Maternal musings on lockdown life with littlies
Chalk, Cheese and a Baby
What's it all about?
During the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown in August-September 2021, Anna began writing limerick poems describing her adventures with her three little kids, as well as more general thoughts on the highs and lows of pandemic parenting, and various COVID-related topics.
Some of the moments described in the poems were sweet, others improbable; some hilarious, others downright exasperating. Composing silly verses about events as they happened in front of her turned out to be a wonderful form of mental escapism...
If you've been through lockdown yourself recently, or ever spent time caring for young children, you might find these stories ring true for you too! The spirit of the poems and the experiences they describe - all genuine - is beautifully captured in Rebecca's wonderful illustrations.
A glimpse inside the book...
It’s funny the moods you go through
during weeks spent cooped up with your crew.
When lockdown begins,
my head nearly spins
with ideas for what we could do.
...
But as time marches on, tempers spike.
The rain makes it less fun to bike.
The older kids bicker,
and I find I’m quicker
to yell than I really would like.
...
“Hey kids, I’ve got a new game!
I’ll be silent, and you be the same!
We’ll all be so quiet.
Come on, let’s just try it!”
Instead, they start chanting my name.
...
What do readers say?
"just the little lift my heart needed" - Emily Writes (@emilywritesnz)
"encapsulates lockdown parenting with keen observation, awareness and such wit" - Kate S
“... very relatable”; “… fun to read, some cracking laugh-out-loud lines” - friends
“Mum, I kind of hate your poems...” - Master 5
Who will get the profits?
Once costs are recovered, any profits will be shared evenly between
Parent Help and Kahungunu Whānau Services.
Parent Help provides nationwide services to help with all parenting issues, from the smallest, to the most serious issue of child abuse. They offer a helpline, affordable counselling, training workshops, and online resources to support parents. Find out more at https://www.parenthelp.org.nz.
Kahungunu Whānau Services is a kaupapa Māori organisation providing housing solutions and social support services across the wider
Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington) region. They believe the key to transformational change and thriving communities lies within the power of Whānau. Find out more at https://www.nkkp.org.nz.
Payment
If you are in New Zealand, my preferred mode of payment is by online bank transfer into this NZ bank account:
02-0568-0098792-012 (MG & A Bloomfield).
Thank you - as a self-published author this helps keep my costs down.
Alternatively you have the option of paying with credit or debit card by secure Stripe transaction right here on this site (the purchase page will take you through this), or you're welcome to pay cash on collection if you're local to Wellington.
Shipping
Checkout has options for collecting your order in person from Northland, Wellington, or shipping up to five books to an address in NZ or Australia.
For shipping to a rural NZ address or to an address outside NZ or Australia, or for shipping more than five books anywhere, please email chalkcheesebaby@gmail.com before placing your order so we can discuss shipping costs.
About us
Anna Bloomfield is a mother of three and lawyer who lives in Wellington, New Zealand. Her first book was an unexpected little creative project inspired by her experiences of COVID-19 lockdown with her kids. The events that inspired her second book occurred not long after she published Chalk Cheese and a Baby, and the Knobbly Ball has been bouncing around in her head ever since.
Rebecca Gibbs is an illustrator, teacher and designer based in Banks Peninsula, New Zealand. See more of her work at www.rebeccagibbsillustration.com.
Contact me
Thank you so much for your support! It means a lot to me.
If you have any questions or feedback about the books, bulk orders, payment, delivery, or collection, or if you have any issues using the website, or if you just want to say hello, please contact: