Time for a light-hearted and hugely fun tour of our solar system with a dynamic duo of kidlit creatives ready to whisk us off in a fab little spaceship, with a poochy companion who steals every scene.

"Meet the Planets" by Caryl Hart and Bethan Woollvin is brilliantly engaging, and perfect for mini space fans who love finding out more about outer space, and the amazing planets that are our galactic neighbours.

From mysterious Mars to sultry Saturn, gigantic Jupiter to gaseous Uranus, climb on board for a really brilliant and innovative way to explore space.

We love that Bethan still manages to work in her brilliant art style into this book. A real piece of genius linking up two of our favourite creative folk.

Sum this book up in a sentence: A fun and bouncy journey around our solar system for mini space fans, this is the perfect introductory book for kids who love finding out more about our galaxy

"Meet the Planets" by Caryl Hart and Bethan Woollvin is out now, published by Bloomsbury (kindly supplied for review). 

The old saying goes "Manners maketh the man" but what of the dragon?

These noble beasts have impeccable manners but just like humans, their tiddly toddlers aren't always able to maintain their politeness or good behaviour.

"When a Dragon Comes to Stay" by Caryl Hart and Rosalind Beardshaw humorously examines what it would be like to host a sleepover for a scaly mythical beast.

Will the littlest dragon behave herself? 

Our Booky Advent Calendar Day 6 entry isn't really that festive or Christmassy, but we couldn't resist including a new Albie adventure in our yuletide roundup (and isn't snow a bit more festive than the drizzle we're likely to get around the 25th?)

Here's "How to Ride a Polar Bear" by Caryl Hart and Ed Eaves.

When Albie and his mum go to the museum, Albie has no idea what is in store for him. He know that museums are fusty and dusty and full of smelly things, but what he doesn't expect are igloos, wolves and a real life polar bear!

Our second Picture Book of the Week this week is a stunning version of a true children's classic...

Our Second Picture Book of the Week once again finds us in total awe of a book that puts a new spin on this year's massively popular children's book trend...

Who could've predicted that Pirates would rule the bookshelves, and not just the waves for the past couple of decades in children's books?

Combine two of the finest talents in children's books and great things are bound to happen...just ask George!

I think finally (hooray! Thank goodness!) there's been a distinct slowdown in the number of pirate books winging their way to us...

Oh my, it doesn't look like pirates are quite done and dusted in 2018. BUT we actually rather like this knockabout rhyming tale from Caryl Hart and Nick East...

It's Day 15 of our Booky Advent Calendar and you know what that means? Even more christmas book loveliness - this time with the latest in the fantastic "Princess" range by Caryl Hart and Sarah Warburton.

This time we meet a mighty girl princess with a difference in "The Princess and the Christmas Rescue.

Princess Eliza isn't your ordinary everyday princess. Though she likes dresses and shoes, she much prefers a toolbox and a stack of materials to make her own incredible inventions and creations with.

Her parents despair! Why can't Eliza be a bit more...well...princessy?

They urge her to make some new friends, but her various attempts go slightly awry (gingerbread boys are notoriously slippery little customers after all!).

Heading out into the forest despite her parents' warnings, she finds a dear little cottage full of elves. These elves aren't just ordinary elves though, and they are fantastically busy making lists and wrapping presents for their unseen master.

But who is this mysterious figure? He's suffering from the flu so Eliza decides it's up to her to help these poor flustered elves to bring Christmas to all. So good are her efforts that Saint Nick finally arrives to whisk Eliza away on a fantastic Christmas Eve journey, and perhaps even deliver a special present to Eliza herself.

This is utterly magical christmas bookage in every way, from two of the most talented folk in kidlit.

"The Princess and the Christmas Rescue" by Caryl Hart and Sarah Warburton is out now, published by Nosy Crow (kindly supplied for review). 

Albie is back! The adventuresome little boy's imagination takes flight once again in an all new tale of excitement and action...!

