Give us the Mr Men version of history

Open thread: Michael Gove doesn't seem to think Roger Hargreaves' characters make good teaching aids. Can you prove him wrong?

Reader reviews roundup

Time-travel, Victorians, magic and baby bats are among the topics discussed in this week's jam-packed roundup!

My top five secret reads

HorseLover3000 reveals the five books she should really have grown out of by now, but just can't bear to throw away

Monster and Chips by David O’Connell – review

Evapea: This is a fun, enjoyable book complete with jokes and a witty plot

Catch that Bat by Adam Frost, illustrated by Mark Chambers – review

Velociraptor: 'it is very exciting while reading'

Michael Rosen: ‘I’m the yeast in the Brighton festival cake’

As the Brighton festival gets started in the seaside sunshine, guest director Michael Rosen tells Michelle Pauli about his role and what he's most looking forward to in the children's books programme

I need books set in castles and on islands, please

There are adventures galore to be had on the wonderful playgrounds that are castles and islands and many classic children's stories use them as a setting

What’s for Dinner, Mr Gum? By Andy Stanton and David Tazzyman – review

Emily and Maisy: 'We'd never read any Mr Gum books before and we're now hooked'

Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis – review

superspy: 'There is no main story, but lots of funny episodes from his life'

Reader reviews roundup

You know it's that time of the week again... Popular topics among our young reviewers this week involved mortality, romance – and a Panda called Ping!