Ever since they were small, the boys have always had a bedtime story read to them. It’s part of their daily bedtime routine, and they take it in turns to choose a book each evening. It’s a great way to wind down before bedtime, and more often than not, E will continue to read a few chapters of his own book before lights are switched off.
We were recently contacted by Dilara Arin, a local writer and illustrator who asked us whether we’d like to review her books: Animal’s Book of Dance and Gogol the Golden Golem.
I always like to support small businesses where I can so we were more than happy to check these books out and let you know our thoughts on them.
About Dilara Arin
Dilara was born in Instanbul/Turkey and came to the UK to study Animation. She illustrated books for other authors before writing and illustrating her own. Animal’s Book of Dance and Gogol, the Golden Golem, are her debut books.
Animal’s Book of Dance
Animal’s Book of Dance is fun and engaging for children. They can join in with the animal dance party and follow their funky footsteps.
The boys loved trying to copy the moves and even ended up making up a few of their own too!
Gogol the Golden Golem
Gogol the Golden Golem, suddenly loses his gold colour which makes him sad so he is on a mission to find it again. Along the way, he ends up on an adventure with his friends. Will Gogol ever become golden once more?
I won’t ruin the whole story for you, but this book is beautifully illustrated and packed full of colour.
The detail in the illustrations are fantastic and the boys were completely immersed in the story. So much so, they asked for it again and again. Gogol the Golden Golem really inspired their imagination too, they loved guessing what adventures Gogol would have next. E was even keen to find out if there would be a second book.
Dilara also very kindly did a little Q&A for us too. E came up with the questions in blue and mine are the ones in purple – take a look below.
Q&A with Dilara Arin
Does the story or the illustrations come to you first?
All my ideas for books come from a single image. I draw a lot of illustrations for my own pleasure, and a story will sometimes come out of one. I drew a Gogol the Golden Golem picture years ago (I even named him then!) and the story has been brewing at the back of my mind since.
Did you sketch the pictures out on a piece of paper first?
All of the pictures were sketched out first. I usually do very rough sketches on paper, then more in detail sketches on the computer.
How did you come up with the idea for Gogol?
I love myths and legends of every culture, and I love fantasy literature and games too. Golem is a creature I’ve always loved the idea of, and a golden Golem creates a lot of story opportunities!
Are you going to make a second book of Gogol?
I don’t plan for another Gogol book but there are plans for a Gogol animation and puppetry show!
What kind of paints did you use for Gogol?
Gogol was done all on computer, using Photoshop. I use various digital brushes, some made by other people and some made by me.
What was your favourite book that you made? I like all the books I make but Gogol the Golden Golem is very special to me. There’s a little piece of me in all the characters I create but even more so in the characters in this book.
Being a local to Kingston (like we are), has there been anything in the local area that influences your story writing or illustrating?
I live very close to Richmond Park and this side of the park has a quite rough nature, especially in autumn and winter time, which has definitely been influencing my illustrations.
What are your plans for the future and what are you currently working on?
I am currently working on a new picture book and there is another one in the pipeline. A Gogol animated short and a puppet show are also amongst my plans.
Order your copies and receive 20% discount
Dilara is offering my readers a 20% discount on her books. Simply head over to her website and use the code: SuburbanMum20
*We received these books for the purpose of this post.
The illustration in these looks beautiful! (I’m so picky when buying early years books because I have to like the art in them.) I bet the animated short will be awesome. #KCACOLS
These books like beautiful and really unique. It’s so great to support local authors too. Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next time.
Hello and welcome to Suburban Mum!
I'm Maria and I'm mum to two boys - E who's 13 and M who's 10. This blog is about my little family, the ups and downs of being a working mum and everything in between. If you want to find out more about me and my family head over to our About us page.
🏏Dynamos Cricket🏏
M was ecstatic to be invited to Oval Cricket Ground to try out Dynamos Cricket. They had a fun indoor session learning how to catch, throw and bat.
