Shhh! A lift-the-flap book with a difference

We LOVE Keep Out! Bears About! by Sally Grindley and Peter Utton. It's a brilliant concept which involves the children directly in the story – the narrator speaking are they sure they want to carry on? Are they brave enough to go through that dark wood, even if there might be bears? And all the...

Chicken Clicking by Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross

I always feel in safe hands with Jeanne Willis. She has written some of my absolute favourite books - Wild Child, Bog Baby, Susan Laughs - and this one doesn't disappoint. One day, Chick wanders in to the farmhouse and starts browsing the internet. Much hilarity follows as Chick buys unexpected gifts for herself and...

Lil’ Merl and the Dastardly Dragon

Flying Eye books have put together a cracking book by Liam Barrett. They refer to it as a story-activity book. I think of it as an adventure in book format. Lil' Merl is a young wizard called upon to help rescue the king's treasure from the claws of a Dastardly Dragon. The reader is whipped...

Chickens Can’t See in the Dark by Kristyna Litten

Roll up, roll up! Pull up a chair, squeeze in, pass the sweets round, for I have a thing of wonder for you to behold! The fabulous Kristyna Litten has created a picture book with a female animal main character! Yes, it is true! Now hold on to your seats because there's more.... She's female,...

Ella by Alex T. Smith

Now this is what I'm talking about! Look at this beautiful book. I haven't felt this happy since the great cake stall incident of 2010. It looks good enough to eat. (But don't! I gave the foily red cover a little lick earlier and it doesn't taste of strawberry jam as I had hoped.) Still,...