Princess Snowbelle's Activity and Sticker Book by Lucy Flemming (Children's, Activity book, Sticker Book, 10/10E)

 September 2017, Bloomsbury Activity Books, 24 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Summary from Bloomsbury

 Far away, in a castle that glistens as white as snow, lives the beautiful Princess Snowbelle. When she's not out exploring the enchanted wood with her pony Icetail, she's attending royal snow balls with her family or gliding over the frozen lake on ice skates with her best friends.

Nayu's thoughts 

I squeaked with joy as I opened this in front of my family-I love this amount of girliness! With pinks and purples (and other colours) on every page, the adorable Snowbelle who I've never met before but who does have other books with her adventures became lodged in my heart. She has such fun adventures by herself, with friends, family and her faithful pony. 

I liked the sheer variety of thigs to do. While I haven't seen many activity books in recent months, I honest don't remember seeing a scene like Snowbelle's where using a grid for reference the reader is asked to draw the picture they see. That alone will take a good 30+mins (depending on the skill, patience, perfectionist tendencies of the artist). There are flowers to decorate on the castle (nope, not flowers snowflakes...which I was surprised to see on a bright pink backgeound which doesn't blend into the palace at all!) I loved figuring out the path Snowbelle needed to take to places...although sometimes it wasn't clear which path went where, and there were 2 blue like mountains! 

That aside there are heaps of stickers to put where you want (maybe on yourself?) and other puzzles that truly make this book provide several hours of fun! I want a sequel now! 

Find out more on Lucy's website. 

Suggested read

For another cute sticker book check out Fairy Princess Party Time Sticker Activities (Children's, Activity book, 10E/10E)

Natural History Museum: Sticker Art Ocean by Craig and Karl (Children's, Activity book, Sticker book, 8/10E)

 

July 2017, Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 24 pages, Paperback, Review copy 

Summary from Quarto 

Create your own colourful ocean animal portraits with this new National History Museum sticker series that's perfect for young animal enthusiasts! Featuring eight sticker by number portraits of sea animals and packed with fun facts to learn as you sticker, this arty activity book provides hours of fun for little ones. With large stickers perfect for little hands and a straightforward sticker by number design, kids will enjoy creating stylish, vibrant portraits of ocean animals in their natural habitat.

Nayu's thoughts

I was super excited to get stuck into this aquatic sticker book because I've done many in the past and thoroughly enjoyed putting the individual stickers in the right place. Unfortunately I was quite disappointed-the sticker shapes you see on the cover arent individual stickers, but big stickers totalling 6-12 depending on the animal. I hadn't read the summary properly when I requested it - I saw the word stickers and said yes. The cover does seem to indicate it could be tiny stickers. This definitely wouldn;t take hours to complete, not even for a child. 

Here's the completed starfish

However, it keeps the high rating because the instructions on how to do the stickers are clear and easy to follow, plus there is a load of information on the opposite side of the creature, with a few facts I didn't know. My favourites were the starfish because it is not as innocent as it looks and the dolphin because it's a dolphin! When I was little I didn't realise they had teeth (the dolphin - somehow I knew the starfish ate things).

Here's the dolphin ready to have stickers put on.

Suggested read 

The type of sticker book I thought this Ocean one was is Sticker by Numbers Animals by Joanna Webster (Children's, 5 years +, Non-Fiction, Activity book, Sticker book, 10/10E)

Emoji Story Collection (Children's, 7 years +, 10/10E)

October 2016, Penguin, 4 books 32 pages each/large book , Paperback, Review copies

Series overview from Penguin

Ever wondered what emojis get up to when they're left to their own devices, instead of appearing on ours?

Of course you have! *high-five emoji*

Read all about their emoj-tional escapades inside these tales of love, loss, sass and selfies . . .

Nayu's thoughts

These books which can be bought and read separately, but I got them as a collection. They are a great way of revealing technological morals that all in the digital age should know and adhere to.

Emoji: Laughing Crying book summary from Penguin

Laughing Crying loves to make his fellow emojis laugh. He posts unflattering pics of celebrity emojis on his blog, Bantz Bible, which everyone thinks is great fun - until they start appearing on it themselves. Soon, Laughing Crying finds himself in the middle of a Twimoji storm of moral outrage. Can he find a way to redeem himself, or will the angry mob have the last laugh-cry after all . . . ?

 

Nayu's thoughts

This tale sees the Emoji be mean with its jokes, which hurts other people. I think it makes the reader think twice before sharing something funny online, because it may not be a laughing matter for the person in question, and they may not want the incident publicised. If you wouldn't like to hear what you are about to post online, don't post it! 

