Our next #Booky100Keepers books once again show off some truly stunning art, with a kitschy vibe that harks back to the "Golden Age" of 1950s America, and the glorious visions of the future that were shown off at various Worlds Fairs.

Chris Van Dusen's "If I Built a House" showcases the imagination of a brilliant kid who dreams up and draws his perfect house.

It's an absolutely amazing place with an automated kitchen (which serves up the most delicious looking food you've ever seen in a children's book - those crinkly fries and pizzas are enough to make your stomach grumble), a bouncy living room with built in trampolines - but the best is saved till later when the kid reveals his flying room, a vast aquarium and a truly stunning racetrack room.

The book bounces along in rhyme and though some of the rhymes do feel a bit 'forced' (using the phrase "well that's something new" a few too many times) you don't really notice purely because this is an absolute feast for the eyeballs and you're left at the end wishing you had the money to build a place like that.

Similariy, the kid applies his imagination to his dad's old clunker of a station wagon in "If I Built a Car" - dreaming up a mode of transport quite unlike anything you've ever seen before.

A gigantic road monster, again complete with its own robotic food conveyor (again Chris Van Dusen really manages to make your tummy rumble), an automated pilot (long before the days of driver automation became mainstream) and the ability to fly and go underwater.

It's enough to make James Bond weep with envy.

Both books are utterly brilliant, packed with amazing illustrative details and the sort of art work you'd happily pin on your wall (and his characters are just as much fun as his weird inventions). A glimpse of the future like this? Oh we'd buy that for a dollar!

Original Review Links:

"If I Built a House" by Chris Van Dusen (Chronicle)

ReadItDaddy's Book of the Week - Week ending 17th May 2013 - "If I Built A Car" by Chris Van Dusen (Penguin USA)

The bedtime routine. Hah, if you live in a house like ours, you'll know exactly where "Everyone's Awake" by Colin Meloy and Shawn Harris is coming from.

Just as the house is beginning to settle down for the night, there's always at least one more thing to do.

Dad is baking bread.

Grandma is busy with her sewing.

Mum is tap-dancing to Prince (that girl has taste!)

Dog and Cat are fighting.

....and before you know it, the whole house isn't settling down at all - it erupts into a complete chaotic frenzied hubbub - but will anyone be able to function in the morning? Sometimes all you need is a good night's sleep.

Colin and Shawn have cooked up a crazy and chaotic story that busy little bees will love at bedtime, particularly those who can't help jumping on the bed rather than snuggling down into it.

Hang on a minute, what's going on downstairs?!

There are so many brilliant story threads to pick up on here, wrapped around the text. The details in Shawn's illustrations are fabulously funny.

Tonight we're gonna party like it's 1999! Doesn't look like there's much sleeping going on here, does it?

Sum this book up in a sentence: We got this book, oh did we ever get this book - and the wry observations that not every house settles down to a blissful sleep every night!

"Everyone's Awake" by Colin Meloy and Shawn Harris is out now, published by Chronicle Children's Books (kindly supplied for review). 

You're amazing, did you know that? If you start to think about all the things in your life that shape who you are, all the myriad amazing things, and write them down, what would that list be like if you read it back?

Here's your chance to find out in a truly brilliant book that's part non-fiction, part activity book, and part journal - and entirely fantastic!

"This Is How I Do It" by Matt Lamothe is the follow-up to his previous "This is how We Do It" title examining the lives of kids all around the world.

This time Matt needs your help - in fact you are the star of this book, along with 59 real kids from around the world who all share their daily lives through superb page spreads and a fantastic overall design.

Matt's idea is to draw out from the reader their own contributions to a bigger picture of how kids live their lives all around the planet. Some might feel they're rich and well off, and have everything they need. Some might feel they're poor, but manage to still live an active and amazing life nonetheless.

Let's take a dip inside this truly amazing and diverse book filled with stories all about you, and kids like you!

All the kids featured in this book are real kids living around the world. How cool is that!

Diversity and equality shines from every page, particularly this one

Even our favourite animal friends get a moment in the spotlight in this fab book

It's such a brilliant idea to let kids join in and interact with the book themselves. Chronicle really have published some of the most stunning titles this year and this is no exception.

Sum this book up in a sentence: A truly awesome idea to make kids the star of their own book, joining kids from around the globe in talking about themselves and their lives in detail.

"This is How I Do It" by Matt Lamothe is out now, published by Chronicle Children's Books (kindly supplied for review). 

Oh yes indeed, we all remember this phase of our little darlings' lives, right?

That phase (that, even for C, shows no signs of ending) where every single question is met with that huge clanger of a word that can stop a parent dead in their tracks...

"Why?" by Adam Rex and Claire Keane pits a nefarious supervillain against one of the mightiest forces in the known universe - a questioning toddler.

The little girl in the story meets Dr X-Ray as he begins his first steps towards world domination - but soon falls foul of the girl's inquisitive nature. She just wants answers, but Dr X-Ray drags out everything from a nagging sense of imposter syndrome, a huge shadow of self-doubt and even daddy issues - before realising the error of his ways.

