying or pointless then The Numberverse is for you to enjoy.  

Five Minute Mum 

By Daisy Upton

Daisy Upton has two young children. She loves them – but they can drive her mad! In her first book, she has collected 150+ games that take 5 minutes to set up and 5 minutes to tidy up. From pasta posting to alphabet knock down, it's a recipe book for guilt-free parenting. And your little ones will be learning while they play! What could be better? She's managed to come up with a huge array of activities for kids that are fun and educational yet don't require an art degree or diploma in patience to execute. Available on Kindle. Enjoy your reading, thinking and inspired play – hopefully it won’t be long till we can open up the library again!   More relevant articles : Happy World Book Day and book lists from your absent Librarian 2019 Summer reading list Developing a love of reading | Tips from Wellington bookworms Priceless stories | World Book Day 2019 Marcus Dilly brings World of Wonder back to Wellington We are Wellington | Learning to love and respect books Although our campus is physically closed – you can still take a look round via our new virtual tours. Our admissions team is readily available to answer any questions you might have and to guide you through the application process.  Please do get in touch. admissions.shanghai@wellingtoncollege.cn