Wed. Dec 4th, 2024

Continuing coverage of Books in 2019, these are Family Books, and can be read by all.

Unscripted

Claire Handscombe (also known as Claire Lyman) wrote this family book

family booksNobody is a bigger fan of actor Thomas Cassidy than Libby. Nobody. That’s why she’s totally going to marry him.

She’s going to write a novel, name the main character after Thom, and find a way to get it to him. Intrigued and flattered, he will read it, fall in love with her prose, and ask to turn it into a movie. She will pretend to think about it, then say: sure, but can I work on it with you? Their eyes will meet over the script… and fade to black.

But with four interwoven lives at play, can anything be that simple?

Thoughtful, quirky, and moving, Unscripted is a story of friendship and second chances, and asks the question: how far can you take your dream?

It’s a book about dreams… and our steadfast pursuit of them, at any age, even when the rest of the world tells us to give up.

https://unbound.com/books/unscripted/

Sami’s Silver Lining

A family book of romance, friendship and saving the world. A second book in the Lost and Found series from Cathy Cassidy, the best-selling author of The Chocolate Box Girls

Sami’s Silver Lining focuses on Sami, a Syrian refugee, trying to deal with the difficult memories of his past and trying to find his place in a new country.

Forced to flee his home in Syria for safety in England, Sami attempts to begin a new life but struggles to overcome the pain of the past. He has memories of the long and dangerous journey across icy waters, armed with only his dad’s old coat. The hope of a brighter future is never far away. Can his new friends in the Lost and Found band and a blossoming romance with the girl of his dreams melt his frozen heart or is it too late to find a silver lining?

Cathy attempts to raise awareness of refugees by telling just one of the many stories.

penguin.co.uk | penguinrandomhouse.co.uk

FAMILY FORAGING

by David Hamilton

Accessible family book guide to foraging thirty plants, with recipes.

family bookMany naturalists built their careers on a curiosity from early childhood. However, in this digital age our children can  become isolated from both the natural world and the people around them. Foraging for wild food helps refocus, and a day gathering edible plants, picked in the wild, can be a great way to reconnect with family and nature.
This book looks at 30 edible plants commonly found in our parks, woodlands and hedgerows. It shows how to identify them safely for delicious recipes to create for young children.
The plants are organised by season and there are scrumptious things to make throughout the year including puffball kebabs, sea beet huff-a-puffs, staghorn sumac lemonade, sweet potato & chestnut burgers, and hazelnut chocolate spread. Once you’ve caught the foraging bug, you’ll soon be looking for chestnuts to roast, hazelnuts to crack, or the best wild apple trees. Foraging is for life!
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By Penny McCarthy

Penny McCarthy is a seasoned entrepreneur and co-founder of Parents News UK, a pioneering publication launched in 1993 to serve the needs of busy parents in Southwest London. Alongside her husband, Fergus McCarthy, Penny played a crucial role in the rapid expansion of the printed edition, which grew from a local startup to a widely circulated monthly publication with a reach of 192,000 copies across Kent, South London, and beyond. Under Penny’s leadership, Parents News quickly became a trusted resource for families, providing valuable information on education, entertainment, sports, and family-friendly events. Her vision helped the publication extend its influence with franchises in Northern Ireland and Cornwall, catering to a growing demand for accessible, family-oriented content. In 1997, recognising the importance of digital media, Penny spearheaded the launch of Parents News UK Online. The website initially mirrored the content of the printed editions and has since evolved into a comprehensive online resource for parents, achieving significant popularity with up to 700 daily hits. In 2017, the publication transitioned fully to an online platform, continuing to inform and engage families across the UK. Today, Penny remains deeply involved in the ongoing success of Parents News UK, focusing on innovative advertising opportunities and future growth plans. Her dedication to supporting families through accessible and practical content has made Parents News a cherished name in households across the country.

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