Sunday 28 May 2017

AniMalcolm by David Baddiel - A Howling Good Read!

My daughter Emma absolutely loves to read. She enjoys getting involved in a good book and being whisked away into a story of fun and adventure. She loves the kind of books where you just can't wait to find out what happens next and if it contains a comedy element too, then even better.

Animalcolm by David Baddiel was therefore the perfect new addition to her book collection, as not only does it offer a fun exciting story, but it also contains lots of fabulous animals, which is ideal for my pet loving daughter!

The Book

The book tells the story of Malcolm, who doesn't like animals! This is a problem because his family love them and their house is full of pets. What the house is NOT full of is stuff Malcolm likes. Such as the laptop he wanted for his birthday.

The only bright spot on the horizon is the Year Six school trip, to....Oh no. A farm.

Over the next few days, Malcolm changes. He learns what it's really like to be an animal. A whole series of animals, in fact...

It does make him think differently. And speak differently. And eat differently. And, um, smell differently. But will he end up the same as before?

Because sometimes the hardest thing to become is YOURSELF!





Animalcolm is written by David Baddiel who is both an author and comedian. It is his third novel, with his previous titles 'The Parent Agency' and 'The Person Controller' being runaway bestsellers. The Parent Agency was also the winner of the Best Laugh Out Loud Book for 9 to 13 year olds at the inaugural Laugh Out Loud Awards.

The book is now available in paperback format and was previously released as a hardback book.

Review

As soon as the book arrived my daughter had a quick glance through the pages. She was intially surprised by the width of the book with it being slightly bigger to books that she would usually select. However when she looked inside she found that the text size was quite large and there were also some illustrations within the book, so she soon realised that she would actually be able to read it quite quickly.

The front cover of the book also drew attention from the youngest member of the family Riley, who thought that the pictures of the sheep and the pig riding a horse were absolutely hilarious causing lots of giggles.

It wasn't long before Emma had her head firmly in the book and before I had even finished making our dinner, she proudly proclaimed that she had finished the first two chapters. It quickly became apparent that it was a book she was really enjoying and even took it to school with her so that she could read it at break time, or quiet time in class.

The titles of some of the chapters also created a few giggles with her brother Ben, as she kept reading out the chapter headings out loud, such as 'Stinky Blinky' and 'Manky Lettuce'. This in turn attracted Ben's attention to the book with him quickly asking whether he could read it next.

We received the book on Thursday and by Saturday evening my daughter had finished it. She enjoyed it that much that she even missed the first part of Britain's Got Talent so that she could complete the final chapter, now that is commitment!

Overall Emma really enjoyed the book. It is aimed at 8 to 11 year olds and is suitable for both boys and girls. My daughter is 10 years old, so the perfect age to enjoy both the story and the comedy aspect within. She really liked the fact that there is some illustrations too, as most of the books that she reads now are just writing only and so she said it was nice to get some idea of what the characters and animals looked like.

This was the first David Baddiel book that she has read, but on noticing that he has written two prior to this one, she has already asked to purchase The Parent Agency with her next lot of pocket money.

Disclaimer: This is a collaborative post and we received a copy of the book on a complimentary basis for the purpose of provide an honest review.

Sunday 21 May 2017

Alice in Wonderland at Storyhouse Chester - A Review


My family and I were invited to one of the opening productions of Alice in Wonderland this weekend that is being held at the brand new modern venue Storyhouse based in Chester.

A welcome addition to the city centre, Storyhouse features an 800 seat auditorium, a 200 seat studio theatre, cinema, library, restaurant and two bars. It is based within the old 1930's Odeon building which has been extensively restored into a spectacular new arts venue for Chester. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect inside, but was pleasantly surprised by the modern and trendy design throughout the building and absolutely loved the concept and idea of it all. It offers a fantastic community space and will be somewhere that we definitely return to as a family in the near future.

