Little Red Bus - Design and Inspiration for the Young.

Alphabet Road - "F" Is For Farm - "Farm Story"

ann@little-red-bus.com (: ann thomas :) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:11:00 +0000

CBeebies and BBC Entertainment this April...

ann@little-red-bus.com (: ann thomas :) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:04:00 +0000

Have you heard of CBeebies? If you're in Singapore, you'll be able to find it from StarHub Cable Channel 31. CBeebies is a television channel produced by the BBC aimed at children 6 years and under. The channel has been nominated for, and won, many awards.

Here are some of their programmes this April to look out for.

#1) Big Barn Farm

- Every Saturday and Sunday, at 7.00am, 11.00am, 3.00pm and 7.00pm

Meet the “Barnyard Bunch” on Big Barn Farm! Petal the piglet, the embodiment of girl piglet-power; Gobo the goat, enthusiastic, inventive and greedy; Dash the donkey thoughtful, kind (and easily the tallest of the gang) and Digger the Labrador pup, not the brightest dog in the litter – but very, very cute.

Featuring real working animals on a real working farm, Big Barn Farm follows the day-to-day adventures of these and all the other farmyard animals using a combination of live-action and animation (think “Babe”) that lends the series its distinctive character and humour and taps into a kids love of animals in a truly unique way.

We see the world entirely from the animal-perspective through a narrator, with stories centred around playing, learning, discovering and mischief. The dramas are simple and entertaining, producing an utterly magical world as the secret life of the animals is revealed.

______________________________________________________________________

#2) Charlie and Lola (series 3, set 2)

Premiering on Friday 2 April 2010

Everyday at 9.20am, 1.20pm, 5.20pm and 9.20pm

Charlie and his sister Lola always find unique and entertaining ways to conquer all the problems that face every four- to six-year-old.

From Lola's first sleepover at Lotta's house to what Lola should wear for Halloween, Charlie always uses every trick in the book to win her round to a more reasoned point of view. In the third lovable series of Charlie and Lola, the siblings will go ‘camping’ in the garden, Lola and Lotta are horrified to learn that all sorts of lovely animals are in danger and attempts to save a panda.

Interview: National Museum of Singapore

ann@little-red-bus.com (: ann thomas :) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:31:00 +0000

As part of the National Museum of Singapore’s ongoing efforts to engage young visitors, customised content for children has been added to its Companion, the self-administered multimedia guide to the National Museum’s Singapore History Gallery. If you're yet to get the full scoop, we talked about it here, here, and here.

image via National Museum of Singapore

We did an interview with Miss Katharyn Peh, Manager of Programmes for the National Museum of Singapore; to find out a little more about the Children's Companion. Through the interview, we learnt about the Museum's keen interest in catering to the young, and the effort they're put it to ensure children of all ages do not miss out on our world's rich history. Catch the interview after the jump!

Q1: First and foremost, what stirred the initiative behind this brilliant children's companion tour?

Right from the beginning, when the museum came up with the concept of the Companion for the Singapore History Gallery, we knew that we wanted it to be inclusive for people of all ages. Children are definitely an important demography for us.

We have lots of activities planned for them such as school holiday workshops, film screenings and our annual festival Children’s Season in May and June. The Children’s Companion is another effort to get young children interested in Singapore’s story. It is also our way of inculcating the museum-going lifestyle in families and the young by making their museum visits memorable through fun and interactive learning.

Q2: I understand that the tour allows children to feel that they are exploring in a storyboard, rather than plainly listening to descriptions. What are the key differences from the adult's version of the tour, and how do you feel these would engage a child's interest?

In the adult’s version, the Companion provides nine hours of audio visual footage with oral interviews, dramatised scenarios, and artefact descriptions, as well as videos related to the artefacts. It is a whole lot of fun, but possibly too advanced for the younger visitors.

The children’s version follows a narrative that lasts for approximately 45mins. Children get to follow the fictional character, The Doc, as he goes on an unexpected time travel when his Time Navigator malfunctions and he is brought into Singapore’s colourful historic past.
As they go through the tour, the children are ‘tasked’ to help to power up The Doc’s Time Navigator so he can find his way back to the present day. We know that children get excited with tasks and goals filled with a sense of adventure.

