Allan Ahlberg (Illus. Joe Wright), Mrs Plug the Plumber

Puffin, 9780140312386

Mrs Plug is a resourceful woman. Not only is she a plumber which is useful in itself, she also manages to see off robbers and, when rewarded by a trip on a cruise liner, she saves the ship when it develops a leak. With Mr Plug as her plumber's mate and the little Plug children as her assistants, it is quite a team. A 'real' book but one that is easy to read with hilarious illustrations, this is just one in the fabulous 'Happy Families' series.

Giles Andreae (Illus. Nick Sharratt), Pants

Corgi Books, 9780552548335

Pants. Whatever the size, colour or shape, they delight children of all ages. In just a few bubbly words, different kinds of pants are celebrated and applauded with exuberance and without a hint of anything salacious about them.

Catherine Anholt and Laurence Anholt, Happy Birthday Chimp and Zee

Frances Lincoln, 9781845071349

Lovable twins, Chimp and Zee, are back to celebrate their birthday and they are going bananas with excitement. Predictable - and unpredictable - birthday surprises follow for the twins and their friends ending in a glorious fold-out birthday surprise for everyone to enjoy. A wonderful expression of birthday delight.

Henriette Barkow (Illus. Richard Johnson), The Giant Turnip

Mantra Lingua,

Dual Language. Available in 22 languages

Adapted from the traditional Russian tale, this version of the story tells how Miss Honeywood's class plant and water and weed their vegetable garden. When they return from holiday they find that one vegetable has grown and GROWN. How they manage to pull the giant turnip from the ground and turn it into soup for all makes a warmhearted story celebrating the bounty of nature and the pleasure of joint endeavour.

Stan Berenstain and Jan Berenstain, Bears in the Night

HarperCollins, 9780001712713

Daringly, the brave but foolhardy bears sneak out of bed to take a night-time trip up Spook Hill. Out of bed, down the stairs, out of the window, under the bridge, around the lake, through the woods and up Spook Hill. What do they find there? It's so spooky that they are soon down, around, under, in and finally back up the stairs and into bed in double quick time. Cleverly paced, the whole drama is told in only 24 often-repeated words, with pictures that carry the frequently changing emotions of the cheeky bears.

Mara Bergman (Illus. Nick Maland), Oliver Who Would Not Sleep

Hodder Children's, 9780340893296

A celebration of the need for imagining and dreaming. All the inventiveness of a night-time adventure is packed into this story of a boy who just won't go to sleep. Oliver Donnington Rimington-Sneep has no fears of night-time. Instead he sees it as a time for exploration and fun. Racing his cars, blasting off into space, all this and more needs to be done before sleep. A spare, rhythmic text and elegant illustrations which are strong both on impression and detail make this a book to savour.

Stella Blackstone (Illus. Christopher Corr), My Granny Went to Market

Barefoot Books, 9781905236381

Take a fabulous trip with this remarkable granny as she goes on a round the world shopping spree. It all begins with just one flying carpet but then there are two temple cats in Thailand, three masks, and so on until ten black llamas in the mountains of Peru. Glorious illustrations show the different locations that Granny visits and the whole is told in a delightful rhyming text.

Valerie Bloom (Illus. David Axtell), Fruits

Macmillan, 9780333653128

From half a pawpaw to ten bananas, this is a wonderful Caribbean counting poem during which a little girl eats her fill - and more! The richly drawn illustrations describe the different, often sneaky, ways she gets her fruits and - just sometimes - shares them until she's feeling very sick.

Raymond Briggs, Ug

Red Fox, 9780099417897

Stone Age boy Ug longs for a better way of life, and in particular for a pair of soft trousers. But the poor boy is ahead of his time. Everyone scoffs at his notions. His mother thinks that he's a softy when he brings her flowers; his friends think he's mad to want something other than a stone to play football with ... but Ug persists. A book full of jokes and questions showing how questioning the norm (which is what all children do) may have some sense to it. After all, most of the things that Ug was asking for have come about.

Paul Bright (Illus. Ben Cort), Under the Bed

Little Tiger Press, 9781854308641

A witty inversion of a familiar anxiety, this will help to allay all bedtime fears. There is something under the bed ... It's a huge and hairy something with warts on its nose and big scary paws. And it's scared too! All the under-the-bed monster wants is for its mummy and daddy to come and rescue it before the little boy above it in the bed scares it half to death.

Ruth Brown, Imagine

Andersen Press, 9781842705643

Ruth Brown's painterly illustrations offer a feast for the imagination. Conjuring up opposites, she contrasts hot and cold, old and new, flat and round. In only a few words, this book quietly but purposefully stimulates thinking.

