Bashful Bob and Doleful Dorinda by Margaret Atwood and Dusan Petricic (Bloomsbury Children's Books)

We're in love with alliteration today with a review of Bashful Bob and Doleful Dorinda. Margaret Atwood, well known to grown ups for her utterly mind-bendingly brilliant novels has turned in a rather fun and fantastic read-aloud story that preys on our perspicacity, purloining our palpable predilection for perfect prose.

Meet Bob - a strange bubble-headed boy who, rejected by his mum, disappears to be raised by dogs. Of course this means that Bob actually seems to think he's a dog at times, growling and barking and hiding in bushes.

We also meet Doleful Dorinda, a denizen of dreary dread disposed to being dismal. When the two meet they find a common bond, and despite their obvious character quirks, they team up to save the day when a Buffalo breaks its bounds and goes crazy in a botanical garden!

Children are infinitely impressed by the cleverness of language when used to entertain, to tickle the toes and the tonsils particularly when read aloud. Sometimes the alliteration can make the book heavy going but there's always an amusing twist to get you back on track. Dusan Petricic's artwork is fab too, reminding me of classic 70s kid lit where the whole world seemed to be in love with ink and wash (just like I still am!)

Charlotte's best bit: Bob's boundless barking!

Daddy's Favourite bit: Dorinda's doleful dingbattery!