Of Children's Books and Dead Whales: Kathleen Jones
You might not think there's much connection, but after a fortnight of minding my grandchildren for the Easter holidays, I'm not so sure. They are 6 and 2, so right in the thick of the target area for children's books and TV programmes. Early mornings were a hazy memory of Miffy, Peppa Pig, My Little Pony, and Horrid Henry, with occasional excursions into the Dumping Ground and/or the curiously spotty world of Mr Tumble. Evenings were a time for bed-night stories on similar lines. They all seem to have one thing in common, something that makes doing a bit of shopping in the local supermarket a risky enterprise - Merchandising! When faced with tearful little faces at the check-out, who can resist £1.50 for two my little ponies complete with mirror, comb and hair-dryer (each one no bigger than my finger nail and lost down the car seat within minutes!)? The Horrid Henry books have their own web-shop offering Horrid Henry T-shirts, games, Apps, stickers, toys, p...