If you’ve not heard of Dynamos Cricket, it’s an 8-week programme suitable for kids aged 8-11. Dynamos is the perfect introduction to cricket, so you don’t need to worry if you’ve not played cricket before. It’s a great way for kids to make friends and learn new skills. Adults are also encouraged to join in, so you’d be having some quality family time together. There are thousands of clubs across the country taking part in Dynamos - you can find your nearest programme on their website.
#dynamos #dynamoscricket #cricket #2024 #youthcricket #TheHundred #TheOval #ECB #YoungCricketers #CricketForKids #cricketseason @dynamoscricket @thehundred
[AD - Press visit]
We enjoyed the glorious sunshine this weekend with a trip to Brighton. We went on the @brightoni360official which is right by the sea front.
The i360 pod take a slow journey up, allowing you to take in views across Brighton and the South Downs 450ft above ground. There’s a bar inside with drinks and snacks available to purchase and the experience lasts 25 minutes.
Afterwards, we headed to the open air roller rink for a roller skating session!
The roller rink is:
⭐ Suitable for over 5s
⭐ £6.50 if you have your own skates or £9.50 if you need to hire them
⭐ 45 minutes per session
Full details to visit the i360 + skating
📍 Brighton i360, Lower Kings Road, Brighton BN1 2LN
🚗 Parking nearby (we parked in the Regency Square Car park)
🎟️ Prices start from £25.40 for an adult and £16.90 for a child
🕐 Opening hours are currently Sun-Fri 10.30am-18.30pm and until 19.30pm on Saturdays
☕️ Bar inside the i360, cafe and gift shop
Book tickets here:
https://tickets.brightoni360.co.uk/tickets/?_ga=2.195305772.1869001490.1689671753-1757164059.1689671753/#events?eventid=157
[AD] ***Summer of fun at Barracudas Activity Camps!****
There is plenty for kids to do at @barracudas_activity_day_camps
From Tennis, Archery, Swimming, Motor Sports and more you can be sure that there will be something for kids aged 4.5-14. ⚽🏈🥅🎾🏓🏎️🏹🏊♂️🏉
You can book on a day by day basis - so it can fit in with any other days out/activities you have planned and there are early drop off and late pickup options available. Barracudas are also Ofsted registered so you can use your Childcare Vouchers too.
⭐⭐⭐Get £20 off a week or £4 off a day using my discount code: MARIA20⭐⭐⭐
#BarracudasActivityDayCamp #BarracudasActivityCamp #BarracudaAmbassadors #SummerHolidays #SchoolHolidays #Summer2023 #SummerCamp #DayCare #Camp #KidsCamp #surreymummy #surreymums #SummerOfFun #ActivityCamps #HolidayCamps #Childcare #SchoolHolidays #schoolholidaycamps
Pic 2 of 2
It's been a while since we had a family pic on the grid! This one was snapped over the end of May bank holiday weekend. We went to Gunwharf Quays for a spot of retail therapy and stopped off for lunch. The weather was 👌 and it felt like we were on holiday! Speaking of which - we still need to book somewhere to go over the summer.
If you're going abroad this summer, let me know where you're going. We need some inspiration!!
Pic 1 of 2
It's been a while since we had a family pic on the grid! This one was snapped over the end of May bank holiday weekend. We went to Gunwharf Quays for a spot of retail therapy and stopped off for lunch. The weather was 👌 and it felt like we were on holiday! Speaking of which - we still need to book somewhere to go over the summer.
If you're going abroad this summer let me know where you're going. We need some inspiration!!
The boys are growing up fast, and with that comes a new set of challenges - navigating the tween/teen years, giving them more independence and responsibilities, etc. I sometimes miss them being smaller and cuddlier (even though they were more demanding). Parenthood certainly is a whirlwind of emotions, but it's a privilege to be able to watch them grow and turn into young men.
[AD] We have some super exciting news...we have been chosen to be Laser Quest Ambassadors, and the boys are over the moon!