Anthony Browne, Bear Hunt

Walker Books, 9780140553567

Bear sets out for a walk. All he has with him is a pencil. And it is all he needs as, with it, he can draw his way out of trouble when the hunters turn up. The cool story told in the sparest of texts is made rich by the riot of visual invention that fills the illustrations.

Eileen Browne, Handa's Surprise

Walker Books, 9780744536348

Handa carefully packs seven different delicious fruits into her basket and, carrying it on her head, sets off to give them to her friend Akeyo. As she goes, her basket is emptied by greedy animals sneaking up behind her and taking their favourite fruit. With just a minimal text, the story is wittily told through the pictures which allow readers to know what has happened even though Handa does not.

John Burningham, Avocado Baby

Red Fox, 9780099200611

Mr and Mrs Hargreaves want their baby to be big and strong but there is nothing he likes to eat, until they tempt him with a bit of avocado pear. After that, some strange things happen. Still in his babygro and remaining baby size, the Avocado Baby develops the most amazing strength. First he can break out of the straps of his high chair, soon he sees off a burglar, moves the grand piano and throws some bullies into the pond. Now the Hargreaves have a sign saying 'Beware of the Baby' on their gate, but sometimes the baby is just like any other baby - peacefully asleep in his carrycot. An entertaining story about what a baby might get up to.

John Burningham, Mr Gumpy's Outing

Red Fox, 9780099408796

Everyone wants to join Mr Gumpy on his boat. As he lets each person or animal aboard, Mr Gumpy asks them not to indulge in their usual habits. He asks the children not to squabble, the rabbit not to hop about, the dog not to tease the cat, the pig not to muck about. And so on. But once safely aboard, they all forget their agreement. SPLASH! Soaking but unharmed, all return to a handsome tea. A wonderful story that builds up and has a delightfully predictable and reassuring ending.

John Burningham, The Shopping Basket

Red Fox, 9780099899303

It sounds harmless enough when Steven's mother asks him to 'pop down to the shops and buy six eggs, five bananas, four apples, three oranges for the baby, two doughnuts and a packet of crisps for your tea. And leave this note at number 25.' But Steven has some very exciting and unexpected adventures on the way. How excitement and danger can lie just below the surface of everything we do is brilliantly explored as Steven carries out his mother's instructions.

Nick Butterworth, Tiger in the Snow!

HarperCollins, 9780007119691

When thick snow covers the ground, Tiger the Kitten can't get any of his friends to come out and play. It's too cold! But when Tiger makes himself an amazing sledge there's no stopping him - or them. Careering down the hill, Tiger rounds up his friends in an unusual way and soon all of them are enjoying the wonders of a snowy day. Their adventure opens out into a long picture which records the ups - and downs - of that whizzz down the hill!

Emma Chichester Clark, I Love You, Blue Kangaroo!

HarperCollins, 9780006646846

Blue Kangaroo belongs to Lily and she loves him very much. But when she is given Wild Brown Bear, Yellow Cotton Rabbit, Wiggly Green Crocodile, two Furry Puppies, Tiny Teddy and Long-Eared Owl, there isn't any room left in her bed. Sadly Blue Kangaroo says goodbye and hops away to the baby's room. How can Emily get her beloved toy back? All ends well in this touching story of the irreplaceable value of a dearly loved toy. The expressive illustrations capture the mood perfectly.

Lauren Child, I Am Not Sleepy and I Will Not Go To Bed

Orchard Books, 9781846168840

Charlie does everything he can to get his little sister Lola to go to bed, and she makes it very hard indeed. She says she never gets tired. She likes to stay up colouring, scribbling, bouncing and - most of all - chattering. So Charlie plays some clever tricks on his little sister and, in the end, he manages to get her into bed. Captivating illustrations give an entertaining background to this amusing version of a familiar story.

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

Corgi Children's, 9780552528382

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

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.

Cressida Cowell (Illus. Neal Layton), That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown

Orchard Books, 9781843624530

Emily Brown and Stanley, her old grey rabbit, have the most amazing adventures - so amazing that the queen notices and demands that she should have Stanley. Even strong-minded Emily and brave Stanley cannot defy the Queen's command but they can show her that a toy is only wonderful if the person who owns him really loves him. Soon Stanley is reunited with Emily and the Queen must make do with other toys.

June Crebbin, The Puffin Book of Fantastic First Poems

Puffin, 9780141308982

A wonderful collection of poems to 'sing, shout, whisper, chant - maybe learn by heart!' There's certainly something for everyone in this bumper collection of mostly modern but some contemporary poems, which have been divided into sections to make the collection easy to use. Poems about food appear in 'Slurpy Spaghetti' while 'Daddy Fell in the Pond' rounds up stories about mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters. Each section has a different illustrator giving it a particular identity and character.

