October 2009

Fransie Snyman. It's Party Time! South Africa: Metz Press, 2002.

In It's Party Time!, Fransie Snyman stresses the need for parties to be fun for the birthday child as well as the hard-working parents who are hosting the party. With this thought as the foundation for her book, she goes about offering simple but ingenious ideas for a wide selection of party themes.

While It's Party Time! is mainly focused on younger children's parties, there are also several party ideas aimed at the older age bracket, making this book a winning resource for parents with toddlers to those with teens.

The party themes detailed in It's Party Time! are all based on the idea that the key to a great party is keeping the preparations inexpensive and hardly any trouble to arrange. In fact, to indicate just how easy the tips in this book are, most of the ideas suggested within it's pages encourage the participation of the birthday child themselves.

Rest assured that It's Party Time! will take a load of stress off any parent faced with planning their child's next party.

The party themes covered in Fransie Snyman's It's Party Time! include:

* Creepy - Crawly!

* Pirates of Penzance

* Fairyland Fantasy

* Forest Fun

* We have Lift-off!

* Animal Antics

* Clown Party

* Ghost Party

* What a Pretty hat!

* Abracadabra

* Come Fly With Me

* The Science Fair

* Hamburger Party

* Pancake Party

* Pizza Party

* Around the Fondue Pot

With suggested menus for each theme, this book definitely takes the "think-work" out of party preparations. And the suggestions made are not only simple, but clever too. With enticing items on the menu like Space Kebabs and Moon Juice, Eery Eggs and Spooky Floats, Candy Sangomas or Ice Cream with Lava, you're bound to have a party that is spoken about long after the balloons have been deflated!

With volumes of sage advice on party preparations as well as a handful of tips and recipes focused on making parties fun for children with food allergies, this book is undoubtably a valuable resource. I found that It's Party Time! was a suitably complete party planner's guide offering tips on themes, invites, decor, party food and games. I would definitely recommend this book to any parent who doesn't have a lot of time on their hands, but still wants to throw a party with a personal touch.

Happy Parties!
*SHELLY SHINDIG*
Resident Bookworm

Click here to add Fransie Snyman's It's Party Time! to your party book library today.

August 2009

Jenny Dodd. Party Fun! South Africa: Struik Publishers, March 2007.

Party Fun! is a follow-on offering by Jenny Dodd presented after her very impressive Party Ideas For Children. Party Fun! is set up in the same way as it's prequel and is equally original and innovative when it comes to new and inspiring party theme ideas.

This treasure trove of ideas holds twenty different themed party details. From invitations, to treat bags, recommended party games and activities to the all-important party food and birthday cake – all specifically geared at enhancing the party theme.

Any one of Jenny Dodd's suggested parties is a sure-fire winner. By following her clearly laid out plans for each theme, you're bound to have a very successful birthday celebration. Her ideas are fresh and simple, and will definitely get the birthday child's seal of approval.

As in her first party book offering, each party theme has a recommended age group, and the games and activities detailed for that party are appropriate for the age group suggested. Detailed themes include:

* Baby's 1st Birthday

* Plundering Pirates

* Hearty Party

* Teddy's Picnic

* Skateboard Extreme

* Funky Fashion Sleepover

* Tenpin Bowling

* Witches and Wizards

* Boy's Night Out

* Dolly's Tea Party

* Travel to Toyland

* Bling Bling Beads

* Wintry Wishes

* Chocolate Factory

* Mesmerizing Mermaids

* First Day at School

* Upside Down; Back to Front

* Wrestling Fever!

* Career Capers

* Ballet

Once again, each party theme is brought to life with beautiful glossy photographs - which are a big help when trying to imagine how your party table can be arranged, or how your invitations should look.

The “Setting the Scene” tips suggest ways that you can create the perfect environment for your celebrations to take place in. Add to this a collection of fairly simple party recipes that can be used for any of the featured themes, as well as simple templates to aid in the creating of invites and party boxes, and you have yourself a very comprehensive, top notch party planner’s essential must-have. Party Fun! also has a listing of party favours stockists in South Africa as well the United Kingdom which makes this book the one that you can't be without!

Happy Parties!

*SHELLY SHINDIG*

Resident Bookworm

Click here or on the pictures below:

To add Jenny Dodd's - Party Fun! or Partytjiepret! to your party book library today.

July 2009

Arina du Plessis; Bernice van der Merwe. Party Magic 2. South Africa: Tafelberg Publishers Ltd, April 2009.

If you're big on making your child's birthday party an original, stand-out event, then Party Magic 2 is for you!

This proudly South African treasure is crammed with simple and imaginative ideas to turn your little angel's next themed birthday party into an explosion of creativity that will have your guests talking about it for months afterwards.

Each of the twenty-two party themes covered in Party Magic 2 is showcased in magazine-style attractiveness. Clever suggestions for all your party necessities, from the invitations to the cake-matching cupcakes are enthusiastically suggested and captured in beautiful photographic detail - you just can't go wrong following the innovative tips and scene-setting ideas filling the pages of Party Magic 2.

If your next party theme is any one of the following, you won't be sorry to consult du Plessis and van der Merwe's fresh take on children's parties in Party Magic 2:

* Teatime

* On the Farm

* Big Game

* Easter Party

* The Circus is in Town!

* Come into my Garden

* Pizza Party

* Bake Day

* Honeybees

* It's a goal!

