Hilda and the Runaway Baby by Daisy Hirst (Walker Books)

Aw, we got our hopes up for a moment that there was a new Luke Pearson "Hilda" book in the offing but don't worry, this little piggy is just as awesome...!
"Hilda and the Runaway Baby" is the (curly) tale of an adorable little red pig who lives at the bottom of a hill in a little tin house, with a little trough and a tree for companionship.

Life is fine and dandy but Hilda finds that it's a bit of a solitary existence. You can't really talk to a tree and get a hug back can you?

Hilda's life changes completely when a miscreant tot (who never stays in the same spot he's put) ends up trapped in a runaway pram, dashing down the hill on the road to complete catastrophe.

Bravely, Hilda dashes after the baby and manages to stop the pram - and in the process finds a brand new friend.

With the baby's (rather dozy and inattentive) parents nowhere to be seen, Hilda decides that the right thing to do is to push the baby all the way back up the hill again. Poor Hilda, she's only got little legs!

A lot of huffing and puffing later, Hilda knocks on the parents' door and runs away - but both Hilda and the Baby have changed. Hilda misses her new-found friend, and Baby is inconsolable without Hilda. What happens next is one of those fuzzy cuddly little book moments that make you feel all warm and snuggly inside.

Charlotte was pretty dismissive of this one at first ("Baby book! Not reading!") but we settled down and fell completely in love with Hilda and this exquisite little story.

Charlotte's best bit: The Baby's favourite word (for everything!)

Daddy's favourite bit: A brilliant cuddly little story perfect for little ones. Hilda might not have blue hair and a jaunty beret but she's still the most adorable piggy we've seen in books since Babe!

"Hilda and the Runaway Baby" by Daisy Hirst is out on 2nd February 2017, published by Walker Books.