Our second Book of the Week this week is squeezed into our friday slot, just because it's SO GOOD and such a huge amount of fun - and boy do we need a good dose of that kind of thing right now.

"How to Put an Octopus to Bed" by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Viviane Schwarz features an effervescent little Octopus pal called Floyd.

He's bubbly and fun but seems to be slightly mistaken as he thinks that HE'S the one putting his parents to bed, not the other way round.

Floyd dutifully rounds up a bath, some cuddly toys and of course a bedtime story or two before it's time to snuggle down for a blissful sleep.

There are so many humorous and cute touches to this book, and Floyd is such a great little character (even if C thought he should've been called Otto - as that's what her own little cuddly plushy octopus is called!)

Let's take a look inside this gorgeous book:

Bibbly bubbly squishy fun Floyd!

A perfect read-aloud book for bedtime with Viv's truly awesome illustrations (we really, REALLY want Floyd's bath!)

Splish splash, what an amazing bath!

Sum this book up in a sentence: Brilliant bathtime, booktime and bedtime fun for little ones, a story that bounces along and brilliant illustrations!

"How to put an Octopus to Bed" by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Viviane Schwarz is out now, published by Chronicle Kids (kindly supplied for review). 

Bugs are amazing, just ask any kid who has stared in awe at the antics of ants, beetles and bees.

"Insect Superpowers" by Kate Messner and Jillian Nickels gathers together some really impressive little critters, showing that despite their diminutive size, they're capable of amazing feats of strength, intelligence, cunning and even engineering!

Some are amazing predators, able to unleash a truly awesome arsenal of weaponry at their disposal.

Some are talented mimics, able to defy predators by pretending to be much bigger (and much hungrier) creatures than they actually are.

It's a superb collection of 18 incredible superheroes and supervillains of the insect world, in a book that's laid out in a cool comic style to maximise engagement with the subject matter, inspiring kids to pick up a magnifying glass and take a closer look at the insect world that often passes unseen beneath our feet.

Let's take a look inside at some of the amazing spreads:





Sum this book up in a sentence: A book that perfectly demonstrates just how incredible and amazing insects really are, brilliantly presented in a kick-ass comic style. 

Time for another far-out fairy tale courtesy of a brilliant duo who have wowed us previously with a truly stratospheric take on Cinderella ("Interstellar Cinderella" - check out our review elsewhere on this blog!)

In "Reading Beauty" Deborah Underwood and Meg Hunt take on the tale of Sleeping Beauty, this time updating the central character to a cool blue-haired little girl who simply adores books.

Her parents encourage this excellent habit, right up until one birthday when suddenly poor Lex's books are all taken away from her without a word. She does discover that a wicked fairy has cursed her to suffer that terrible fate of all book lovers - a paper cut - on her birthday, a paper cut that will send her to sleep for a thousand years.

Lex isn't going to stand for that though, and along with her trusty poochy sidekick she confronts the fairy and discovers the truth of the curse - and how to reverse it for good.



Sum this book up in a sentence: A rollicking version of a classic tale brought bang up to date, with a truly brilliant diverse set of characters and a fab core message about a love of books and where it can lead you.

"Reading Beauty" by Deborah Underwood and Meg Hunt is out now, published by Chronicle Children's Books (kindly supplied for review). 

How I wish I had a more soothing and lilting read-aloud voice, it would be perfect for "A Stone Sat Still" by Brendan Wenzel.

It's the sort of book that feels like those amazing 'slow journey' TV programmes you sometimes see in the schedules over the christmas vacation.

"Stone" is the story of just that, a stone - but to all of the creatures across the world, that one stone can be far more.

To some it's a shelter, a place for refuge, to keep your family safe.

To some it's a gigantic throne, standing high above the rest of the world, allowing you the best viewpoint to see your kingdom from.

Brendan deliciously describes each animal's interpretation of the stone - and as I said, if you could somehow imagine either Richard E. Grant or Jenny Agutter reading this one, you'd be so relaxed you'd probably melt.

To a humble snail, the stone is a mountain, the whole world in fact!

We particularly loved Brendan's mix of papercraft and painted artwork throughout this book. His animal characters are just adorable, I mean look at this little beaver!

Oh my gawwwd he's so adorbs!

Sum this book up in a sentence: Utterly beautiful storytelling this, a brilliant book to explore the seasons with, and change your interpretation of a simple object into something magical.

"A Stone Sat Still" by Brendan Wenzel is out now, published by Chronicle Books (kindly supplied for review)

We love books that encourage youngsters to pick up their pencils and crayons from the earliest age possible, and in "Draw Here" by Herve Tullet, Herve is ready to inspire the youngest artists, with a series of exercises and fun challenges that will improve their hand-to-eye motor skills ahead of their real drawing and writing challenges ahead.