So this deliberate approach of incorporating a rescue mission adventure gives children a sense of accomplishment and contribution to an outcome. It is also appropriately timed to suit a child’s attention span.
So while the wealth of information in the Companion would comfortably engage anyone above 12 years old, the Children’s Companion’s shorter duration, defined storyline and element of interactivity and play is especially suited for 9 – 12 year olds (and even younger!).

Q3: Other than understanding history, how would say this would benefit a child? Develop their imaginative skills, etc...

The Children’s Companion inspires the fantasy of time travel and piques the children’s interest in stories. It is a self-guided tour so children get a sense of autonomy as they explore the gallery and the functions of the Companion.

It also lets younger children practise their coordination and observation skills when they are asked to punch in the zone code that they are in (bright yellow markers conveniently located on the floor).

I would like to add that the Children’s Companion is also a great teaching tool for parents as well as educators.

Q4: What steps would you say have been taken to ensure the children's companion appeals to a wider age group, and not a particular aged child?

The Children’s Companion is simple to use, and different elements of it will appeal to a different age group.

For instance, a young child of five years old might have fun in punching in the zone codes while an older child might take more interest in reading about the artefacts that are featured – which includes the Singapore Stone, the oldest artefact in the Singapore History Gallery. The video and special sound effects incorporated to create a sense of realism should appeal to all ages – even adults!

We'd like to thank Ms. Peh for the interview, for more information about the National Museum of Singapore's programmes for children, visit their website.

Danny the Dragon

ann@little-red-bus.com (: ann thomas :) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 11:10:00 +0000

Having being recently contacted by Imagination Publishing Group to review Danny the Dragon "Meets Jimmy" written by Tina Turbin and Illustrated by Aija Jasuna, I wasn't quite sure what to expect; or what was expected of me.

Anyone who knows me well enough, would know I'm a bookworm. When it comes to children's books though, the love takes a higher step. I get ultimately critical about almost everything that goes into a book.

When I agreed to review the book, I also reminded the PR person that I was extremely busy with Little Red Bus, and it might take me awhile, before I could get down to reviewing the book. Couple of weeks later, when I received the package, I was pleasantly surprised.

The illustrations from Aija Jasuna were whimsical were imaginative, intriguing and fit the story well. It had the capacity to fill a child's mind with wonder, curiosity, awe, and imagination; like a book should. Danny the Dragon is an easy-to-read, yet interesting story accompanied by child-friendly illustrations to get their imagination flowing.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
A family at the beach, with a young boy, Jimmy who finds a shell that talks to him. He brings the shell home with him and tries several ways to get the shell to talk again. Finally, at dinnertime, the family is very surprised when the shell talks again and out pops a large and friendly dragon with his side-kick navigator, Skipper. Danny's mannerisms are absolutely charming and appealing as he strolls through the pages meeting Jimmy's family and friends in the most unusual way, imparting his delightful acts of wisdom and kindness while Skipper continues to take notes in his traveling journal for future adventures.

The best part of the book would be the politeness, kindness, wonder, companionship and thankfulness it portrays.

The review kit also came with a Dreams Audio CD. It includes a well-narrated version of Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy story with sound effects. A fabulous companion for the book, whether you're tired of reading, or traveling. Dreams not only has the Danny The Dragon story but it also has 10 other beautiful pieces that are just perfect for getting your sleepy child to hop into bed.

I realize that this review is lacking images (big time!), but there's something faulty with my USB drive which is getting fixed tonight! So I'll definitely be updating this post with pictures and more about the author; Tina Turbin tomorrow!

Graphic Spaces: It's a Cute World After All

ann@little-red-bus.com (: ann thomas :) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:19:00 +0000

Graphic Spaces’ wall stickers are very thin, removable, matte vinyl, backed with a low-tack adhesive which allows for easy residue-free removal without any damage to the surface (but not repositional).

Butterfly Monogram Wreath

Monster Truck

Happy Tree Woodland Friends Collection

Tractor Boy Farm Plantation

images via Graphic Spaces

An apology, and a notice to our guest writers

ann@little-red-bus.com (: ann thomas :) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:00:00 +0000

We received an e-mail today, informing us of some guest articles, which were copyright belonging to a book. The articles from the guest writer have since been removed, and we deeply regret publishing the article without acknowledging the author.

