Archives for November 2015

What Is A Binky Bear Trail?

When you buy your Binky Bear books you buy an adventure. This post explains what to do next and if you are reading this and wanting to buy our books just click this link books.

Binky Bear Trail Map

Getting the kids outdoors on a Binky Bear trail

Getting the kids outdoors for a blast of fresh air can be a real challenge; it certainly has been in our house. So in 2010 when we started creating Binky Bear books, we hoped that by setting the books in real places, (Central London, Winchester and Alresford in Hampshire), using photographic illustrations and including maps, we could create a fabulous story and provide the inspiration to get everyone out, off the sofa and away from screens, for a family outing.

How do you know you've had a great weekend?

I don’t know about you, but after a busy week, whilst it’s great to flop about a bit at the weekend, it is even better to go back to work on Monday with some warm thoughts about the quality time I’ve spent with the people I care about. That's when I feel like I've had a great weekend.

So how does our read+explore Binky Bear concept work?

When you buy a Binky book you have in your hands an adventure to read and a plan for a great day out. Most people encounter Binky as a book character first so they read the story and then go to Alresford, Winchester or London and using the map in the books, they follow in Binky’s tracks and have their own adventure.

The Trail Maps show the route Binky took in each book.

Binky Bear: Books+Maps+Bears+Trails

This is how FQ Magazine describe Binky Goes To London: “This book is a wonderful alternative to the traditional children’s story. By encapsulating real places and pictures it encourages both you and the kids to not only imagine being by the great sights, but actually visit them and take part in the same adventures as Binky. You could read this to them on a Friday night and have them visit exactly the same locations at the weekend creating a smooth transition from fantasy to real experience.

A great tool for dads

And a final word from FQ Magazine: “This is also a great tool for dads, who sometimes have a harder time trying to figure out what to do with their kids on their days off. With a very easy to follow map, you can show your children how to navigate and teach them lessons which Binky has to offer, all the while exploring the sights and sounds in your very own adventure.” This is exactly what we want our books to do for you and your children. Which Binky Bear walk will you do first?

Photography For Children

By Liz Nankivell | November 18, 2015 | Categories: Early Learning

By Moira Blackwell

As you know Binky Bear books are photographic picture books and all our books are illustrated with colour photographs.

Photography is a great sharing activity and encourages children to be creative and aware of the world about them. So, here are 6 ways to get your child started.

1. Having their own camera.

This may sound obvious but start by getting them their own camera, rather than lend them your mobile phone to take an odd picture now and again. So ‘their own camera’ could be your old phone or a cheap and simple digital camera. There are quite a few to choose from and at the foot of the page* we have included a link to a review of the latest digital cameras. Prices range from about £20 up. When a child has their own camera, the resulting photographs will be THEIRS too.

Continue reading this article...

Bonfire Night – November 5th

By Liz Nankivell | November 5, 2015 | Categories: British Heritage

Some things seem quite normal until that is, you start to explain them! Chatting today to my cousin in the US, I was talking about Bonfire Night which is tonight, 5th November. I was telling him what we were planning to do, what we have done every November 5^th since I can remember and why we do it. So for all our fans, who are not living in the UK and who may be a bit mystified by the hashtag #BonfireNight across all the social media channels today, here is my explanation of what is going all over the UK tonight and this weekend! Sometime back in the time of King James 1st (1605), there were some people (Guy Fawkes and others) who were not very happy with the King and the way he was running things and they decided to blow up the Houses of Parliament - yes the same Houses of Parliament that you can walk past in London today. In fact they placed a bomb under the House of Lords - it's in the same building. To celebrate the fact that the authorities found out about the plot before the bomb (a load of gunpowder in barrels) actually went off and the King was saved, the people of London lit bonfires and somehow the tradition has stuck to this day. So tonight, all over the UK there will be towns and villages and groups of friends getting together around their bonfires, which they have been building for weeks in some cases and on which they may burn a 'Guy' which is a straw filled, often pyjama clad effigy of a man and they will let off loads of fireworks. Traditionally we eat sausages or jacket potatoes and sip cocoa or tomato soup or something a little stronger like mulled wine. Some villages have torchlight processions and the photo on this blogpost was taken by Moira last year in Alresford in Hampshire. Hundreds of people collect at the top of Broad Street and with flame torches (yes real flame torches) they all walk down to our local playing fields for a fantastic firework display based around a massive bonfire. So there you have it; not odd at all! Have a great Bonfire Night everyone, wherever you are! And if you have a particular local way of celebrating Bonfire Night, let us know in the comments box below.

Monthly Archives: November 2015