Roo the Roaring Dinosaur by David Bedford and Mandy Stanley (Simon and Schuster Children's Books)

Most of us (and most of our children) at one time or another must've had a special blanket, cuddly toy or trinket that never ever left our sides when we were tiddlers. Mine was a scratty nursing blanket which was called "My Cuddle", my little brother had something called "Blankie" (a piece of brightly coloured fluffy material) and Charlotte used to have a little lambswool blanket. I've heard tales from parents of what happens when those beloved items go missing, and children absolutely refuse to accept a replacement (or worse still, tales of children throwing three day long tantrums if those items are ever washed). I wonder if this was the inspiration for Roo the Roaring Dinosaur by David Bedford and Mandy Stanley.

Roo doesn't exactly look like the sort of dinosaur who throws his weight around, roaring willy-nilly and bothering the local animals. Roo, in fact, is a tiny wee mite who has a precious blanket called his Moomie. Roo and his Moomie are inseparable, until one day a visitor crashlands on Roo's island in a hot air balloon. The new visitor is a big and friendly woolly mammoth who quickly becomes a firm friend. But all too soon playtime is over, and the mammoth needs to get back home.

Alas his hot air balloon is a complete write-off, with a huge hole in it - a hole that just happens to be exactly the same size as Roo's Moomie...

Can Roo possibly give up his most treasured possession so that his friend can get home?

There are some wonderful scenes in this, quite touching in fact. Charlotte was initially quite bullish about the fact that this was a "Baby book, not for me" but when we settled down to read it (as we do with all the books we get sent, regardless of whether madam thinks they're 'baby books' or not), she snuggled down with me and our big Canadian horse blanket, cuddled close and fell quietly in love with this cute little story.

Oh - the roaring bit. Remember we said Roo doesn't do a lot of roaring? Read to the end of the book!

"Roo the Roaring Dinosaur" is out today, hooray!

Charlotte's best bit: Charlotte was initially not a fan of this, until we settled down for a good few reads through. She really loved Roo's particular way of speaking - toddler speak!

Daddy's Favourite bit: A wonderfully subtle and touching tale of friendship - oh and those utterly precious items that kids absolutely can't stand to be separated from. A lovely little Dino tale!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Simon and Schuster Children's Books)

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