Halloween is definitely one of our favourite times of the year. The nights have drawn in, and there's that wonderful wintry atmosphere on the way, the perfect sort of weather to get tucked in with a spooky book or two.

We're bringing you a selection of fantastic titles old and new so let's kick off with an absolute corker of a blog favourite...

"Meg and the Romans" by David Walser and Jan Pienknowski is another new addition to the classic "Meg and Mog" range. Though the late Helen Nicol is a very tough act to follow, David Walser is establishing a whole new set of stories for these beloved character, and in this particular book we see Meg and Mog disappearing back to Roman times - and encountering a rather bombastic Roman Chief!

Their new friend is in need of help! But will Meg's spell get him to London - or should we say Londinium?
Imagine a terrifying war between wizards, a strangely rebellious super-ant called 4179003 (you try thinking up unique names for all your kids when you're an ant!) and a time-travelling television (who wouldn't want one of those) all brought together in a crazy set of stories shot through with Pratchett's trademark wry humour.
With writers such as Jacqueline Rayner, Mike Tucker, Paul Magrs, Richard Dungworth, Scott Handcock and Craig Donaghy contributing to this brilliant anthology, each story stars an incarnation of the Doctor on a brand new adventure in time and space.

It goes without saying that each story also features a frightening nemesis for the Doctor to face, and some of the most popular companions join in so there are appearances from favourite friends such as Sarah Jane, Jo, Ace and Donna.

Illustrated by Rohan Daniel Eason, Tales of Terror will delight, excite and frighten Doctor Who fans everywhere.

Time for an amazing animal book, this time one for younger readers who love learning about all the different species right across the planet...

Here's a hugely attractive version of a children's classic story, brought back to stunning life with some truly amazing laser-cut illustrations and cutouts...

Here's a horsey tale that's a real hoot! Meet Otis, the inquisitive pony who fancies a bit of a wander...

This is one of those 'Wow' books so strap yourself in for an amazing journey aboard a tiny paper boat...

Our Chapter Book of the Week this week is the debut middle grade / chapter book from a lady who has written some of our favourite picture books in the past...

Our second book of the week this week is a fantastic coding journey set in a galaxy far, far away. Get your geek on with the amazing "Star Wars Coding Projects" from Dorling Kindersley...

Our Picture Book of the Week this week is yet another corker by two of the most amazing talents working in children's books today...

Image (C) bullyingnoway.gov.au

Bullying is definitely one of my buttons, and if you dare to press it, expect a fiery response. Unfortunately sometimes when the subject comes up at home, I'm so sensitive to any mention of it that my first reaction is anger and an absolute determination to "do something about it" before rationalised thinking begins to kick in (with my wife usually offering the rationality), and I calm down enough to think the problem through, break it down and begin to see it from both sides.

Obviously when things happen to Charlotte that fall into the large complex umbrella of terms surrounding bullying, I remember back to my own school days and how ineffectively bullying was dealt with there, and how much better things have become in an era where parents have more access to school policies and more of a listening ear from teachers and heads than they have ever had before.

The particular instance that inspired this ReadItTorial would have been so low-level on most parents' radar that a lot of folk would probably scoff at it, calling it a case of over-sensitivity on my / my daughter's part rather than a clear example of bullying.

Though we've come so far in addressing both sides of any incidents of bullying in schools, there's still such a long way to go and it still feels like there's no 100% effective method of nipping it in the bud before it can turn into something more serious, often in early teen years when bullying can become something more insidious entirely.

In the most extreme cases, kids are victimised to the point where they see no other way out of the situation than to take their own lives.

National statistics are alarmingly on the rise in recent years.

Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that in 2015 there were 168 males aged 10 to 19 and 63 females in the same age group who took their own lives.
A study in 2016 found 22 per cent of young suicide victims had been bullied and 15 per cent had suffered other forms of domestic abuse or neglect. There have also been clear links made between the rise in popularity of social media (and the early adoption of its use increasingly with younger children who often use it unchecked) and in addition factors around exam stress, extreme pressure put on youngsters to achieve better results in school, and of course a metric ton of social pressure inside and outside school too.

Here's a truly fabulous book full of amazing facts all about the valiant Knights of yore, and what better publisher to handle such an amazing subject than Templar!

"Knightology" by Dugald Steer, with awesome illustrations throughout by Fabio Leone, Ollie Cuthbertson and David Demaret, really is a massive and thick volume to dig into for kids who love learning all about knights, jousting, huge castles, amazing quests and fabled mythical objects such as Excalibur, King Arthur's magical sword - and of course the Holy Grail.

It's a sumptuous and luxurious book, that comes with a jewelled inset cover (and more inset jewels at the back of the book when you see that amazing Holy Grail illustration in all its glory).

Learn all about the real-life locations that have become woven into myth and legend such as Pembroke Castle (which we were fortunate enough to visit a couple of summer ago, and is a really mind-blowing place once you see the sheer scale of it).

Don't get on the wrong end of any of these!

Learn all about historical figures like Sir Lancelot and King Arthur himself, and the crusades and quests these amazing people went on.

It's not all about gadding about in armour. A knight's life isn't an easy one.

