If you’d happened to be looking in through my front room window earlier this evening (not that I am implying that any of you would), then you would have seen me prancing around doing utterly amazing dance moves and singing along to Cheryl Cole’s Fight For This Love, Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive, Rihanna’s Umbrella, Florence & The Machine’s Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) and N Dubz’s I Need You.

You see, my children are all back at school and today I missed their noise and today was a bit rubbish. So what better way to make everything better than to wait for them to come home and to prance around playing We Sing Encore.

I actually think that We Sing Encore is the BEST singing party game on the market and having played ALL of them (as my very lovely friends will verify), this collection of songs and new features knocks SingStar into a corner.

This is a game that anyone can play and has been designed as such. I can honestly, truly and absolutely declare that the song list for We Sing Encore is the BEST that I have ever seen for a singing game collection (you can see the whole tracklist here).

Those who follow me on twitter will know that for months now I have been proclaiming Bonnie Tyler’s Total Eclipse Of The Heart to be MY song. The lyrics, the video, the divaish prancing, well I’ve been playing it on a loop. So, you can imagine my ABSOLUTE delight (although possibly not my family’s) that it is one of the tracks on We Sing Encore! I get to watch men in speedos and belt out my blues. Tonight my children, bless them, could do nothing but laugh and let me flounce around the front room singing about powder kegs and needing someone or other tonight.

We Sing Encore is the first game which allows four mics and four singers to perform together. There are 40 chart topping songs from a wide range of leading artists, including mostly original videos (did I mention the men in speedos?). There are Solo and Party modes, as well as singing lessons (for those of you who can’t yet sing like a professional, like me… ahem!). There is Party Mode which includes Pass The Mic, First to X, Blind and so many more features. But, my favourite is Karaoke mode, with the vocals removed.

Tonight, in my front room, I really really was  Bonnie Tyler.

Earlier this year, I blogged about Sue Mongredien’s new Kitten Club series and how it is a MUST read for ALL 6-8 year old little girls. Littlest went on to read ‘Ginger’s New Home (Kitten Club)’ and was eagerly awaiting ‘Ziggy’s Big Adventure (Kitten Club)’. You can imagine her ABSOLUTE delight and shock (I mean squeal-inducing shock!) when she opened the book and read that the dedication was TO HER and her our ridiculoulsy naughty kittens.

I can’t thank the fabulous Sue Mongredien enough and, clearly, everyone in the whole wide world should buy a copy of ‘Ziggy’s Big Adventure (Kitten Club)’.

OK, so up until Thursday I had no idea about the FREE (yes FREE!) LEGO® Club which offers members exclusive magazines, access to their website, freebies, events and more!

According to the rather fabulous Kerry at Digital Outlook:

“LEGO® Club members receive five FREE magazines a year starting with LEGO Club Jr. for ages 4 – 6 years, which promotes independent reading, counting and writing, then graduate to LEGO Club Magazine for ages 7+, full of comics, competitions, activities, sneak peeks, info on LEGO Club events and regular LEGOLAND vouchers. On LEGOClub.com there is exclusive content like ‘Buildits’, ClubCodes, the LEGO Club Show and a chance to sign up for monthly email newsletters of the latest LEGO news.”

And she’s spot-on-right! The website is easy to use and full of stuff that I have been told by my youngest two kiddies is ‘really cool’. But for me it’s the actual paper magazine that has made me (this afternoon) really really adore Lego. Not only do my kids LOVE getting things through the post and not only do these magazines not cost us poor parents a single penny, but the content is really ace. (Well done Lego!).

All of my children have played for hours with Lego (some of their bricks belonged to G and his brother). Lego is one of the few toys I can think of that has playability through generations. Littlest and Middlest are currently upstairs. One is constructing a Lego alien (thanks to the instructions in the magazine) and the other is very excited about finding this building tips and ideas page on the Lego Club website.  I love that in this digital age Lego have still sent out paper magazines for children to get excited about, but I equally love that their website gives that ‘little bit extra’ for free to children and to parents. I think they’ve got their marketing spot on.

And me, well I’m enjoying a cup of tea and chocolate biscuit in absolute peace…

You can sign up for the FREE (yes FREE!) LEGO Club magazine here.

… of ‘The Grunt and the Grouch’ (picture book),  ‘Beastly Feast! (The Grunt and the Grouch)‘ and ‘Pick ‘n’ Mix (The Grunt and the Grouch)’ by Tracey Corderoy

is @helenredders.

Congratulations @helenredders, please do email or DM me your address and Stripes/Little Tiger Press will send you your copies.

(Note to reader: Littlest has a copy of THREE different ‘The Grunt and the Grouch’ books to give away to ONE lucky reader and all details can be found at the end of this post)

The Grunt and The Grouch are two of the most disgusting and badly-behaved trolls in the world – and the most fun! They keep bogies and ear wax in jars, they never ever have a bath, and they’re always frightening old ladies…even if they don’t mean to!

This brand-new series of three-in-one storybooks will bring out the troll in all girls and boys! Join The Grunt and The Grouch as they disperse the queue at the cinema by playing the windy pop game, get into hot water at school for teaching the children some rude songs, and find themselves tidying up their lovely, grimy house when Auntie comes to stay.

I read this book with Littlest and whilst she was laughing out loud I was feeling rather queasy. I honestly don’t think that I’ll ever look at cinema pick ‘n’ mix in the same way!  Littlest has absolutely loved the 2 chapter books (‘Pick ‘n’ Mix’ and ‘Beastly Feast!’) and the single picture book that she has read. I love that the character development can be taken from a picture book level into independent chapter book reading. This is such a good tool to help your child feel grown up as she/he takes those first steps into independent reading. Each chapter book contains 3 “Trollific” (see what they did there? Love it!) stories.

The Grunt and the Grouch as characters are rather genius. They appeal to children because they are so perfectly disgusting and the trolls are so utterly lovable. Littlest has passed her chapter books onto Middlest. She thinks that the books are suitably disgusting for even a-little-bit-more-grown-up-than-her boys and girls!

I think these books are little gems that really deserve and need to be discovered.

‘The Grunt and the Grouch picture book can be bought here and ‘Pick ‘n’ Mix (The Grunt and the Grouch)’ can be bought here and ‘Beastly Feast (The Grunt and the Grouch)’ can be bought here.

And now over to Littlest, as she interviews Tracey Corderoy:

What’s your favourite pick ‘n’ mix sweet? I like all sorts of pick ‘n’ mix but I’m especially fond of strawberry pencils with sherbet inside because they can last quite a long time if you suck instead of chew! I also like chocolate-covered raisins very much and sometimes I choose those pink shrimp things. The ones that look a bit like prawns, only nicer!

Do you have any pets? I have a dog, 2 kittens and 2 lost cats. We have lots of pets and they all live in our little cottage with us!

We have a big, big dog called Dylan who likes to sit on laps and eat fairy cakes, a black cat called Bramble, two guinea pigs called Amber and Coco, a mini-lop eared rabbit called Binky (who lives in our spare room with the guineas!) and we’ve just got a little boy kitten called Mog. He has a spotty tummy and climbs up curtains and people.

Does Aunt Gretal get her handbag back? Yes she does! But first she makes Grunty and Grouchy clean the house again! Poor trolls – she won’t let them get away with anything will she?

Do you wear lipstick? I do wear lipstick, though not as much as Great-Aunt Gretal! And I sometimes don’t know why I bother because every time I have a cup of tea it comes off all round the top of the mug. Yuck!

When you were little did you want to be a writer? Well, I always loved reading and I always loved writing but when I was very little I wanted to be a teacher. Then, when I was bigger I was a teacher before I was a mummy. Now there’s nothing I love more than being at home with my family and the pets, writing and writing all day long…

I think you’ll have your ears pierced, but my mummy says that not all adults do. Do you? Your mummy is right when she says that not all adults have their ears pierced but actually Littlest, you’ve guessed right too because I do!