We encourage our guest writers, to please inform us if you are quoting other authors, and not to duplicate their articles, word-for-word.

Thank you.

Schools partnering with parents and the local community

ann@little-red-bus.com (: ann thomas :) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:08:00 +0000

Schools are strengthened by the involvement of parents and the local community, as this widens the responsibility for children's education. many parents want to have a close relationship with their child's school and to be involved in his or her learning, but schools have often found it difficult to facilitate this, with the consequence that parents can feel left on the outside.

Parental involvement is a key factor in raising attainment, because teachers and parents can work together in support of the child. There are a host of ways in which to involve parents in the life of the school- through discussion groups, involvement in decision-making, by drawing on parents' skills- and these can all bring many positive benefits.

The relationship with the local community is also important. A school is not an isolated institution; it affects and is affected by the locality where it is situated. There is much to be gained both by encouraging local people to become involved in the school and contributing to local life by sharing school facilities and resources, and by undertaking social and environmental projects to the community. The boundaries between the two need to be collapsed so that the school is an integral part of the community and the community is part of the school.

Petit Collage

ann@little-red-bus.com (: ann thomas :) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:16:00 +0000

The past couple of weeks, we've been pouring over fantastic resources for unique artwork for children's rooms. These from Petit Collage are very lovely, and truly deserve credit to be acknowledged, agreed? Let's not deny my love for the alphabet.

Animal Alphabet (Original)

Or birds

Bird with Baby

Awesome details.

Images via Petit Collage

A holistic approach to learning

ann@little-red-bus.com (: ann thomas :) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:02:00 +0000

Education is about developing the whole child, and should therefore aim to foster creative, emotional, and moral growth; as well as intellectual development.

Prioritizing music, art, dance, drama and a range of crafts help children learn to express themselves; by encouraging moral and emotional development they learn to live with each other in a positive manner. Such a broad and holistic approach to education is more likely to product rounded and balanced individuals than one which focuses almost exclusively on academic achievement.

To help children make sense of the world, it is important to draw out the connections between subjects, rather to concentrate on their differences. A curriculum based on topics or themes that are grounded in academic disciplines but which relate to each other, to real world issues and to children's own lives, will have more meaning than a subject-based learning. The learning experience needs to be active and interactive as children learn more through discussion, experiment, and hands-on project work, than by passively receiving information.

By bringing the subject matter to life in this way, children can make it their own and are more likely to be able to apply what they have learned in other situations.

Preschool Activities- Preschool Field Trips

ann@little-red-bus.com (: ann thomas :) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:11:00 +0000

What is at the heart of a successful school?

ann@little-red-bus.com (: ann thomas :) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:55:00 +0000

Good relationships, of course.

Teachers need to know their students well, if they want to be able to teach them efficiently. They need to know about their interests, their strengths, and weaknesses and to understand where the child is in, in-terms of progress. With this knowledge, and understanding of their students, teachers are able to tailor the learning to suit each child.

The importance of good relationships goes beyond the teacher-and-student. It involves the whole community of school. In a community built on trust and openness, where teachers, parents and students can show respect and care for each other, children feel secure and can develop the self-confidence and self-esteem which make learning and personal growth easy.

When children are drawn into meaningful relationships with their teachers, and other adults, they are better able to see them as real people and this affects their whole attitude to school and learning.

In such an environment, teachers feel valued and supported. Parents feel included and as a consequence; are more likely to contribute to the school and the learning of their children. All members of the school community feel as though they belong and have a commitment to the school.

Why the need to emphasize on our community?

ann@little-red-bus.com (: ann thomas :) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 05:08:00 +0000

It's no longer good enough to feed young children information and knowledge which add onto social discrimination. Subjects taught with no reference to ethics are empty. Instead of imparting our knowledge through these 'vacuum' passage, we must find ways of showing children the power of knowledge by connecting them, and relating them to the real world.

Allow children, through their lessons, to explore the responsibilities of the occupations they learn about (farmers, supermarkets, etc...). This allows children to understand that they too, have responsibilities as members of our community. Children should be able to understand that every action has an effect on at least someone in our community.