It all began with an asteroid collision on the good doctor's car port...

The story works itself up into a frenzy as poor Dr X-Ray does his best to patiently explain each of his reasons for taking over the world, and the girl blissfully responds each time with...

"WHY?"

Uh oh, this doesn't look good!

It makes for a very, very funny and original take on a story that we may have seen several times before, but not quite delivered with such style and aplomb. Adam's hilarious story couples brilliantly with Claire's superb comic visuals.

Dr X-Ray's daddy issues are very funny indeed!

Sum this book up in a sentence: The power of a toddler's curiosity versus a nefarious super-villain brilliantly depicted in this thoroughly original and stylish book.

"Why?" by Adam Rex and Claire Keane is out now, published by Chronicle Children's Books (kindly supplied for review). 

Now, more than ever, we need books that give kids the boost they sometimes need to stand up for what they believe in, to make their voices heard and to take their stand when issues affect them and their lives.

"Get Up, Stand Up" by Bob Marley, Cedella Marley and John Jay Cabuay, this fantastic protest song is the perfect lyrical way to plant that seed in children's minds - that they don't have to put up with things that are unfair and unjust.

John Jay's artwork is brill, and though we've seen many children's books spring from the lyrics of popular songs, this one is so timely, and just plain works.

"Get Up Stand Up" by Bob Marley. Cedella Marley and John Jay Cabuay is out now, published by Chronicle Children's Books (kindly supplied for review).

Oh these two! They always hit us in the funny bone with all their books, and if you've loved their previous brilliant stories (such as "The Truth About My Unbelievable Summer") then you're in for a real treat with our Picture Book of the Week choice this week, the fabulous "Grown Ups Never Do that!" by Benjamin Chaud and Davide Cali.

One of my favourite phrases is "I used to be a people person, but people pretty much ruined that for me" and this book gives you a hilarious - if slightly depressing insight into all the things that adults spend ages and ages nagging kids about not doing, then go ahead and do themselves - quite often on a regular basis.

Humans (particularly adults) you see are a useless lot when it comes down to an analysis of their behaviour.

They're bratty and spoilt.

They throw tantrums.

They're horribly, horribly clumsy.

They cry!

Hands up those adults among you who have ever walked into a lamp-post while gazing lovingly at your phone.

This book gleefully pokes fun at us all, but does at least come round to a wonderfully positive ending. But if you're a kid, and you've ever been moaned at almost daily, this is like sweet, sweet revenge!

Oops! Temper temper!

We love how there are usually hapless kids in each page spread, looking on agog as their 'grown ups' misbehave in the most spectacular ways.

Lego. On the floor. Worse than bear traps!

Sum this book up in a sentence: Utterly brilliant, poking fun at adults - who are supposed to be the ones setting an example to their kids.

"Grown Ups Never Do That!" by Benjamin Chaud and Davide Cali is out now, published by Chronicle Children's Books (kindly supplied for review)

We are very much liking the trend at the moment for gloriously produced anthology books, particularly ones that tap straight into folklore and tales we're already completely fanatical about.

"Nordic Tales" by Ulla Thynell brings together 16 amazingly diverse and completely magical tales from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Denmark.

As you'd expect from that collection of countries, there's a rich heritage of both oral and written storytelling, and the utterly glorious landscapes you'll find in these places lend themselves well to mystical and atmospheric storytelling.

Working from translated and transcribed works from the 19th Century, Ulla has drawn the stories together with some utterly stunning illustrations as themes range from mystical princesses to brave warriors, mythical beasts to places where other worlds meet.

It's a thing of beauty this book, not just because of the stories or the illustrations but because of the presentation too. Cloth bound with a ribbon marker to keep your place, this is absolutely perfect for before-bed storytelling, perfect for children who want something a little different than the normal bedtime reads.

Stunning, stunning stuff!

Sum this book up in a sentence: A hugely atmospheric and gloriously imaginative body of work, bringing together classic folk tales from Scandi and Icelandic locations in one utterly brilliant book.

"Nordic Tales" by Ulla Thynell is out now, published by Chronicle Children's Books (kindly supplied for review). 

Herve Tullet is, without a doubt, one of the most creative and artistic author-illustrators working in children's literature.

What I like best about Herve is the fact that he seems to instinctively know how to tap into that creative part of a child's brain where they become absolute experts at filling in the gaps our adult brains sometimes develop - a gap where a simple idea can become something entirely different.

In "I Have an Idea", Herve explores and expands on this - in something akin to a piece of concrete poetry, a book that's filled with very simple illustrations - but text designed to prod and poke those creative bits of our brain back into life. Not just for illustration or dreaming up new stories, but for all aspects of our lives where we need a little imagination, a spark of inspiration, or just a good solid nudge in the right direction sometimes.

Filled with artistic splodges that could indeed become elements of inspiration for kids to expand upon, the book is a lot of fun to read aloud - particularly if you have one of those soothing voices that's like taking a sip of a divine warm cup of hot chocolate (unfortunately mine's akin to taking a sip of a cup of coffee from a vending machine, ne'er mind though eh!)

