I think this is such a brilliant idea. I love reading books about the places I’m travelling to or have visited. I might just add that Down Under by Bill Bryson is a great pre-Australia read that was left off the list!

Here are the books Waterstones have selected. Click the picture to head to the site.

Just enter your details and refer a friend. Once they’ve signed up too, you’ll both receive a book. Easy peasy!

Find the form (and this is a quick one!) right here. No clue what the book will be but DK’s books are all lovely it seems like a can’t miss.

In this first personalised Peppa Pig Book, your child stars in the words and pictures alongside Peppa Pig as they go to school, nursery or playgroup. Simply add your child’s name and then personalise the illustration including their eye colour, hair colour and style and skin colour. Choose whether your child goes to school, nursery or playgroup and even include a personal message, which appears on the first page.

The book is £14.99 before the discount.

I’ve never been hugely into audiobooks but I have friends who swear by them. They can be great for long car journeys or for listening to on your ipod whilst you do housecleaning. Could be worth a try because this offer is really great.

Audible.com has more than 40,000 titles and are offering any of them free with this offer, including The Help and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (two books I’m probably the last person on earth not to have read!)

I found this great tip at Martin’s Money Tips!

Just use code VOUCHERMUM10 by 16th July to save 10% off your order.

If you’re not familiar, ItsYourStory.co.uk offers a range of 15 different books that can be personalised with photos, names and places. They make a great gift for kids. Check out A Trip to the Farm and the London Zoo Adventure for ideas!

For tips on reading with children from ItsYourStory.co.uk, click here.

So when I got the scoop that Waterstone’s is having a 40% off sale on Lonely Planet I went immediately to the blog to spread the word.

Follow the link to 40% off selected lonely planet travel guides!

Also at Waterstone’s…

Pre-order The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella” by Stephanie Meyer for half price.

Indulge in 3 for 2 on Crime paperbacks including The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Stock up on beach reads with 3 for 2 on Martina Cole.

Cheers for book sales!

All children adore being read to by their parents and loved ones and it is an extremely bonding experience for both adult and child. It is however, often difficult to engage young minds for any length of time and so here are a few tips to nurture a lifelong love of reading in your child:

1. Choice
Choosing a book to read is very important for young children and it is essential to give them control over what they like to read. Try spreading four or five books on the floor and inviting them to choose which one they would like to read.

2. Accessibility
Books should be accessible to children at all times so that they can look at them whenever they like, not just at set times like bedtime. Place your child’s books on a shelf that can be easily reached. There are some great bookshelves on the market containing pockets at toddler height – this encourages them to grab a book whenever they want to.

3. Have fun!
Children’s books can bring out the performer in any adult and children just love to hear different voices, intonation and exaggeration. This engages them throughout the book and helps them develop a sense of how language works.

4. Questions! Questions!
Don’t simply rush through the book. Make sure that your child is understanding and enjoying the story by asking questions after each page. Most children’s books contain pictures so you can refer to these when asking questions about the book.

5. Repetition
Be guided by the child. You might find reading the same book fifty times at one sitting boring but go with it. Children love it when books become familiar and aren’t at all bored by repetition in the way we are and its a great way to aid their development. Equally don’t try to force them to read books you remember reading as a child and are nostalgic about. Let them discover them in their own time.

6. Anytime, Anywhere!
Books aren’t just for bedtime. Keep books in the car, in the kitchen and in your handbag – if you are out and about with your little one, be it a cafe or the doctor’s surgery, a good book will keep them entertained.

7. Look at Me!
Young children are naturally egotistical and absorbed by themselves. You will notice that they love to look at themselves in the mirror and speak about themselves to anyone who will listen. Use this egoism to help foster an interest in reading from a young age by finding a book in which they feature…. A child who sees themselves both in the story and in the pictures will be mesmerised and delighted and want to read their own book again and again – see tip 5! Go with it!

COOLER-EBOOKS.com is the world’s largest ebook store with more than 2 million titles for download, with many classic ebooks available for free, and in a variety of formats.

The ebooks can be read on a host of different ereaders including the gorgeous COOL-ER (pictured).

COOLER-EBOOKS.com is also offering a free ebook and audiobook of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan. To download your copy, click here.

All books are selected by a panel of literacy experts, are grouped into reading age and ability and come with comprehensive descriptions to help match the right book to the right child.

So, not only will My School Book Club save you money on the very best children’s books for your own child, but it will also make a donation toward providing books for other kids too!