Imagine being uprooted from your familiar home, having to leave your friends behind, and having to start school in a whole new location. Many children face this scenario every day, and for a child it can be exciting and sometimes quite traumatic.

"Ice in the Jungle" is a lovely little book designed to help children cope with the stress and strain of a family move, centring on an adorable little polar bear named Ice. Ice's mummy has to move away with a new job to somewhere entirely unfamiliar and new. Ice and Mum are moving to...THE JUNGLE!

It's far too hot, school is strange and Ice finds it difficult to fit in. Her school friends all seem to be fairly wrapped up in their own little lives, and as for the food - Ice has never tasted a fish like that bizarre yellow curved one given to her by one of her classmates.

Ice starts to feel lonely and sad but sometimes it takes a while to make new friends - but when you do, it smoothes the way when life is full of upheaval.

Ariane Hofmann-Maniyar has drawn together some brilliant elements in this book that can really allay a child's fears and perhaps even help children who are naturally shy to cope with the sometimes difficult task of making new friends. It certainly delighted Charlotte and I (Charlotte is naturally shy so she instantly bonded with Ice in this tale). Really love this one!

Charlotte's best bit: Ice spluttering on a banana! Ewwwwww!

Daddy's Favourite bit: A touching little tale perfectly put together to help children cope with the stresses and strains of a move to a new location or school.

(Kindly sent to us for review by Child's Play Books)

As a child, it's all too easy to take things for granted - or to feel a little envious when other kids seem to have more toys than you, or even go on holiday when you're stuck at home.

Tilly's mum comes up with a great idea when Tilly is feeling a little down in the dumps after hearing all her classmates talking about their summer plans. A wonderful mum, she comes up with an imaginative way for the two to have a very special holiday. A holiday at home!

Tilly is sceptical at first, but soon gets into the swing of things as mum finds a multitude of different ways to have fun, most of which don't even require stepping off your own front doorstep.

Gillian Hibbs deals with a sensitive subject here with deft subtlety, and it's a subject that I'm all too familiar with. We had very little as kids, my sister and I, and there were times we felt like Tilly - like the whole world was embarking on some grand adventure while we kicked our heels. My mum worked extremely hard just like Tilly's and it's thanks to her always ensuring that we had books, and pens, and paper, and things to do, that we grew up curious and ready to learn, to embrace life and the world and never take anything as read.

We love the fabulous colour illustrations in this, and the fact that Tilly has plenty to tell her friends all about her summer when she goes back to school.


Charlotte's best bit: Tilly and Mum making the most amazing tent in Tilly's room for a spot of indoor glamping

Daddy's Favourite bit: Fantastic and imaginative stuff. Hope we haven't read this one wrong but the core theme is something that really spoke to me about my own childhood. Quite stunningly so, in fact.

(Kindly sent to us for review by Child's Play Books)

We had to double up on our Book of the Week nominations for this week, simply because there was no dividing our two choices and we couldn't wait to share both with you with as much enthusiasm as possible. So you've seen our Hermelin review, it's now time to shift gears to focus on a book that's like a huge big sledgehammer-sized whump in the heart to read, and one that we've shared between family members, each coming away from it with something subtly different.

"Grandma" by Jessica Shepherd, like "Really and Truly" deals with a subject that's extremely difficult to explain to a child, but this book does so in a sensitive, thoughtful and patient way.

Jessica Shepherd's book is borne of years of working in care situations, experiencing first-hand situations like the one so touchingly described in the story. Oscar talks about Grandma, and how she's an amazing energetic person full of joie de vivre. She loves to play, she loves to read stories, and always makes time for Oscar.

Grandma becomes ill, and has to move into a sheltered home in order to be looked after properly. It takes a while for Oscar to adjust, but with lots of help on hand, and lots of other people to talk to, Grandma gets the sort of care and attention she needs.

Oscar doesn't understand why Grandma gets angry sometimes, or doesn't recognise him, but knows that deep down in his heart Grandma is the same person, still well loved and a part of a loving family.

