The Bear & The Fox

Photograph of a boy holding up a copy of the book The Busiest Beaver, which he is seen reading.

[AD] Out today…the gnaw-some new picture book from Lu Fraser & Kate Hindley! The Busiest Beaver is a heartwarming story about thinking differently, trusting yourself, and the power of having a cheerleader in your corner. www.thebearandthefox.com/review-the-b...
#kidslit #kidsbooks #booksky 💙📚

Eurovision Emoji Quiz. Can you guess these winning Eurovision song titles? The emojis pictured are as follows. 1 fairy, book 2 glass of water, toilet 3 teddy bear 4 bomb, explosion, A, explosion 5 arrow pointing up, fire, red bird 6 question mark, woman shrugging, question mark 7 plane, wing, wing, heart 8 satellite 9 closed lock, numbers, open lock 10 scary mask, man dancing, woman dancing 11 Numbers 648 times 3 12 joystick 13 three musical notes 14 electric guitar, toilet roll, two children 15 table bell, A, church bell 16 question mark, two calendars 17 diving gear, A 18 Life ring, two kisses, arrow pointing right, person 19 person singing 20 arrow pointing in to a tray, pair of eyes 21 thinking emoji, crown, brain, arrow pointing up 22 hands praying, church 23 gold medal, heart 24 arrows pointing up left down and right, a road, a thumbs up 25 person running, screaming emoji 26 heart, torch, lightbulb 27 number one 28 syringe, anchor 29 high five, emoji celebrating 30 two superheroes

Warm up for tonight’s #Eurovision Grand Final with this fun emoji quiz. Can you guess the winning songs, going all the way back to the 60s? Some clues are ‘say what you see’, some are more abstract. All but one of the song titles are in English. Answers tomorrow.

A dress in a charity shop window, with a tag on it that says “I’ve got pockets!”

This charity shop understands how to sell a dress! #pocketsforthewin

A photograph of the two books My Granny Went to Scotland and she brought back, and By the Beaver Pool, laying on top of a tartan blanket.

[AD] Out today - two fab new #Scottish picture books! My Granny Went to Scotland, a fun caper with bold & colourful illustrations; and By the Beaver Pool, a gentle story about new beginnings, connecting with nature & rewilding. www.thebearandthefox.com/review-two-n... #kidslit #kidsbooks #booksky 💙📚

In the centre of the graphic is a photo of the cover of the children's book The Highland Falcon Thief. The cover shows a big red locomotive, with two children hanging off it either side. Behind the book cover is a pink splatter on a pale blue background. In the bottom left corner of the graphic is an outline of Scotland, which is blue with a white St Andrews cross on it. At the top of the graphic is the text Scottish Book of the Week.

Happy #WorldBookDay! My latest Scottish #kidlit book of the week is The Highland Falcon Thief by @mglnrd.bsky.social & Sam Sedgman - a brilliant mystery adventure story set aboard a steam train which travels through parts of Scotland. www.thebearandthefox.com/scottish-boo...
#kidsbooks #booksky 💙📚

My pleasure, loved! I have Ice Cream Boy on my TBR too.

In the centre of the graphic is a photo of the cover of the children's book A Pattern of Secrets. The cover shows silhouettes of a boy’s and a girl’s head, with a colourful Paisley pattern in the background. Behind the book cover is a pink splatter on a pale blue background. In the bottom left corner of the graphic is an outline of Scotland, which is blue with a white St Andrews cross on it. At the top of the graphic is the text Scottish Book of the Week.

My next Scottish #kidlit book of the week is ‘A Pattern of Secrets’ by @lindsaylittleson.bsky.social 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Set in 19th century Paisley this gripping Victorian adventure story expertly blends facts with fiction. I couldn’t put it down! www.thebearandthefox.com/scottish-boo...

#kidsbooks #booksky 💙📚

In the centre of the graphic is a photo of the cover of the children's book Artie Conan Doyle and the Gravediggers’ Club. The cover shows the title of the book in big letters against a blue background, surrounded by footprints. At the top is the silhouette of two boys, one wearing a deerstalker hat and holding a magnifying glass, and at the bottom a silhouette of a gravestone with a shovel next to it. Behind the book cover is a pink splatter on a pale blue background. In the bottom left corner of the graphic is an outline of Scotland, which is blue with a white St Andrews cross on it. At the top of the graphic is the text Scottish Book of the Week.

My next Scottish #kidlit chapter book of the week is ‘Artie Conan Doyle and the Gravediggers Club’ by Robert J. Harris 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Set in 19th C #Edinburgh, the fun adventure story features the famous author Arthur Conan Doyle as a school boy. www.thebearandthefox.com/scottish-boo...
#kidsbooks #booksky 💙📚

A pale green background with a pattern of dark green leaves. In front of that is a dark green box with What's on for February Half Term in Edinburgh in white writing. In the corner is a red circle which says Free Events and Activities in white writing.

