A little look at a family’s bookshelf

CAN you remember the picture story books that captured your imagination as a child?

Penny Sheppard has amassed around 200 to date, and one year ago, launched her own blog, The Little Book Lovers to share her family’s “well-loved” book collection, and recommend titles to others.

“We have a huge collection of really beautiful, classic picture books that I wanted my children to have as they grew up. I thought the books deserved their own page,” she said.

“I was at home with my daughter and it gave me something to do throughout the day. I started off sharing photos and information about the books we had.”

The page has grown, now with just over 1000 like-minded followers. The community is mostly mothers with children of a similar age, who enjoy the same types of texts.

But not only has The Little Book Lovers expanded, so has Ms Sheppard’s understanding of her two kids’ taste in literature.

“My daughter loves seeing representation, and reading about girls that can be scientists and sportspeople; all things that previously would have been geared towards boys.

“My seven-year-old son, Charlie likes information books. We connect with stories that teach children to pursue their passion with persistence, and celebrate failure on the way to achieving dreams,” she said.

“We have read and loved every book I’ve shared. There are none on there that we don’t connect with. I’ve had a lot of messages from followers saying they have added the books to Christmas and birthday lists.”

With at least 198 recommendations made so far, Ms Sheppard started with her collection’s classics like Enid Blyton’s The Enchanted Wood.

As her home bookshelves filled, she directed the focus to stories her little ones are taken with, like new release, Zoë Foster Blake’s Back to Sleep.

“I don’t buy books specifically to put on there, it’s about books that the kids have got an interest in that week. They go through phases.”

Visit instagram.com/thelittlebooklovers.