This book caught our eye for a whole stack of reasons. It's not every day you spot a children's book that's written by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, that deals with issues of apartheid in a way that children can understand, and that wraps the whole package up in a moral tale that really draws the reader in - with superb artwork to boot.

"Desmond and the Very Mean Word" has all these qualities, and it's a fantastic story of how a young boy, Desmond, encounters a horrid gang of boys while out showing off his new bike. The boys use a very mean word on Desmond, and he flees the scene. All day long his anger, and the word, boil up inside him until he decides the only thing that will help is revenge.

Seeking the kindly advice of Father Trevor, the Neighbourhood priest, Desmond learns the value of forgiveness and compassion.

Sometimes when I read to Charlotte I can almost hear her holding her breath with anticipation of how a story will end, how the central character will overcome their difficulties, and how books will deliver their message and that was very much the case here. Desmond's story may seem fairly unremarkable but put into context, and with a little gentle discussion about apartheid and what life must've been like when Bishop Tutu was a boy, it's a book that held both of us in its thrall. Important stuff, showing that you don't often need a moral sledgehammer to deliver a message that children will understand, but a timely and valuable story dealing with issues sensitively and in language that children can readily absorb will work wonders and stay in the mind for quite some time.

Charlotte's best bit: Desmond, the mean boy and the sweetie stall

Daddy's Favourite bit: An amazing book that easily impresses, delivering a message of forgiveness and compassion with sensitivity and a plain uncomplicated voice

This week's "Book of the Week" not only fits beautifully with this week's #ReaditMD13 theme of challenging gender stereotyping in books, it's just such an original and fresh theme that it's a joy to read and behold.

"Zephyr Takes Flight" tells the story of a young girl obsessed with all things aeroplane-shaped. She makes planes out of paper and junk, and she's the world's expert at a triple flip loop-de-loop, performed with much skill (well, a little skill) from the top of her settee at home.

Frustratingly, the adults in Zephyr's house (Grandma, Dad and Mum) don't seem to share her love of aviation and are always too busy to play planes. But after an accident, Zephyr makes an amazing discovery in her room - a tiny door that leads to another world, a world beginning with a dusty old room full of aeroplanes and complicated blueprints, leading to a land filled with flying pigs!

Steve Light's joyful book was an instant hit with Charlotte. She loved Zephyr, a sassy little girl who chews bubblegum and wears a cool pair of flying goggles, she loved the planes - not your cold aluminium tubes with wings but the fabulous cloth and string creations of yore (they reminded her - and me - of the movie "Porco Rosso" which is definitely one of our fave Studio Ghibli flicks).

We ate this up and as soon as we reached the last page we just dived back in for more. A thoroughly well deserved book of the week and we really must see if Steve's ever done any more with Zephyr. If not, why not!

Charlotte's best bit: The door - which reminded her of Coraline (but thankfully without the 'other mother')

Daddy's favourite bit: Mum doing the maintenance, fixing, woodcraft, dad cooking on the stove. Very much liked that, a good gender challenge and Zephyr is also just such a brilliant character with boy and girl appeal.

Our book of the week this week is something spectacular and unusual, and a book that made Charlotte's eyes pop out with delight as soon as she saw the luxurious and beautiful illustrations on the cover.

"Red Butterfly" tells the story of how a lone Princess smuggled the secret of China's amazing silk out of the country, after being promised in marriage to the ruler of a kingdom far from her home.

We follow her life as, from an early age, she is surrounded by beauty and the richness of her father's land - and how her secret acts of rebellion change the course of history.

We've shown Charlotte a few amazing instances of Chinese folklore and have also told her that Mulan (one of her favourite Disney films) was a traditional Chinese folk tale long before it got the Disney treatment.

The story is joyful at times, as we see the Princess's rather privileged life not affecting her appreciation of how lucky she is, and where true beauty lies. It's also quite sad as she is inevitably drawn into the politics of empires rising and falling, and how tradition could not be swayed, even at the behest of a royal princess.

We talked about silk worms - when I was a wee whippersnapper we were taken on a school trip to a silk farm and shown where silk came from. A massive source of amusement to a coach full of schoolchildren that something people weave such beautiful clothing (and underwear!) out of could've originated from a worm's bottom! Our learning journey, finding out about silk, has only just begun but it's actually a good topic for classroom if you can get past the rather unsavoury commercial processes that harvest whole silk cocoons by essentially killing the poor larvae inside! Eek!)

This book is incredible though, beautifully illustrated, and presents an almost dream-like story filled to the brim with atmosphere and quite a lot of excitement (particularly if your child is interested in other cultures and their history).

A very well deserved book of the week.

Charlotte's best bit: The Princess' amazing flowing dresses and silken robes so beautifully illustrated by Sophie Blackall

Daddy's favourite bit: A luxurious piece of work that feels delicate and approachable, with a folk-tale feel. Brilliant!

Michael Rosen is something of a legend in Children's books, so it's a bit odd to feel a bit 'meh' about his latest book. Don't get me wrong, it's got a smooth jazzy vibe running through it, with tons of energy and fun but it also felt a bit like watching an improv play. So what's going on at Harry's Cafe?

Harry is a big smiley bear, a soup-meister of some repute and his animal customers just can't wait to rush to his cafe to sample his delicious legendary soup.

Harry cooks up a batch and as usual he is heaped with praise. But one customer is not happy. "The soup is no good" says a rather disgruntled Matt the Cat.

What on earth could be wrong with the soup?

It's a higgledy piggledy story backed up by Richard Holland's brilliant cafe poster style artwork, and children will absolutely love joining in with the crazy song and the pace of the book. It left me feeling a bit like I'd heard a bum note in a Dizzy Gillespie number but Charlotte utterly loved Harry and his effervescent style.

Charlotte's best bit: Jo the Crow, she's not slow, she's on the go!

Daddy's favourite bit: Love Richard Holland's art style, faaaab cafe, man!

This is one of those children's picture books that is such a simple idea, but so beautifully executed that it makes you want to cuddle it, hug it and definitely snuggle up under a warm duvet with it. Picked out by The Strolling Mum on our last visit to Abingdon Library, it's such a lovely little book.

"Tell Me The Day Backwards" is a perfect bedtime story of a little restless bear asking his cuddly mummy bear to play their favourite game of reflecting on a busy day in reverse order.

So what do little bears get up to in their busy little lives? You'll have to read the book to properly find out but the story is excellent for leading you into playing the 'tell me the day backwards' game with your own children (this is particularly useful if, like Charlotte, they come home from school and tell you absolutely NOTHING about what they've been up to!)

Charlotte's best bit: She absolutely adored Timmy the Bear. So cute.

Daddy's favourite bit: Like all the most satisfying and memorable children's books, it's such a simple idea that you'll wonder why no one had thought of it before.