Happy Birthday Hugless Douglas by David Melling (Hodder Children's Books)

It's happy birthday and happy publication day to one of the most enduring and loveable children's book characters of recent years. Hugless Douglas books are always well received by Charlotte, and now by her tiny baby cousin too. Izzy always gets wildly excited whenever a Hugless Douglas book is read to her by Charlotte so she's bound to fall in love with this one.

Yet Hugless Douglas himself takes a bit of an unwilling back seat in this tale. Surely on his birthday Hugless Douglas should be the centre of attention, but his two boisterous and energetic cousins seem innocently unaware that they're ruining his birthday! They are causing mayhem, opening his presents, and generally being rather annoying. Poor Hugless!

Though they do come in handy along with Douglas' friends when the poor bear falls off his new pogo stick and hurts himself. Everyone pitches in with the new doctor's set to bandage Hugless Douglas's hurt leg. Could the worst birthday ever turn into the best birthday? Best to read to the end of the book to find out, little ones!

Charlotte and I both love this series for lots of different reasons. I absolutely love David Melling's artwork, the devil truly is in the details and his characters are always brilliantly expressive and fun. Charlotte loves Hugless Douglas because in each story he really does seem to learn something new though often in the most unexpected ways.

With the book series currently bubbling under a million sales worldwide, this latest story is sure to push sales over the million and beyond.

Charlotte's best bit: As always, Charlotte loves Douglas but always loves the sheep's antics more (just where IS that sheep heading with that balloon?)

Daddy's Favourite bit: A hoot, a hug and a perfectly observed story (didn't we always have birthday parties where someone else tried to open our presents or blow out our candles?) Another awesome Hugless Douglas book!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Hodder Children's Books)