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.
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 Aro Valley, Wellington, or shipping up to three copies to an address in NZ or Australia.
For shipping outside NZ or Australia, or for shipping more than three copies 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. Producing this book has been an unexpected little creative project inspired by her experiences of COVID-19 lockdown with her kids.
Rebecca Gibbs is an illustrator, teacher and designer based in Banks Peninsula, New Zealand. See more of her work at www.rebeccagibbsillustration.com
