We all love the joy of reading to our grandchildren, and “grandmothers-in-waiting” Maree and Lyndi, have developed the adorable character, Toodle the Cavoodle who will appear in a series of story books. The books are written by award winning children’s author, Richard Tulloch with glorious illustrations by the incredibly talented Heidi Cooper-Smith.

Toodle the Cavoodle loves finding smells in the scritchy, scratchy grass. But the grandparents of Lillipilly Lane love cleaning up and finding fresh uses for junk. They’re about to turn Toodle’s favourite sniffling snuffling patch into a neat and tidy park!  Oh no! What will Toodle do?

Toodle’s adventure sees him adapting to change and making new friends.

Noni Hazlehurst  – Actor and Author says: ‘A charming story, told in rich, entertaining language with imaginative and inspiring illustrations – it’s a delight.’

Sniffle Snuffle will be available this October, right here at Nanna’s Shop of Hugs in either paperback or hardback. We know you and your grandkids will just love it!

Jigsaw Puzzles, educational and so much fun too!!

They have been around since the 18th Century, but jigsaw puzzles are still going strong today and there is good reason!

Jigsaw puzzles today come in a wide range of subjects, colours, pieces and appeal to everyone from 18months to 80 years old but there are particularly good benefits for young children.

In the first instance, handling the pieces assist with cognitive development as they work out how the puzzle comes together. At the same time, they are engaging both fine motor skills (handling smaller pieces or pegs) as well as gross motor skills (with floor puzzles, having to stretch out to reach and place pieces).

There is also an element of perseverance as they have to keep trying to fit the different shapes together which will lead to confidence building once they have mastered the puzzle and their sense of problem solving is rewarded by the finished puzzle – which more than likely they will want to do over and over again!

Of course, without even realising it, hand-eye coordination is practised as is their visual perception of how these seemingly random shapes can, and do come together to form a complete picture.

Puzzles are also excellent to promote independent play and extend a little ones attention span and the best thing is, Nanna and Grandad can always lend a helping hand!

To browse our full range of puzzles simply click on the heart here ❤️

There is no denying that Barbara Streisand is a super star and at the age of 79, she is still going strong! Not only has she received two Oscars, 10 Grammys, nine Golden Globes, five Emmy’s and a Tony Award, but she also has 42 Platinum records and has just released her latest album entitled Release Me 2.

Despite a career that spans over 6 decades Barbara Streisand has admitted that her greatest role is being a Grandma, especially to her two youngest grand-daughters Westlyn and Chapel. Her first two grandchildren, Trevor and Eden are grown up now and it’s the two littlies that have Barbara completely smitten.

Barbara was given a bracelet with “Grandma” engraved on it before Westlyn was born and she says that she wears it all the time.

In an article for Closer Magazine Josh Brolin, Barbara’s stepson, said that Barbara “Hello

turns into mush” around her baby grand-daughters. Usually quite particular and fussy about where everything has to be in her home, when the grandkids come around, that all goes out the window! When they are not together, they keep in regular contact on the phone and send videos to grandma about what they are up to.

“I think it’s a great gift. I mean, I’ve lived, you know, a long life, I’ve done a lot of things, but I’ve never been a gammaw,” the proud grandmother shared, revealing the sweet nickname her younger grandbabies call her.

“Oh my gosh! That, to me, is a real accomplishment, to have this little baby, this live thing in my life,” the entertainer told The Times U.K. about being a grandmother.