So get Joanna Lumley round, and get her to read a few excerpts from this...

Curiosity is where it all begins, with stimulation for the senses

It works as a playful mindfulness text too.

When inspiration hits, it truly is a wonderful thing

We're both wondering how many kids will actually 'get' what this book is trying to impart. I must admit that both of us took a couple of reads through to really relax into what "I Have an Idea" is trying to achieve as it's pretty chaotic, sometimes even pretty random too...

This is the page that stuck with both of us the most. I absolutely adore the idea that every idea needs a touch of madness about it. So true!

So there you have it, another brilliantly visual exploration of what makes us tick from Herve.

Sum this book up in a sentence: A visual exploratory journey, inviting the reader to take a journey of self discovery inside their own imagination with inspiring quotes and zippy-zappy scribbly visuals to prod your creativity into life.

"I Have an Idea" by Herve Tullet is out now, published by Chronicle Kids (kindly supplied for review). 

Here's a rather stunning little book that describes what it's like to be a kid high on the autism spectrum, with a precisely observed and brilliantly written new story from ultra-talented folk.

"A Friend for Henry" by Jenn Bailey and Mika Song is the story of a little boy who has just started school.

In Classroom Six, second left down the hall, Henry has been on the lookout for a friend.

These two little scamps are utterly adorable, and we've really enjoyed previous books in this fantastic series, so let's dig into the superb "Charlie and Mouse: Even Better" by Laurel Snyder and Emily Hughes.

Charlie and Mouse are two brothers who love getting up to all sorts of mischief. Their long-suffering parents love them to bits, and Laurel's brilliant observations of children's behaviour (and their parent's reactions!) are what make these stories great.

Four perfect little tales wrapped up in one book, with stunning art from Emily Hughes. So let's have a closer look.

It's Pancake Day, and if, like us, you spent a very messy couple of hours making pancake batter, covering your pancakes in glorious toppings and devouring them in a matter of seconds you'll love the first tale. Charlie and Mouse's mum gets some pretty odd requests for pancakes from her boys. First they want tiny itty-bitty baby pancakes. Then a pancake turtle, and finally a pancake dragon! But mum figures out the perfect way to put a stop to their pancake gluttony!

Poor Mom! Who on earth knows how to make a pancake dragon!!

The rest of these tiny little tales are equally charming as Charlie and Mouse go shopping with dad, try to come up with the perfect birthday present for Mom, and cope with a cookery disaster with some well-timed diversionary tactics.

Moms are amazing (like we didn't already know this!)

Sum this book up in a sentence: Ticklish tales that are perfect for little ones. We love 'em!

"Charlie and Mouse: Even Better" by Laurel Snyder and Emily Hughes is out now, published by Chronicle Children's Books (kindly supplied for review). 

What an amazing Book of the Week this week! A real wow and no mistake.

But first, let's talk for a moment about the power of (almost) wordless picture books. Sometimes it's very difficult for books to address a particular issue in a language that's simple enough, but not patronising, for children to absorb and identify with.

When it comes to the issues in "Brave Molly" by Brooke Boynton-Hughes, the immensely talented author-illustrator has opted to use an entirely visual way of talking about anxiety and it's one that works so amazingly well, you'll wonder why no one's thought of doing anything like this before.

Any anxiety suffers, young or old, will immediately be able to identify and decode this story of a young girl who sees monsters lurking outside whenever she looks wistfully out of her window.

When you want to go out, but your anxiety takes a monstrous form...

Perfect visual metaphors for the struggles of anxiety and self doubt.

Being a T Rex might sound brilliant if you love running around, roaring, and eating smaller dinosaurs.

But what if you're a tiny T-Rex with a huge heart?

In "Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug" by Jonathan Stutzman and Jay Fleck, one little Tee really wants to show his love to his friends and family in the huggiest way possible.

His friend Pointy needs cheering up, and only a hug will do. 

Awww utterly cute!

Maths makes our brains hurty too!

Lucky Pointy, to have such a determined and caring little friend!

Our first Picture Book of the Week this week couldn't be more timely if it tried...Once again, it's time to look to our oceans and how to protect them...

How odd, we've had two books arrive on our review pile with very similar subjects so let's try biting off more than we can chew with Adam Rex's "Nothing Rhymes with Orange"...

Captivating nature and an idyllic day out for a mother and sun. There's nothing like messing about in boats!

Our first Book of the Week this week - what do you do when you're put on the spot on that first day back at school...

She's stealthy, she's sassy, she wears a nappy! Who else could it be but "Ninja Baby" !

Simple but clever. Yes, we love simple but clever books for tiny teeny kids and this one hits the spot beautifully. Olivier Tallec's "Who Done It?"...

She's sassy, she's brilliant, she has the most amazing hair but most importantly she's a proper Cinderella for the mightiest of mighty girls. Our first Book of the Week this week is Interstellar Cinderella!

Sometimes a book is such an acute (and very cute) observation of toddler life that you just can't help smiling as you read. Here's "Emily's Balloon" by Komako Sakai...