Francois Keyser's Blog

Smidge - Book review

Smidge by Beth Shoshan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Our youngest daughter really loved this book.

Smidge is a cute creature that loves to eat. The story shows us what can happen when we eat too much candy.

This is a cute story that teaches children about colours while also teaching children not to eat too much candy!

Mot enjoyable and very colourful!



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Wibbly Pig Book - Review

Everyone Hide From Wibbly Pig by Mick Inkpen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Few books get and keep children's attention like pop-up and lift the flap books. Our youngest daughter loved this book and couldn't stop asking us to read it to her. Obviously she loved lifting the flaps and discovering the story as it progressed all over again!

A fun book which aims to recreate the excitement of the game of hide & seek by showing it to children in this enjoyable lift the flap book.



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Printables of "The Junglies" characters for books 6 - 12

Books 6 - 12 of "The Junglies" series are now being illustrated by Agassi Tjong who is a very talented young artist from Bali, Indonesia. While he illustrates the books he has provided me with character sketches for the characters. I have posted the sketches here which can be downloaded as printables for children to color. If you like the sketches please let me know. I would love to have feedback.

Unfortunately, Zantya Andrian, who illustrated the first five books in the series was unable to i...

What Ed Sheeran taught me...

I recently saw Ed Sheeran's music video of his song "Photograph". The more I listened to it and understood the words the more I liked it and now it is one of my current favorite songs.

But watching the video taught me something. My wife agreed with one thing and in fact voiced it first. She said, "We don't video and photograph our kids enough." I agree with this. I can honestly say that at this point we could not put together a video of our children such as that of "Photograph" which showcased...

Time for, and with Loved Ones

I recently spent a long time away from my family as I went home to visit my parents. On the flight to reunite with my wife and children I watched "Interstellar" which perhaps because of the point I was at in my life, touched me personally from a number of perspectives.

I have since watched it again and am still as touched, if not more so, than when I watched it the first time.

Those who have watched "Interstellar" will perhaps be able to relate to this.

Cooper, played by Mathew McConnaughey, leaves earth on a mission to find a new earth for the human race who have to leave a dying earth in order to survive as a species.

Cooper is absolutely adored by his daughter, Murph who does not want him to leave on the journey he undertakes and refuses to speak with him as she feels he has deserted her.

Despite assuring Murph of his return, Cooper leaves earth knowing full well that he will be away from his family for a long period of time. He is driven by the aim to complete the mission as soon as possible and return to his family.

The movie makes us aware of the difference in the passage of time in deep space due to a number of factors including proximity to a black hole relative to the passage of time on earth.

Ultimately Cooper returns to earth physically younger than his daughter Murph but older in actual earth time.

Despite his intention of returning as soon as possible perhaps with the hope of still being a father to his children, this does not happen. This demonstration in the passage of time combined with my own time away from my family brought home to me the importance of spending as much time with your children and loved ones as possible. In today's rat race we seldom realise how fast time goes by and when we finally realise how much time has passed, it is often too late in so many ways.

Our parents have grown older and often we may neglect them and friends as we are so wrapped up in our own lives and getting what we want which seems to be a never ending job in itself.

So often we listen to our loved ones with half an ear or with our faces buried in our smartphones or tablets which we give more importance than our loved ones in these modern times.

When we finally realise how much time has gone by, that our children have grown up and how little we have actually been involved in their lives, we are not only saddened but also too late to give to them the parts of ourselves that they deserve. This time can never be won back by us or any speed through which we travel through space.

So next time, when our children, parents or partners call for our attention, lets turn off the TV and put down our smartphones and enjoy all the time we can with our loved ones before it is too late one way or another.

There is truly no greater joy than that which we derive from being with loved ones ...

time for and with loved ones

I recently spent a long time away from my family as I went home to visit my parents. On the flight to reunite with my wife and children I watched "Interstellar" which perhaps because of the point I was at in my life, touched me personally from a number of perspectives.

I have since watched it again and am still as touched, if not more so, than when I watched it the first time.

Those who have watched "Interstellar" will perhaps be able to relate to this.

Cooper, played by Mathew McConnaughey, lea...

maybe it really is that easy...

We recently told our eldest daughter, Keona (6) that she needed to get another vaccination which she immediately said she did not want because she is afraid it will hurt and of course it will.

This morning she watched an episode of "Oggy and the Cockroaches" on Nickelodeon in which Oggy was running away from Jack who wanted to give him a flu injection. In an effort to hide, Oggy painted himself with the same design as the wallpaper in the room.

This idea clearly resonated with Keona who a...