I've bought her a Ybike
www.ybike.com.au/

Also some DVDs and a hardback edition of Arthur Rackham's Fairy Book. I always get her something that she might have for life. To me that seems OK but I really appreciate getting all your opinions on board.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 12 Jul 2010, 11:01, 5 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

that sounds good
and the bike will probably have a big box as well.

I like the Rackham fairy book as well. Kids absolutely love that
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 12 Jul 2010, 11:02, Reply)

the bike looks good
can't beat a good book as well.

I strongly suspect I wouldn't be the person I am today without Kipling's Just So Stories.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 12 Jul 2010, 11:03, Reply)

they were brilliant
edit: I think the books you read at a formative age have an effect on you for life
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 12 Jul 2010, 11:05, Reply)

I think so
my dad used to read them to me, when he wasn't making up stories about Beowolf and such.

My grandfather was Sussex county librarian, and as such had a lot of wonderful early editions of books. His copy of the Just So Stories was the best smelling book I've ever encountered.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 12 Jul 2010, 11:09, Reply)

I didn't like people reading to me
but some of the books I read when I was little probably still shape my actions now.

My dad is an inveterate book buyer. They numbered in the thousands, and I accidentally ruined his first edition Hobbit. I also accidentally stole a first edition Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 12 Jul 2010, 11:14, Reply)

it was when I was really young
I'd forgotten about it completely until fairly recently when I suddenly recalled that my dad was really good at making up stories to tell me.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 12 Jul 2010, 11:17, Reply)

that's my role in the family
I told stories to get siblings to sleep. The other day my mother ordered me to tell her a story/read from a book to send her to sleep since my voice has soporific qualities
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 12 Jul 2010, 11:19, Reply)

I loved Just So stories
The Cat That Walked Alone was my favourite.

I also loved Aesop's fables, we had a really awesome teacher at primary school who used to tell us Aesop's fables at story time. She would also tell us Shakespeare stories, without reading them, in ways that we would understand, she was brilliant.
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Mon 12 Jul 2010, 11:19, Reply)

:(
I got exiled during story time
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 12 Jul 2010, 11:24, Reply)

did you wee on the mat?
there was always one kid who weed on the mat.
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Mon 12 Jul 2010, 11:36, Reply)

haha
I wasn't that bad. Just a know it all who hated inconsistencies
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 12 Jul 2010, 11:40, Reply)

I couldn't choose my favourite
The Crab that Played with the Sea or How the Elephant got his trunk possibly.

sounds like a great teacher :-)
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 12 Jul 2010, 11:24, Reply)

I love how the rhino got his wrinkly skin
by eating the cake and getting all the crumbs everywhere.

She was a great teacher, I have no idea what happened to her. She was pretty old when I knew her so she's probably not around anymore.
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Mon 12 Jul 2010, 11:37, Reply)

*adds to list*
I adored them too.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 12 Jul 2010, 11:07, Reply)

It might be a good idea to get her a book that you'd need to read to her
and then whenever she's at yours you can read her a story from the book and then it'll be something that she looks forward to and will hopefully pester her mother with.
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Mon 12 Jul 2010, 11:38, Reply)

nice idea
if you can find a book called Time and Again Tales then get that. I loved it as a kid and still have it.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 12 Jul 2010, 11:46, Reply)

She's never at mine.
It's not allowed.

:(((((
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 12 Jul 2010, 12:00, Reply)

That sucks
Why not?
( Bert Monkeysex is waiting for the mods to delete him, Mon 12 Jul 2010, 12:05, Reply)

Her mother's a cunt.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 12 Jul 2010, 12:10, Reply)

stand up to her
fight for what you know is right, it'll be worth it
( Bert Monkeysex is waiting for the mods to delete him, Mon 12 Jul 2010, 12:16, Reply)

I WANT A YBIKE!
SHOUTING!
( Peej, Mon 12 Jul 2010, 11:05, Reply)

I have a book like that, that I can read when I'm sad or feeling nostalgic.
It's the Faber Book of Nursery Verse. My father has a supply of about 15 that he constantly replenishes, and gives out to newborns in our family and friend circle. It's great to read aloud from.

I read "Jim" by Hilaire Belloc last night to myself before I went to sleep last night.
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Mon 12 Jul 2010, 11:22, Reply)

I love Hilaire Belloc
I recited his pomes two years running for my English Speaking Board exams at school.
( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Mon 12 Jul 2010, 12:08, Reply)

HaHaHaHaHaHaHa(breath)HaHaHaHa!

(porkylips looks better as the sun goes down., Mon 12 Jul 2010, 12:11, Reply)

'morning all
The Ybike looks awesome. If she's as lively as you've described in the past then I can imagine it becoming her principal mode of transport.

The Rackham book is an excellent idea as, even if she doesn't fully appreciate the stories in it now, she'll look back on it fondly when she's about 20 and starting to get nostalgic about her childhood. (And, of course, a limp-wristed individual like myself is always going to like a book full of fairies...)
(LongJohnBaldry, Mon 12 Jul 2010, 11:56, Reply)