Helen Cooper, The Baby Who Wouldn't Go to Bed

Corgi Children's, 9780552528382 | Suggested age range: 3-5

Refusing his mother's efforts to get him to go to bed, the baby revs up his toy car and speeds off to have an adventure, but everywhere he goes he finds a sleepy world. Tiger sees night as a time for snoring not roaring, the soldiers he longs to play with are resting not fighting, the train doesn't want to race as it trundles back to its depot. Even the moon is drowsy. Soon the baby is all alone. Luckily, someone is still awake to tuck him into bed. Full of nursery detail, each beautiful spread is a richly imagined night-time world.

Helen Cooper, Pumpkin Soup

Corgi Children's, 9780552545105 | Suggested age range: 3-5

This classic picture book is imbued with the warm colours of pumpkin. Cat, Squirrel and Duck live in perfect harmony. Every day, each with their own job to do, they make rich pumpkin soup. One fateful day, Duck wants to take a different job. When the others refuse and Duck storms off, the three find out that it is their friendship that really matters. With their strong personalities and gutsy interaction, the three characters are pleasingly toddler-like.