Niki Daly, The Boy on the Beach

Bloomsbury, 9780747546849

One boy's glorious, energetic, hot, hot day on a beach is brought to life through beautiful and atmospheric illustrations. There's castle bashing, rock pool splashing, surf crashing as well as the wildness of the sea itself. But there's also the chance to have an adventure and dream big, sea-filled dreams ...

Niki Daly, Jamela's Dress

Frances Lincoln, 9780711214491

This wonderful story set in South Africa tells how Jamela gets carried away by the gorgeous material her mother buys to make a dress to wear at Thelma's wedding. Wrapping it around herself, she shows it off to all her friends. How beautiful it is and how beautiful she is in it. But parading the material around in front of her friends gets it damaged and Jamela feels terrible when she realises what she's done. Luckily, there's a happy ending for all in this warm-hearted story about a special occasion within a community.

Nicola Davies (Illus. Michael Foreman), White Owl, Barn Owl

Walker Books, 9780744570144

A little girl gets close to a beautiful, snowy white barn owl when her grandfather builds a nesting box high in the old oak tree. Sitting quietly, she watches as the owl swoops in and out of the box in the night, dives down to catch its prey, and even raises a family in the box. The illustrations catch the night-time magic of the lyrical but factual story, which is enhanced by additional nuggets of information.

Emma Dodd, What Pet to Get?

Templar, 9781840115475

Jack thinks very hard about what kind of pet he'd like to have. An elephant would be nice - but too big to take on holiday; a lion could be fun - but they do eat an awful lot; a polar bear would be good to play with - but might not like the central heating ... Can Jack find a sensible pet? Vibrant illustrations capture the classic pet dilemma in this attractive introduction to different animals.

Lynley Dodd, Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy

Puffin, 9780140505313

A perfectly shaped rhyming text tells how Hairy Maclary sets out for a walk and, on the way, is joined by all his doggy friends including 'Bottomley Potts covered in spots' and 'Schnitzel von Krumm with a very low tum'. Proudly, the parade of dogs struts along until suddenly they come to an abrupt halt. With a terrific scurry of paws, they head back home just as fast as they can go. What is it that has so scared them? A simple and delightful animal tale.

Julia Donaldson (Illus. Axel Scheffler), The Gruffalo

Macmillan, 9780333710937

Trying to get through the forest safely, the little mouse tricks fox, owl and snake by telling them of the scary Gruffalo. He sounds so fierce and frightening that everyone is scared stiff of him. But is the Gruffalo really scary? And can the clever mouse outwit him too? A wonderful story of fear and triumph.

Julia Donaldson (Illus. Axel Scheffler), The Snail and the Whale

Macmillan, 9780333982242

Told in Julia Donaldson's trademark rhyming text, this is a poignant story with a strong message. Hitching a ride on the side of a whale, the snail sets off on the trip of a lifetime to see the world. But the world is a huge place and the tiny snail begins to feel very small and unimportant. However, even a tiny snail can save the day ... The whale's glorious movement through wonderful seascapes of caves and islands is captured both in the flow of the text and the richly varied illustrations.

Ian Falconer, Olivia

Simon & Schuster, 9780689860881

The first title in a series of charming and humorous stories about Olivia, a delightful young pig with very human characteristics. Without any regard for how it might affect others - especially her parents - Olivia dances and sings with delight and abandon. In fact, she loves almost any activity. But luckily, Olivia also loves cuddles and stories and loads of love ...

Claire Freedman (Illus. Ben Cort), Aliens Love Underpants

Simon & Schuster, 9781416917052

Aliens and underpants are an irresistible combination and the zany story that unites them here is a sure-fire winner. Told in a jaunty rhyming text, it relates the fun and games aliens have when they come to Earth to play in the underpants that we humans hang on lines or leave lying about. There are a lot of pictures of underpants in some usual - and unusual - places!

Vivian French (Illus. Sophie Windham), Henny Penny

Bloomsbury, 9780747581048

A smartly paced text and gorgeous illustrations with a russet red Henny Penny at the heart of them make a fresh new version of the classic and delightfully repetitive story of foolish Henny Penny setting off to tell the king that the sky is falling. When she is joined by Ducky Lucky, Cocky Locky, Goosey Loosey and Turkey Lurkey, they all pit-pit-patter along the road until they meet Foxy Loxy. Gratefully they accept his help to lead them to the king. Foolish creatures! Luckily, Henny Penny has an idea and her smart thinking gets them all out of a nasty predicament.

Paul Geraghty, Rotten and Rascal

Red Fox, 9780099438663

Rotten and Rascal are a pair of Pterosaur twins who never stop squabbling. The competitive screaming, screeching and bellowing of the terrible twins drives the other dinosaurs to despair. Their elders and betters offer wise advice but nothing, absolutely nothing, seems to stop the two of them. Nothing, that is, until Rex gives his advice and has the last word, too. Arguments will never seem quite so safe after reading this book, though the underlying humour makes the message easy to swallow.