In terms of location it is really easy to find being located near the Grosvenor Shopping Centre and Chester Cathedral. There is plenty of parking available in several nearby car parks, however we chose to use the park and ride facility which cost us £3 to park at Sealand Road and for a return ticket on the bus, costing us less that it would have done to have parked in the city centre. The buses run approximately every 15 mins and Storyhouse was located literally just across the road from the bus stop that we arrived at. The outside of the building is very eye-catching with a modern edge and the large glass panelled windows are immediately noticeable. When we entered the venue, there was a noticeable buzz about the place with many guests who all seemed excited about the new venue and the facilities it offers.

Suprisingly there is no box office here, with the venue opting for the use of modern technology to provide ticketing and listing options at touch screen points within the building. Alternatively you can book online as we did and then either print your tickets at home, or simply show them your ticket on your mobile phone. We chose the latter option and had no issue accessing the theatre or finding our seats. Whilst some people may prefer to have a go to point such as a box office, we actually liked the simple technology factor and found that there were ample amounts of staff within the building who could assist if need be, so there are still 'humans' that can help you should the technology provide any difficulties.

In relation to staff I must say that every person we encountered was really courteous and helpful. We were unsure which way to go to get to the theatre and our lost faces must have been obvious as before we could ask for help, someone came over to us and offered their assistance. I thought that this was great as it shows that staff were alert and looking for guests to help as opposed to just waiting to be found. I also witnessed one member of staff assist a lady with children at the ticket machine and then guide her all the way to the theatre. Excellent customer service!

Whilst walking through the lower level we made our way through the library which offered a fantastic wide range of books. There was also plenty of seating with coffee tables so that you could grab a drink whilst reading. Being such a busy place it doesn't really offer the quietness of a traditional library, however I don't think this would put me off visiting for a read of a book and it would be an ideal area to grab a coffee if I had arrived early for a show. There was also some fun technology points which were basically giant computer screens on the wall and Emma and Ben enjoyed writing and drawing in different colours.

On entry to the theatre we found it to be a lovely space and the seats in the circle area were all well tiered so that children will always be able to see the stage regardless of how tall the person in front of them is. The lighting was just right to be able to find your seats with ease and they were very comfortable. Our seats were in the Circle on Row B which offered an excellent view of the stage, I would have preferred slightly more leg room but for a two hour show it was more than adequate. If I had been able to select specific seats then I would have chosen the centre of Row A in the circle which in my opinion offers the best view.

The production of Alice in Wonderland features an array of talent, with numerous cast members taking on multi-roles throughout the show. In what seemed like a slightly slow start to begin with, the show soon gathered pace and we were transported with Alice into the magical world of mystery, confusion and madness, that was Wonderland. The adaptation allowed some philosophical thinking for adults, an easy to follow story for children, along with some family friendly humour in parts. It offered a creative interpretation into the well known and much loved story of Alice in Wonderland and was very enjoyable to watch.

The acting was fantastic, as were the musical interludes that the cast provided on a range of instruments with the added fun addition of kazoos! Some scenes were particularly more enjoyable than others and my children had two stand out favourites which both took place in the first half. The first was a very hectic part of the show that featured 'The Duchess' whose lunges and squats around the stage created a lot of giggles as well as gasps when she completed a standing split. The second was the tea party scene, which had a nice comedy element as well as wonderful props. Alex Mugnaioni was brilliant as The Mad Hatter and played the character superbly.

The show lasted just under 2 hours in total and although I had chosen not to bring my son Riley (age 4) with us, there were plenty of children that were toddler age (and even babies) that seemed captivated by the show for the full length of time. The first half was slightly longer than the second and the interval allowed enough time for toilet breaks or to purchase snacks and drinks. A lady did come out on the floor by the stage to also sell ice creams, which had the usual inflated price tag of £2.50 a tub, however they were delicious and I was pleased to see that they were supporting other local businesses in selling Cheshire Ice Cream.

Overall we had a really enjoyable time at Storyhouse. The building was fantastic, staff were helpful, and the production was wonderful. We cannot wait to see what the future holds for this venue.

Listing details:

The team behind Stig of the Dump, The Wind in the Willows and The Secret Garden bring you a heartfelt, joyful production of Lewis Carroll's much-loved classic tale. With a host of colourful characters we know and love (and a few new ones to meet!) leading the adventure around a surreal world, it's the perfect opportunity to fall down the rabbit-hole with Storyhouse this summer.

Venue - Storyhouse, Hunter St, Chester, CH1 2AR

Dates - 19th May to 20th August 2017 with various show times and ticket prices.

For more information or to book tickets please visit www.storyhouse.com

Their social media pages can be found at:

Twitter: @StoryhouseLive
Facebook: www.facebook.com/storyhouselive
Instagram: @StoryhouseLive

Disclaimer: We were provided with complimentary tickets to provide an honest review of the venue and production. All opinions and photographs are my own unless otherwise stated.

Saturday 20 May 2017

Geronimo Festival 2017



The UK's largest children's festival, Geronimo, kicks off on 27th to 29th May 2017 at Arley Hall, Cheshire and for the first time ever, families can enjoy a full weekend of fun and camping on-site in the stunning grounds.

In it's third successive year, Geronimo festival is action-packed with more performances, activities and acts than ever before. With extravaganzas including the breathtaking Rajasthan's Elite Street Superstars and the death-defying Geronimo Festival Circus; kids can not only enjoy the show, but have a go at trying out their circus skills too, learning the trapeze and other tricks of the trade at The Circus House.

The ultimate children's festival also features headline live stage acts including the legendary Justin Fletcher, Andy Day, Mr Bloom, and pirates Cook and Line from Swashbuckle.

Guinness World Record holder Jez Avery will be performing his world class PRO BMX and Mountain Bike stunts at the show ground arena, along with hair raising Fire Stunt Displays and knuckle biting Shetland Pony Grand Nationals. Geronimo festival goers can enjoy the fun all to a sound track of street entertainment bursting with colour and sound; from Mr Wilson's Second Liners, a New Orleans funeral street parade meets 90's club classics rave, to Rockin Rhino's rocked up nursery rhyme remixes.

Brand new to Geronimo is the Digital Zone, where older children can meet their favourite YouTubers and Gamers as well as try their hand at all the latest technology. The Gamers Bus is a double decker packed with the latest gaming tech to keep gamers of all ages entertained; from latest gen consoles to high end gaming PC's linked together in multiplayer mayhem.

Exhaust active kids with the Marine's Inflatable assault course, Parkour workshops, plus the UK's first fully mobile, interactive 30 metre-long trailer cave. Little monkeys can enjoy the four climbing towers and a digital traverse wall.

Tiny tots can enjoy the fun too with Tiny Talk signing classes and sensory activities, along with little learners, the award-winning messy play and mark making class. Get groovy at Dance Baby Sling, fun dance classes using gentle movements choreographed to simulate every area of the baby's brain.

A huge range of street food stalls, artisan burger and wood-fired pizza vans will ensure even the fussiest of eaters will all be well fed and watered, recharged and ready to carry on enjoying the delights of Geronimo Festival.

The fun doesn't stop when the acts do, as for the first year ever families can now camp in the specially designed child friendly campsite. The campsite features both options to either bring your own tent, caravan or motorhome, or take advantage of the many glamping options. Families can choose from a wide range of fully equipped, spacious and unique boutique tents, including Arabian Bedouin Tents, Cosy Cubes or bright, airy and affordable Tangerine Tents. With the option of booking all the kit needed to camp and the promise of being pitched with friends regardless of group size or when you arrive, all the grown-ups need to worry about is making sure they get to see as much of the Geronimo Festival as they can.

For further information and to book tickets, please visit www.geronimofest.com

Ticket Prices

Day tickets start from £25pp
A two-day pass is priced at £39pp
A three-day pass is priced at £55pp
A weekend camping pass with ticket to the festival is £60pp
A weekend caravan/campervan pass with ticket to the festival is £90pp
Car parking is priced at £10 per vehicle
Carers go free.
Children under the age of 2 years go free of charge.
Adults must be accompanied by children.
As a thank you to loyal festival goers, repeat guests will also be treated to a free wrist band ride for Geronimo's Fun Fair.

