We're adoring Maverick's picture book range and they've got a couple of corkers that we've been lucky enough to have been sent for a sneaky peek at.

Amanda Brandon and Catalina Echeverri are back for more woolly antics following on from "A Scarf and a Half" and "A Box of Socks".

Granny Mutton is once again in a knitting frenzy in "A Knit and a Knot" - this time the lovely woolly old dear is spinning us a real yarn, trying to teach her grandson how to knit (I could never pick up the threads of how to from my own lovely Nan but I still wish I'd learned!)

Granny's favourite ball of wool has gone missing, so it's up to Lionel and his friend Rocky to track down the missing ball before Granny runs out!

As with the previous books, Amanda and Catalina have knitted up a gorgeous ticklish little story for your little ones. Granny Mutton is ace!

"A Knit and a Knot" is out now, published by Maverick Publishing. 

And if you're not in the mood for knitting, but are all of a frenzy about "The Great British Bake Off" you'll definitely love "As Nice as Pie" by Gary Sheppard and Tim Budgen.

Gary and Tim have the scrumptious recipe for picture book perfection. Meet Mavis, baker extraordinaire and bird lover. She loves to make the tastiest treats but one day when she feeds a bird a few crumbs, little does she suspect that the naughty birds will take advantage of her generosity.

Mavis must bake up a frenzy just to keep up!

A hilarious and fun tale that's perfect for pastry addicts.

"As Nice as Pie" is out in November, published by Maverick Publishing. 

(Both titles kindly supplied for review)

Socks! Dads hate them because they're usually the fall-back present whenever birthdays, christmas or Fathers Day (which is coming up soon, hint hint!) come around. But there is nothing quite like snuggling into a pair of lovely hand-knitted socks. A young lamb's granny is a sock-meister extraordinaire and loves to share her warm cuddly creations with the rest of the animals on the farm.

Our young hero decides that he'll help poor creaky granny out by distributing the socks to all the animals - but CALAMITIES! A missed footing, a heck of a trip and those socks and their carefully scribbled labels are scattered all over the place, and sorting out those mis-matched socks won't be easy. Perhaps the little woolly fellah can get some help?

A fun little tale of friendship, helping out and warm woollens. Even though it's sunny outside there's still a bit of a nip in the air, so don your comfy snuggly socks and settle down for a read!

"A Box of Socks" by Amanda Brandon and Catalina Echeverri is out tomorrow, 28th May 2015 from Maverick Publishing.

Charlotte's best bit: When all the animals end up with the wrong socks! Eeeks!

Daddy's Favourite bit: A fun and entertaining adventure that really socks it to you! I am so, so, sorry!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Maverick Books)

Do you have a knitting nan or gran? Nan Webb was always the biggest knit(ter) in our family, she could hand-knit and crochet such amazing things in fact if anyone had asked her she could probably have knitted a Nuclear Submarine Cosy, she was that good!

Granny Mutton loves knitting so when Lionel Mutton (her grandson) is about to have a birthday, Granny gets busy and decides to knit young Lionel a scarf to keep his neck warm.

Granny can't reign in her enthusiasm, with needles almost on fire with the effort she knits the scarf to end all scarves - in fact it's a scarf and a half!

Lionel's birthday arrives, and he quickly rips open his present, thinking it's a new football - and is somewhat deflated when he discovers the world's longest scarf inside. It's huge, wraps around him so many times that he trips and stumbles, and falls face-flat in the mud. But can a scarf become the most awesome birthday present in the world after all, with a little imagination (and a good stretch?)

"A Scarf and a Half" is awesome, a rousing cheer for our wonderful grandparents (or for that matter dotty old aunties or mums who knit too!) and an awesome demonstration that a child's imagination through play can help any ordinary everyday object become something magical! A book and a half, this!

Charlotte's best bit: Lionel's scarf tug-o-war!

Daddy's Favourite bit: What a wonderful granny Granny Mutton is!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Maverick Books)

Did anyone have an imaginary friend? Mine was called Pooki, and lived in the boiler cupboard at home in our house in London. Charlotte maintains that she doesn't have any imaginary friends but if she did, she'd want a fairy who could wave her wand and grant wishes (Smart kid - Pooki just spent a lot of time grumbling about the cramped living quarters).

In "There's a Dinosaur in my Bathtub" by Catalina Echeverri, Amelia's imaginary friend is a dinosaur. He's a rather natty french chap called Pierre, resplendently accompanied by the world's most brilliant twirly moustache. Though he lives in the bath, Pierre is expert at hiding away whenever mum or dad need to use the bathroom.

Pierre and Amelia have the most wonderful playtimes, they're always happy and always there for each other.

Catalina's fab illustrations add to the fun of her bouncy and brilliant little story.

We'd love to hear about your imaginary friends. Drop a comment below, we love to hear from you!

Charlotte's best bit: Charlotte innocently asked what Pierre does when Amelia's dad needs a poo. Er...not covered by the book thankfully!

Daddy's Favourite bit: Love the illustrations, particularly Pierre's masterful 'tache!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Bloomsbury Publishing)

We love it when books fizz with energy, and Catalina Echeverri's debut for Jonathan Cape, "Lion and Mouse" does exactly that.

Taking a fairly well known story and adding a few twists and turns here and there, Catalina has produced a rather beautiful book underpinned with the strong message about how valuable a friendship can be, and how sometimes taking someone for granted is part of the ebb and flow.

Mouse is a rather timid little fellow as you might expect. His best friend Lion, however, is loud and confident and very self-assured. Mouse feels like he's constantly living in the shadow of Lion's brash and outspoken behaviour and decides one day to disappear.

Despite own Lion's claims that he is amazing, brave, fearless and strong, Lion has a secret. There is something Lion is scared of - The dark!

So when darkness comes, who does Lion need by his side the most? Mouse of course!

Catalina's illustrative style lends the book its frenetic energy, and Charlotte rather liked the pace of the story. There are great opportunities for characterisation as you can read the book together, being as loud as Lion and then as quiet and timid as mouse. It's a brilliant book for early readers as the flow of text and the story is easy to follow despite the fairly quick pace.

We look forward to seeing more from Catalina, this is a brilliant debut.

Charlotte's best bit: Lion in the darkness, very scary!

Daddy's favourite bit: A neat little moral tale, not preachy or too in your face - and Mouse is a little darling really, despite Lion's rather rubbish behaviour towards him early in the book.

(Kindly sent to us for review by Jonathan Cape PB Ltd)