The Little Old Lady Who Cried Wolf by Simon Puttock and Nicola Slater (Macmillan Children's Books)

Apart from describing the original fable of 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf' to Charlotte, we have been trying to explain what the phrase means. 'The Little Old Lady Who Cried Wolf' explains it all perfectly. Simon Puttock respins the classic fable and rather than an errant shepherd boy, we've got a wrinkly blue-rinsed old lovely who, despite having a fairly comfortable life, gets bored very easily when no one else is around.

She has a brainwave one morning, and decides to phone the local services (police, fire, ambulance) complaining that her house is overrun by wolves.

So there's a double moral tale here. Don't tell whopping great fibs just because you fancy a natter over a cup of tea, and definitely don't phone the emergency services complaining of wolf infestations when all police, fire and ambulancemen and women can see through your thin veil of untruth.

I love the little old lady in this, I've met her many times. Charlotte loved the wolves though and secretly I think they're right up there alongside monsters, aliens, dragons and other book 'baddies' - far more interesting characters than the sweet charming princesses and heroines of books she also loves.

So what happens to the little old lady in the end? She gets exactly what she deserves but it might not be what you think!

Charlotte's best bit: The various utterances the old lady comes out with when her tissue of lies is undone.

Daddy's favourite bit: I love the old lady's facial expressions. She really does feel like a conglomeration of just about every old lady I've ever met.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars