Alas, all good things must come to an end but dry your eyes, here's a joyful final tale in the Jules and Nina (& George!) Series by Anita Pouroulis and Agata Crawczyk...

We love the Jules and Nina (and George) stories. Though we're self confessed cat fans, how could we possibly resist a book that came in a package that barked at us when we opened it!

As fans of the Jules and Nina series will know, Jules is a busy and imaginative little girl who absolutely adores her two dogs, Nina and George. Nina is quite prim and proper, but exceptionally well behaved (at least until Jules' back is turned). George is a complete scamp but a lovable rogue.

When Jules comes home from school one day, Mum is at her wits end. "That darned dog!" she cries. "It's driving me mad!"

Jules wonders what George has been up to now - but it's actually Nina who is driving mum to distraction. Nina's incessant barking is a complete puzzle as she's usually well behaved. Even Jules' soothing words and cuddles can't stop Nina, and it's actually beginning to make Jules want to reach for her pink earplugs herself.

What is upsetting Nina?

We don't want to give away too much of the plot but once again we were completely drawn into the world of a girl with a huge imagination and a delightful love of animals. So if you've ever wondered why your dogs are going crazy, your cats are creating chaos, or your guinea pig has gone off the deep end...pause for a moment, get down on all fours, and see the world from their point of view just like Jules does in this story!

"Jules and Nina - Nina Goes Barking Mad" is out today from Digital Leaf.

Charlotte's best bit: Cackling with glee at Jules' description of her mum's monobrow caterpillar!

Daddy's Favourite bit: A waggy tale that dog lovers are going to fall head over heels in love with

(Kindly sent to us for review by Digital Leaf)

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Jules and Nina Dine Out by Anita Pouroulis and Agata Krawczyk (Digital Leaf)

A pocket-sized story book that sends us soaring on a voyage of imagination and discovery? How could we possibly resist. Arriving on our doorstep accompanied by an adorable collection of postcards with globetrotting themes comes a new book from Digital Leaf.

Author Richard Sinclair and Illustrator Jon Lycett-Smith have teamed up for this excellent story that will guide your children on a whistle-stop round-the-world tour as a boy and his dad visit their local museum, and take off on a flight of fancy dreaming about all the different countries they could visit together.

Some of the world's most exciting destinations are explored, starting right on our own home doorstep with a gorgeous glance at London and all the sights, stepping over the pond to the USA, South America, Australia, China and beyond.

Charlotte is always interested in any new books that arrive with geographical leanings, and this is an absolutely brilliant introduction to the world around us - and the stunning destinations we hope she'll one day visit when she grows up (or tagging along with us!)

Loud shouty voiceover fans are in for a particular treat with "Where will I go?" - A special set of audio resources accompanies the book, read by none other than the legendary King of the Hawkmen himself, Brian Blessed! Just be sure to keep the volume turned down a little in case you damage your little one's hearing!

Children are instantly drawn to books that can send them on a journey of imagination and discovery, and this is a particularly brilliant colourful and immersive example.

Charlotte's best bit: Charlotte now wants to visit Japan. Endless sushi!!

Daddy's Favourite bit: A gorgeous little globetrotting title from Digital Leaf.

(Kindly sent to us for review by Digital Leaf)

Happy Book Birthday to Jules, Nina and George! It's not often review books arrive in a mysterious pizza box (accompanied by a lovely 'menu' describing the book, and also a very lovely pack of squidgy jelly worms and snails that Charlotte made magically disappear in a flash) but "Jules and Nina Dine Out" by Anita Pouroulis and Agata Krawczyk offered us a tasty treat to tempt us into this doggy tale.

Jules lives with her two faithful pooches George and Nina. George is a typical 'boy' dog. Boisterous, loud and prone to misbehaviour while Nina conducts herself with a little more class and decorum. For a birthday treat, Jules is allowed to go to a restaurant with her parents and one of her dogs. She chooses Nina as she's always on her best behaviour but the restaurant manager won't let dogs in! CALAMITY!

Jules is forced to tie Nina up outside, so while she enjoys a wonderful dinner, Nina stares balefully through the window, unable to snaffle a few treats slid under the table.

Will Nina ever forgive Jules? Or has George got his eye on the doggy bag Nina thoughtfully brings home for her pooch.

We love the way this book delves into doggy / human relationships in a funny and often quite touching way and we're hoping that this is just the start of Jules, Nina and George's adventures from Anita and Agata. Enjoy the story, and look out for all the hidden snails popping up on each page (count them all!)

Charlotte's best bit: Nina's sulk once Jules and Nina arrive home! Ooch!

Daddy's Favourite bit: Chaotic and fun, a brilliant doggy tale!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Digital Leaf)

The strange and whacky surreality of The Weasel Puffin Unicorn Baboon Pig Lobster Race tickled our fancy a while ago, and now James and Angus - crazy psychedelic geniuses behind that book - are back with something new.