My wife commented on how fantastic this book is, and how it helps Charlotte understand the situation with her own two great-grandmas (Great Nanny and Great Grandma) who suffer from dementia. This year has been particularly tough as the marked change in both of them has been rapid, taking most of us (including Charlotte) by surprise with how quickly things can change. Child-friendly illustrations add to the sensitive and thoughtful text, and there's a reference at the end to explain some of the terms used in the book so that children can read and refer to them to gain a greater understanding (though the story conveys things so fantastically on its own).

Jessica's book is quite rightly championed by everyone who has read it so we really needed to experience it for ourselves. (Please drop by Carmen's "Rhino Reads" blog for her review of both Grandma and "Really and Truly"). Child's Play very kindly sent us a copy and it's been read and re-read ever since.

It's often difficult to adequately describe what dementia is to a child, or what it means when a well-loved family member begins such a rapid spiral into such a horrible disease. This book has helped us a lot, and if you're in a similar situation we seriously cannot recommend it highly enough.

Charlotte's best bit: Finding out about Grandma's new home (with a brilliant floor plan drawn to show where everything is)

Daddy's Favourite bit: A book that took us all on an emotional roller-coaster, but has been a hugely valuable book to help Charlotte (and us) understand what it feels like to be in this situation

(Kindly sent to us for review by Child's Play Books)

What an adventure going to the park is when you're a tiddler. We're lucky enough to have several good ones around us, and it's still something we do on a sunday when we want to get some fresh air, burn off some energy and swing on the swings (Adults: Isn't one of the best things about having kids the fact that no one gives you filthy looks when you go on the swings and roundabouts yourself?)

Stephen Cheetham's fab book "Off to the Park" recreates the excitement in a book for younger children, full of textures and bold images, complimentary colours and plenty of opportunity for imaginative interaction.

Youngsters will love hearing grown-ups read the words, then exploring the textures with curious little fingers. The roughness of the path to follow, the cold metal of the slide ladder - and of course pressing the button to the zebra crossing (something that children seriously never grow out of!)

I love the fact that there's lots here for sight-impaired kids too, who can touch the textures - and using the innovative braille numbers on each page, count and learn as they enjoy the book too.

Even at 6 years old, Charlotte was drawn to this book for the illustrations and the touchy-feely stuff (she used to really love the "That's Not My" series).

Really great stuff from a publisher who excels at producing utterly brilliant books as diverse and amazing as children are themselves.

Charlotte's best bit: The big red ball and the zebra crossing button!

Daddy's Favourite bit: A superb quality fun book celebrating something that children often take for granted but never pass up the opportunity to enjoy - even in book form!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Child's Play Books)

Alborozo's illustrative work is fabulous, and it's great to see his work finally appear in a children's book that's so full of energy and joie de vivre.

Featuring a talented tumbler who runs away from the circus when he's not quite getting the attention he deserves, "The Acrobat" is fun and original and there's an underlying message that will ring very true for any parents reading this book to their children...

Sometimes, just sometimes, it doesn't seem to matter what you do, and how impressive you do it, kids are wrapped up in their own world getting on with their own things.

It's funny to see the acrobat pulling out all the stops to juggle, tumble, twist and turn - but perhaps the acrobat's best trick requires assistance - lots of assistance - in order to impress those kids in the end.

What a fantastic start to Alborozo's children's book career - We hope for many many more from this talented fellah!

Charlotte's best bit: Can't tell you as it'll give too much away but the book does have a fantastic and colourful end to it that will dazzle and inspire!

Daddy's Favourite bit: A book that's full of energy and originality, with a real surprise ending that's so utterly cool, we love it!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Child's Play Books)

There was an old lady who swallowed a...WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?

Our Competition to complete the phrase "There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A..." for Child's Play Books was a storming success, and a huge thanks to all our entrants. We've cogitated, we've giggled, in fact we've laughed like drains - and it was extremely tough to pick winners in each category. We've bent the rules a bit so six lucky folk are going to be having their insides tickled by an utterly brilliant and charming child's play classic.

Charlotte picked our winners (with a bit of help from me) so without further ado here are the winning entries and the talented rib-ticklers behind them!

Shea Wong @MrsSheaWong (and Alex, 3 yrs old)