Our Picture Book of the Week this week is the sort of warm fuzzy huggable book that just makes us deliriously happy (and makes me very nostalgic for train trips I enjoyed as a kid, that were absolutely nothing like the sheer hell on the railways these days!)

We absolutely adore Daisy Hirst's books, so in "Hamish takes the Train" be prepared for a brilliant story of friendship and falling out, highs and lows of life as we are introduced to two fab friends.

Hamish is a bear. His best friend is Noreen the goose, and together they have a gorgeous life in the countryside. What could possibly be better!

But sometimes Noreen notices that Hamish gets a faraway look in his eye and one day she thinks it's time Hamish finds out for himself just what lies at the end of the train track near their house.

So with a clickety-clack off Hamish goes to find out what life is like in the big city, thanks to a fortunate happenstance and a new found friend.

Life at first seems even more amazing than it was in the country. But there's definitely something missing, after all what's a grand new adventure without your best buddy in tow? Is there a way Hamish can enjoy his idyllic country life but maybe bring Noreen along for the ride too?

Daisy has a knack for dreaming up the most gorgeous storyscapes, and each page spread is just glorious.

Time to pick up a ticket and ride the train!

Such a warm feelgood story this, and beautifully descriptive of what it feels like when your whole world seems to begin and end within a tiny little country village, but sometimes you feel like there may be adventure just over the horizon.

Life in the city feels so exciting for Hamish. I mean who wouldn't want a job like this?

Seeing what life is like at the other end of the tracks. Hamish settles his wanderlust once and for all

To celebrate the launch of Daisy Hirst's new book "I Do Not Like Books Anymore!" we're putting Daisy under the spotlight for another fantastic "This or That" set of questions. So without further ado, let's get right on that...













"I Do Not Like Books Anymore" by Daisy Hirst is out now, published by Walker Books.

Our first Picture Book of the Week sees the return of Daisy Hirst's brilliantly busy little siblings Alphonse and Natalie for a second adventure - this time inside books!

Aw, we got our hopes up for a moment that there was a new Luke Pearson "Hilda" book in the offing but don't worry, this little piggy is just as awesome...!

Older siblings get a really tough deal. I should know, I have a younger brother and sister and I distinctly remember what it was like growing up in a house where my lovingly constructed domino rally run was destroyed in seconds by little bro, or my little sis would bring her friends round to giggle and embarrass me.

Daisy Hirst's cute and brilliantly well observed "Alphonse, That is NOT OK to do!" is an ode to older siblings who find their most prized possessions or their most brilliant pieces of artwork irreparably defaced by their brothers or sisters.

It's not that Alphonse is bad per se, he just doesn't understand that books are not for chewing, cardboard models are not for scribbling on and sometimes you just want a bit of peace not to be used as a human trampoline.

Natalie escapes to a warm sud-filled bath but after depicting Alphonse being ravaged by tornadoes, beasts and pea storms (ugh, the latter sound awful!), she worries that perhaps something horrible might happen to Alphonse while she's locked in the bathroom.

But the story has a happy ending, as both Alphonse and Natalie understand what it's like to be a brother or a sister, and sometimes how it's the best thing in the world to have someone else to knock around with.

There was a note of sadness while we were reading this. Charlotte is an only child, and is very likely never to know what it would be like to be Natalie. She has younger cousins and often plays with younger friends but it's not quite the same. Now and again while we sat down together with the book I could see that faraway look in her eye, a look that silently mused over what it would really be like to be a big sis. I could've burst into tears.

Charlotte's favourite bit: Snorting and sniggering at Alphonse's great explanation of how he tried to reach the tape to fix his sister's book but ended up in a total pickle!

Daddy's favourite bit: The illustrations in this are fabulous and bold (and we shout a huge hooray for books that are moving away from the cute and cuddly and going for a more graphic and bold (but brilliant) look. It's also deliciously well observed. I reckon Daisy could possibly tell us a tale or two about her own younger sibs perhaps?

(Kindly sent to us for review by Walker Books)

"Alphonse that is Not OK to do!"

Written and Illustrated by Daisy Hirst

Published by Walker Books

Publication Date: 3rd March 2016