Heart Eyes summary from Penguin

Heart Eyes is the no. 1 fan of 2Boyz, Emojiville's hottest boy band. She knows everything about her faves and loves nothing more than to vlog about them on EmojiTube. But one day, she uncovers a conspiracy theory about her 2Boyz baes that shakes her to her very heart-shaped core . . . Can the boyz be trusted, or will Heart Eyes be forced to leave the fandom forever?

Nayu's thoughts

Unlike Laughing Crying Emoji Heart Eyes doesn't learn her lesson by the end. However, it's a subtle way of showing that not all couples are boy-girl, and that's ok. Heart Eyes gets eye deep in conspiracy theories which is quite funny, especially as they aren't true. It goes to show rumours are wildfire online, and the truth can be astonishing. 

Pile of Poo summary from Penguin

The emojis are curious when a new user pops up on EmojiBook. He's clever, funny and soon has thousands of dedicated followers. But his identity remains a mystery - until one day, when his true smiley, brown nature is revealed! Will Pile of Poo's new friends appreciate him for who he is, or does he need a total re-brand?
 

Nayu's thoughts 

Pile of Poo Emoji struggles with prejudice about who he is. Sadly this happens a lot online as well as offline. Not everyone is superficial about what a person looks like or what their race/religion/other category is. Unfortunately if the majority decide they don't like you, then you need to do something a little different. Personally you should always be yourself, but I guess online some like to glamorise their life to look good. I couldn't do that, and Pile of Poo seems happy so I hope he is. 

Sassy Girl summary from Penguin

Information Kiosk Girl is excited about her new job - she can't wait to dispense information to all the emojis of Emojitown! But when certain emojis start to ask the all wrong questions, she's forced to transform into a sass-tastic queen . . . What's about to go down now that she's got a super sassy response for everyone?

Nayu's thoughts

Sassy Girl gains a bit of confidence which does help her to some extent, but I don't think it's always goin to be the best atttude for her to have. Sayin what she thinks all the time will get her into trouble, I think she needs to be a bit more sensitive.

 Official Emoji Sticker Book book summary from Penguin 

Scribble, stick, doodle, draw and design your way through this awesome emoji sticker book.

Inside you'll find all kinds of activities to complete as imaginatively as you can. Colour in pages of your favourite emojis, write secret messages with your emoji stickers, complete emoji translation challenges - plus much more!

Also contains over a 1,000 emoji stickers which can be used inside the book OR on anything else you'd like to emoji-fy

Nayu's thoughts on the series  

All the stories use clever phrases to use famous brands which readers will relate to. All the Emojis have life lessons to learn (and not learn), they broaden readers' thoughts. 

About emoticons in general, I rarely use them because I don't have a great phone, and using them online takes a bit more effort than leaving them out. That may sound weird but I have a condition with severe fatigue so even online work costs effort. However emoji's seem a cool feature, and as the saying goes pictures can be worth more than 1000 words. 

I had no idea how popular they were! I like the Emoji activity book which has lots to draw, colour, and have fun with. You can make your own emojis, use your favourites on anything that can have a sticker on. For me it would be my phone, but that's reserved for anime stickers! I do use emoticons where are emoji ancestors: ^u^ = my equivalent of a smiley face. 

There are so many Emoji stickers that readers will be able to say what they mean with Emojis over and over! I think that for people who use emojis (as well as those that don't) these books give the emoji's more personality than most give them credit for, plus who can resist stickers?!! 

Sticker by Numbers Animals by Joanna Webster (Children's, 5 years +, Non-Fiction, Activity book, Sticker book, 10/10E)

 March 2015, Buster Books, 34 pages, Paperback, Review copy 

Content: lots of stickers! 

Summary from Buster Books

Sticker by Numbers: Animals is the second book in an innovative new series which takes stickers to a whole new level. Simply match the coloured stickers to the numbers on each page to build up stunning pictures. There's hours of fun to be had and with over 3,500 stickers, kids will marvel at what they can create using just a few simple geometric shapes. Children can reveal a handsome lion or a crouching tiger, embellish beautiful birds, enchanting snakes, shimmering fish and lots, lots more.

Nayu's thoughts

 Move over art therapy – sticker therapy is on the agenda! Seeing this title reminded me of the fun I had when I was little putting numbered sticker shapes into matching number blank spaces on the page.

a half done page

made some more progress!

Sticking in progress!

To use the stickers because they are closer to the back and I couldn't quite be bothered to tear out the sticker sheets, I simply loaded up my fingers with the relevant colour sticks and stuck them on! They stayed stuck down, which was frustrating for my perfectionist side which wanted to move the not quite straight ones. Oh well, perfection doesn't exist!

