We were sent Hannah The Spanner And The Trip To The Moon for review and the publishers are offering one of my readers a copy for themselves in my Christmas Present Giveaways. A big, bold children's book set in a world where just about anything seems possible, it's a great tale for independent readers or for reading together...

....and it's definitely not the sort of thing that normally happens on a Thursday.


Hannah is an ordinary schoolgirl living in a town like yours, but she can't help having adventures. What starts out as a normal morning at school becomes very interesting when her class go on a trip to visit local inventor, Professor Groves.

Dreamtex are a name you may not recognise, but I bet you've seen their excellent quality home textiles in store or even in your home. They work with licenses from some of the biggest names in TV, print, game and film, and are committed to corporate social responsibility, working with Sedex & Oeko-Tex approved factories, to ensure that international ethical standards are constantly met.


My boys have had some awesome bedding over the years, but they're getting bigger now and some of their tastes are changing. They've been sent reversible Fallout and ISA NASA bedding and I'm quite jealous. I'd happily have either of these on my own bed.


Fallout has been a big hit here for well over 10 years and most of us have played at least Fallout 3 to the end (I got the completist's favourite, the Platinum Trophy - this is one of my proudest moments). This duvet set really is excellent.

Next Month Carlton Books release Space Race by Ben Hubbard. A fascinating fact book with augmented reality, which tells the story of man's obsession to reach the stars, from the very first satellite launch up to the present day. We've been sent a copy to review and Carlton Books have kindly offered a copy for one of my UK readers...


Space Race is supported by a free app. which you can download on Android or IOS and you need it to really get the most from the book, although there is still plenty to see and learn without using a screen.

Our latest toy review is something we are very familiar with - Hexbugs! These have been popular here for a good few years now and the Hexbug Nano Space range is something we saw at Digital Kids Show and loved, so we were more than happy to accept a Discovery Station set for review.


Inside the box everything is wrapped in plastic packages. I understand that it is easily scratched and needs to be protected, but I'd like to see less plastic and more recyclable card. This is a 55 piece set and there seem to be absolutely loads of pieces, it's very impressive.

The Oregon Scientific SmartGlobes are traditional globes with a 3D AR twist and we've been sent the Starry 2in1 Day and Night Globe for review. The globe contains a light and when you turn it on, you can see 88 constellations superimposed in position over the Earth. There is also an accompanying free app. with thousands of facts about Earth and beyond.


There is quite a bit of plastic protective packaging in this box, but it's very quick to open. Inside you have your globe and it's base. You will need either 3 x AA batteries or a USB charging cable and power source to operate the light as they are not included.

Brainstorm make great toys for kids who like to think and they've a huge range of toys for children with an interest in space. Tonight 7pm-8.30pm they'll be hosting a Space Week Twitter Party and they've sent me an awesome selection to take a look at ahead of the party. It's only just arrived, so I haven't been able to review anything properly unfortunately - however on the plus side that means my boys haven't seen it, so I can repackage and hide some of it for Christmas!


The Rocket Projector & Room Guard (rrp £29.99) is suitable for children aged 6+. It's really easy to open and has barely any plastic packaging, great for Christmas morning. It does take 3 x AA batteries (not included), so you'll need to get those ready plus a small crosshead screwdriver to install them.

Ora and Puffin Books (part of Penguin Random House) have teamed up for Space Week, and asked if I'd like to join in. Ora Kitchen Towel naturally lends itself to rocket-building, it's the perfect accompaniment, so along with my 7 and 9 year old boys, we've come up with some Space Week activities that won't break the bank!


1. Make A Space Station
Every Spaceman, Cosmonaut or Astronaut wants to go to the Space Station like Tim Peake. You can have your Space Station behind the sofa, or practically anywhere, but on this occasion we decided ours was going to be under the kitchen table. I prepared some construction materials and my 9 year old took on the role of designer.