So in an unprecedented move we're rounding up as many of the amazing picture book titles (both fiction and non fiction) as we can lay our hands on to let you know what you can toddle along to the shops and pick up TODAY! Yes, RIGHT NOW! Go get your piggy banks, smash them mercilessly against an unyielding object (no, not dad's head!) and be prepared to spend your hard-saved cash on some amazing booky goodness.
Let's literally kick off (fnarr) with "Sportopedia" by Mark Long and Adam Skinner. A veritable encyclopaedia of sport, this amazing non-fiction title gathers different sports and events from all around the world, dishing up tasty facts and figures about them, their countries of origin and the brave folk who indulge in them.
There's everything in here you'd expect from Football to Tennis, but a whole lot of other amazing sports you may not have heard of, and even a ton of amazing motorsports too (we do love a bit of rallying, we have to say!)
Brilliant descriptions and facts coupled with awesome lively and action packed illustrations, this is a huge non-fic winner to kick off your new school year with (or just browse through at home).
"Sportopedia" by Mark Long and Adam Skinner is out today, published by Wide Eyed Editions (kindly supplied for review).
Find out all about some of the most incredible modern innovations in engineering, covering the fields of robotics, space exploration, civil engineering, electronics and sustainable power.
Each topic is covered in brilliant detail with tons and tons of flaps to lift that'll stimulate your little ones' curiosity while encouraging them to think about all the ways engineering touches their lives.
Bang up to date and wonderfully presented, it's a fantastic example of how Usborne still lead the charge when it comes to awesome non-fiction stuff for kids.
"Lift the Flap: Engineering" by Rose Hall and Lee Cosgrove is out today, published by Usborne (kindly supplied for review).
It's not all about non-fiction today though, oh no! We have a ton of brilliant children's story books too so let's have the first contender...
Roy is a sound catcher. He catches the sounds of the city and makes them into music, trying to avoid the annoying attentions of his neighbour, Jemmy.
Feeling like his music isn’t good enough, he goes on a journey to find the best sound in the world.
He hears the pitter-patter of the rain in the forest, the wind whistling through the desert and the hustle and bustle of the souk at sunrise, but none of it helps… can Jemmy teach him that perhaps there are lots of beautiful sounds, not just one, and that for Jemmy, Roy’s music is the best of all?
A superb debut for Cindy, this is a beautifully written and illustrated story celebrating friendships, working together and sometimes appreciating that 'different' doesn't always mean 'bad'.
"The Best Sound in the World" by Cindy Wume is out today, published by Lincoln Children's Books (kindly supplied for review).
"Winnie and Wilbur: The Monster Mystery" by Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul is the latest in the million-selling and mega-successful series.
This time Winnie is worried. There's something odd going on in the deep dark forest that is slowly encroaching on her beautiful house.
Sending poor hapless Wilbur off to investigate after a failed attempt to try and track down the owner of some huge and mysterious footprints, the plucky moggy discovers a whole bunch of friendly monsters dwelling deep within the trees.
They're not your average monsters, and there's still far more to the mystery to be uncovered - and of course there's the problem of all those trees blocking out the light to Winnie's house! But being an awesome witch, she's not going to resort to an axe and a chainsaw just yet - so it's time for some witchy magic to set the balance straight.
Full of glorious little details, chucklesome storytelling and the winning combo of Winnie and Wilbur, this is a fabulous addition to the range.
"Winnie and Wilbur: The Monster Mystery" by Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul is out today, published by OUP / Oxford Children's Books (kindly supplied for review).
"Red and the City" by Marie Voigt reinvents the classic "Little Red Riding Hood" with a neat observation on what it's like when you're a country lass confronted by the huge sprawl of a metropolis.
Little Red wants to visit Grandma, but after feeling rather hungry and scoffing Grandma's present (a cake), Red finds herself drawn by the wolfish charms of the big city. Everything is geared around convenience! Huge shops filled with goods to tempt and lure you in, cash freely available at ridiculous interest levels - Little Red doesn't quite know how to cope with this furry menace that leeches into every aspect of society in the big smoke.
But then Red remembers her mother's advice, ignores the subtle charms of that wolfish corporation and is soon reunited with Granny!
It's a thoroughly original take on the Little Red Riding Hood tale, with some awesome observations on what we city-dwelling folk are all too easily lured in by.
"Red and the City" by Marie Voigt is out today, published by OUP / Oxford Children's Books (kindly supplied for review).
This time the happy frolicsome folk in the Super Happy Magic Forest have fallen prey to a wicked spell from an evil entity who wants to cover the world in ice and snow.
While they freeze their little janglies off, it's up to a brave band of five to save the day. Meet Trevor, Hoofius, Herbert, Twinkle and Blossom as they embark on an epic quest to defeat the nefarious Ice Queen of the North.
Winter's coming, and it's never been funnier, and though we're a bit 'down' on the story itself, there are some utterly delicious cameos in this book that truly save the day!
"Super Frozen Magic Forest" by Matty Long is out today, published by OUP / Oxford Children's Books (kindly supplied for review).
One morning Pig is out for a drive in his car when he spots his good friend Mole by the side of the road. Mole is standing next to a huge mysterious big brown box.
Pig offers mole a lift but his curiosity gets the better of him. But when Pig asks Mole what's in the box, Mole is rather rude in return.
Pig slams on his brakes, and poor mole goes flying - but the box stays put and soon Pig and the rest of his friends are dying of curiosity.
What's in the box? Why is Mole being so rude? And what happens when the box finally opens...!
A playful and neat little moral tale, "How Rude!" by Sarah Arnold is out today, published by Otter-Barry Books (kindly supplied for review).
Last but by no means least for our picture book roundup...and I think we've saved the best till last.
At first you'll be lulled into thinking this is a rather cute and colourful tale about a child visiting their grandma and travelling the world, but it reveals a subtle and rather beautifully written sub-story about a horrible disease that affects over 850,000 people in the UK.
Dementia is something we've been touched by in our own family, with two grandparents suffering from and eventually succumbing to this horrid disease.
Books like this are so important - demonstrating that despite the horrible symptoms, the person we love is still in there somewhere and in their own mind they can still remember things from their youth, or from happier times - and it's important to try and bring those out in them once again.
A beautiful and touching tale, wonderfully colourful and informative not just about dementia but about the various countries that Granny visits with her grandchild, this really is fantastic.
"Travels with my Granny" by Juliet Rix and Christopher Corr is out today, published by Otter-Barry Books (kindly supplied for review).
Whew! What a lovely stack of books! We hope you enjoy today's bookapocalypse and all the amazing releases arriving on bookshelves today. Nip down to your local bookstore and pick up a few!