Bob Graham, Max

Walker Books, 9781406300239 / 9780744598278

The son of Captain Lightning and Madam Thunderbolt, Max is born to be a superhero. But, despite everything his parents do to help him, Max takes time to learn the all-important trick of flying. And when he does, he uses it in quite a different way. He becomes a hero of a different sort, saving the helpless when they get into difficulties. A gentle story about being a hero.

Kes Gray (Illus. Nick Sharratt), Eat Your Peas

Red Fox, 9780099404675

Mum tries everything she can think of to get Daisy to eat her peas. She'll give her extra pudding, let her off having a bath, buy her a bicycle. The offers get more and more ridiculous but still Daisy won't eat her peas. And Daisy has a way of making sure she never has to, when she discovers that Mum has a similar weakness over Brussels sprouts ... The clever twist at the end makes this a nicely balanced story about allowing children freedom of choice.

Kes Gray (Illus. Nick Sharratt), 006 and a Bit

Red Fox, 9780099488033

Daisy is determined to be a spy. She writes her secret code in invisible ink - Mum's perfume - and she zaps a baddie with a ray gun - Mum's hair dryer. But how can Daisy be a spy when no one understands her game? Luckily, her Mum takes up the challenge. Soon she is a spy too and together they take on the world. A lovely book about make-believe.

Mini Grey, Biscuit Bear

Red Fox, 9780099451082

The freshly baked Biscuit Bear creates a wonderful night-time rumpus when he bakes himself a team of friends to play with. Dressed in all kinds of sugary finery, they create a thrilling circus among the kitchen utensils, including weightlifting the rolling pin and juggling with peas. Their excitement is short lived. All too soon a shadow appears and with one SNAP, the biscuits are gone. All except one. Biscuit Bear has survival on the brain and, quick as a flash, he saves himself. This is a feast of the imagination full of wit and vigour.

Richard Hamilton (Illus. Sue Heap), Let's Take Over the Nursery!

Bloomsbury, 9780747573036

How the nursery class runs riot when the teacher gets stuck in the climbing frame is an exuberant and anarchic story but with a very reassuring ending for teachers everywhere. While splashing water and glooping glue is fun at first, things quickly get out of hand. Soon there's a riot - with children pushing, pinching, punching and not sharing. And, most important of all, who will read the story? With its rollicking rhyming text and bright, realistic illustrations this is a highly entertaining 'cautionary' tale.

Peter Harris (Illus. Deborah Allwright), The Night Pirates

Egmont, 9781405211611

Tom's a good little boy who has no idea when the shadows invade his bedroom one night that he is going to have a wonderful, magical and unexpected adventure with ... pirates. But Tom is also a brave little boy and the girl pirates are kind, so off he goes to steal the treasure from the nasty grown-up pirates. A perfectly contained night-time adventure with Tom safely back in his own bed at the end of it.

Sally Hewitt, A Walk Around a School

Watts, 9780749660420

An introduction to all aspects of school is recorded in these attractive photographs and the accompanying text. How parts of the school look and are used, the different jobs that must get done and the activities that take place within it are all simply shown with questions afterwards to encourage thoughts about the pictures. There are also a useful index and a map to encourage further finding-out skills.

Petr Horacek, Silly Suzy Goose

Walker Books, 9781406304589

Suzy Goose wants to be different: to stand out from the crowd. She thinks of all the things the other animals can do. She tries jumping like a kangaroo, sliding on the ice like a penguin, splishing and splashing like an elephant and even roaring like a lion. But trying to join in can be risky! Luckily she gets back to the other geese just in time.

Shirley Hughes, Dogger

Red Fox, 9780099927907

The overwhelming importance of one soft toy is captured to perfection in this classic picture book. Dave takes Dogger everywhere but one day he mysteriously goes missing. Everyone searches high and low but Dogger is nowhere to be found. At the school fête the next day Dave cannot join in the fun because he is missing Dogger too much. When Dogger turns up on the old toy stall all looks like ending well, but someone else wants Dogger too and it takes Dave's big sister Bella's generous intervention to get his beloved dog back. Every picture is a feast of busy detail while the drama captures the emotions of a young child.

Simon James, Baby Brains

Walker Books, 9781844285228

Mr and Mrs Brains want a brainy baby but they get rather more than they bargain for with the arrival of Baby Brains. Reading the paper, mending the car - these come effortlessly to him. Next step, school and becoming a doctor. He's so remarkable that soon everyone wants to meet him and he's selected to go on an important mission into space. But Baby Brains is still a baby. He just wants his mummy! A great joke about the dangers of encouraging babies to do more than they should.