There seem to be a great many books about regal Prince George and his...er...toilet habits

Gross grub, great rhymes and a motley collection of fabulous monsters and nefarious night-dwellers. Perfect Halloween booky fare!

The Albie stories are utterly fantastic, celebrating the wondrous and colourful imagination of a little boy in a ton of inventive ways. We always love to see a new "Albie" book and it's lovely to see such huge enthusiasm for Caryl Hart and Ed Eaves series on Twitter and Facebook.

We're now at book six! WOW! You think by now Caryl and Ed might be running out of ideas, but nope, here's another dazzling story and we really love this one for tons of reasons. 1) Monsters 2) Funky vehicles and 3) A really fab story of friendship and sportsmanship. So let's dive in.

Albie finds himself at the car wash with mum and as mum feeds the money into the machine, the car wash bumps into life - taking Albie and the car with it! EEEKS! Amongst the suds and soap, the jets and blow dryers Albie embarks on a new adventure as a monstrous pit crew change mum's runabout into a mean lean racing machine ready to enter The Great Monster Race. Albie lines up at the starting gate with the other monsters, but one monster is determined to win at all costs! Can Albie dig deep and not only win the race but win a few new friends along the way?

The moment we opened this book we knew we were going to be reading it several times through in quick succession. Caryl's storytelling is exciting and vibrant and Ed's inventive monsters and their fantastic outrageous rides really make this yet another surefire winner for fans of the Albie series (we particularly loved that there was a girl monster in there too, hooray!)

Washing the car will never seem the same again!

Charlotte's best bit: Trying to pick a favourite car and racer (she loved the girl monster's sleek racing car but booed loudly when she was forced off the road by a meanie in a monster truck!)

Daddy's Favourite bit: A fabulous furry freaky monster tale that will get your engines revving (and you'll definitely want to do a victory lap and read this one all over again once you've reached the finish line!)

(Kindly sent to us for review by Simon and Schuster Children's Books)

Ahh Hollywood. The glitz, the glamour, the..er the big green warty bottoms. Catching up with minxy mischief maker Foxy Dubois and her ever-present pain in the neck Alphonso the Alligator for their second adventure, we're hitting the highs and lows of tinseltown - referred to here as "Jollywood" (which we actually think sounds far nicer than Hollywood!)

We absolutely loved "Foxy Tales - The Cunning Plan" and couldn't wait for more Foxy adventures. In this second book, Foxy's schemes are even more hair-brained than ever and Alphonso's tummy (and bottom) are even more rumbly.

After a chance encounter with Tony Ravioli's twin brother, Foxy charms him and convinces him to introduce her to a famous movie star. Unfortunately Alphonso has stowed away in the back of the burger van as the two head off to the glitz and glamour of the movie studios. One thing's for sure, Foxy is going to have to come up with a plan to get rid of Alphonso that is so cunning you could brush your teeth with it.

We won't spoil too much - but this is a rip-snorting rollicking tale in the same mould as "Foxy Tales - The Cunning Plan" and has plenty of big green warty belly laughs and blisters along at a breakneck pace.

We don't actually know whether we ought to feel sorry for Foxy or think that she gets her just desserts (she is quite mean to Alphonso, but then I guess you'd be mean to someone if they kept threatening to eat you all the time). Loved the little back story about how Alphonso and Foxy first "met" :) Oh and it goes without saying that Mr Billy Bongo's cameos are a cracking highlight, as ever!

Brilliant stuff, we love it!

Charlotte's best bit: Feeling sorry for poor Foxy. Just when things look like they're going to go her way, a big alligator-shaped problem steps in the way. Parp!

Daddy's Favourite bit: Snortingly funny and a great example of a transitional book for kids like Charlotte looking for something a bit longer than the norm, but not as wordy as a chapter reader. Once again, Foxy and Alphonso are a huge hit and we'll be looking forward to that third book!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Hodder Children's Books)

"So Daddy, is Foxy a baddie?"

