ReadItDaddy's Book of the Week - Week Ending 13th December 2013. "The Midnight Library" by Kazuno Kohara (Macmillan Children's Books)

As a child, I always secretly wished I could get locked in a library or a museum overnight. For some reason it didn't scare me, the thought of being all alone in a place that some might find creepy. A library would probably be nicer than a museum though, and so when we spotted The Midnight Library at our local library, it brought that childhood memory screaming back to the front of my mind.

What would it be like if libraries opened overnight? What better place can you think of to visit when you're wracked with insomnia (as I often am) and you've read everything in the house?

The little girl that runs the Midnight Library in Kazuno Kohara's gorgeously attractive and entertaining book runs a tight ship. With three cute owl helpers to make sure everyone behaves, the library is wildly popular. Even a gang of raucous squirrels (who come in with their musical instruments and shockingly start practicing while everyone's trying to read) can't disrupt things too much.

Anyone familiar with Kohara's visual style will find loads to love about this book, and a library for animals that opens only at night is a brilliant subject for a children's book. We have read this quite a few times and there's always a new little detail to spot in the pages.

Most of all, we love it because it celebrates libraries and books - and without them, where would we be? Probably reviewing rancid juice boxes or some other annoyance instead!


Charlotte's best bit: A poor little critter who gets so emotionally wrapped up in their book that they burst into tears! It happens darling, it happens.

Daddy's Favourite bit: Snappy-sharp, beautiful and fun to read - and I just love Kohara's visual style. Brilliant!