* The Big Catch

* Snow Party

* Fairyland

* Beach Party

* Formula 1

* ABC Party

* Spots and Stripes

* Witches and Bats

* Creepy Crawlies

* Nine to Five

* Pink Kingdom

* Teddy Bears' Picnic

The most remarkable comment I can make on Party Magic 2, is that it really takes the cake for, well, for the cakes! Each of the above-mentioned themes is introduced to the reader with an original, breath-taking birthday cake idea. And each cake suggested is bound to be a hit with the birthday child and their guests! And if, for some reason, the suggested bake doesn't quite do it for you, you'll find alternative suggestions for the same theme - in my mind: A WINNING IDEA!

So go on, gather some Party Magic 2 inspiration, push up your creative sleeves and get busy arranging a long-lasting birthday memory for your child!

Happy Parties!

*SHELLY SHINDIG*

Resident Bookworm

Click here to add Arina du Plessis and Bernice van der Merwe's Party Magic 2 to your party book Library now!

May 2009

The Australian Women's Weekly. KIDS' Perfect Party Book.
Australia: ACP Books, 2007.

My personal feeling about parties is that the pictures of the event should be great and so serve as excellent memories of a fantastic day. The Australian Women's Weekly KIDS' Perfect Party Book aims to help parents organise a picture-perfect party and still be able to enjoy the day as much as the little people. By following the subtle hints and tips suggested throughout the book, your party photos are sure to be remarkable!

Within the pages of the KIDS' Perfect Party Book, you will find thorough instructions for 10 different themed parties for boys and girls from 2 to 10 years of age.

The themes covered are:

* sugar & spice
* young chef
* ghosts and spooks
* glitz and glamour
* fairies
* wizards & witches
* jungle beat
* celebrity party
* by the sea
* disco


Unlike some party books that originate overseas, KIDS' Perfect Party Book has sensible recommendations as to where to look for the paraphenalia suggested for each party, so you won't be left pulling your hair out wondering where you will find the South African equivalent to whatever has been advised.


All recipes quote metric measurements and are very comprehensive. However, if you prefer imperial measurements, a conversion chart is supplied. What is especially handy, for the parent who wants to get as much done before hand as possible, storage times are given alongside each recipe, so you know how long before the big event you can bake your goodies without them going off.


Apart from the theme-specific party foods attached to each party description KIDS' Perfect Party Book has an added extra: a collection of well-loved, tried and tested, child-approved party treats with easy to follow recipes. From sausage rolls to candied popcorn, your little party guests will have very happy tummies if you offer them any of the delightful treats listed. As for birthday cake tips, the KIDS' Perfect Party Book goes so far as to explain the best ways to get the best results when baking your own cakes. From pan preparation to baking more than one cake at a time, you can't go wrong with the KIDS' Perfect Party Book as your trusty guide.


And just when you're convinced that this really is the perfect party book, it gets better. Tucked away in the back cover is a pattern sheet with traceable patterns for cakes, decorations, and invitations that have been beautifully photographed and displayed between the covers of this highly recommended party planning book. Truly, all the schlep of planning the perfect party for your little one has been swept away with this super celebration manual. You can't go wrong having the KIDS' Perfect Party Book in your party planning library.

Happy Parties!
*SHELLY SHINDIG*
Resident Bookworm

Click here to add The Australian Women's Weekly KIDS' Perfect Party Book to your party book library now!

April 2009

Cicely Mary Barker.

How to Host a Flower Fairy Tea Party.

United States of America: Frederick Warne and Company, 2005.

I really love How to Host a Flower Fairy Tea Party! Not only is it a visually enchanting book, but it also makes for a super pre-party present for the birthday girl to be.

This whimsical party guide is almost written as a letter to the birthday girl herself, instructing her on how to throw the best flower fairy party ever.

Each page of this thorough party guide is full of delightful Cicely Mary Barker illustrations to captivate the imaginations of both the party planner and her mother.

From the butterfly invitations, to the very simple recipes for a magical Flower Fairy Feast, from venue decoration tips to crafty party activities, How to Host a Flower Fairy Tea Party covers all the essential aspects of planning a perfect fairy party. After a collection of delightful party game suggestions, the guide even includes some essential party planning checklists and time management tools. The activities and suggestions in this guide are more than ample to entertain a small to medium sized group of young sprites.

But, what I really loved most about How to Host a Flower Fairy Party, was not the Flower Fairy's Guide to Good Manners, or the instructions for a special Fairy Keepsake Party Reminder, it wasn't even the little "hand written" reminders from the Flower Fairies to the party planner; what I really loved was the bonus paper-doll-style pop-outs found in the center of the book. This value-added extra provides the party planner with sufficient invitations, name places and fairy table decor for a party of four celebrating sprites, including a stand-alone Flower Fairy Feast menu. (For parties of more than four fairies, these pop-outs should be colour copied and duplicated to supply an adequate number of invites and place names.)

All in all, How to Host A Flower Fairy Tea Party is an absolutely stunning party planning book. I'd suggest that any little fairy princess from the age of five and up will get the most value out of this book. But, that said, any smaller fairy's mum will get loads of fairy inspiration from the pages of this book.

Happy Parties!
*SHELLY SHINDIG*
Resident Bookworm

Click here to add Cicely Mary Barker's How to Host a Flower Fairy Tea Party to your party book library now!