The Rhyming Rabbit, by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Lydia Monks (Macmillan, £10.99). Age: 3+
Julia Donaldson, the newly appointed children's laureate, may be best known for The Gruffalo, but her huge output contains a great many other gems besides. Although The Rhyming Rabbit lacks the brilliant simplicity of The Gruffalo, the tale of a rabbit who can't stop making up verses – much to the irritation of everyone, until she finds a sheep with an equally poetic turn of mind – has a delightful dottiness which is just as captivating. The addition of glitter-encrusted illustrations by Lydia Monks makes it pretty, too.
A Place to Call Home, by Alexis Deacon, illustrated by Viviane Schwarz (Walker, £11.99). Age: 4+
There's an epic adventure at the heart of this witty picture book, as seven furry creatures burst out of the small, dark hole in which they were born and set out anxiously to find a new home. Inadequately armed and with no knowledge of the world beyond their hole, they bravely face up to the unknown, make several false starts, enter alien territory and see off opposition before finding a wonderful new world. Young readers will love knowing what the little animals don't as they follow the pictures and recognise the realities that lie behind this freshlyobserved adventure.
Traction Man and the Beach Odyssey, by Mini Grey (Cape, £10.99). Age: 5+
Mini Grey's irresistible Traction Man, a small toy with a large personality, is back for a new adventure of dramatic rescues and daring deeds. It's holiday time, and Traction Man packs everything, including mint cake and flexible flippers, that he might need for any eventuality at the seaside. Along with his friend Scrubbing Brush, Traction Man explores the wonders of the beach and, when his friend is swept out to sea by a giant wave, Traction Man sets out to save him. Soon, however, the two are off on a new adventure that is full of surprises – and even young ladies. As ever, the richly imagined world of Traction Man is packed full of the wonderful jokes that have made his adventures such a delight.
Painting Out the Stars, by Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham, illustrated by Michael Foreman (Walker, £5.99). Age: 4+
The magic of folk tales from long ago and far away is woven into these freshly written stories. Simply but lyrically told, they show how difficulties can be transformed by wonder in some way. In the first story, an ageing desert guide finds a baby girl guarded by a camel after a violent sandstorm; there's only a scrap of ribbon to give any clue to her birth. He takes both home and, as he ages and his sight fails, she becomes his eyes. When strangers arrive and ask for help, it is she who takes up his guiding skills, saves their lives and unravels the story of her past.