If children learn to connect with these issues at school by analyzing, questioning, debating, and using their minds to delve beneath the surface, then there is a chance of shaping a better world. There is a chance that children will realize that through their work and the way in which they live their lives each one can make a positive contribution.

The question here, of course is how can this shift can be implemented?

How can schools incorporate and emphasis on a moral dimension so that children are challenged personally to think critically and to make choices?

It is difficult for children to engage with global issues until they have some understanding of local issues. Their own experiences must therefore be the starting point. Schools must find ways to become truly equitable, inclusive and environmentally sustainable. In short, each one must become a microcosm of how we want the world to be.

To become an equitable community, teachers and parents have to ensure that every voice is heard and every voice counts. Children need to be involved in decisions about their learning and assessment as well as in decisions about their learning and assessment as well as in decisions about how their school is run. Parents need to be given the opportunity to participate in discussions and decisions about issues which are of concern to them.

Teachers and schools need the autonomy to develop methods and approaches which are appropriate to their students and their own local situation.

Schools will only become truly inclusive communities by valuing and caring for every one of their members - adults, as well as children. By focusing on the importance of relationships, by making sure that each child and their family is known, by giving all teachers a pastoral responsibility that is integrated with their academic role, schools can ensure that every child feels secure and supported.

This is of course, no small task but it is only by taking relationships seriously and by valuing all members of the school community regardless of race, colour, creed, appearance or sexuality that schools will be able to say that they are truly inclusive.

The emphasis needs to be on the word community - on creating schools where all people have a sense of belonging and can actively contribute so that education is a dynamic, meaningful and relevant process.

Early Education and the Community's Involvement

ann@little-red-bus.com (: ann thomas :) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:02:00 +0000

Our society has altered dramatically since mass schooling was invented in the 19th century. The world we live in is a much different place now. Technological advances have brought upon plenty of changes in the requirements are nature of education, since.

The Influence of Technology
Due to this factor, and many more; a different approach to education is needed. The approach has to be one which will enable our child to be active participants in our society, despite the growing influence of virtuality.

Growing numbers of parents, teachers, and academics now agree with us that the education system needs a slight (if not large) shift. Children learn best in situations in which their individual needs and abilities can be taken into consideration. A 'one size fits all' approach is unlikely to meet the abilities of most children. Much easier said than done though, as it is difficult for teacher to do this within the present system.

We must also take into consideration, the overload of information now available, thanks to the advance in technology. Wait, that's supposed to be good, right? The emphasis should be on learning how to apply what has been learned to that it can be transferred to productive usage, and not a growing wealth of 'under-utilized' knowledge; which might be forgotten over time.

So what do I mean 'getting the community involved'?
I believe that a truly holistic approach to education would aim to develop the whole person, and is led by ecological values. To phrase it in simple terms, I believe that children should engage in projects that are small enough for teachers and students to know each other well. These projects should also encourage countless interactions with the environment around them, thereby creating a sense of community in which people feel belonged, respected, and cared for. Also, through this approach,

Teachers get to know their students individually, and will be able to respond to their abilities and interests and develop a learning programme which would be meaningful and relevant for each.
In an active and participatory process, children, through exploration, discussion, and collaboration, convert information into knowledge.

Did You Know?
The word education, comes from the Latin word educare, meaning 'to draw out'.

Educational processes should place children in the centre of focus, and provide learning experiences which help each one to develop and grow. Education is more than receipt of knowledge.

What's your perspective on the term educare?

3 Ways to Blast to the Past This March School Holidays!

ann@little-red-bus.com (: ann thomas :) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:59:00 +0000

Heylo Parents @ Singapore!

Can you believe the holidays are almost upon us again? And you thought you were done entertaining your young ones with all the festive seasons (and perhaps looking forward to an adult-ish break from childhood fun?)! Lost for ideas? Fret not, we're here to help.

1) The Children's Companion
Are you aware of all the fun-filled vibes radiating from the National Museum of Singapore this March holidays? For starters, if you haven't seen our cover on the Children's Companion at the National Museum of Singapore; you have to. Think of how much history has benefited us, and now your children have an opportunity of learning too.

Children's Companion @ the National Museum of Singapore

If that's not enough for you, the Egyptians are upon us.

