Damyanti and Bryn, aged 4 As soon as I read the title aloud Bryn was keen to hear the story, how could he resist when it includes the word 'Bum'? The book is a 'cheeky celebration of bodies and bottoms'. When a girl, decides her bum is too big and refuses to go swimming, it is her younger and wiser sister who points out how handy a big bum can be. Inventing histories for an eclectic mix of familiar characters from Santa Claus to Houdini and not forgetting Cinderella, this proved to be a fabulously funny story which definitely tickled Bryn. Bryn has asked for this story a number of times and I have been happy to settle my 'big bum on the sofa', read the story again & unsuccesfully stifle a giggle at the idea that some bums have a trumpet in them.
Photograph: Red Fox Picture Books Photograph: Action images
Reba and Amatullah, aged 2 Douglas is excited about the sleepover at Rabbit's house. He invites along Little Sheep but unknowingly takes along nine other sheep who have hitched a ride on his backpack. Unfortunately Rabbit does not live in a three-bedroom burrow and it is a squeeze to say the least with a rabbit, a huge bear and ten sheep. And when Little Sheep tickles Douglas' nose and causes him to sneeze … well you can take a guess what happens next! Amatullah loved this story and the bold vibrant colours and adorable illustrations held her attention. She especially enjoyed the page where you count ten sheep popping up from below the ground. I think Hugless Douglas fits right in with the well-loved classics and will be remembered for many years to come. Photograph: Hodder Children's Books
Christine, Ava (3 months), Leon (18 months), Isabel (2) and Theo (3) This book gives the child the opportunity to add to the illustrations themselves. It's the first time we have read a book like this. Suitable for boys and girls of 4 years plus. Our eldest grandson loved it, choosing a secret agent to represent himself. Plus, a giant slug - the more revolting the better! Any child that loves drawing and being involved in an action story will enjoy this book and we would love to read more in the series. Great fun!! Photograph: Nosy Crow Ltd
Teri and Mya, aged 2 This is a very modern looking picture book and a classic story of friendship. It's a beautiful story about a penguin who finds a pinecone in the snow but finds that the pinecone needs to go home as it's too cold for it. Penguin sets off on a long journey and that's where the adventure begins. Mya enjoyed looking at all the pictures and talking about the penguins. A lovely, well told story. Photograph: Bloomsbury Childrens
Jennifer and Minnie, aged 1 Rhinos Don't Eat Pancakes has also gone down well in this household. Its quirky drawings and funny storyline are a huge hit with Minnie. The little girl in the book feels ignored by her parents, even more so when a huge purple rhino walks into the kitchen one day. She tries to tell everyone but no one listens. So she becomes friends with the rhino and has a lot of fun. The text is witty and fun and I love the illustrations. Things turn out well for everyone in the end with a nice twist added. Looking forward to finding more books from these two ladies. Photograph: Simon & Schuster Childrens Books
Jennifer and Minnie aged 1 and Bebe, 8 months Well I let out a big whoop indeed when I saw this book! It's in rhyming text and there's a great moment where you get a tongue twister with the lines Ant, Aunt, chant.... which comes out very felicity Kendal. Superworm is no ordinary worm and we join him on a dramatic adventure, with twists and turns aplenty! The illustrations from Alex Scheffler are, as always, marvellous. The unusual faces on the animals and bugs and small details and surprises you pick out only after you've read it a few times, which I think is nice. The crazy toddler sat with me and kept quiet whilst I read to her and asked for it again so that's a good sign, and the 8 month old liked to gnaw the dust jacket, so high praise indeed. Photograph: Alison Green Books
Reba and Amatullah, aged 2 Amatullah loves the original tales of Peter Rabbit and friends and she was not disappointed with this new tale. It is written in the same humorous style as that of Beatrix Potter. Peter Rabbit is bored so he decides to break into Mr McGregor's garden with the intention of stealing a lettuce but instead ends up far, far away in Scotland when he falls asleep in the picnic basket. Here he meets a HUGE black rabbit by the name of Finlay and gets up to even more mischief. Eleanor Taylor's illustrations are charming and complemented by the soft warm colours she uses. The well-loved mischievous rabbit is back in this story that is sure to be a classic in itself. It's lovely when my childhood favourite characters also become my daughter's. Photograph: Warne
Gina, Evie (3) and Isobel (1) My three-year old daughter quite enjoys factual books, and is currently very into "bug-hunting" as she calls it, so this book was right up her street. I really loved that a factual book still had beautiful illustrations and that a "bug" book didn't just focus on the gruesome which often works well to attract many. The text rolls along, with a nicely evolving "story" about various insects. The insects focused on are principally common ones that every child should be able to find in town or country. There is also an excellent section at the back with suggestions of simple insect detective tasks that the reader can do. We would really recommend this book to curious children everywhere. Photograph: Walker
Siobhan and Ellie, 18 months We loved this book! It is a quirky, life-affirming tale with a central message about the value of friendship and the importance of thinking of others. But what really makes this book is the beautiful, remarkably evocative illustrations. Ellie was also rather taken with the illustrations, pointing out lots of the little details in them. The cat slightly resembled our own beleaguered feline so won her heart immediately. She sat entranced throughout the story and then proclaimed "gain" (her way of demanding another reading). High praise indeed! Mini Grey is quoted as saying "I wanted the pictures of their life on the beach to be full of space and light and breeze". This is exactly what she has achieved and the result is genuinely emotive. Photograph: Red Fox Picture Books
Marzena and Dominic, aged 2 A tiny little fly chases after an elephant, a hippo and a tiger, trying to land on them. All the animals are confident that they can catch the little intruder but for once their size is against them. Much to their annoyance, despite their efforts to catch it, it's three nil to the tiny little fly, as each time it faces a new challenge it buzzes happily away unharmed. Short it may be, and yet it's full of movement and drama: there is trampling and crushing, rolling and squashing, swooping and snatching. This is a deliciously active and humorous story. And how mighty fabulous those characters are: the fly's targets fill up the pages to emphasize their size. They're fantastically beautiful and I would happily frame each and every illustration. Photograph: Walker