Here's the finished piece!

It takes longer than you think, and is relaxing. The numbered stickers are at the back of the book, easy to peel and easy to place. You can be as precise as you like (or can be bothered, in some of my cases!). The cheerful colours provide an uplifting few minutes/hours away from the world. It's easy to stop and start, so no excuses, start relaxing now! 

Suggested read 

Some fun sticker books include Sticker Dolly Dressing: Action! (Children's, 5 years +, Sticker book, 10/10E)

Shopkins Sweet Treats Smell-icious Sticker Scenes by Autumn Publishing (Children's, Non-Fiction, Activity book, Sticker book, 10/10E)

So cute!

July 2015, Autumn Publishing, 16 pages, Paperback, Review copy 

Content: all things cute, sweet, scented stickers, problem solving

Summary from Autumn Publishing

Are you ready to shop till you drop with the deliciously adorable Shopkins characters? Step through the doors of the Small Mart and create smell-icious scenes with more than 50 candy-scented stickers.

Nayu's thoughts

This set of smelling stickers reminds me of the mostly gross smelling stickers I had when I was little. Mercifully these smell way nicer, and are far cuter. I hadn't heard of Shopkins before, there are toys for them, and I think there's a TV show too. I liked how at the back there's a check-list for all the Shopkins, so even if you haven't collected any you can still see what they look like. 

The scenes and activities provided are thought provoking and fun to do. 

I enjoyed putting the Shopkins on the pages: the one above is an empty page, which I filled in by adding stickers to the yummy looking ice cream! 

Page complete!

The special Shopkins sticker page is full of Shopkins and other items to decorate the scenes. They smell really nice - simply scratch the sticker and voila, pleasant smell!  

I wasn't so keen on a few of the Shopkins, hence the not quite perfect grade (I'm never keen on characters based using a dummy/pacifier), and some were rather clever. I'm hoping they encourage younger readers to eat certain food because they've seen and liked a Shopkin of the same type.

Find out more on the dedicated Shopkins website. 

Available at most bookstores including NRC affiliate Foyles. 

Suggested read

If you love stickers, chocolate, cupcakes, and cute things you'll love The Delicious Chocolate Sticker Book (Children's, Sticker book, Activity book, 7 years +, 10E/10E)

Artcards: Fashion by Hennie Haworth (Children's, 9 years +, Activity Book, Sticker Book, 9/10E, semi short 'n' sweet review)

August 2014, Templar, 72 pages, Paperback (sort of!), Review copy

Summary from the press release (details not yet on Templar website)

The fun follow-up to ARTCARDS: Accessorize, Topshop and Urban Outfitters designer Haworth offers readers the chance to become fashion designers themselves.  With over 350 stickers and 16 unique artcards, you can create new styles, share creations with friends, colour in, draw and decorate. 

Nayuleska's thoughts

I was intrigued by the concept of creating outfits for figures on cards. The cards themselves are sturdy, with a brightly coloured backing. They are almost A4 size, so much bigger than postcards, but this makes them more fun! Each artcard has a theme, which you are free to follow or ignore. These include:

 dolls (think of a big brand of doll beginning with B), the seaside, glamping (not entirely sure what that is – think it’s a fashionable way of camping), fashionistas, dog walking, being on stage, having a tea party, feet (footwear is hugely important!), models, skiing, sleepovers.

I think there are more stickers than dolls, so you really should be able to find the perfect outfit, and create some more yourself. See what I did for the sleepover! I didn’t necessarily stick with the same style.

I didn’t 100% adore the style of clothes/models, and, to be honest, I wasn’t that keen on having not only girls but guys in the book too. Maybe it’s because I’m used to sticker books for younger children which pretty much only has girls (possibly a gender stereotyping thing but I’m not getting into that here). 

Find out more on Hennie's website.

Suggested read

For more fashion fun check out Sticker Dolly Dressing Fashion Designer Summer Collection (Children's, 7 years +, Sticker book, 8/10E)

The Delicious Chocolate Sticker Book (Children's, Sticker book, Activity book, 7 years +, 10E/10E)

April 2014, Buster Books, 34 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Themes: different types of chocolate, ice cream, cookies, cake pops, animals, decorating chocolate, chocolate fountain, holiday themed chocolate,

 

Content: Such sweet looking treats!

Summary from Buster Books

This yummy book is sure to tempt anyone's sweet tooth. There are pages of delicious chocolatey treats to complete with stickers. With cakes and cookies, sundaes, pastries, chocolate fountains and lots more scrumptious desserts to decorate, it's a chocoholic's dream. Jam-packed with more than 600 gorgeous stickers to mix and match, kids will love to customize these chocolate creations.