Sphinx of Amenhotep

2) Interactive Tour Egyptian Mummies: Blast From The Past!

For children 9 to 12 years old
Sat 13 Mar or 20 Mar 2010 | 10.30am – 11.30am
Tue 16 Mar or Thu 18 Mar 2010 | 1.30pm – 02.30pm
Meeting point: Entrance of Exhibition Galleries, Basement
S$15 per child | S$20 per adult | S$56 family pass (for 2 adults + 2 children)
Limited to 30 participants per session
Limited number of family passes is available for each session.

Let your child go on an exciting expedition through the Quest for Immortality – The World of Ancient Egypt exhibition. Together with their two tomb explorer guides, role-played by local theatre practitioners, your child will meet other interesting characters such as a high priestess. Parents are welcome to tag along, but do get yourself a ticket!

Statue of the God Horus and King Horemheb

3) Workshop Explore! Ancient Egypt

In collaboration with HandsonLearning The Lab
Limited to 25 participants per workshop

Discover the wonders of ancient Egypt through storytelling, games and dressing-up! This series of workshops gives children an opportunity to learn more about the culture, geography and inventions of ancient Egypt through a range of interactive and hands-on activities. The children will also be brought on a tour of the Quest for Immortality – The World of Ancient Egypt exhibition to see rare artefacts from this fascinating ancient civilisation.

For 7 to 9 years old only
Wed 17 Mar or Fri 19 Mar 2010, 10am – 11.30am
S$25 (excludes SISTIC fee)

Through stories and role-play, children are introduced to the culture, beliefs, symbols and writing system of ancient Egypt. They get to dress up as ancient Royal Egyptians, and learn how to create craft pyramids! This fun workshop ends on a high note with a tour of the Quest for Immortality – The World of Ancient Eqypt exhibition.

For 10 to 12 years old only
Wed 17 Mar or Fri 19 Mar 2010, 2.30pm – 4.30pm
S$30 (excludes SISTIC fee)

Through lively discussion, interesting pictures and videos, children will uncover the mystery behind pyramids, mummies, and all things Egyptian! Their adventure through time continues as they form teams and pit their wits against each other to decode a mysterious scroll to complete given tasks. They will also learn the significance of some ancient motifs as they tour the Quest for Immortality – The World of Ancient Egypt exhibition.

Workshops are for children only.
For school bookings, please contact Chloe Ang at 6332 4557 or email chloe_ang [at] nhb.gov.sg

Fabric Wall Decals

ann@little-red-bus.com (: ann thomas :) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:50:00 +0000

Remember my recent crush over the DIY fabric decal tutorial? Well, I just found even more except (listen up, all ye non-crafty ones) it's for sale! These perfect-for-children fabric decals, are removable and completely reusable. They are even washable, which is important when it comes to those precious yet impossibly grubby little ones! Lovemaestore's decals are absolute eye-candy.

images via Lovemaestore

How Do Your Children Store Their Shoes?

ann@little-red-bus.com (: ann thomas :) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:40:00 +0000

Every parent wants their kids to remove their mud-laden shoes before entering home! What we need, is a space where children can sit down, remove their shoes, store them away and go off to play.

We found this great looking storage bench on the Do It Yourself site

TYPOGRAPHY, from diapers

ann@little-red-bus.com (: ann thomas :) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 12:34:00 +0000

Not from within the diapers, I meant teaching your child to appreciate the modern beauty of typography from a young age. It's hard not to fall in love with it. Here's another designer who knows just how to play around with them.

"Animal Alphabet" makes use of a multitude of type faces to illustrate the attributes of the animal that each letter represents. With a bright and cheery color palette, learning the alphabet will be as easy as ABC.

Displayed horizontally, the lower right hand corner is adorned with your child's name, which is represented in the color shown for each letter of the illustrated alphabet.

MODERNPOP is a line of modern art prints and paper goods with a pop art twist for children and grownups. Prints are easy to mix and match together, are gender neutral and the perfect addition to your child's modern room or nursery.

"Little Alphabet Garden" blossoms in charming florals with a rich, dreamy design rendered in muted colors with an interplay of the Alphabet in a whimsical yet quiet contrast.

Oo and check out their flashcards... to die for!

• 8" x 8" Print (0.2032m x 0.2032m) • Printed on Radiant White Watercolor Paper w/vivid color reproduction • Archival Pigment Inks • Print ships rolled in a tube

images via MODERNPOP

Can Siblings Share a Room?

ann@little-red-bus.com (: ann thomas :) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:19:00 +0000

Space is a major constraint our most of our homes, where we come from (Singapore). Due to the scarcity of lane, most of us are cramped in lovely apartments. With an exception for the ones who're able to afford bigger homes, children often find themselves sharing rooms with siblings. If you're seeking inspiration... here's a room that might just do it for you!

I'm totally inspired by Lane and Tom's shared nursery. This simple, clutter-free room, easily distinguishes their occupants; without being overwhelming. Rachel of small notebook kept the furniture to a small scale to save space, and maximized the open floor space so there could be plenty of room to play.

Colorful outfits on wooden hangers distinguishes the occupants of the room.

Vinyl rain gutters became book shelves, a stroke of genius!

images + the whole room tour via small notebook

Crafting Soft Baby Blocks

ann@little-red-bus.com (: ann thomas :) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:27:00 +0000

I recently chanced upon Smile and Wave, the blog of a crafty work from home mama. Thought you'd find this tutorial pretty interesting.

With the knowledge that babies notice strong contrasts in color, Rachel decided to make her some soft blocks to place in front of her while she's on her tummy. It's an easy project for beginner sewers, and while this tutorial's been around for a long time, we're totally digging Rachel's choice of bold fabric designs.

Oooo look at adorable baby Ruby!!

images + tutorial via Smile and Wave

Review Requests Overload!

ann@little-red-bus.com (: ann thomas :) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:37:00 +0000

Hello lovelies! This is such a milestone moment in our lives, as part of Little Red Bus which I'm extremely honoured to share with all of you. It is afterall, because of you lovely readers that we've reached where we are today!

As the title of this post goes, we've been on a review request overload. Seriously, given that we're a small business; we got everyone, right down to our freelance sales consultant doing reviews on products sent in. We're down to our last 3 packages (as you can see in the picture above), and I've decided it's time for a break. It's Friday after-all, and we all deserve to kick off our shoes (or mouses), and spend sometime with our loved ones.

It's a humbling experience, I tell you. Not just too long ago, we'd be sending promotional e-mails to businesses; informing them of our review opportunities. Shipping to Singapore is never cheap, and we'd be on cloud 9 everytime a manufacturer or reseller agrees to offer us a product for review.

We've come to where we are today because of your constant support, so we owe ya'll a huge THANK YOU!! Keep coming by often, we promise more reviews, more fabulous finds, more thought-provoking articles and more freebies; all just for you!

P.S.: We're hosting a giveaway come March 2010, wanna stay in the loop? Subscribe to our RSS or newsletter. We'll be happy to keep you updated on the giveaway!

Tollipop: for Whimsical Girly Prints

ann@little-red-bus.com (: ann thomas :) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 03:42:00 +0000

I adorable prints of little pretty girls and this entire gallery of prints from Kirsten at Tollipop are the work of an true artist!

secret valentine

Kristen is an artist, writer, and creative visionary who sells original watercolors and prints. What's best about Kristen's works is that while they are girly, they aren't too sweet and feminine; at all.

maestro

Actually what I think is cool about them is that they're are not too sweet at all.

baking day

images via Kirsten at Tollipop

French Up Your Walls

ann@little-red-bus.com (: ann thomas :) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 02:29:00 +0000

Have you ever checked out the artwork at L'Affiche Moderne? It's a French site featuring a wonderful selection of prints by photographers, graphic designers and illustrators.

Swedish illustrator Ingela P Arrhenius takes her inspiration directly from the 50s and 60s. She creates wonderfully naive and classy illustrations, full of vibrant and playful colours.

Mathilde Aubier is a French graphic designer and illustrator working with clients from the press, publishing, internet and advertising. She is also the Ma of Ma + Chr studio and worked with studiobüro on the M. Mystère exhibition.

Marion Billet is one of the most talented and most recognized illustrators around in France. Her cute little characters have appeared on a huge number of books, magazines, and educational toys.