Location and Date

Campers can access the site from 8am on Friday May 26th. Please note, no events programme is scheduled to take place the evening of May 26th. Some catering outlets will be operating, see website and social media for more information.

Geronimo Festival is open from 9am-6pm from Saturday May 27th to Monday May 29th. The programme varies each day, please see website for full daily line ups.

Geronimo Festival takes place within the grounds of Arley Hall and Gardens in Northwich, Cheshire. For satellite navigation, use postcode CW9 6NA.

Please note, a festival ticket does not include access to Arley Hall.

Friday 19 May 2017

Milkshake! Live Open the Pages of 'The Magic Storybook' at the Epstein Theatre


There's just over two weeks to go until Milkshake! Live, The Magic Storybook comes to Liverpool's Epstein Theatre just in time to entertain our little Epsteinies over the school half term holidays.

Milkshake! Live, The Magic Storybook is the fourth nationwide live tour from Channel 5's Milkshake! It comes to Liverpool on Friday 2nd June with two fun filled, family friendly performances at 12pm and 4pm.

The show stars Milkshake! favourites Bob the Builder, Little Princess, Noddy, Toyland Detective, Fireman Sam, Shimmer and Shine, Pip Ahoy!, Winnie and Wilbur, Wissper, as well as Milkshake!'s very own Milkshake! Monkey, and two Milkshake! presenters at every show. It will take audiences on a journey through their favourite fairy tales including much-loved stories that will be familiar for everyone - young and old - with lots of music, singing and dancing.

Milkshake! presenter and director Derek Moran said: "We cannot wait to be back touring the country with our brand-new show, The Magic Storybook. It's a magical show full of audience participation. The Milkshake audience will love the classic fairytale storylines, the songs and seeing lots of their favourite Milkshake! characters live on stage."

"It's incredibly important that we are able to take Milkshake! to our audiences around the UK so that everyone can have the opportunity to experience the brand in an immersive way," added Sarah Muller, Head of Children's, Channel 5.

"Through our live tours, we can give families a Milkshake event that they won't find anywhere else, one where they can meet their favourite characters and presenters whilst enjoying a brilliant family day out."

Theatre manager, Rebekah Pichilingi, said: "We are looking forward to welcoming the Milkshake" Team for a day of guaranteed family fun."

UK families can find out more about Milkshake! Live 'The Magic Storybook' by visiting facebook.com/milkshakelive or by following the tour on twitter @milkshaketour or Instagram @Milkshakelive.

Show Listings are as follows:

Milkshake! The Magic Storybook
Date: Friday 2nd June
Time: 12pm and 4pm
Tickets: Adults £15, Concessions £13.50, Family ticket (2 Adults, 2 Concessions £54).

To book tickets please call 0844 888 4411* or go online at www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk * or in person at The Epstein Theatre Box Office from 2pm-6pm Monday to Thursday and 12pm-6pm Friday to Saturday.

*Subject to booking fee. All prices include a £1 per ticket restoration levy.

For more details check out www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk and join their mailing list. You can also follow on facebook www.facebook.com/epsteintheatre and twitter @EpsteinTheatre.




Saturday 13 May 2017

Soreen Lunchbox Loaves - A Review

Soreen is a product that I have often noticed in the supermarket, however my children generally like food that they are familiar with and therefore tend to stick to the same food items when it comes to their lunchbox contents.

I wouldn't say that they are fussy eaters, but instead they have their firm favourite snacks and so don't really tend to try new things unless it has been something they have seen their friends eating in school or something that they have been able to have a sample of in a supermarket whilst shopping with me.

It was therefore nice to be offered the opportunity to try the new Soreen lunchbox loaves, which come in two flavours, original and banana. Soreen is the UK's favourite malt loaf and are now available in small convenient sizes. The packs include 5 individually wrapped loaves which is the perfect number for school packed lunches. They are a great source of fibre, and contain less than 0.3g of saturated fat. The Soreen Lunchbox Loaves contain only 95 calories each and even meet the Government's Nutritional Standards for School, which are all reassuring figures for parents looking for a nutritional but tasty snack for their children (or themselves too!).