It's a fantastic book, so rich in detail and beautifully presented. An absolute must for any kids who love learning about these chivalrous folk.

Knightology by Dugald Steer, Fabio Leone, Ollie Cuthbertson and David Demaret is out today, published by Templar Publishing (kindly supplied for review). 

Here's an absolutely beautiful keepsake version of a mesmerising poetry anthology for children, first published over 100 years ago.

This lovely edition has been brought bang up to date by Otter-Barry Books, with new illustrations from children's literary legend Michael Foreman and a foreword from Alexander McCall Smith, author of the fantastic "No.1 Ladies Detective Agency" series.

Stretching across many different subjects, but always with a core theme of celebrating a child's boundless imagination, and thirst for adventure and excitement, these beautiful poems have been published and republished many times, and are so well known that their titles have seeped into children's literature and popular culture in so many different ways.

There's adventure on the high seas in "My Bed is a Boat" and "Pirate Story", amazing dreamscapes in "The Land of Nod" and "Young Night-Thought" and so many other classics, that are beautiful to read aloud in Louis-Stevenson's lyrical and lilting prose.

It's a beautiful collection, truly.

"A Child's Garden of Verses" by Robert Louis Stevenson and Michael Foreman is out now, published by Otter-Barry Books (Kindly supplied for review). 

We're kicking off our October Chapter Book Roundup with a glorious version of a true science fiction classic.

"A Journey to the Center of the Earth" by Jules Verne is the fabulous tale of a mission right to the earth's core.

Intrepid explorer and geologist Otto Liedenbrock  embarks on the most remarkable human quest ever taken.

With his nephew and guide, he leads the descent from a dormant Icelandic volcano into the unexplored realm beneath their feet. There, a vast subterranean ocean, prehistoric creatures, and natural phenomena are but a few of the wonders hidden from all but the boldest eyes.

Journey to the Center of the Earth epitomizes the subterranean fiction genre, and is the perfect entry point for folk who have yet to experience the timeless thrills of Jules Verne's amazing work.

"A Journey to the Center of the Earth" by Jules Verne is available now, published in an all new leatherbound edition from Barnes and Noble. 

From one gorgeous new version of a classic to another...

Johanna Spyri's timeless "Heidi" has also been reissued by Barnes and Noble in a glorious new illustrated hardback edition.

The timeless tale of a young orphan girl sent to live with her harsh and cold grandfather, it's beautifully illustrated by Jessie Wilcox Smith.

Heidi's optimism, child-like sense of wonder and her love of nature underpin this glorious tale taking place in the mountains of Switzerland.

Such a lovely edition of a book I've been longing to let Charlotte loose on.

"Heidi" by Johanna Spyri and Jessie Wilcox Smith is available in the Barnes and Noble Collectors series, out now. 

Let's stick with the mountain setting for the time being with a scintillating new book...

"Running on the Roof of the World" by Jess Butterworth is the story of 12 year old Tash and her best friend Sam.

In a story of adventure, survival and hope, set in the vivid Himalayan landscape of Tibet and India, this young girl's thrilling journey to save her parents is an ideal read for children aged 9-12.

There are two words that are banned in Tibet. Two words that can get you locked in prison without a second thought. I watch the soldiers tramping away and call the words after them. 'Dalai Lama.'

Tash has to follow many rules to survive in Tibet, a country occupied by Chinese soldiers. But when a man sets himself on fire in protest and soldiers seize Tash's parents, she and her best friend Sam must break the rules. They are determined to escape Tibet - and seek the help of the Dalai Lama himself in India.

And so, with a backpack of Tash's father's mysterious papers and two trusty yaks by their side, their extraordinary journey across the mountains begins.

It's like a glorious middle grade mix of Indiana Jones and Lara Croft that's got tons of originality and appeal.

"Running on the Roof of the World" by Jess Butterworth is out now, published by Orion Children's Books.

One for reluctant chapter book readers now, neatly splicing together comic and chapter book formats into a fast-paced and futuristic adventure series with huge boy and girl appeal.

A debut middle-grade series from the mega-talented Zach King, full of laughs, zany action and more than a hint of magic.
We've reached the stunning and highly anticipated finale of the series as Conner and Alex must brave the impossible.
After returning home from a long cross-country run, it's time for Mo and his friends to decide where to go on their next running adventure. Sandwiches at the ready, the friends head somewhere beautiful, with glistening snow and sparkling lakes. The fabulous Rocky Mountains!

But crossing states is tiring work, and with lots of new creatures (and monsters!) to meet along the way, will Mo and friends ever get time for a sandwich break?

Here comes Bigfoot ... Go Mo, Go!
Binny Cornwallis has lost something.
The situation is grave. Strange things are happening in the chuchyard.
In "The Royal Rabbits of London: Escape from the Tower" by Santa Montefiore & Simon Sebag Montefiore, Little Shylo Tawny-Tail is proud to call himself one of the Royal Rabbits of London, a secret order who live under Buckingham Palace and fight evil across the world.

 We do love James Mayhew's books. He creates amazing stories around the idea of introducing children to different aspects of our rich and varied culture, ranging from classic artists to ballet and opera.