We are really lucky that our local Laser Quest (@laserquestkingston) is just around the corner from us. It means we can pop in of a weekend or anytime during the school holidays, and with summer just around the corner, I know Laser Quest will be one of our go-to places for some family fun.
As well as games of Laser Quest, there are also VR experiences and arcade amusements too. To find out a bit more about how Laser Quest works, you can read my blog post: https://www.suburban-mum.com/laser-quest-kingston/ (clickable link in bio)
Don't forget to keep an eye out for our Laser Quest posts - I'm going to be giving away two family passes to use at Laserquest Kingston!
If you can't wait and want to head down to Laser Quest to try it out, use the code SUMMER30 for 30% off your booking. The code is valid from now until the end of August 2023 and can be used on Laser Quest games and birthday party bookings.
#LaserquestAmbassador #Laserquest #LaserquestKingston #ActivitiesForKids #FamilyFun #DaysOutWithKids #Lasertag #LaserquestVR #Kingston #ThingsToDoInKingston #SurreyFamilyDaysOut #ThingsToDoWithKids #RainyDayFun #SurreyMummy #SurreyLife #LifeWithKids #LifeWithBoys #familyfunday
**Reel of our super busy May**
May is always crazy busy for us with three birthdays (Mr H’s, E’s and mine), Eurovision and half-term. This year E turned 13 so the celebrations were extra-special. We also packed in a trip to Alton Towers (one of our happy places) and ended it with a joint birthday party for both boys (belated for M as he fractured his arm in Feb)
Phew... now May is over I can catch a breather and prep myself for end of school year madness!
#MayBirthdays #13YearOld #Teenager #AltonTowers #adventuresofchildren #myfamilyadventures #surreymummy #surreydaysout #surreylife #surreymums #familydaysout #Familygoals #Familyof4 #familydayout
[AD] The sun has finally made an appearance and the boys have been making the most of it by spending it
in the garden.
They’re go-to is always football and they’ve been trying to improve their aim and accuracy with the new Messi Foldable Footlball goal from the #MessiTrainingSystem range.
I love the fact the goal is foldable, making it easy to store away when not in use. It is also lightweight so you can effortlessly pack it up and take it to the park or to a friend’s house.
The Messi Foldable Football Goal retails at £36 and can be purchased from @argos
You can read my full review here: https://www.suburban-mum.com/messi-foldable-football-goal/
#TrainLikeMessi #FoldableFootballGoal #FootballSkills #OutdoorFun #LionelMessi #LeoMessi #FootballAtHome #OutdoorKids #JustGetOutside #OutdoorsAndFree #ScreenFreeKids #WhateverTheWeatherKids @flair_gp
***EASTER HOLIDAY ACTIVITY IDEAS FOR OLDER KIDS****
Trying to keep my two boys (aged 12 and 10) entertained over the holidays is so much harder now they’re older. They’re happy to just stay in and play computers games, which is fine for a bit but they need to get out and do other things or their brains will turn to mush!
Here are some ideas for you:
1. Bowling. @tenpin offer 50% off bowling and selected drinks every Tuesday - even during the holidays.
2. Theme Parks. If you want to visit Merlin attractions (Chessington, Thorpe Park, Legoland, Alton Towers) collect vouchers on Kelloggs cereals where Adults can go free. Or you can collect tokens with The Sun for 2 free tickets.