The #Edinburgh Half Term is almost here. Check out my guide to What's on for FREE for families, so you can enjoy the holidays without breaking the bank! www.thebearandthefox.com/february-hal...
#WhatsOnEdinburgh #EdinburghWithKids #EdinburghGuide #VisitEdinburgh #VisitScotland

In the centre of the graphic is a photo of the cover of the children's book Away With words. The book cover shows an open pair of hands surrounded by lots of words in different colours. Behind the book cover is a pink splatter on a pale blue background. In the bottom left corner of the graphic is an outline of Scotland, which is blue with a white St Andrews cross on it. At the top of the graphic is the text Scottish Book of the Week.

My Scottish #kidlit chapter book of the week is ‘Away With Words’ by Sophie Cameron 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Set in Fortrose in current times. Unlike any other book I’ve read before, it was a unique little gem that I just couldn’t put down.
www.thebearandthefox.com/scottish-boo...
#kidsbooks #booksky 💙📚

"the beauty in small moments" - yes, that's exactly how I felt but couldn't find the right words for! That sucker punch at the end really blind-sided me though, as a parent all my worst nightmares flashed before my eyes.

In the centre of the graphic is a photo of the cover of the children's book The God of All Small Boys. The book cover shows the black silhouettes of four boys against a sunrise lit sky. Behind the book cover is a pink splatter on a pale blue background. In the bottom left corner of the graphic is an outline of Scotland, which is blue with a white St Andrews cross on it. At the top of the graphic is the text Scottish Book of the Week.

My Scottish #kidlit chapter book of the week is 'The God of All Small Boys' by Joseph Lamb 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Set in Dundee in 1917, it celebrates the ups and downs of boyhood against a WW1 backdrop. Beautifully written, I couldn't put it down.
www.thebearandthefox.com/scottish-boo... #kidsbooks #booksky 💙📚

YouTube video by Time Tunnellers Time Tunnellers: Robert Burns versus Smugglers

Happy Burns Day! Here is a wee bit about Robert Burns which you probably didn't know.
Pistol and sword, sabotage, quicksand, a stranded smuggling ship, wading into icy waters while being shot at with carronades and muskets.
All true: February 1792.
youtu.be/j9mEACnKTDo?...

A photograph showing three printed pages with Burns Night Puzzles, alongside some colouring pencils. The pages include a word search, a a maze, and a picture to colour in.

Happy Burns Night! Here's a wee freebie to keep the kids entertained for a while today. Download your copy of my Burns Night Activity Pack from my blog here >> www.thebearandthefox.com/burns-night-...

#Scotland #Scottish #BurnsNight #BurnsSupper #Freebies #FreePrintables

In the centre of the graphic is a photo of the cover of the children's book Rivet Boy. The book cover show an illustration of the Forth Bridge. Behind the book cover is a pink splatter on a pale blue background. In the bottom left corner of the graphic is an outline of Scotland, which is blue with a white St Andrews cross on it. At the top of the graphic is the test Scottish Book of the Week.

My project for 2025: Reviewing a #kidlit chapter book set in Scotland every week (there are so many!) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 First up, the fabulous Rivet Boy by @scattyscribbler.bsky.social which is set during the construction of the Forth Bridge. Loved it! www.thebearandthefox.com/scottish-boo... #kidsbooks #booksky 💙📚

Photograph of the book cover The Night Before Christmas. The cover shows an illustration of Father Christmas with a sack full of presents about to go down a chimney of a snowy rooftop as two reindeer look on.

#bookadvent #christmascountdown Day 24: The Night Before Christmas, by Clement C. Moore & Eric Puybaret. There could only be one choice for the final day. I’ve recorded a video review of it too youtu.be/UsuNiV8fdL4 
#christmasbooks #kidsbooks #kidlit #booksky 💙📚

Photograph of the book cover Mouse’s Night Before Christmas. It shows an illustration of a mouse standing in a snowy landscape, watching Santa with his sleigh and reindeer flying through the sky. There are some Houses in the background.

#bookadvent #christmascountdown Day 23: Mouse’s Night Before Christmas, by Tracey Corderoy & Sarah Massini. A new take on the famous poem, where the mouse is awake - and ends up saving the day!
#christmasbooks #kidsbooks #kidlit #booksky 💙📚

A photograph of the book cover The Christmas Eve Tree. The cover shows an illustration of a big carry a cardboard box with a very small pine tree inside it. Next to him is a black dog. In the background there are houses with lit windows. It is snowing.

#bookadvent #christmascountdown Day 22: The Christmas Eve Tree, by Delia Huddy & Emily Sutton. This story about a homeless boy & a scrappy little tree is quite sad, but also full of hope.
#christmasbooks #kidsbooks #kidlit #booksky 💙📚

A graphic with the words What's On for the Christmas Holidays in Edinburgh inside a dark blue rectangle. The patterned background is different shades of blue with white snowflakes. There is a red circle highlight with the words Free Events and Activities.

