Monthly Archives: October 2014

Binky’s Pumpkin Tips

By Liz Nankivell It is great to get children involved in making things with you and the more mess, the more fun they have!  Carving pumpkins has to be one of the messiest tasks there is but don't let that put you off. Depending on how old your children are, more or less careful preparation beforehand will make it all manageable and I don't think children really notice that they did not do everything but they do feel very proud of what they have produced with your help. There are not many teddy bears capable of carving a pumpkin, so it is with some pride that we can actually print Binky's Pumpkin Tips...Continue reading this article...
getting children hooked on books

How do you get children hooked on books?

By Liz Nankivell People often ask us when we think our books will be suitable for children and I always reply that you can read to children from almost the moment they start to notice the world around them.  This is certainly what I did with my daughter but to make sure I'm not spouting complete rubbish I decided to do a little research and this is what I came up with. Studies do indicate that early exposure to books makes a long-term difference to children's language abilities and to their eagerness to learn how to read.  In June 2014, the US Academy of Paediatrics made a policy statement to formally recommend that parents read out loud to their children every day. http://goo.gl/sOZoLw Dr Pamela High who authored the policy statement and is Director of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence, R.I., and a professor at Brown University, seeks to address two issues here: to ‘immunize against illiteracy’ and create ‘a nurturing experience that promotes social and emotional development during a critical period of early development.’  Hector Tobar picks this point up in his excellent blog post for the LA Times http://goo.gl/FhDpfW where he quotes Dr Peter Richel saying that reading to children: "…also enriches the family experience, and contributes to social/emotional development." Both issues are of great interest to us in the UK and are high on the political agenda as this September 2014 article in The Huffington Post shows http://goo.gl/7gDwQV. So here are some tips to start reading with very young children. Continue reading this article...

Binky Goes to Harrods

By Liz Nankivell "Needless to say the Little Binkies have been very excited about their London adventure and Binky himself is very chuffed with his Harrod's special offer....." That was all back in October 2014 and now a year later we are proud to say that we still supply all three of our titles to Harrods and Selfridges.  To be stocked in such iconic stores is very good for business.  Virtually all our central London sales are to overseas visitors and it is wonderful to know that little Binky Bears and our books are making their way around the globe. little Binkies getting ready to go up to Harrods  

Binky on the BBC!

By Liz Nankivell You could have heard our squeals of delight in Southampton when we first got the call to be interviewed by Alina Jenkins on BBC Radio Solent Show so it was doubly brilliant to be asked back and meet the lovely Katie Martin and chat to her on her afternoon show.  Katie asked us onto her afternoon show to talk about our journey from Hampshire to Harrods.  You can hear our interview now by clicking this link.  Sit down, put your feet up and have a listen....  

We have a Winner!

Drum Roll please Binky............... We are delighted to announce that the winner is of our 'Binky on a bus in London' competition is......... Kelly Hunt! Congratulations Kelly and thank you to everyone for some cracking comments and new Binky Book ideas! Kelly send us an email to binky@binkybear.co.uk and let us know which of our three books you would like us to sign and who you would like your book dedicated to.  Include your address and we will get your book out to you early next week.