Nayuleska's thoughts

The only thing that could top this book would be to have the same chocolates in front of me. Yes, this book made me want chocolate. However, it was also a good distraction from when I wanted chocolate but I had already had some so was trying to refrain for the day/hour/minute. I didn't count how many hours it took me to finish this, but it took a few and I kept going back to stare at the yummy looking pages some more.

There are heaps of stickers of various sizes to suit the theme of the page. They are easy to get off the sticker sheet, and quite happy to be moved about the page if where you put them originally is no longer the ideal spot.  I'll say which was my favourite for each section, and my repeatedly favourite chocolate was a famous brand of kisses ^o^ xx

A Chocolate Shop- I put chocolate covered marshmallows on top of bars of chocolate, as well as fell in love with the cute bags of sweets tied with ribbon.

Tasty Truffles - I liked the bright pink truffle with a chocolate swirl on top and turquoise stars. 

Winter Warmers -I could have drunk every single mug of steaming hot chocolate with cream and other yummy decorations.

A Fabulous Fountain - I've never ever used one of these chocolate fountains and would so love to. Maybe I can do it when I get published...

Knickerbocker Glorious - having more than 1 of my favourite foods in the same book is superb! Probably best not to have hot chocolate and a sundae together, as it might end up like gloop.

Tasty Tiers - tiered cakes fit for any grand occasion. The white chocolate cake pops with sprinkles caught my fancy.

Chocs Away - 3 stunning slabs to decorate with fruit slices, candy, and more chocolate.

Pop-tastic - cake pop mania had me eyeing up the ice blue swirly cake pop which made me think of fondant fancies.

Chocolate Decorations - these were exactly as stated for two Christmas trees. I adored the cute gingerbread houses which each had a different colour door.

Cuddly Chocolates - animal characters got a makeover because I kept sticking ribbon by their ears...I think I may have been 'supposed' to put them beside the animals, but with sticker books there are no rules!

There were 3 extra pages full sweet treats for the reader to colour in themselves, not a hard task given the colour combinations on previous pages are probably firmly in the reader's mind.

Suggested read

Definitely have more sticker fun in The Cupcake Sticker Book which is on my review pile! 

Sticker Dressing First World War (Children's, Sticker book, 8/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

October 2012, Usborne, 34 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Summary from Usborne

Young historians will be fascinated by this detailed sticker book, following the men who took part in the First World War, from field marshals and recruitment officers, to ambulance drivers and soldiers.

With over 170 stickers of historically accurate uniforms to help get the men ready for action.

Scenes include ‘Preparing for war’, ‘In the trenches’ and ‘In a field hospital’

Includes extras such as weapons and animals to complete the scenes.

Nayuleska's thoughts

 I find wars confusing, as there are so many details to take in. Perhaps that's why I don't recall that much

about the First World War, which happened 100 years ago this year. As a fangirl of Usborne's sticker

books I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to learn a bit of history.

I still think war is complex and not needed, but I did learn the diversity of people involved in the war.

There were loads! All the uniforms are different, despite mostly being muted colours. I loved the deep

blue and style of the French soldiers. The Scottish kilt wearing soldier made me smile. I hadn't realised

that pigeons were used for messages - I'd have liked to have been in charge of them. I'm no good on a

boat but I liked the navy uniform. I had no idea Arabic countries were involved in this war. There is

nothing wrong with this sticker book, it just isn't as appealing for me as the others, hence the lower grade.

Suggested read

Usborne do a fantastic range of sticker books including the fun Sticker Dolly Dressing Action! (Children's, Sticker book, 5 years +, 10/10E) 

Usborne Activities: Royal Dolls House Sticker Book illustrated by Elisabetta Ferrero, designed by Lucy Wain and Jamie Ball (Children's, Sticker book, 8/10E)

 September 2013, Usborne Children's Books, 24 pages + 10 pages stickers, Paperback, Review copy

Themes: sticker book, royal houses, ornate furniture, modern equipment, homely touches,

Summary from Usborne

Experience the life of luxury behind the closed doors of a royal palace in this exquisite sticker book.

Explore the lavish rooms, and fill them with beautiful furniture and artefacts. Choose from over 200 stickers of bespoke furniture, regal oil paintings, chandeliers, elegant soft furnishings and lots more.

Includes over 10 rooms for children to decorate as they please, including a formal saloon, the orangery and the grand master bedroom.

Children will have hours of fun arranging the house to make it fit for royalty.