Oof! This is how our reading of "Foxy Tales" began, and underlined our animated reading of this fabulous new book series from two uber-talented children's book folk. Caryl Hart and Alex T. Smith have teamed up to create a mischievous duo par excellence, and this is their first (foxy) tale (Look out for "Foxy Tales: The Road to Fame and Fortune" coming really soon!)

So is Foxy a baddie? We chose to see her as a poor unfortunate lass who is a little down on her luck and is relying on her verve and cunning to get by in life. Things would probably go swimmingly if it wasn't for one huge green-scaly problem - a huge green scaly alligator-shaped problem.

Alphonso the Alligator has latched onto Foxy and if there's one thing that can really complicate life, even when you're as smart as a fox, it's having a blinkin' great big hungry Alligator in tow whose life revolves completely around filling his rotund belly as quickly (and as often) as possible. Poor Foxy (and heck, we have to have a bit of sympathy for her even if she's really a bit of a bad egg) has completely run out of credit at Toni Ravioli's East Street Diner, and Alphonso is hungry! Worse than that, Alligators will eat anything - even foxy sidekicks - so Foxy Dubois needs to come up with a plan, and fast!

This superb book was something we took a little time with, reading it over the space of a few bedtimes. Charlotte is good and ready for meatier chapter-based fare with great illustrations, so she really enjoyed Caryl's fast-paced storytelling punctuated by Alex's fab drawings (she's already a huge fan of Alex and still keeps talking about being slightly star-struck when she met him!)

Anyway, back to the plan. Foxy comes up with a stunner, so stunning and cunning you could brush your teeth with it. Foxy aims to kidnap a local heiress's dogs, fake a rescue, and then bring the dogs back to her for a rich reward.

On paper it's a sound plan, in practice, once again having a great big galumping Alligator helping out really isn't the brightest move. But can Foxy somehow succeed and end up well on the road to fortune and glory? Or will she be taking up permanent residence at No.1 Alligator Tummy Lane.

We'll leave you to discover the answer yourself. We had a lot of discussions about the merits of a children's book character who is actually a bit of a stinker, but think that Foxy Dubois is here to stay, and maybe - just maybe, her completely crazy hair-brained schemes might one day bear fruit (and she might get rid of that pesky alligator as well - or at least end up with a fantastic fashionable pair of Alligator-skin shoes!) There are so many laugh-out loud moments for young and old (we cackled like drains at the book's warning about the distressing scenes featuring cute dogs in cute coats - So true!)

A really rollickingly good start to a new book series that's absolutely bound to become a huge hit. Foxy and Alphonse, destined for greatness!

Charlotte's best bit: The most terrifying sight, a full grown fat-bellied alligator dressed up as a sweet old auntie. Eeks!

Daddy's Favourite bit: Oh dear. Alphonso's "Escape Cloud" - Silent, but deadly!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Hodder Children's Books)

Ahh lovely, we've finally caught up with a book we've been meaning to read for absolutely AGES! We've previously loved Albie's plunge into the pirate pool, so kept "Welcome to Alien School" on our 'to-do' list for a long time. Now we've found it nestling in the library stacks and can have a good scrimmage through!

Imagine what it would be like if, instead of boring old normal school, you ended up at Alien School for the day. Albie's imagination soars as Mum drops him off on a distant planet for the day instead of the usual school run. Like most children going to a new school for the first time, Albie's a little bit nervous and unsure - but imagine what it would be like if your lessons were - well - completely alien!

Spelling an alien language? ABCs are hard enough but how about Gzzz, Frrrzzt and Sqrrrrrm? Alien playtimes? They're completely crazy (and a little bit scary if you don't know what you're doing?) And the less said about lunch, the better!

Soon though, Albie makes friends and realises that even at Alien School, there's always something fun to learn and lots of interesting times to be had.

It's a great book to help children address those 'starting school' fears, and we do love Ed's colourful and creative aliens in this (particularly the cute little ones!)

Charlotte's best bit: Alien Lunchtime!

Daddy's Favourite bit: We are definitely loving Albie's imaginative flights of fancy and still have lots of catching up to do with the rest of the books - but we'll get there in the end. This is fab though, hits the spot nicely!

What happens when an ordinary trip to the swimming pool turns into a pirate-tastic adventure? Young Albie finds out on a tired, rainy day that excitement and adventure await just around the corner - when you use your imagination.

Kids who love pirates (are there actually any kids who DON'T?) will instantly find this book appealing. We loved Ed's "Steampunky" pirates and their fantastic Shark-shaped sub. As the adventure unfolds with the absolutely essential search for hidden treasure, Albie and the pirates (including - HOORAY - a rather fetching girl pirate in the gang. The world needs more girl pirates!) discover a treasure chest protected by a rather fierce looking Octopus.

Can Albie and his new-found friends win the day, snag the treasure and be home in time for marmite on toast?

There's lots of nuances and little details in this book. Dipping into the wonderful imagination of a child will undoubtedly allow your own children to imagine their own cool adventures too!

Charlotte's best bit: The girl pirate and the fabulous treasure.

Daddy's favourite bit: Just how we like our pirates. Steampunky and utterly fearless. Hooray!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Simon and Schuster Children's Books)

For the second part of our "Book of the Week" nomination we are extremely pleased to finally be able to take a look at a book that has received a lot of positive buzz since it first released. Now launched as part of Nosy Crow's "Stories Aloud" range (with added enhanced audio, thanks to a clever little QR code tucked inside the cover) "The Princess and the Peas" is a delicious treatment of a well-loved fairy tale.

Young Lily-Rose May is an ordinary everyday little girl who lives with her dad in a cute little cottage in the woods. She loves to draw, read, dance and do all the things little girls like to do. But she absolutely, positively does not like peas!

This seems to be pretty common amongst little girls, but when a doctor calls to find out the cause of Lily-Rose's aversion to those poddy little green legumes, he can only come to one conclusion. Lily-Rose May is a princess - because princesses are allergic to peas!

He shows Lily-Rose and her dad the well known tale of what happened when a princess, sheltering from a storm, stayed at the royal palace one night. The queen, seeking out a true princess to marry off to her son the prince (why he couldn't just go on Zoosk like everyone else is beyond me), hid a single solitary pea under a huge pile of mattresses. The poor princess could not sleep a wink all night, broke out in pea-green hives, and had a thoroughly miserable time of it. BANG! One Princess, ready to marry off to the lazy internet-dating-site-dodging prince.

The doctor, rather than prescribing some antihistamines or pea-allergy suppressants, dictates that Lily Rose must give up living with her dad, and must move to the royal palace at once!

With a tear in her eye, Lily-Rose dutifully obeys and joins the palace household as a princess. A young girl's dream, hooray! Or is it...

This is a fantastically funny and very appealing reworking of "The Princess and the Pea" which Charlotte has demanded daily since it arrived. It could be a lot to do with Lily Rose May's name, it could be a lot to do with that absolutely stunning pink cover, but it's mostly to do with it being a brilliant book beautifully written and divinely illustrated. The audio enhancement is the icing on the cake (and we've already crowed (ha ha) about what a great idea Nosy Crow have come up with there). "The Princess and the Peas" definitely deserves a place in your pea-dodging princess' book collection!

Charlotte's best bit: The beautiful beautiful dresses and shoes that Lily-Rose May gets to wear at the palace (girls, honestly!)

Daddy's favourite bit: Daddy's brilliant pea recipe ideas. You know, pea cookies aren't actually that bad!

(kindly sent to us by Nosy Crow to thank us for Charlotte's brilliant Princess drawing used on their blog)