Author Archives: Binky

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Binky Bear Books at Harrods and Selfridges!

By | October 27, 2015 | Categories: Behind the Scenes
By Liz Nankivell Yes we are delighted to announce that all three books are now on sale in both Harrods and Selfridges.  Binky went along to check out both stores and posed outside with his latest book Binky Goes To London. This is a huge step for us and puts Binky firmly on the international stage.  Binky Goes To London is especially popular with people visiting London with young children: not only do you get a great story to read together but you can use the map in the back of the book to have your own Binky adventure and follow in Binky's footsteps.  What better way to visit the centre of London.
My Toys by Evie

Taking Pictures – photography for children

By | December 8, 2014 | Categories: Draft, Uncategorised
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. Get them 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. 2. Get into the habit...Whenever you are going out together get them into the habit of taking their camera with them. 3. Start by photographing things that stay still! The view from their window, their favourite toys or a brightly coloured bowl of fruit. Later they can try photographing a tame granny but start with something simple that they like. Encourage them to come up with their own ideas. 4. Get down to their level when they are taking the photograph and see things as they see them. Help them to look at the framing of their picture (what is in it). This will help them with their composition. You’ll be surprised what they see and you don’t! If you go out on a Binky walk take their camera with you and encourage them to photograph a scene from the book. 5. Look at their pictures togetherBack at home spend time looking at their pictures either on the camera or better still, on a screen. Talk about their photographs. Praise and offer suggestions, just as you would for their homework. Looking at the results is very much about reflecting and learning from the experience, and is valuable - ‘together-time’. We take over 3,000 photos for any one of our books and believe me, reflecting and learning is what we do a lot of. 6. Let them choose their favourites and ask them why they like them. Then either get them printed or print them yourself. And by the way, photographs make excellent ‘grannie gifts’! Finally, a very big thank you to Evie for letting us use her photograph of her Binky Bear and other toys to illustrate our post. Happy snapping everyone! **This review from www.SafeSoundFamily.com will give you a quick idea of the pros and cons of several cameras. A note of caution: as you look at these reviews don’t be put off by price. For some reason the first camera Safe Sound review costs £250 on Amazon today (ouch!) but as you scroll down you will see well recommended cameras, like the Crayola Digital Camera, for as little as £20.00
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We have a winner: Binky Mug Competition

By | November 5, 2014 | Categories: Uncategorised
We have a winner.  Thank  you to everyone who entered. We had several correct answers and the name that came out of the hat was.....Drum roll please Binky..........   Laura Marsh! Congratulations Laura.  Email us your address at binky@binkybear.co.uk and we shall get your Limited Edition Binky Bear mug out to you without delay. We asked where Binky was when his picture was taken and he was standing outside lovely Tudor House in Southampton. There will be another Binky competition starting this Saturday so look out for details on our Facebook page.
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Binky’s Pumpkin Tips

By | October 21, 2014 | Categories: Making Things
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 | October 16, 2014 | Categories: Early Learning
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...
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Binky Goes to Harrods

By | October 16, 2014 | Categories: Behind the Scenes
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  
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Binky on the BBC!

By | October 7, 2014 | Categories: Behind the Scenes
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....  
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We have a Winner!

By | October 3, 2014 | Categories: Uncategorised
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.