Nayuleska's thoughts 

I think the best word to describe the furnishings in the house is exquisite. Most of the rooms were breathtaking; the dining room didn't do anything for me, but I was cooing over the nursery (the elephant design felt familiar but I'm not sure from where), I stared in awe at the intricacy of the details in the formal saloon, I laughed at the kitchen because I hung the wrong items in the wrong place and it aptly had a few toy magnets plus the letters K & W on the fridge - this has to be a nod at Kate, William & Louis, the newest English royal. I was delighted to see knitting used in the informal sitting room - it's a craft that should be promoted! 

I had to give this an 8/10E because I had trouble taking the stickers off. I think I could just have a dud book - some tore while I tried to get them off, and as I got closer to the end some wouldn't come off at all - which was the case for most of the stickers in the orangery. I've had other sticker books from Usborne and they have all been fine, so don't let that deter you from reading this fab book which provides a lot of food for thought on how modern royals may decorate their home, as well as what readers would want in their own ideal home. 

Suggested read

For more elegance check out Sticker Dolly Dressing: Edwardian Fashion (Children's, sticker book, 7/10)

Hello Kitty On Holiday Bumper Sticker Collection (Children's, Activity book, 3 years +, 9/10E)

April 2013, Harper Collins Children's Books, 56 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Themes: Hello Kitty & friends, being on holiday, packing, sorting the passport, being seen off by family, dealing with rain, visiting art gallery, out in town, a fair at night, kite flying, barbecue, camping, ice-cream parlour, trip to the sea, dolphins, sealife, sending postcards, deer, bicycle, beside the pool, holiday scrapbook,

Content: lots of fun

Summary from Harper Collins

Join Hello Kitty on holiday with this bumper sticker book - packed with summer fun!

Hello Kitty has lots of fun on her holidays - and you can join in too. Use your stickers to complete the pages as Hello Kitty prepares for her holiday and enjoys the beach,camping, sightseeing and even a staycation! Packed with stickers plus a pullout poster that you can complete, this is the most fun you can have on your holidays!

Nayuleska's thoughts

As you can see from the cover, this is another mega cute Hello Kitty Sticker book! I got to know Hello Kitty's friends and family as they have fun on holiday. I liked how holiday preparations are explained, as well as the holiday itself. Dealing with common holiday destinations means readers can probably relate to one experience, even if they haven't been away everyone can have fun in the rain!

In a way I often preferred Mimmy, she somehow looked cuter than Hello Kitty. The twins are adorable when they are together. My favourite scene was the ice cream parlour for obvious reasons of ice cream being so yummy - I even thought of flavours for the ice cream stickers! Another reason this is an ace sticker book compared to other Hello Kitty sticker books because there are page numbers on the sticker sections so you know which page to put them on! This is a major plus side for me.

There are a few reasons for the 9/10. The stickers seemed super sticky compared other sticker books

which is good once they are in place but if you put them on crooked it's hard to adjust them (an issue if you are a perfectionist). Hello Kitty and Mimmy are sometimes missimg a few whiskers because the stickers occasionally aren't easy to peel off in one go. I didn't like all the outfits - Hello Kitty's camping clothes are dead weird!

Suggested read

For more Hello Kitty sticker fun try Hello Kitty Princess Wishes Sticker Book (Children's, 5 years +, 9/10, Sticker book)

Hello Kitty Princess Wishes Sticker Activity book (Children's, 5 years +, 9/10, Short 'n'sweet review)

Mega cute!!!!

April 2013, Harper Collins Children's, 24 pages, Paperback, Review copy, Short 'n' sweet review,

Summary from Harper Collins

Packed with regal activities and full of pretty stickers, this book is fit for a princess!

Hello Kitty would love to be a princess and she’d like your help. Inside this book you’ll find lots of activities and games, jewels, tiaras and beautiful dresses. Use the stickers to complete the pages and have lots of princess fun!

Nayuleska's thoughts 

Hello Kitty is always cute, but she looks so elegant as a princess in this activity book. There is a wide  variety of puzzles including wordsearch and spot the differenc, and lots of different outfits for Hello Kitty to wear. The reason for the lower grade is that there is no indication on the sticker pages where the stickers goes in the book. That would have saved much deliberating over where to allocate stickers. This feature is often in other sticker books, which is why I noticed its absence (& since writing this review I've seen the page numbers on other Hello Kitty Sticker books). I confess to keeping some of the stickers so I can stick them on other things because they are so cute!

Suggested read

Another fun  Hello Kitty book is Hello Kitty Dress-Up Dolls (Children's, 5 years +, Activity book, 10/10E)