Starting off with very easy challenges, but ramping up the difficulty as the book progresses, little ones can use any of their favourite art materials to join in with Herve's fun narration.

Be warned though, you might go a little bit dotty after completing a few of these. Let's dip into the book itself to see why...

Dots on dots, in dots, around dots!

Bold bright colours are designed to catch the eye of the very young, and get them scribbling and making marks in a cool way (it's OK to draw in the book, honest, though it's definitely something you want to keep a close eye on in case your littlies think that all books are for drawing in!)

Loads of dotty fun!

As simple as the exercises seem, there's a real purpose here, in improving the way that kids not only join the dots, but can start to form their own artistic free-form ideas while playing with these exercises.

Sum this book up in a sentence: What a fantastic idea, an art challenge book for the tiniest tiddlers with loads of interesting exercises and lots of bright colours to keep their interest while they have fun

"Draw Here" by Herve Tullet is out now, published by Chronicle Books (kindly supplied for review)

Sometimes when a book adopts a thoroughly original and 'ground breaking' approach to presenting stories in a visual way, it takes us a while to unpick them, digest them and see their true genius.

That's exactly how it was with "Astro Nuts: The Planet Planet" by Jon Scieszka and Steven Weinberg, the first mission for a very eclectic mix of strange astro-naughty animals, ready to explore the cosmos and perhaps save our world.

Here's an eco story for kids whose eyes automatically roll whenever you try to teach them about 'going green' and doing your bit to cut down on harmful consumerism and landfill waste.

Because of its slightly crazy tone, we're worried the message might be diluted - but it's as important as ever, despite the slightly jokey tone.

The story begins with a bold mission plan, utilising a state-of-the-art spacecraft (that just happens to be hidden in plain sight, as the nose on Thomas Jefferson at Mt Rushmore, no less) to seek out new planets for possible human and animal habitation.

The book isn't shy about highlighting just how special our world really is, and how rare it is in terms of the known universe. The four brave and intrepid animals, AstroWolf, LaserShark, SmartHawk, and StinkBug have been hybridized to find other planets for humans to live on because we're pretty terrible at looking after our own.

If you were going to pick a rocket shape, you'd pick a nose, right?

So off they rocket to the Plant Planet! Will that planet support human life? Or do Plant Planet's inhabitants have a more sinister plan?

We enjoyed this book, despite the slightly chaotic and crazy approach - and it'll be interesting to see how the series develops and whether the strong eco message the book begins with can be maintained through what could actually be a really cool series for engaging kids who really are turned off by other slightly more sterile approaches to getting them switched on to ecological issues.

Sum this book up in a sentence: A madcap mission into space with a serious undercurrent, do we really have the right to mess up the rest of the cosmos like we messed up our own Earth?

"Astronuts #1: The Plant Planet" by Jon Scieszka and Steven Weinberg is out now, published by Chronicle Books (kindly supplied for review). 

Sorry, bit of a double-header of Picture Book of the Week noms for books about grief and loss this week, perhaps it's the turning of the seasons but there's something slightly sombre about September, no?

But this one, oh this one we could not let slip by without a Book of the Week win - the divine "Rabbit and the Motorbike" by Kate Hoefler and Sarah Jacoby.

Rabbit likes to play it safe in life. Never straying from the comfortable confines of his farm, Rabbit isn't what you'd call an adventuresome sort - but his best friend, dog, most certainly is.

Dog may be gettting on in years, but has spent his life on the road, always eager to explore on his motorbike and see what's over the rise of the next hill.

Rabbit loves hearing about Dog's adventures, almost living vicariously through Dog's amazing life stories - until that sad day when dog's days are up, and there are no more stories to tell.

Rabbit's life is simple and safe, no need for adventures

Rabbit discovers that Dog has left him his leathers, helmet and motorbike in his will. But that's not about to change Rabbit's ways. Even though he misses his best friend dearly, the motorbike begins to gather dust and rust, and the leathers and helmet are dutifully tucked away. Yes there is a road to travel but Rabbit is still reluctant to go on any kind of adventure, full stop!

Dog's motorbike sits unused. But it plays on Rabbit's mind...

I don't think we've ever encountered a children's picture book that deals with loss and grief in this way, turning Rabbit's story from one of sorrow into one where he slowly begins to come round to Dog's way of thinking, and dog's legacy of willing his friend to go on adventures is just too tempting a lure to pass up forever.

So will Rabbit ever venture off down the road?

We loved how this was written, the gentle coda reminding us that Rabbit isn't just stubbornly set in his ways, and Dog, his dear departed friend, obviously saw something in this flop-eared fellah that Rabbit himself didn't even realise.

So much more than just another children's book about loss and grief, this is about the healing process too, and where we go from the point where we lose a loved one so dear to us. Utterly, breathtakingly beautiful stuff.