Do you like The Grunt or The Grouch best? Oh, the hardest question of the lot! Um … er – see the thing is, Grunty and Grouchy are so very different although they’re both revolting! Grunty, as you know, is grumpy and thumpy and Grouchy is small and cheery. I love the way that Grunty says what he thinks and I love the way that Grouchy always looks on the bright side (even if things are grim!). I have to say I like them both the same though I wouldn’t want either at my party, would you? Even if they promised to be good…

I have 3 books written by you. Are there lots more that my mummy can buy for me? Well, there’s another troll book coming out next year (probably called Loop-the-Loop!) so you could look out for that. Grunty and Grouchy get up to all sorts – just wait!

As well as more picture books, I have a new series of stories being published in 2011 and 2012, which I’m writing at the moment. If you visit my website from time to time, you’ll find out about all my new books. There are troll activity sheets on there too for you to download and have fun with – colouring sheets and spot-the-difference – that sort of thing.

Littlest has a copy of ‘The Grunt and the Grouch’ (picture book), ‘Beastly Feast! (The Grunt and the Grouch)‘ and ‘Pick ‘n’ Mix (The Grunt and the Grouch)‘ to give away to ONE very lucky reader! All you have to do is leave a ‘please pick me’ comment by 3pm (GMT) September 4, then she’ll pop all names in a mug and ask her borther to select a winner. This competition is open to all.

*

About Littlest: Littlest is only just 7 and she likes to read. She has a rather impressive collection of signed books and, at the moment, she’s thinking that she’ll either be a fashion designer or a writer when she’s much much older. She plans to NEVER leave home.

About Tracey Corderoy: Tracey Corderoy was born in South Wales and now lives in Gloucestershire with her husband, two daughters and a menagerie of animals. She is a trained teacher and now implements specialist literacy programmes in schools.

I am ABSOLUTELY thrilled to have been invited to be part of Storyville: Women Writers Festival at Brighton Dome.

“The festival includes readings, Meet The Author & In Conversation events with Jackie Kay, Bonnie Greer, Ali Smith, Lionel Shriver, Aminatta Forna, Roma Tearne, Emma Henderson, Justine Kilkerr, Deborah Kay Davies, Anjali Joseph, Amy Sackville, Caroline Smailes, Cathi Unsworth, Frances Kay, Catherine O’Flynn, Lois Walden & Louise Welsh.”

My event is on Sunday 21 Novemeber at 2pm, with Amy Sackville and Anjali Joseph. I’ll be talking about Like Bees to Honey, focusing on identity, secret longing, grief and family ties.

I’m planning on being in Brighton all weekend so that I can attend some of the other events. Hope to see some of you there!

My print and video interviews with Kristina Chetcuti are now on the Times of Malta website (and the article is in print today). The video was shot in the sunshine on a busy road right next to my great-grandparents’ house, a house called ‘Elena’.

You can read and watch it all here.

(And for anyone coming to my site for the first time today – a big HELLO to you!)

If you follow my rambles on twitter then you will be aware that a few weeks ago I declared myself  THE WORST MUM IN THE WORLD and had a complete parental-guilt breakdown! (Drama queen, me?)

If you cast your mind back to my last post about visiting Build-A-Bear, you’ll remember that it was for Littlest’s birthday and how I said that the Chester store was my “happy place” and how I mentioned that I’d promised to “take Littlest again next month when the ‘Ice Cream Bears’ are released”. (You remember, yes? Good!)

Well Littlest remembered too, of course!  She saved all of her birthday money and tooth fairy money and gave it to me. It was in my purse ready and I honestly think that every single day in July she asked me when we’d visit Build-A-Bear and that every single time I promised that it’d be soon. (Yes, promised!)

The problem is, dear blog-friends, that July was stupidly busy. Seriously, that sounds so feeble, but you have to remember that I’m a working-mum.  I run my own business from home (with G) as well as writing. The reality is that if I don’t work, then I don’t make money and if I don’t write then my head will explode and deadlines will not be met and people will shout at me. And this all sounds like I’m making excuses… and clearly I am! The truth is that I promised, there IS NO EXCUSE.