Both the original flavour and the banana flavour are suitable for vegetarians, which is great for us as several of my daughters friends are vegetarian, so it gives us a handy go to snack to have in the cupboard for when they come round to play. Although they are named Lunchbox Loaves they are also great for an after school snack, or something that can easily be carried around in your handbag for when you are out and about.


The packaging stands out on the shelf, and like I said previously, it is a brand that I have noticed numerous times in the supermarket which I believe is because of the wrapper. The bright yellow colour instantly catches your eye, and the use of red text against the yellow background also makes the brand name very obvious and easy to read.  The nutritional information is featured in the top right hand corner (as you look at it) and there is a handy checklist which provides useful information about being lunchbox friendly and the items being individually wrapped. The small clear window on the left hand side is a great idea, as this gives you a sneak peek at what the product looks like inside and allows you to see both the design and size of the lunchbox loaves, helping you to make an informed purchase.


When it came to the taste test my daughter Emma preferred the Banana flavour out of the two. Initially she wasn't sure whether she liked them, but after a couple of bites she said that they were actually really tasty, and that her initial indecisiveness was just down to the fact that it was a different texture from what she is used to. She was expecting it to be similar to a crumbly cake, so was taken by surprise by the soft and squidgy texture. As soon as she had finished her first one, she then asked for a second which is always a good sign that she enjoyed it!


Ben on the other hand preferred the original flavour, which was great for me as it meant no arguments over who had which in their lunchbox, or who would get the last one in the packet! He found the original flavour really tasty and his pack of 5 only lasted three days as opposed to the full school week as he took a couple of them to football training with him so he could have a quick snack just before he started.


My stepson Liam who is 17 also came and tested these for us when he stayed over this week. He has always been a fan of Soreen and so was keen to try out the lunchbox loaves and provide his opinion. He thoroughly enjoyed both of the flavours and his only slightly negative comment was that he found the smell of the banana one quite strong. He loved the taste though and took several packets of both flavours to school with him the next day.

Overall, the Soreen Lunchbox Loaves were a big hit with our family and the product is suitable for all ages not just children. They can be purchased from Asda, The Co-operative, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Waitrose and Ocado.com. The current RRP of the product is £1.35 per pack of five, however several of the supermarkets currently have these on offer for only £1!

Disclaimer: We were provided with samples of this product on a complimentary basis for the purpose of writing an honest review of our experience with the product. All views, opinions and photographs are my own unless otherwise stated. 

Thursday 11 May 2017

Bob the Builder: Mega Machines - The Movie

You may remember back in February we visited the fabulous Mattel Play in Liverpool, where Riley had a fantastic time pretending to be his favourite Mattel characters. He absolutely loved the Bob the Builder zone, where I am sure he could have quite happily spent hours playing in Bob's kitchen, pretending to drive his vehicles and enjoying all the construction toys.



I was therefore very excited to hear about the new Bob the Builder adventure, where he is taking to the screen with his new movie Bob the Builder: Mega Machines - The Movie.

Showing at select UK cinemas on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th May, budding builders can experience an action-packed plotline featuring twists and turns, as Scoop, Muck and Lofty are eager to help Bob with his biggest build yet, constructing a dam and transforming an old quarry into a reservoir to provide Spring City with fresh water! Little ones will love seeing their favourite characters and also some new faces in the most epic Bob the Builder adventure yet!



Bob has also enlisted the help of another builder, Conrad, to help clear the quarry, along with his three enormous Mega Machines, Thud, Crunch and former TV star Ace. However, it soon becomes clear that Conrad, secretly resentful that he lost out on the dam-building contract to Bob, is plotting to undermine his rival's reputation and sabotages the dam. Soon Bob realises that things are not as they should be and that it's up to him and his team to save Spring City!