Ina Christensen is a photographer who also runs a bricks and mortar gallery in Pennsylvania. She is also the mother of three little girls who are a constant source of inspiration. And this sweet "Giraffe" is indeed the ideal work of art for a kid's bedroom.

With her FlipFlopDesign studio, Caroline Faup is an all-rounder. From stationary to design, including toys and kids' fashion, this French artist always depicts a world full of sweet colours where cheerful and cute creatures make you smile while delivering fun eco-friendly messages.

With these two illustrations, New York painter and children’s book illustrator Julie Fortenberry welcomes us to a world of innocence and warmth, full of the quaint charm of classicbook inspired scenes.

Nicolas Gouny's world is full of humour and poetry and it illustrates how fond he is of all the small details that spice up our lives. He creates wonderlands full of fairies, funny monsters and animals that appeal to all generations.

Welcome to the merry little world of Laurence Jammes' zanimos, full of colours and naive creatures. After starting her career as an illustrator working for several important kids fashion brands, Laurence has now been illustrating abundantly children's books and magazines since the beginning of the 2000s.

Behind this fictional character named Jeanspezial you will find a very popular French collective of 7 graphic designers and visual artists. Their skills and influences meet, mix, and jostle together to get these real bundles of energy for the eyes.

Limoon is a French illustrator and graphic designer, and the creator of Limoon Land. She has always been fond of stationary and design, which made her logically collect all sorts of notebooks with nicely illustrated covers. These notebooks were then the cradle of all sorts of characters which later joined Limoon Land.

Sarah Jane has been illustrating the world around her since she can remember. Now that she has two children of her own, Sarah Jane began selling her vintage and storybook inspired artwork for children to enjoy on their walls. As well as creating artwork for walls, she is currently working on children's book illustration as well.

Steph Baxter is an illustrator and designer from the UK. She very much enjoys design and illustration from the 50's and 60's but her primary concern as an illustrator is to make work that makes people happy.

images via L'Affiche Moderne

Bird Mobile, for the Modern Baby

ann@little-red-bus.com (: ann thomas :) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:59:00 +0000

Isn't this mobile just adorable? It does look a bit tricky, balancing the birds on the stick; though if you're having it as a mobile, you surely would be sealing them birdies down real well! Check out the 2nd picture, the birds look so adorable!!

images + tutorial via Design*Sponge

Custom Colouring Book

ann@little-red-bus.com (: ann thomas :) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:26:00 +0000

So while I was Etsy shopping tonight (I'm an addict!), I fell for these custom photo coloring books which Meg, from Megnificent Made makes!

(firstly, how rad is this acoustic funk design?!)

Did I mention the flap of the case is guitar shaped? Woot!!

Megnificent Made turns your photos into coloring book pages for their hand made fabric book. Parents will love seeing what creative mark their kids can put on their memories, and kids will love coloring in the people and places they know.

Yep, guilty, I've gotta crush on this house.

I mean, who doesn't?

The book is hand made in bright, fun cotton fabrics and closes tight with velcro. They feature pockets to hold your children's crayons and a fabric flap that will protect their artwork. The book has a sturdy cardboard backing sewn into the book so the kids can color in their lap on the go.

Meg makes each fabric book (5"x7") with a stiff cardboard backing so your kids can truly color on the go, and it's single sided so that their artwork can be easily framed. It's a creative twist on framing your vacation photos!

Each custom book (including crayons) is only $16 and you can purchase additional photo pages for $4 (12 pages).

- images via Megnificent Made

ballisticblue.com: PERSONALISED PARTY INVITATIONS AND POSTERS

ann@little-red-bus.com (: ann thomas :) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 10:24:00 +0000

Start your child’s birthday celebrations off in style...

Send out individually personalised invitations from ballisticblue.com.Choose from a wide range of designs, themes and sizes for boys and girls of all ages, to suit your occasion. Each customer can edit the text to make it their own and on some designs upload a photo. Each invitation can also be sent directly to each guest using the unique mailing list system at Ballisticblue.com.

Once you have ordered one invitation you are offered the option to order a quality enlarged poster of the front of your invitation, these come at approximately A2 size depending on the design format.

They've also got a huge variety of designs for almost all occasions one can think of! You've really got to check them out at Ballisticblue.com.