By the time I finally got around to taking Littlest to Build-A-Bear (mid-August) the ‘Ice Cream Bears’ were no more! Now, as I’m sure you’ll understand this was the END OF THE WORLD for Littlest. She had already chosen which bear she wanted, she’d saved her money, she’d decided what her bear was going to be called and so she sobbed and sobbed and sobbed. (Poor poor Littlest!)

So, to ease my parental-guilt, I mentioned that I was THE WORST MUM IN THE WORLD on twitter and it was suggested that I contact Build-A-Bear’s PR company and tell them just what a BAD mum I was.

So I did!

And they replied and the very fabulous Estelle at Publicasity contacted Build-A-Bear and arranged for a Mint-Choc Ice-Cream Bear to be sent to the Chester store. (Seriously, they did!) And yesterday Littlest and I went to the store and Tad assisted Littlest in the making of Lily the bear.

I can honestly say that she is the most grateful little girl ever.

I’d like to say a HUGE thank you to both Estelle and Build-A-Bear for stopping me from being THE WORST MUM IN THE WORLD and for taking customer care to the highest level there is.

And I know that these Star Wars bears have absolutely nothing to do with this post, but aren’t they the cutest things ever? They’re out in September and I am a Star Wars geek. I WILL remember to visit the store in September, I will, I will, I will…

… ‘Horrid Henry Rocks’ by Francesca Simon are

@ospreyrich

and

@RebeccaEmin.

… ‘The Happy Home for Broken Hearts’ by Rowan Coleman are

@uk_book_junkie

and

@TheDivineMrM.

Congratulations to you all! Please do email or DM me your addresses and I’ll arrange for copies to be sent out to you.

‘Horrid Henry Rocks’ will be published on 2 September but I have TWO COPIES to give away this week and all details can be found at the end of this post.

I don’t think that there are many parents who haven’t heard of Horrid Henry and this new book will definitely not disappoint any Horrid Henry fans.

Within  ‘Horrid Henry Rocks’ there are four brand new stories to read. Horrid Henry’s Invasion, where Horrid Henry and Perfect Peter keep invading each other’s rooms. Moody Margaret’s Sleepover which sees Moody Margaret inviting all the members of the Secret Club for a sleepover, with catastrophic results. Horrid Henry’s Autobiography, where Miss Battle-Axe’s class all have to write their autobiographies, the best to be published in the local paper. And, finally, Horrid Henry Rocks which tells how Horrid Henry wants to go to the Killerboy Rats concert while his family want to go to the Daffy and her Dancing Daisies concert.

‘Horrid Henry Rocks’ will be launched at the Edinburgh festival next weekend and Francesca Simon will then be undertaking a signing tour:

1 September – Waterstone’s Kensington.

2 September – Seven Stories in Newcastle.

3 September – Waterstone’s Manchester Deansgate.

4 September – AM Pritchards, Formby and PM Waterstone’s Liverpool One.

5 September – Waterstone’s Milton Keynes.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for Horrid Henry and his adventures have provided all three of my children with laughs and genuine enjoyment.  Francesca Simon’s storytelling is spot on and children really do love reading  her books. (Horrid Henry has been named the second most popular children’s character in a poll undertaken by Book Trust – only losing the top spot to Harry Potter!) Middlest has all of the Horrid Henry books (many passed down from Eldest) and Littlest is just starting to steal them from her brothers explore them. I loved that we could experience this story book together.

‘Horrid Henry Rocks’ is a must read, it’s really as simple as that.

You can pre-order ‘Horrid Henry Rocks’ here.

Thanks to Orion, I have TWO COPIES of the brand new ‘Horrid Henry Rocks’ to give away! All you have to do is leave a ‘please pick me’ comment by 3pm (GMT) August 26, then I’ll pop all names in a mug and ask a small child to select TWO winners. This competition is open to all.