Oliver Jeffers, The Way Back Home

HarperCollins, 9780007182282

Told with economy and little explanation, this is the story of an unusual friendship between a little boy and a Martian. The two meet on the moon when their respective spacecrafts run into difficulties. In sign language, each explains his predicament to the other and the boy returns home to fetch what he needs to put their spacecrafts to rights. On his return, the two work side by side, and when the repairs are done they set off in separate directions. Will they ever meet again? A story with lots of scope for dreaming and speculation.

Sam Lloyd, Mr Pusskins

Orchard Books, 9781846163470

Smothered by the love Emily showers on him, Mr Pusskins decides that he needs to go on an adventure and do all the things he's not meant to do. Surely that would be more fun than being snuggled and brushed and endlessly listening to bedtime stories? Sneaking out one night, he has a raucous time with the Pesky Cat Gang doing all kinds of naughty things. But life on the street turns hard and all too soon Mr Pusskins realises that home is best. Feisty Mr Pusskins shows that you can try being tough but being loved is more important.

Lindiwe Mabuza (Illus. Alan Baker), South African Animals

Tamarind, 9781870516853

Mbali, a young Swazi girl, acts as a guide to readers as she presents a beautiful A-Z of the animals of South Africa. By exploring different habitats and in a simple, rhyming text she presents aardvarks who hunt at night; beautiful but cruel cheetahs who are the fastest land animals in the world; the more familiar leopards and lions; and the most unusual xhama, a kind of deer. A factual description of each animal makes this a useful resource as well as an attractive 'safari'.

Tom MacRae (Illus. Elena Odriozola), The Opposite

Andersen Press, 9781842705735

When Nate wakes up one morning, he finds The Opposite standing on the ceiling looking down at him. From then on, everything in the day goes badly wrong as The Opposite causes chaos at the breakfast table by spilling the milk and disaster in the classroom by splashing paint all around. Luckily, Nate has a clever plan for how to get rid of The Opposite. A refreshingly imaginative version of an alter ego.

Margaret Mahy (Illus. Margaret Chamberlain), The Man Whose Mother Was a Pirate

Puffin, 9780140554304

Sam is rather an ordinary little man but he has a most extraordinary mother. When she asks to be taken on holiday to the seaside Sam knows that he must oblige. After all, his mother was a pirate and the call of the sea is very powerful to her. On the way, Sam and his mother meet people who are doubtful about the sea but they keep going. And when they arrive, Sam finds he is as captivated as his mother. A wonderful celebration of the many special things about the sea.

Angela McAllister (Illus. Sophie Fatus), Just Like Sisters

Simon & Schuster, 9780689874802

When Ally's penfriend arrives for a meeting, the two swear to do everything together - just like sisters. They share photo albums, make-up, shopping, swimming and dancing classes. In fact, they share - everything and find that they have a lot in common. The joke is that Ally is ... not human. The pictures make it clear from the outset but the differences between the two are never mentioned in the text. A cleverly told story celebrating the fact that friendship crosses boundaries.

David McKee, Elmer's First Counting Book

Andersen Press, 9781842706305

This attractive elephant-shaped board book is an easy introduction to counting from 1 to 10. Starting with Elmer himself, it counts through his animal friends using bright, bold colours.

David McKee, Elmer's Friends

Milet,

Dual language. Available in multiple languages

Elmer the patchwork elephant introduces his friends - Zebra who is the stripiest, Giraffe who is the tallest, Snake who is the longest, and so on. A vibrant introduction to some of the most common animals in a bright, easy-to-handle board book.

Colin McNaughton, Suddenly

Andersen Press, 9781842706213

Carefree Preston Pig steps out, unaware that the Wolf is out to get him. How Preston Pig outwits the Wolf without even knowing it, is wittily told in pictures which tell the story before the text does. This allows the listeners to enjoy the joke before it is spelt out. Following Preston's near-misses is great entertainment.

David Melling, Good Knight, Sleep Tight

Hodder, 9780340860939

Can the loyal knight fulfil his quest to find something soft enough and fluffy enough to help the baby princess to sleep? It's a dangerous quest. Bravely the knight gathers bear fur, wolf hair and bird feathers. Exhausted, he returns to the palace. Will these be soft enough to calm the baby princess? Everyone holds their breath - except the baby. Luckily, the little prince knows what to do. Just one cuddle later, she's fast asleep in his arms. A touching domestic story pitched in an entertainingly dramatic way.

