A hoard of Hodder brilliance arriving just in time for Easter. Time to get reading!

There's an absolute HOARD of Hodder Children's Book brilliance headed your way in April, so let's take a look at a selection of picture books for younger children that would make a brilliant alternative to choccy easter eggs!

First, a new reissue of a well-loved classic. It's none other than "We Love You, Hugless Douglas" by David Melling.

This endearing bear is back for another pressing, and a fab new cover.

When Douglas goes on a best friend hunt with Flossie the sheep, everyone seems to have a best friend except him! Perhaps what Douglas is looking for is right under his nose...

David Melling is one of the UK's best-loved author-illustrators and this is the fourth book about Douglas the brown bear - and is as funny and compelling as the first. It combines brilliantly imaginative illustrations with an endearing sense of what it is like to be a small child learning about the world.

"We Love You, Hugless Douglas" is out now, published by Hodder Children's Books. 

If Easter Bunnies are more your type of thing than bears, then don't miss out on "My Hand to Hold" by Smriti Prasadam-Halls and Alison Friend. 

Delectable and gentle rhyming coupled with cuddly warm fuzzy illustrations make this delightfully heartfelt picture book stand out, in a story that follows the passage of the seasons, and the ups and downs of daily life.

Smriti Prasadam-Halls, a bestselling author, and Alison Friend, a critically acclaimed illustrator, are an exciting new picture-book pairing.

Read more about Smriti Prasadam-Halls at smriti.co.uk and about Alison Friend at afriendillustration.com

"My Hand to Hold" by Smriti Prasadam-Halls and Alison Friend is out now, published by Hodder Children's Books. 

Next, a lovely little rhyming story about a parent's unlimited love for a child

"How do I love you?" by Marion Dane Bauer and Caroline Jayne Church is a wonderful parent-child book that bounces and rhymes, and is a fun read-out-loud classic. 

Learning about parental love through this gentle tale makes reading together a bonding experience and it's one of those books that's just perfect for snuggling up with before bedtime, or on a lap when little ones are tired. 

"How do I love you?" is out now, published by Hodder Children's Books. 

Last but not least, a fabulous debut from a stunning new picture book talent...

In "Blackbird, Blackbird, what do you do?" meet Pip, a chirpy yellow-billed blackbird with a problem...

Pip doesn't know what he wants to do, so he goes on a journey to find out. 

Along the way he tries doing what Heron does, and also tries to copy Owl and Pigeon, until he discovers that singing is the thing that he is best at.

A fun story about finding yourself and learning to like what you're best at - with incredibly stylish artwork and gentle read-aloud text. 

"Blackbird, Blackbird, What do you see?" by Kate McLelland is out now, published by Hodder Children's Books. 

(All titles kindly supplied for review)