ReadItDaddy's Second Picture Book of the Week - Week Ending 25th May 2018: "Winnie and Wilbur: Seaside Adventures" by Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul (OUP / Oxford Children's Books)

It's a sheer delight to see the winsome witch and her long-suffering moggy sidekick back for a three-in-one book full of sand, sea and summer fun.
"Winnie and Wilbur: Seaside Adventures" gathers together three of Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul's best classic Winnie books in one huge delicious volume.

We've loved the Winnie the Witch books for years, in fact these were some of C's first favourite books, always demanded whenever we visited our local library.

It's not difficult to see why these titles are so hugely successful and enduring, as Winnie sails towards her third decade of success.

In these tales you'll find Winnie attempting to take the perfect beach holiday (losing her trusty broom in the process), dressing up as a pirate for a noisy and chaotic child's birthday party (with poor Wilbur forced to become a strange cat / parrot hybrid, ooh-arrr!) and then sailing off for an adventure under the sea (have you ever seen Winnie as an Octopus? You have now!)

Each story is full of summery fun, and fine and tiny little details thanks to Korky Paul's glorious inky scratchy and colourful illustrations.

We still love Winnie, and it was a real magical treat to have three of her best stories gathered together like this.

C's best bit: Winnie's "Venus" impression, Oooh la la!

Daddy's favourite bit: Still as brilliant as ever they were, the Winnie the Witch adventures are timeless classics that we still can't get enough of. Don't forget to check out Winnie's chapter book adventures too for older readers!

"Winnie and Wilbur: Seaside Adventures" by Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul is out now, published by OUP / Oxford Children's Books.