Blog - Rhubarb and Wren

The BEST 23 diverse children’s picture books staring BAME Boys

If you’ve ever tried to find diverse children’s books with BAME (black, asian or minority ethnic) characters, you’ll know that they are as rare as a Disney princess who can’t sing.

And as for picture books with a BAME boy as a main character? They are even harder to find.

Yet right here is where I’ve got the good news…

While there aren’t nearly as many as there should be, there are already some fabulous diverse children’s picture books out there staring BAME boys as main characters, and I’ve got the creme de la creme all lined up to share with you. So read on to find out all about them…

Pile of 23 picture books that star a BAME boy as the main character. — Our favourite picture books featuring BAME boy main characters.

Tofu and Avocado Vegan Rissoles Recipe

Tasty vegan picnic pastries the whole family will love

vegan avocado and tofu rissoles on a cooling rack. — Crisp, flaky pastry and a delicious savoury filling…

These delicious vegan rissoles are proof positive that great food doesn’t need complicated recipes with hundreds of ingredients. Just flaky shortcrust pastry with a simple vegan filling, you can whip up a batch in minutes. Tofu and Avocado rissoles are sooooo irresistibly tasty and are far easier to make than to share, but they do make great party finger-food. Make these vegan nibbles for your New Year and get Veganuary started with a bang!

Last Stop on Market Street – Book Review

Some books feel like instant classics the moment you open then. Last Stop on Market Street is one of these. Rich, vibrant colours and charming illustrations help tell the simple story of a boy on a bus ride with this grandmother. But, like all the best picture books, this simple story is more than it seems. Read on to take a peek inside and find out more!

Last Stop on Market Street - picture book by Matt de la Pena and Christian Robinson — Last Stop on Market Street – picture book by Matt de la Pena and Christian Robinson

Over and Under the Pond – Book Review

Part of the current trend for beautifully illustrated and story-like “fact” books, Over and Under the Pond takes the reader on a journey through a world of wildlife hidden within the ecosystem of an American mountain pond. There’s much to enjoy in this visual feast, so read on to take a peak inside!

Children's picture book Over and Under the Pond — Over and Under the Pond, by Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal.

I’ll Take You to Mrs Cole! – Book Review

On the outside, this is one of those books that looks a little dated. But open it up, and we think I’ll Take You To Mrs Cole is one of the most beautifully illustrated and movingly written picture books we’ve ever read. Take a peek inside and see if you agree!

Best MP3 Players for Kids

Our family love listening to music and stories, so getting a kids’ mp3 player for them to use was really important to us. We wanted the kids to have some independence about what and how they listened to audio. But we are very fussy about how! So, we did a whole lot of research into what’s availabl. We looked at EVERYTHING, and in the process found some amazing devices, at a whole range of prices.

So read on to find out what we think are the best MP3 players for kids that are available right now!

Horbert MP3 player for kids — Horbert MP3 player – one of our top picks for a kid-friendly audio player!

Hörbert MP3 Player for Kids – Review

Horbert is a wooden mp3 player designed specifically for kids. It’s a wonderful mix of thoughtful, intelligent design, a sustainable, green ethos and fabulous looks. The Keanu Reeves of MP3 players, we’re such big fans, we have two of them! Horbert doesn’t come cheap, so read on to find out why we thought it worth the cost, and what it is that makes the Horbert MP3 player so unique.

Hörbert mp3 player for children — Hörbert wooden mp3 player for children

Ravi’s Roar by Tom Percival – Book Review

Learning how to assert yourself without falling into a temper tantrum is a tricky skill for children to learn. Tom Percival tackles this dilemma perfectly in his sweet and fun latest book, Ravi’s Roar. Read on to take a peek inside and find out what we thought!

The Prince of Pants – Book Review

There is no denying the one piece of clothing everyone can laugh at. It’s pants, of course! So no wonder that there are so many children’s books glorying in these unmentionables. The Prince of Pants joins this proud group of pant-waving tomes with a bright and colourful story that’s bound to cause a giggle. Read on to take a peek inside!

The Prince of Pants by Alan MacDonald and Sarah McIntyre

So Much by Trish Cooke and Helen Oxenbury – Book Review

So Much is one of those books that just makes me happy. And while it is a relatively simple story, about a very young child, Trish Cooke’s gentle humour and Helen Oxenbury’s charming illustrations make it a book that still appeals to my children even now that they are the grand old ages of five and nine.

Ish by Peter H Reynolds – Book Review

I bought Ish for my perfectionist-artist daughter, and it resonated so much with her, we had to read it three times straight that first day!