3. Trampoline Parks. We love @airhopguildford and @jumpinesher
4. Laserquest. Head to your local @laserquest for a game, there are arcades and VR experiences to try too.
5. Adventure Golf. Some of our local favourites include Jurassic Encounter in New Malden, Jungle Island in Epsom and @safari_adventure_golf in Hersham. I also have a list of places to visit in London/Surrey in my blog post https://www.suburban-mum.com/where-to-adventure-golf-in-london-surrey/ (link in bio)
6. Go Karting. We love @surbitonraceway but there’s also @daytonamsport in Esher and @teamsportkarting in Mitcham
MORE ACTIVITY IDEAS
⭐ VR Experiences (see https://www.suburban-mum.com/the-best-vr-experiences-london/ or link in bio)
⭐ Arcades - check out @highscorearcades
⭐ Water Parks like @waterworld.sot.official or local swimming pools that run inflatable sessions
⭐ Geocaching see https://www.geocaching.com/sites/education/en/ for how to get started
⭐ Try the world’s longest tunnel slide at the Queen Elizabeth Park @arcelormittalorbit
⭐ Ride the IFS Cloud Cable car and see views of London https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/london-cable-car/
[AD] We are absolutely thrilled to announce that we are Barracuda Ambassadors again this year.
With Easter just around the corner, the boys were sent the @barracudas_activity_day_camps new camp kit in preparation for the school holidays.
There’s a wide range of activities for kids aged 4.5 - 14 including Tennis, Archery, Basketball, Arts & Crafts and more.
If you like the sound of Barracudas, find out more over on their website. You can also save £20 a week or £4 a day, using my discount code: MARIA20
If you’re looking for something to do over the Easter holidays, why not head to @brooklandsmuseum? I’ve been taking the boys here since they were toddlers, and there is so much to see and do.
M is obsessed with aeroplanes, so we spent most of our last visit going on the aircrafts they have on display. We did the Concorde Experience too.
There’s also a wide range of motoring exhibits, and the London Bus Museum is here.
We plan on returning soon to see all the exhibits we missed last time.
I got our tickets through Buy a Gift, as you can save over £25 on a family entry to the museum (see the link in my bio)
Full details to visit Brooklands Museum below:
📍 Brooklands Drive, Weybridge Surrey KT13 0SL
🚗 Parking is free
🎟️ Adults £23, Children 5-18 £12, Family Ticket £57.50, Under 5s are free
🕐 Opening hours 10-5pm
☕️ Cafe and gift shop
[AD - Gifted]
Last weekend we were invited to try out @tsarettaspice’s new Bottomless Brunch menu and I can tell you it was thumbs up all round!
There’s a good choice tapas on offer from Punjabi fish fingers, Indo Chinese Chicken to Spiced Lamb Scotch Eggs and Manchurian Cauliflower (which was amazing!)
If you’re local to Twickenham and fancy giving them a try here’s are the details.
Tsaretta Spice Bottomless Brunch
⭐️£37.50 per head for bottomless Prosecco or cocktail of the day
⭐️£55 per head for bottomless Champagne
⭐️ Food included: 4 tapas selections and dessert or 2 tapas selections, a pav or naanwich and dessert
⭐️ Non-alcohol brunch is also available
Tsaretta Spice
55 Church Street
Twickenham
TW1 3NR
You can also read our full review over on the blog (link in bio)
[AD] What does family look like for you?
I am fortunate to be surrounded by strong, powerful women in the form of my mum, sister and mother-in-law (along with many others). With Mother’s Day just around the corner, @BootsUK want to celebrate all the different mums and mother figures we are lucky enough to have in our lives. They have a huge range of Mother’s Day gifts to choose from so we can show them how much they mean to us. (swipe to take a look at some of my choices)
If you want to express love and appreciation for the mother figure(s) in your life, head to Boots.com to find the ideal gift. They have a whole host of gifts, so you can be sure to find something to suit all tastes. Celebrate the #LoveForAllMums this Mother’s Day with Boots.
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The illustration in these looks beautiful! (I’m so picky when buying early years books because I have to like the art in them.) I bet the animated short will be awesome. #KCACOLS
LOVE THIS interview. Esp like that you have photos of the kids enjoying them instead of just the book. 🙂 cheers, kcd #KCACOLS
These books like beautiful and really unique. It’s so great to support local authors too. Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next time.
Interesting read and really good to have an interview with the author. I never knew about digital brushes, its great to hear more.
Mainy
#KCACOLS
This was fascinating – I’ve always wondered how children’s books come to be produced! #KCACOLS