Jill Murphy, Peace At Last

Macmillan, 9780230015487

Mr Bear tries everything he can possibly think of to get a decent night's sleep. Kept awake by Mrs Bear's snoring, he tries to sleep downstairs but the clock is ticking and the tap is dripping. He tries the garden but the owl is hooting. The garage seems to be just what he wants until the birds start their dawn chorus. What can Mr Bear do? He's just got back into his own bed and is falling fast asleep when 'BRRRRR', the alarm clock rings. Words and pictures wittily chart the trials of a sleepless night.

Na'ima bint Robert (Illus. Nilesh Mistry), The Swirling Hijaab

Mantra Lingua,

Dual language. Available in 20 languages

A little girl can recreate herself in many different roles and in many different places with a swirl of her mother's hijaab. Dressed in this, she can be a warrior queen or a beautiful princess; it can be a Bedouin tent or a cloth for a tea party. So many different ways to play and, best of all, she can always be comforted by it at the end of a busy day. The illustrations convey the imaginative play that lies at the heart of this story.

Helen Nicoll (Illus. Jan Pienkowski), Meg and Mog

Puffin, 9780141501505

Meg and Mog, witch and cat respectively, lead readers into a gentle witchy world where, with their companion Owl, they have pleasingly magical adventures. This time, to celebrate Hallowe'en, Meg and Mog meet up with their friends Jess, Bess, Tess and Cress for a party and a bit of spell-making. But even though the ingredients sound promising, all does not go according to plan. The simple and repetitive text and the endearing silhouette characters make this an easy picture book to read alone.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE TRAVELLER EDUCATION SERVICE, Come and Count With Us!

Nottinghamshire Traveller Education Service, 9780955216206

An excellent early counting book that takes a Traveller's caravan and its children as its theme. Interestingly shaped, with colourful photographs, it has a touchy-feely area on each double page spread.

Jan Ormerod, Lion Fables

Mantra Lingua,

Dual language. Available in 28 languages

Two fables from different countries highlight the differences between a powerful animal such as a lion and a small animal such as a mouse or a hare. How power can result from qualities other than size or speed lies at the heart of fables which explore human characteristics. In 'The Lion and the Mouse', the lion saves the mouse, never thinking that one day the mouse may save him. In 'The Hare's Revenge', the hare tricks the boastful lion and sends him crashing headlong into a well. Two thought-provoking stories with strong illustrations that reflect powerful characteristics at work.

Jo Readman (Illus. Ley Honor Roberts), The World Came to My Place Today

Eden Project, 9781903919026

Inventive and attractive illustrations offer a mass of information about where in the world the things around us and especially the food we eat come from. George discovers that the doormat is made from coconuts in India, the rubber from his bike tyres comes from the hot, wet rainforests of south-east Asia, the orange juice he drinks comes from Spain, and the chocolate he eats comes from West Africa. Enjoyable to read, this is also a book to make you think.

Michael Rosen (Illus. Quentin Blake), Mustard, Custard, Grumble Belly and Gravy

Bloomsbury, 9780747587385

Michael Rosen's poems of childhood are a delight for all ages. He finds humour in the most everyday activities such as getting ready for bed and the special in something as ordinary as a new pair of trainers, as well as creating wonderful games with words such as his muddling up the names of different dishes. Warm and loving relationships between siblings and parents lie at the heart of these poems which are given added humour through Quentin Blake's illustrations.

Rob Scotton, Go to Sleep, Russell the Sheep

HarperCollins, 9780007246199

When Russell the sheep can't sleep he does the obvious thing - he counts sheep. But there's one sheep he keeps leaving out. What should he do about himself? At last, Russell gets the hang of it. Ten sheep counted and zzzzzz, Russell falls fast asleep. He's a most endearing sheep and helping him count himself to sleep is good fun - and a good joke, too.

Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are

Red Fox, 9780099408390

Max is sent to bed without any supper after he has put on his wolf suit and made mischief. Alone in his room, he enters a magical world and sets sail across the sea to the place where the wild things are. Despite the ferocity of the wild things, Max is not scared; instead, he tames them and is made their king in time to join in their exciting rumpus. When things have gone far enough, Max sends the wild things home without their supper and returns to the safety of his bedroom and a comforting supper. A wonderful adventure fantasy.

Nick Sharratt, Shark in the Park

Corgi Children's, 9780552549776

Looking through his telescope, Little Timothy Pope looks up and down, high and low as he plays in the park. 'There's a shark in the park!' he cries as through the clever cut-out holes he sees the distinct outline of a shark fin. Can there really be a shark in the park? Luckily, Timothy Pope finds out that it is not real and sets off home with his mind at rest. But maybe there is a shark in the park after all? The last visual joke captures the excellent overall humour of the whole.

