Grandad’s Secret Giant, David Litchfield

Frances Lincoln Children’s Books  ISBN 9781847808479  £11.99 The illustrations alone make this an enchanting book. The colours are deep and rich and the giant is cleverly hidden, encouraging young readers to try and spot him on each page. The story itself tells a tale of a loving grandparent-grandchild relationship who share a secret and find…

Glitter, Stella J Jones, illustrated by Judi Abbot

Little Tiger Press  ISBN 9781848694323  £6.99 ‘With glitter on every page!’ states a sticker on the front of the book.  What’s not to like? This fun picture book tells the tale of Gloria, a rhino who just loves glitter. She cannot get enough of glitter, it’s her ‘favourite colour’ and everywhere she goes she leaves…

Everybody Feels… Scared! Moira Butterfield, illustrated by Holly Sterling

QED ISBN 9781784938574 £6.99 The series includes Everybody Feels Sad!, Happy! and Angry! and is a paperback edition of the series that was first published in hardback in 2016. Children are introduced to feelings and then helped them manage their emotions. They also gain insight into how others might be feeling. The illustrations are attractive, with simple facial expressions.…

The Doughnut of Doom, Elys Dolan

Nosy Crow  ISBN 9780857637475  £11.99 A giant pink doughnut is the disastrous result of Professor Nutcase’s experiment at the Lemon Labs.  Panic ensues in Food Town when the doughnut escapes, and attempts to catch it by the emergency services fail, as the doughnut eats its way through their defences.  Nancy McNutty, a trainee reporter in…

Bug Bear, Patricia Hegarty, illustrated by Carmen Saldana

Little Tiger  ISBN 9781848694514  £10.99 This picture book is dedicated to all those who have ever had a bugbear of their own. So begins a delightful, literal interpretation of this lovely expression as a sleeping bear is troubled by a pesky – albeit very friendly – little bug who wants to make a home in…

Beyond The Fence, Maria Gulemetova

Child’s Play ISBN 9781846439308 £5.99 This powerful allegorical tale is not a feel-good book but is one that could lead to poignant discussion and philosophical ideas. The watercolour illustrations are in muted tones and the characters are small and seem to take second place to the landscape and rooms. The overall feeling is one of…