Here's a distinctly different, some may say 'odd' little tale (that's certainly how Charlotte described it) that should delight and thrill little ones...

The "Welcome to the Museum" series of utterly amazing non-fiction books, curated by Katie Scott with Fiona Munro and Ruth Symons now adopts a smaller format, but continues to blaze a trail for non-fiction titles to follow.

"The Story of Life" extends the previous fold-out edition of this title line into a fantastic small format hardback book that may be diminutive in size, but certainly packs a heck of a lot of information in between its gloriously decorated covers.

Once again, we're treated to an amazing and well researched slice of natural history, stemming as far back as the very first emergence of life on our planet, right through to the more complex organisms and animals that we recognise as each era in earth's history ushered in amazing examples of evolutionary diversity.

Having previously been wowed by other "Welcome to the Museum" titles such as Botanicum and Animalium, we really couldn't wait to see how this new smaller format would work.

In fact, as much as we love huge huge books that you need to sprawl out on the floor with, there's definitely something neater about this approach. Books that can easily be tucked into a school bag to take into school and use in lessons are definitely a win for Charlotte, and as we said at the top of the review, there's no paring down of content - which is of course the most important part of any decent Non-Fiction title.

The Triassic Period - Amazing and bizarre creatures emerged, the predecessors of many animals we know today.

Personally, I just can't get enough of Katie Scott's amazing illustrations, picked out in colour throughout but with that same incredibly detailed 'etched' look about them, instantly making these titles feel like those classic natural history books you might see tucked away in museums.

Meet your great great great great great great great (go on and on for a couple of years) grandparents!

There are now so many fantastic quality non-fiction titles around that we're really pleased to see Big Picture Press continuing to publish books that really show how it should be done. Beautifully presented, gorgeously illustrated, thoroughly researched and well written, and able to span a huge wide age range, these are definitely keepers whether you choose to buy them for school or for home.

"The Story of Life" by Fiona Munro, Ruth Symons and Katie Scott is out now, published by Big Picture Press (kindly supplied for review). 

There are fewer animals that are cuter than baby elephants...

Here's a fantastic version of a folk tale that appears in many cultures all around the world. Let's take a look at the stunning "The Glassmaker's Daughter" by Dianne Hofmeyr and Jane Ray...

Bang on time for Halloween, and looking every bit the part with its spooky theme and colour scheme, here's "I Want to be in a Scary Story" by Sean Taylor and Jean Jullien...

Our second Picture Book of the Week this week serves us durned right for bemoaning the lack of atmospheric and dark children's books...

Our YA Graphic Novel of the Week is a stunning biography of one of the most incredible comic creating talents we've seen in a very long time...

Our first Picture Book of the Week this week is a fascinating look beneath your own skin...don't worry though, it's entirely painless!

Christmas in the publishing industry probably starts to gear up sometime around Boxing Day the year before (or so we'd imagine).

Certainly we're long past that red letter day - the day we usually get our first Christmas title to review - and this year once again we'll be bringing you a stunning Booky Advent Calendar full of amazing books to share with your little (and not so little) ones.

What's actually surprised us both this year is not only the sheer number of books we've been sent for review for this year's christmas rundown (and, hah, we're not even done yet by the look of it) but the sheer quality of titles on offer this year. Brand new books that once again prove that children's authors and illustrators are amazing people who can produce stunningly original stories even for the festive season.

We won't start naming names (we'll let you decide just how great these books are once the calendar turns over to December 1st and you see the first Booky Advent Calendar entries popping up). But for us it's felt like this year has been even more amazing than ever, with virtually all of the publishers who are kind enough to send us items for review really pushing the boat out with a spectacular lineup for Q4, the time of year when those all-important christmas lists are being made, and (we hope) loads of kids are sticking books down on their lists with gusto.

We have tried to filter our Advent Calendar list down to titles that are festive (or at least have something to do with Christmas, perhaps even crisp winter snow) and it's actually been a true pleasure not only to read the books but to write about them.

That's fairly unusual these days as Charlotte gets older, and is now (worryingly) even progressing swiftly past MG and early chapter readers onto much more wordy fare.

I remember the books that I craved more than anything else as Christmas Presents...

• Annuals (particularly "funny" comic annnuals) - I just couldn't get enough of them, even the cheesiest TV tie ins (happy memories of those awesome Space 1999 annuals, yes showing my age there I fear!)
• The Guinness Book of Records. Again, an easy win for little me and it's great to see that in an increasingly online world, kids still get a kick out of a big fat encyclopaedic roundup of all the tallest, shortest, thinnest, fattest or fastest record breakers on the planet. 
• Anthologies. I am so happy to see these coming back into fashion. We've seen some absolute corkers this year and it's great to see several this year with contributions from some of our most favourite folk working in kidlit today. 
• Non Fiction. Again, nothing would make me happier as a kid than getting a great non-fiction book about cars or planes, or just something cool from DK, Usborne or the like. 

Here's something truly amazing, a fantastic version of Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker Suite"

We still love a good board book here on the blog, and we particularly love Sterling's fantastic board books for tiny inquisitive toddlers, written in conjunction with the American Museum of Natural History.