Judy Sierra (Illus. Marc Brown), Wild About Books

Frances Lincoln, 9781845076122

A clever librarian quickly attracts a crowd when she launches the mobile library by reading aloud from Dr Seuss. 'In a flash, every beast in the zoo was stampeding / To learn all about this new something called reading.' There are fat books and thin books, funny books and sad books - something for everyone. Soon, all the animals are not only reading but writing too. An entertaining and inspiring introduction to books.

Jessica Souhami, In the Dark, Dark Wood

Frances Lincoln, 9781845077556

In a dark, dark wood there's a dark, dark house, and in the dark, dark house ... and so on. In this version of the classic scary story you must lift the flaps to search the house and find exactly what it is that is so very frightening. Under each, there's a surprise but nothing like the BIG one that pops right out when the story ends. Against a mostly black background, the bold colours of the flaps are irresistible for opening and daring to peep under.

Jessica Souhami, No Dinner!

Frances Lincoln, 9780711214590

The traditional tale of how an old woman tricks the greedy animals not once but twice is wittily retold in Jessica Souhami's lively text and beautiful illustrations. On the way through the forest to visit her grand-daughter the old lady sees off the animals by telling them that she's too thin and bony to be worth eating. To save herself on the way back, she hides in a pumpkin and rolls her way home. Even when she is rumbled by the wolf, she has one last trick up her sleeve. A celebration of bravery and sharp wits.

Jessica Souhami, Sausages

Frances Lincoln, 9781845076016

The perils of wishing are clearly highlighted in this entertaining story. John and his wife are granted three wishes by a passing elf. What should they choose? Racking their brains they think about getting rich. But the thinking takes a long, long time and when John gets overcome by hunger he just blurts out 'Sausages'. Catastrophe! Sausages appear from nowhere and it seems to be impossible to get rid of them. Bold illustrations capture the ridiculous, sausage-filled dilemma the couple face.

Jessica Spanyol, Go Bugs Go!

Walker Books, 9781406303711

Bugs love to travel. All kinds of bugs in all kinds of transport are shown on busy double-page spreads. There are masses of curious tiny details to pick up on and follow as the bugs 'Zoom! Zoom! Zoom!' off into the sky or 'Clunk Click! Crunch! Crunch!' along in the breakdown train. Readers will enjoy following the bugs on their hectic journeys.

Peter Stamm (Illus. Jutta Bauer), When We Lived in Uncle's Hat

WingedChariot Press, 9781905341047

What is home? Follow this family as it moves from place to place - from Uncle's hat to Aunty's violin taking in the moon, a bus, the rain and nowhere among other places on the way. Many interesting things happen, some good some bad, all reflecting on the elusive quality that makes a place home. A thoughtful story with complex and detailed illustrations that explain why the moves are made and what impact they have.

Amber Stewart (Illus. Layn Marlow), How Many Sleeps?

Oxford, 9780192791894

All the excitement of a birthday is captured here. Toast can't wait until his birthday. He keeps counting the number of sleeps it will be before the big day arrives. But first there are things to do. He sends out the invitations to his party, then he helps to ice the cake. Every night he gets one sleep closer. But Daddy has a different problem. He has a surprise for Toast. Are there enough sleeps left for him to finish it? A warm-hearted family story told from two perspectives.

Joel Stewart, Dexter Bexley and the Big Blue Beastie

Doubleday, 9780552554350

Dexter Bexley has to come up with all kinds of bright ideas to stop the Big Blue Beastie eating him up. He has to stop the Beastie from being bored and he has to stop the Beastie from being hungry. What will happen when he runs out of ideas? Brilliant illustrations capture the shifts of emotion as Dexter Bexley and the Big Blue Beastie become unusual and very special friends.

Valerie Thomas (Illus. Korky Paul), Winnie's Midnight Dragon

Oxford, 9780192791016

Winnie the Witch and her cat Wilbur star in another fabulous adventure. This time, they are disturbed in the night by the arrival of a baby dragon. With smoke and fire pouring from his nose, he poses a real risk to Winnie's broom - and to everything else in the house. Winnie needs to find a way to stop him burning the house down - and to help him get back to his mother. There are some false starts along the way, but in the end and with help from her magic, Winnie saves the day. Action-packed illustrations filled with endless detail make this a wonderful book to look at and enjoy again and again.

Emma Thomson, Opposites

Hodder, 9780340918241

The toys in Isabella's toybox have fun showing off opposites. Up and down, happy and sad, slow and fast - all are demonstrated through simple images in the attractive dreamy illustrations in this board book.

Max Velthuijs, Frog and the Stranger

Andersen Press, 9780862646257

When a stranger turns up, Pig and Duck check him out and immediately dismiss him as a dirty, ignorant good-for-nothing who'll bring nothing but trouble. Kind Frog goes to find out for himself and discovers the newly arrived rat to be charming, hard-working and an interesting companion. Can Frog persuade the others? Luckily Rat quickly shows what a good contribution he can make and everyone is very sad when he packs up his camp and moves on. The wider implication of the message is obvious and it is carried attractively in gorgeous and wholly sympathetic illustrations.

