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The Touring Book Club: STORM #TouringPictureBook

After an incredibly blustery weekend, it seems incredibly fitting that our Touring Book Club choice this month is STORM. Written and illustrated by Sam Usher and published by Templar Publishing, STORM is the fourth and final instalment in a beautiful seasonal series of books, which celebrate the special relationship between a little boy and his grandad.

As we had previously read RAIN, SUN and SNOW, we were very much looking forward to finding out what new adventure STORM would bring. Here's the blurb:

"When I woke up this morning, it was stormy!"

It's blowing a gale, so a boy and his grandad decide
it's the perfect weather for kite-flying. There's just one problem - first they
have to find a kite. Their search brings up lots of wonderful memories
of times together, but when they finally make it outside,
a brand new adventure carries them away.



Our thoughts on Storm...

It is a real delight to share another joy-filled day with this imaginative duo. As they search for their kite, we gain a glimpse of adventures past: a game of cricket, a boat trip and a visit to a secret cave! Then when they do eventually locate the kite, we join them on yet another fun-filled trip to the park.

This heartwarming story is completed by Sam Usher's timeless and atmospheric illustrations. The way in which he captures the wildness of the weather outside, and contrasts it with the comforting memories the pair find within the house, is very special indeed. As too is his level of detail and his ability to create expression and movement on the page. All the images are beautiful but the double spreads are particularly wonderful!

STORM may be the final book in the series but it is definitely our favourite and it is perfect for curling up under a blanket and reading this Autumn.



Sensory Playdough for Autumn

All three Mini Reviewers just LOVE playdough, seriously apart from bubbles and of course books, it is probably the thing they enjoy the most in the world! Playdough is great for developing fine motor skills in early childhood. Flattening, pressing, rolling and squeezing playdough all help to strengthen little fingers and hands. Inspired by the colours in book STORM, I decided to make some sensory playdough for Poppy. 

What you will need:

1 cup of flour
1/4 cup of salt
1 tbs cooking oil
1/2 cup of water
Yellow and orange, poster paint or food colouring (the brown colouring is just from the cinnamon)
Ground cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg







Poppy had great fun making some autumnal leaves by flatting the playdough with her hands and then pressing in her new leaf shapes that conveniently had just arrived (affiliate link below). She also had a go with the rolling pin but she preferred using her hands. She also added in a few conkers too and, by the time her brother and sister came home from school, all the different colours were mushed together so they had to make do with just brown leaves but the smell was still divine!



We hope you enjoyed our post and don't forget to take a look at the other Touring Book Club activities:

Mamma Filz - Autumn Globe

Bookbairn - Conker Crafts

Acorn Books - Autumn Sensory Basket

The Touring Book Club returns in November with The Boy and The Bear until then... HAPPY READING!

Kate & the Mini Reviewers xx


 

Disclaimer: We were kindly sent a copy of STORM for the purpose of this post. All opinions are as always our own. This post contains affiliate links. You can find out more about affiliate links here.

4 comments:

  1. I'm one of these people that just can't stand playdough!! The book on the other hand looks really fantastic #readwithme

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    1. I have to say I'm a bit like that because they make such a mess with it,this wasn't too bad until the older two got involved after school!

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  2. I can smell those dough flavours: delicious! I should really bother making me own playdough and using lovely scents - thanks for the recipe! I'll make the time!

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    1. I have tried a few edible recipes as the kids always used to eat it, this one is not edible but I highly recommend peanut butter playdough!

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