The exciting new release combines entertainment with real and practical learning values, together with lessons in social and emotional development from it's lovable characters, with an emphasis on friendship. The STEM curriculum has been built into the plotline, seamlessly underpinning the action, whilst Bob and the crew demonstrate the power of positive-thinking, problem-solving, teamwork and follow-through.

Conrad, actor Brian Cox says: "Both generations of my kids watched Bob the Builder because he's been around for a very long time. I think the thing about Bob is it's a very simple concept and it's not too complicated for children. They link on to it because of the machines, because of all the accoutrement that goes with Bob. It's his simplicity that's really at the heart of it and that's what makes it last, and has made it last through generation to generation. The history of animation is all about the history of developing images; images that become much more CGI and less cartoony and less drawn. I think Bob is part of that heritage and part of the whole development."

A great day out for all the family this bank holiday weekend, your nearest cinema screenings, viewing times and booking options can be found here and you can watch the trailer here, for a sneak peek of what Bob and the gang are up to - let's get building!

To book tickets please visit - Bob the Builder: Mega Machines - The Movie

Sunday 7 May 2017

Gangsta Granny by David Walliams Comes to the Stage! - Competition

My children love the book 'Gangsta Granny' by David Walliams, so much so that on World Book Day this year, my son Ben dressed up as the main character from the book complete with swag bag and walking stick!

We were therefore delighted to learn that the Birmingham Stage Company – the acclaimed producers of Horrible Histories, George’s Marvellous Medicine and Tom’s Midnight Garden – are bringing their world premiere of David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny to the Opera House, Manchester, from Wednesday 7 June to Sunday 11 June 2017.


David Walliams is one of the judges on the popular Britain's Got Talent TV Show, and creator of the ground-breaking comedy series Little Britain and Big School. He is now also the best-selling author for children in the country.

David began his publishing career at Harper Collins in early 2008 with his debut novel The Boy in the Dress. Then, after writing two other popular stories, in 2011 he published Gangsta Granny, which was shortlisted for both The Red House Children's Book Award and for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize.


At Christmas 2013 a TV version of Gangsta Granny was shown on BBC One with an all-star cast including David Walliams himself. Gangsta Granny went straight to Number 1 in the childrens's book charts and his books have been translated into no fewer than 30 languages.

Gangsta Granny is a must for all families as the show will be enjoyed by everyone aged from 5 to 105! It's both laugh out loud funny with some brilliant comic scenes but also has some very moving and truthful things to say about family relationships.

Tickets can be booked now at www.atgtickets.com/Manchester or by calling the box office on 0844 871 3018. (Booking/transaction fee applies).

Listing information:

Gangsta Granny
Opera House, Manchester
3 Quay Street
Manchester
M3 3HP

Wednesday 7th June - Sunday 11th June 2017
Performances: Wednesday and Friday 10am and 7pm / Thursday 10am and 2pm / Saturday 10:30am and 2:30pm / Sunday 11am.

Tickets: From £19

We also have a family ticket (2 adults + 2 children) to give away to the show on Wednesday 7th June at 7pm at the Opera House Manchester. Tickets are non transferable and valid for the stated date only. If you would like to enter then please use the gleam app below. Good Luck!


Win a Family Ticket to see Gangsta Granny!

Terms & Conditions: Competition open to UK entrants only. No bulk/third party entries. There is 1 (one) prize of 1 (one) x family ticket (2 adults & 2 children) for the 7pm show on Wednesday 7th June 2017 at Opera House Manchester. The tickets are non transferable and are only valid for the date and time as stated. Competition closes on Friday 2nd June at midday. Due to the short time between the competition closing and the date of the show, the winner will have 24 hours to respond to the winning email before a new winner from the remaining eligible entries is drawn. Failure to respond to the winning email within 24 hours will result in the prize being forfeited and a new winner being chosen. The winners details shall be shared with the promoter for the purpose of prize fulfilment only. 

Wednesday 3 May 2017

Rapidough Game by Drumond Park - A Review

We have recently had the chance to try out the latest edition of the popular Drumond Park game Rapidough. We had all heard of the game before, and so we were really excited to have a family games night to review the game and see what it was all about.