Martin Waddell (Illus. Patrick Benson), Owl Babies

Walker Books, 9780744531671

An exquisite picture book which captures the little owl babies' big emotions when their mother leaves them to go hunting. Waking up to find themselves alone, the three babies try to reassure themselves that their mother will come back. But the forest is dark and scary and the night is long. At last! Owl Mother returns. A wonderfully reassuring and comforting end, beautifully expressed.

Steve Webb, Tanka Tanka Skunk!

Corgi Children's, 9780099439776

Tanka and Skunk - two best friends. Say their names together and it sounds like the beating of a big main drum. And, Tanka! Tanka! Skunk!, beating their drums to the rhythm of the animals' names, the two of them lead the animals into a riotous dance. A celebration of rhythm and dance.

Ian Whybrow (Illus. Adrian Reynolds), Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs

Puffin, 9780140569803

When Harry finds some dusty old dinosaurs in the attic, he brings them down and pops them in a bucket. He knows that's what dinosaurs like best. Soon Harry and his dinosaurs go everywhere together until one terrible day when Harry leaves the bucket on a train. Luckily they are safe in the ticket collector's office but how can Harry prove that they are his? His careful learning of all their names is proof enough. A wonderful story of how make-believe can become 'real'.

Verna Allette Wilkins (Illus. Paul Hunt), Dave and the Tooth Fairy

Tamarind, 9781870516136

The old myth of the tooth fairy is given a modern slant in this attractive picture book. When Dave's tooth falls out, it flies across the room and he cannot find it. What will he do? If he doesn't leave the tooth out for the tooth fairy he won't get the money he so desperately wants so that he can buy a kite. Dave comes up with a clever plan but, fortunately, the tooth fairy is clever and resourceful, too.

Mo Willems, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

Walker Books, 9781844285136

This pigeon has great ambitions to drive the bus. But will you let him? As persuasively as he knows how, the pigeon begs the reader to let him have just one small turn. He is charming, wheedling, bribing, furious and despairing but no one will give him a go. Poor pigeon! His dejection is absolute. He can still dream. Lightly drawn illustrations convey an array of emotions beautifully.

Jeanne Willis (Illus. Tony Ross), Grill Pan Eddy

Andersen Press, 9781842703427

The audacious mouse Grill Pan Eddy convinces the family whose home he adopts that, since they can't get rid of him, they might as well accept that his presence is a blessing and a benefit. And they do, even to the point of mourning him when he finally dies. The marauding Eddy skis down the butter, disables the mouse-trap, sees off the Vermin Catcher's dog, and ties up the cat by its tail. It's an outrageous adventure fleshed out with humorous illustrations.

Jeanne Willis (Illus. Susan Varley), The Monster Bed

Andersen Press, 9781842702222

Little monster Dennis is mostly good and polite but there is one thing that makes him bellow and bite - going to bed. Dennis is terrified of going to bed because there might be Humans lurking underneath. His mother assures him that Humans only exist in made-up stories but Dennis is not convinced. He adopts the only safe course of action: he sleeps under the bed. Safe at last, Dennis falls into a blissful sleep. But is he really safe? A wonderful last laugh is revealed in delicious monster illustrations which, together with the text, invert a familiar theme with flair.

Jeanne Willis (Illus. Tony Ross), Tadpole's Promise

Andersen Press, 9781842704264

'Where the willow meets the water a tadpole met a caterpillar. They gazed into each other's tiny eyes ... and fell in love.' So begins a delicious romance with a snappy ending! Despite declaring their true love for one another, neither tadpole nor caterpillar can keep their promise not to change. The result is disastrous - but hilarious too.

Chris Wormell, Two Frogs

Bodley Head, 9780099438625

Two expressive frogs sit fatly on an iridescent green lily pad in a beautiful blue pond, discussing why one of them has brought a stick with him. As he explains, it is to beat off any dog who might come after them. The other laughs at his folly, pointing out that there is no dog and that they are more likely to be eaten by a heron or a pike. What happens and how they save their skins provides a wonderfully unexpected story told with perfect timing.

Benjamin Zephaniah (Illus. Prodeepta Das), J is for Jamaica

Frances Lincoln, 9781845074012

With a vivid poem and photograph for each letter of the alphabet, this is a beautiful introduction to all aspects of life in Jamaica. Sugar cane, pumpkin and ugli fruit are just some of the gorgeous foods on show, netball and cricket some of the sports. And behind it all is the wonderful background of a beautiful country. A book to feast the eye and the ear.