Sum this book up in a sentence: There is adventure out there, and it's there for the taking, if only we can be brave enough!

"Rabbit and the Motorbike" by Kate Hoefler and Sarah Jacoby is out now, published by Chronicle Books (kindly supplied for review)

Wait a second, this isn't supposed to happen is it?

We're constantly being told that children's books are being watered down, that we exist in some sort of weird nanny state where 'dark' children's books have fallen by the wayside to be replaced with saccharine-sweet stuff instead.

Yet our Book of the Week this week, "Ghost" by Illustratus isn't just one tale, but 13 darkly delicious and wholly spooky stories crammed into one of the most visually impressive and gorgeously presented books we've had the pleasure of reviewing this year.

The book sets out its table from the moment you see the front cover, and inside it continues to run icy cold fingers up and down your spine in 13 tales that - if you read the book in the darkness of the night - may well have you hearing more than just the odd bump or rattle of chains.

"Ghost" is perfect for folk (particularly kids) who love to think that there's more to our world than just the things we think we know. Something other-worldly, supernatural, spectral and Karen deftly plays on this with exquisite expertise in all of the writing tricks that differentiate a truly dark and mind-blowing book from just jump-scare fodder.

Stories, poems and folk-tale-like storytelling tied together by an impressive set of original illustrations from the talented Illustratus studio mark this book a cut above the rest, leaving the scariest stuff right until the very end.

If you get much sleep after this, we'd be very surprised (of course, unless, like us, you're the sort of person who yearns to spend a night in a haunted house!)

Perhaps not one for younger kids but my 11 year old absolutely ate this up. If you think that dark books are 'done' think again, this one's an absolute belter.

Sum this book up a sentence: A divine anthology designed to prickle your senses and tickle your curiosity about the supernatural, with tales brilliantly tripping deftly between the real and surreal.

"Ghost" by Illustratus is out now, published by Chronicle Books (kindly supplied for review). 

Your brain, yes yours, is an amazing thing. The more you make use of it, the easier you'll find it to navigate a complex world. We love puzzles and riddles, and C (given half the chance) loves those visual riddles and puzzles you sometimes find on YouTube amongst the cat videos and pratfalls.

It's great to find that sort of deductive and detective fun wrapped up in a book though, and in "Sleuth and Solve: 20+ Mind Twisting Mysteries" by Ana G. Gallo and Victor Escandell, you'll find a truly amazing selection of brain-baffling mysteries to solve, perfect if you're a budding Miss Marple or Sherlock Holmes.

The book sets out its stall early by mentally preparing you for what's ahead. The devil truly is in the details in this book, and if you've ever played graphical adventure games that rely on keen observations and clue-gathering, you'll know what's in store in Sleuth and Solve.

Best of all, it needn't be a solo pursuit, in fact the book positively encourages you to team up with your family to solve the mysteries, making it the perfect way to bond over your creative brainpower! Imagine a whole family of ace detectives, how cool would that be!

Answers are provided in each of the sections, but no peeking and cheating! That's not the detective way!

This is really fabulous, thoroughly original and brilliant fun and the perfect way to woo your kids away from their screens this summer.

Sum this book up in a sentence: A twisty-turny devilishly complex but utterly satisfying book for budding amateur detectives and mystery-solvers.

"Sleuth and Solve: 20+ Mind Twisting Mysteries" by Ana Gallo and Victor Escandell is out today, published by Chronicle Books (kindly supplied for review). 

The tall-tale telling kid from the superb "The Truth About my Unbelievable Summer" is back - and this time he doesn't need to stretch the truth, reality is weird enough as it is...!

Here's a fantastic new book co-written with a man whose razor-sharp wit proves very unpopular with the current Vice President of the United States...

I think at one point or another, most people have wanted to either live in or build their own Treehouse...

As well as being passionate book bloggers who love all things book shaped, we also really love fun family board and tabletop games...

The joy of pedalling around a glorious and busy little town has never been captured before with such joy in a children's picture book...

Time. Where does it go? I find myself increasingly asking this as time marches on and life continues to unfold...

The creator of Caldecott-winning "They All Saw a Cat" is back and he's bringing a few friends with him...

This is most definitely a christmas treat, combining the considerable talents of Sherri Duskey Rinker and the utterly awesome Jake Parker (who just happens to be one of our fave artists). So let's ho ho ho with "The 12 Sleighs of Christmas"

It's the return of a toddler twosome! Laurel Snyder and Emily Hughes return with a new chapter (or three) in the lives of Charlie and Mouse...

Our Second Picture Book of the Week has to be one of the most amazing feats of paper engineering we've ever seen...

A gorgeous book that recalls idyllic childhood days of play, and makes us long for the onset of spring...