Rapidough is the UK's original and most popular team game of modelling charades. It is a game designed for the whole family so that everyone can join in and have lots of fun. It is a great way to get family and friends all laughing together and as well as being a fun family game, I can also see this being a great game to play with adults too if having friends round one evening. 

The game itself comes in a square purple box with the slogan "Guess too slow and you lose some dough". My daughter thought this line alone was hilarious before the box had even been opened. The name of the game is printed across the front of the box in clear white lettering and there is an image of two sets of dough along with a plunger in the middle.


The top left hand corner of the box (as you look at it) recommends the game as being suitable for 4 or more players aged 8 to adult and the Drumond Park logo can be clearly seen in the top right hand corner.

The reverse of the box gives you some insight into what the game involves, with a paragraph of text briefly explaining the aim of the game. There is also some graphics that show what is inside the box, and some small images of a model that is being made during a game along with some suggestions as to what it may be. The box also advertises the fact that all the words involved in the game are family friendly which is reassuring, and there is also a small advisory to make buyers aware that the Rapidough dough contains wheat.


The bottom right hand corner provides a list of contents which are:
  • 2 Pots of Modelling Dough
  • 2 Modelling Mats
  • 2 Modelling Tools
  • 2 Dough Plugger Tools
  • 300 Word Cards
  • Rules

The game is played in two teams, and the modeller in each team takes a card and then attempts to sculpt the word or words shown into a shape. Their team mates must then try to guess what is emerging from the coloured modelling dough.

In each round, the first team to identify what's been modelled correctly is the winner. However, at the end of each round the losing team must have one 'plug' of dough taken away. This is when it gets really funny, because as soon as you start to lose dough, it becomes much harder to try and sculpt some of the words, especially when you are only left with a pea-sized amount!

We began by selecting our teams and made it a boys vs girls challenge, with my daughter and I on one team, and Mr F & Ben on the other. We shuffled the cards and then Ben took the card from the top and chose which word he was going to model. He then passed the card to Emma who then chose her own subject to model too. 

When we were ready to begin, Emma and Ben each rolled their dough into a ball until I shouted "GO!". There is no specific time limit and so it is literally a race between each team to guess the correct word first. Mr F and I began shouting our suggestions straight away, and it became harder for the children to sculpt whilst laughing so much at some of the words we were coming out with. For example I thought the below picture was a dog or a sheep, but it was actually a jumper which I did finally guess correctly in the end!



Much to my relief due to being very competitive, I guessed correctly first, and we were able to remove a plug of dough from the boy's team. The game ends when one of the team runs out of dough, but this took quite a while and so we were able to enjoy the game as a family for a good length of time before it was over.

We really liked the fact that this is a hands on game, and that you can use your creative skills to play. It was also great that we were all able to play at  the same time, so no one had to wait their turn or get bored. We really enjoyed the challenge and the competitive side of the game, and half way through it brought on a severe case of the giggles for me as I kept getting distracted by all the random words that the kids were shouting whilst I was trying to model my word. I am not the most artistic of people but it was so funny listening to what my daughter was interpreting my sculpture to be.


Obviously the game does contain dough, so its best to play the game on a table, or put a blanket/towel down on the floor before playing just to avoid any damage to carpets. We didn't lose any on the floor, but I know that if we were to let Riley join in then there would definitely be a few pieces here and there. The tubs have lids so as long as they are put on properly after each game then there is no reason as to why the dough may go hard, however if that was to happen it would be very easy to replace the dough or even make some yourself. 

Overall we had a fantastic time playing this game, and would definitely recommend it to others. It is a great family game suitable for ages 8+ and has an RRP of £24.99. It is competitive and can get quite noisy with the shouting of the guesses but this all increases the fun factor, and makes it really funny. Everything packs away into the box neatly and so storing the game away isn't an issue. If you are after an easy to understand game that makes you laugh, then this is ideal!

Disclaimer: I was provided with this game on a complimentary basis for the purpose of providing an honest and unbiased review. All opinions and photographs are my own.