Quentin Blake’s ‘Mrs Armitage and The big Wave’
With summer being right on our doorstep, we’re excited for days at the beach and long drawn out family holidays. And whilst many of us think “yes, lets shuffle the kids outside and lock the doors,” that’s not to say that there isn’t a place for books in all of that outdoors fun!
When we asked the team here at Happy Nest recently about their favourite kids books, we noticed a trend that connected reading with summer and holidays. I don’t think Emily is alone in saying that she could get through so many more books when on holidays!
I know I always have a pile as high as my head on the bedside table just waiting for life to slow down long enough to get through another page or three.
So we thought, who better to connect with than local mum and business owner Jane from Seashore No4. Jane loves all things from the sea and the shore, and spends most weekends exploring the seaside with her children, and the dogs.
We asked Jane what her favourite summer related kids book was, and wow are we in for a treat! Combine the love of reading with the joy of exploring the outdoors, and you’ve got everything you need for a family day out at the beach with Quentin Blake’s ‘Mrs Armitage and The Big Wave.’
Jane’s shares with us, her favourite kids book for the summer at the beach. One of our favourite books about the sea when the children were smaller was Quentin Blake’s Mrs Armitage and The big Wave.
Perhaps best known for illustrating books written by Roald Dahl, Sir Quentin Blake is an English cartoonist, illustrator, and children’s writer. Winning a host of awards and accolades, including the esteemed international Hans Christian Andersen Award and the inaugural recipient of the British Children’s Laureate, his works are renowned for their contribution to children’s literature.
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Quentin Blake’s Mrs Armitage and The big Wave
Jane Hawkes, Seashore No4
Funny and silly, Mrs Armitage takes up surfing and is on the lookout for the ultimate ‘Big Wave’ to surf. She keeps adding things to her surf board, including her dog, and snacks. It builds up with the phrase ‘what she really needs is….’ on each page, until she is finally surfing a Big Wave with a huge entourage of items and things on her surf board!
The kids loved joining in with the ‘What she really needs is’ and laughed at how silly the collection was getting on her quest for a Big Wave.
The kids loved joining in with the ‘What she really needs is’ and laughed at how silly the collection was getting on her quest for a Big Wave. How could she possibly still be able to surf with all those crazy things? But she is Mrs Armitage, and she can do anything! We love the fabulous illustrations from the marvellous Quentin Blake too.
This is a great book to read if you’re going to the beach in the summer. It can lead to a ‘What she really needs…’ game of beach treasure hunting, building up to sillier things to find on the beach each time, just like Mrs Armitage’s surf board!
It’s also fab if the weather’s not so great. If walking on the beach with children is the best option, this game will keep them entertained for miles!
Seashore No4, an online ecommerce store, is home to beautiful creations inspired by the sea and the shore. Jane, inspired by her son who has autism and his efforts at pursuing a career, launched her business with the dream to create work-experience opportunities for young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
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Will you hit the beach this summer? If you do, be sure to grab a copy of ‘Mrs Armitage and the Big Wave’ for an extended day of seaside adventure. Share with us your favourite kids book for summer at the beach, and find us on social media at @happynestuk.
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