Check out my guide for the #Edinburgh #Christmas holidays, with free or low cost events and activities to get you out the house without breaking the bank.
www.thebearandthefox.com/christmas-ho...
#WhatsOnEdinburgh #EdinburghWithKids

A photograph of a white Christmas stocking, with colourful pom-poms at one end of the opening and the embroidered words Be Jolly. Next to the stocking lies the book The Empty Stocking. The book cover shows an illustration of two girls in front of a Christmas tree. One is holding a full stocking, the other is kneeling down with an empty stocking next to her.

#bookadvent #christmascountdown Day 21: The Empty Stocking, by Richard Curtis & Rebecca Cobb. A tale of twins, one on the naughty and one on the nice list. But Santa leaves the wrong twin’s stocking empty! Will she do the right thing?
#christmasbooks #kidsbooks #kidlit #booksky 💙📚

I love this!!

A photograph of the book cover Oliver Elephant. The cover shows an illustration of a little boy holding a toy elephant, standing in front of a Christmas tree. There is a small toy elephant next to the book.

#bookadvent #christmascountdown Day 20: Oliver Elephant, by Lou Peacock & Helen Stephens. A sweet Christmas story about a lost toy, with gorgeous illustrations.
#christmasbooks #kidsbooks #kidlit #booksky 💙📚

A photograph of the book cover Christmas in Exeter Street. The cover shows an illustration of a row of houses, outside on the streets there are lit street lamps, a red post box, and snow on the ground. It is snowing. The middle house shows all the windows lit up, and Santa Claus standing outside the front door.

#bookadvent #christmascountdown Day 19: Christmas in Exeter Street, by Diana Hendry & John Lawrence. In this funny story, more and more Christmas visitors keep arriving, until there’s even a baby sleeping in the kitchen sink!
#christmasbooks #kidsbooks #kidlit #booksky 💙📚

A photograph of the book cover The Christmas Department Store. The cover shows an illustration of a little boy in a red hat standing in the snow in front of a shop. The shop has stained glass windows, and is decorated with Christmas wreaths and garlands. A polar bear wearing a hat and bow tie is opening the door of the shop from the inside.

#bookadvent #christmascountdown Day 18: The Christmas Department Store, by Maudie Powell-Tuck & Hoang Giang. Christmas has lost its magic for Benji, until he stumbles upon an extraordinary department store.
#christmasbooks #kidsbooks #kidlit #booksky 💙📚

A photograph of the book cover Ollie's Christmas Reindeer. It shows an illustration of a little girl wearing a reindeer costume against a snowy landscape, in the background are some houses ans trees. There is a reindeer head dress laying next to the book.

#bookadvent #christmascountdown Day 17: Ollie’s Christmas Reindeer, by Nicola Killen. A sweet story about a wee girl who meets a reindeer and goes on a magical adventure.
#christmasbooks #kidsbooks #kidlit #booksky 💙📚

A photograph of the book cover Christmas Eve at the Mellops. The cover shows an illustration of four pigs in the snow, each carrying a Christmas tree, outside a snow covered house.

#bookadvent #christmascountdown Day 16: Christmas Eve at the Mellops’ by Tommy Ungerer. A story about giving, compassion, and the true meaning of Christmas.
#christmasbooks #kidsbooks #kidlit #booksky 💙📚

A photograph of the book cover How to Hide a Lion at Christmas. The cover shows an illustration of a lion wearing a Santa hat, lying in front of a Christmas tree. A little girl is trying to cover him in wrapping paper.

#bookadvent #christmascountdown Day 15: How to Hide a Lion at Christmas, by Helen Stephens. When Iris visits her Auntie Sarah for Christmas, she has to leave her pet lion behind. But he has other ideas!
#christmasbooks #kidsbooks #kidlit #booksky 💙📚

A photograph of the book cover Red & Lulu by Matt Tavares. The cover shows an illustration of a street in New York City between sky scrapers, with a large Christmas tree at the end of the street. In the foreground are two cardinal birds, one red, one brown. It is snowing. Next to the book is a white bird Christmas decoration.

#bookadvent #christmascountdown Day 14: Red & Lulu, by Matt Tavares. A Christmas miracle story about two cardinals who get separated. It’s beautifully illustrated too.
#christmasbooks #kidsbooks #kidlit #booksky 💙📚

A photograph showing the book cover of Bear Stays Up For Christmas. The cover shows an illustration of a best laying down, with one eye open and one eye closed. He is surrounded by other animals, including a badger, a mole, a rabbit and a mouse.

#bookadvent #christmascountdown Day 13: Bear Stays Up for Christmas, by Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman. Bear usually hibernates over Christmas, but his friends try to keep him up so he doesn’t miss it.
#christmasbooks #kidsbooks #kidlit #booksky 💙📚

It’s not unusual in Germany, where I grew up, to have real candles on your tree, even today. Most people have real trees too, not artificial ones. Probably for that reason. The German church here in Edinburgh has real candles on their tree too.