Swan Jay Books

13/09/2020

Pepper is a hamster, he can’t read. But he doesn’t mind because Emma spends a lot of time reading to him. He learns a lot from books, they make him think, they make him ask lots of questions. If Emma is there reading to him, he’s always got someone to talk to about his feelings and his questions.
As the social lives of families everywhere are about to be restricted once again, let’s make the most of any extra moments to entice a child away from a screen and towards the myriad worlds into which books are the gateway.

05/08/2020

It's 2 months now since we stopped clapping for all amazing NHS staff. Pooch is thinking (something he's good at) about how they are all still working hard, many in full PPE, often in huge heat. He's thinking about one person who's doing this - Catherine ... who gave him his good looks! He's thinking about medical staff all over the world who are struggling to cope - in Brazil, in India and today in Beirut. He can't help personally but he's hoping his positive thoughts will somehow wing their way to the people who need them most.

10/07/2020

Pepper and Emma have enjoyed playing a LOT more board games during lockdown! When they first started, Emma used to let Pepper win sometimes but she's taught him so well and he's such a fast learner that now she often loses. She's good at losing though and always has a smile on her face.
In other news, over 50 hospices around the country now know about Pepper, Pooch & Little - and we're very excited to have had our first order ... thank you Myton Hospice in Coventry!

10/06/2020

As we stop clapping each week for the amazing people risking their lives to care for others, Emma and Pepper have decided to keep a rainbow nearby when they play to celebrate all the workers and the carers who make the lives of others better every day.

04/04/2020

Ok so to continue the monthly puns (which I didn't realise I was doing!) it's now April so how about a little aprileciating (sorry!) how our children might be thinking and feeling under the surface. Children are no different to adults. They too will be picking up on the collective energy of fear and uncertainty that we are all experiencing in these crazy times. Always sensitive to the mood of the adults around them, they will be even more so now that families are in such close contact. They also spend a lot of time, inevitably at the moment, on screens of various types. However much we try to protect them from the news, they are likely to pick up that people are dying.
If we try to pretend it’s not happening, if we try to pretend we’re not worried, it’s not necessarily helpful. Our children are then left to imagine things that might well be worse. It’s more helpful to talk about what’s going on truthfully - and age appropriately. But talking about death and dying is hard enough for us as adults, never mind trying to talk to our children.
We do however have more time to read them at the moment so maybe go on Amazon and have a look at the many excellent children’s books that can act as a springboard for difficult discussions – The Huge Bag of Worries, Badger’s Parting Gifts, The Invisible String to name just a few – or better still (obviously as I’m writing this!!!) order a copy of Pepper, Pooch & Little!

26/03/2020

20 copies of Pepper Pooch & Little continued their march into the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice before the total lockdown of the country took place. They are going to be sent out to families where a child has been bereaved. The amazing staff at Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice continue to care for people on their in-patient unit and in the community as well as for their families - so a massive THANK YOU to them for all they are doing!

10/03/2020

Pepper, Pooch & Little has been busy marching into independent bookshops around the country - Falmouth, Wimborne Minster, Haslemere, Cobham and still going! If you know of a small person who would enjoy a beautifully illustrated story about a hamster, as dog and a tortoise, then look no further! Send us an order on our website - www.swanjaybooks.com- and your copy will be in the post to you the same day.

This is the story of Pepper the hamster, Pooch the puppy and Little the tortoise.  They are friends for life, whether life is long or short.

09/12/2019

We are really pleased that the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice has decided to include Pepper, Pooch & Little in their Children's Book Packs. These Packs are offered to bereaved families who the Hospice are supporting. The specialist children's counsellors at Phyllis Tuckwell do an amazing job supporting bereaved children, both 1:1 and in groups, and we are delighted that they have decided to endorse our book in this way.

07/12/2019

01/12/2019

Our website is up and running! We're excited to be part of helping open up conversations with your little ones about life and death. This is the story of Pepper the hamster, Pooch the puppy and Little the tortoise. They are friends for life, whether life is long or short.

Talking to children about death is not easy. This picture book for 4+ year olds offers a gentle introduction to life and death and the importance of the memories that link them, opening a door on a difficult subject.

Books are now available for purchase, just in time for Christmas! Let us know if you have any questions.

https://swanjaybooks.com/

01/12/2019

01/12/2019