FABULOUS SPOT COMPETITION!

Spot is off on another adventure! Look he's sent us a postcard. Can you guess where he is? 

If you can work out his location from the clues in the picture then you could be in with a chance of winning this MAGNIFICENT Spot prize bundle. Pop over to Twitter and check out @puffuinbooks to tweet your answer with the #WheresSpot! Good Luck 

Where's Spot?

TOOT TOOT!
It's time for an adventure. 

It's #WheresSpot week on the Book Sniffer blog!

I have, for as long as I can remember, been a fan of 'Where's Spot' I remember thumbing the flapless copy in our local library over and over again... but I have to begin this blog post by making a confession, I am a dreadful baker! so I was beyond thrilled when 'Spot Bakes a Cake' by Eric Hill arrived at Book Sniffer Towers. 

And here it is...the perfect introduction to baking with with little ones with the guidance of Spot and his Mummy. 

It's time to make a birthday cake for Spot's Daddy and in this beautiful larger format picture book we investigate everything from mixing and measuring to tidying up and taking care with the hot oven, simple steps with flaps to lift on each and every page will inspire a new generation of young cake baking Spot fans. 

In celebration of this fabulous book I enrolled the skills of my dear chum magnificent mum of 4 and general superwomen Polly and her Mini baking assistants Mathilda and Bea  

How to bake... SPOT CUPCAKES! (in 6 easy steps)

Ingredients:

• 125g unsealed butter, softened
• 125g caster sugar
• 125g self-raising flour
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 tbsp milk

To decorate:

• Icing sugar
• Yellow food colouring
• Chocolate buttons
• Small round chocolates 

1- Mix the butter and the sugar in a large bowl then add the flour, eggs, vanilla and milk. Mix well. 

2- Divide the mixture between 12 cupcake cases in a muffin tin. Put in a preheated oven at 200 degrees C / gas mark 6 for 15-20 min. 

3- They should be cooked through and golden on top. Put onto a wire rack to cool. 

4- Once cool mix the icing sugar with a bit of hot water till it is a thick but spreadable consistency. 

5- Add a few drops of yellow food colouring to get the desired colour. 

6- Spread over the cakes then add the chocolate to look like a paw.  (Lots of licking of spoons/ bowls/ mixture is optional)!

Sit and enjoy your delicious cupcakes and share a Spot story! A satisfaction guaranteed recipe for the perfect afternoon!  

WITH HUGE THANKS TO POLLY
AND HER SOUS CHEFS!
You did such a fantastic job, Spot would be thrilled. 

Thanks also to the team at Puffin Books for letting us join in on this fantastic celebratory blog tour! 

Don't forget to pop over to the Library Mice blog for the next instalment!

Introducing Ruth Thorp

Presenting Storytime magazine!

There is no need to hop down the nearest rabbit hole or disappear into a dark fusty wardrobe because a world of magic awaits within the pages of Storytime!

introducing a vibrant new magazine featuring a unique hand picked selection of beloved classic tales to read independently or share. The competent story selection caters for a board range of reading abilities and interests with something to engage and enthral all readers. 

With special attention paid to the educational elements explored in each story, this magazine is packed with additional content and fun activities to promote further learning. 

Each story is beautifully and expertly illustrated by a different illustrator adding to this eclectic magazines appeal. 

What better gift for a budding book worm than a subscription to a limitless world of imagination?

We can't wait to read the next edition!

The New Small Person - Lauren Child

You can buy a copy here! 

Smelly Louie by Catherine Rayner

There's a whiff in the air... The majestic pong of a brand new hit picture book by Greenaway medal winner Catherine Rayner. 

Smelly Louie immediately bursts with charm as we meet a freshly bathed mutt blooming with the scent of roses and apple blossom, needless to say our fragrant friend is not happy about this and with each turn of the page we join Louie on his quest to regain his familiar stench. 

Page by page the story unfurls introducing familiar creatures synonymous with the British countryside, from vibrant red foxes, to perfectly spiralling snails and fluttering ducks. Charming field mice sit comfortably side by side with majestic tabby kittens and slowly but surely dearest Louie rolls, squelches and rubs his way back to his old ponky ways. 

Catherine's beautifully framed illustrations weave expertly around her exquisite text and perfectly compliment the atmospheric colour palette. 

I ADORE this kitten! 

Another triumph from one of the most talented contemporary children's illustrators in the UK today.

I challenge you not to fall completely and utterly head over heels with Louie (smells and all)

You can buy 'Smelly Louie' 

from my Book Sniffer online store 

Follow Catherine on Twitter @catherinerayner

Visit Catherines website HERE 

With thanks to Macmillan Children's Books for sending me a copy of this magnificent book.