Everyone wants to be special, and even more so in the dog world. Dogs are amazingly diverse. Some are tall, some are short, some are fabulously glamorous and some are downright slobbery. But medium dog is...well medium, nothing special, a little hairy but definitely not outstanding in any field.

Medium Dog isn't happy with this situation. Not at all, and while his friends look on, Medium Dog hatches a plan. Disappearing into his shed he bangs and clatters and saws and chisels and makes the biggest pair of stilts you've ever seen.

Medium Dog is no longer Medium Dog. Medium dog is now...DOG ON STILTS!

Marching through the land, Medium Dog feels special for the first time in his life. His mischievous sense of humour comes to the fore as he strides around playing tricks on folk but sometimes there's a distinct disadvantage to having your head in the clouds. How do you nibble a bony biscuit from your dish? How can you play with your friends?

What happens to Dog on Stilts in the end is both comical and surreal, but this is another cracker from James and Angus who seem to have a gift for weaving together awesome stories with completely hatstand visuals to produce wholly original children's books.

Charlotte's best bit: Dog spots the juiciest apple on the tree but it's just out of reach. What happens next?

Daddy's Favourite bit: Superbly original and completely surreal, a great little doggy tale of an ordinary everyday dog trying to be special but realising he was special all along. Lovely!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Digital Leaf)

Aw, this book is so unfair! Even though we're writing this review a fair way ahead of the book's release date (out on the 28th April from Digital Leaf) it's still got us thinking about the summer. Long sunny days, and lots of water fights! Couldn't be better!

In "The Big Splash", the story starts off with a mysterious entity stalking the animals of the forest. As soon as they spot this shambling figure, they turn tale and run. Beaver deserts his newly built dam, even Fox feels threatened by "whatever it is".

The story deliciously builds tension with each turn of the page until we find out just what's responsible for striking terror into the woodland dwellers. What can it possibly be?

Well obviously we're not going to tell you! You'll have to read the book yourself and find out just what can make animals turn tail and run, and what "The Big Splash" is all about.

It's a fantastic and effervescent book but momentarily stealing a quote from Charlotte...there is an element of distraction here that we just couldn't get past...

"Daddy, is that his bottom? Ew!"

Though not in evidence in the cover pic above, watch out - those animals are a little bit too anatomically correct around the hind quarters (though naturally it made us giggle and grossed us out simultaneously!)

Charlotte's best bit: Lovely little Skunk's surefire method for removing ponginess!

Daddy's Favourite bit: A fun story that builds tension and excitement till the big reveal. But oh those bums, that's a bit more detail than you need first thing in the morning. Yikes!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Digital Leaf)

In our second look at Digital Leaf's upcoming range of children's books, we meet a mouse who doesn't hide his light under a bushel. While his friends are quite content to squeak, eek and wibble their whiskers, Morris likes to Moo!

In fact he doesn't just stop there, he likes to quack too, or woof, or even bellow a loud "EE-AWW!"

This is obviously great cause for concern amongst his friends, family and teachers at school - and the doctor is soon called for to see if there's a reason this otherwise meek little mouse can't settle on a voice of his own.

John Lycett-Smith's book is richly entertaining and comical, and of course the big draw for early readers is to get them to join in and make all the wonderful animal noises themselves as Morris hoots and neighs away.

Have a real hoot with "Moo, Said Morris"

Bold colourful illustrations underpin the story, and we won't give away the ending - but you can be sure that a mouse who can emulate any animal is a very useful fellow to have around in an emergency.

Charlotte's best bit: Morris fearless noise-making saves the day, hooray!

Daddy's Favourite bit: Great to read aloud to children, and of course brilliant to get them to join in with. Moo more for Morris!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Amanda at Digital Leaf)

Digital Leaf are definitely a publisher we've not heard of before, but if the quality of their books is anything to go by, they're a publisher you're going to be hearing a lot more of in future.

When we heard the title of this book, we had to take a look. With an eye for the surreal, we really wanted to know how you could bring together such a diverse bunch of animal characters and weave a story out of them.

Taking its cues from the classic "Hare and Tortoise" fable, with the strong message that cheaters never win (I know this, I learned all I need to know from watching Droopy cartoons as a kid) let the great Weasel Puffin Unicorn Baboon Pig Lobster race begin!

"One Pinky Morning" is when it all began. On your marks!

With lyrical rhymes that intentionally play with words (and refreshingly bend some of the rhyming rules we've come to know and love), the tale begins as the WPUBPL (you knew I was going to get tired of typing out the full title, right?) line up and take a tour round each other's 'gardens'.

I'd like to be...under the sea...in a Unicorn's garden, in the shade.

The artwork really reminds me of a cross between the Beatles 'Yellow Submarine' cartoon, and possibly even Crystal Tipps and Alistair (whatever happened to them? Surely with the current trend for reviving old children's TV they're about ripe for a reboot?)

As the race enters its frenetic later stages, children will enjoy rooting for their favourite animal (Charlotte firmly pinned her colours on the unicorn "because she's so cute!").

We'll leave you to discover who wins. "The Superharies" (as James and Angus are collectively known) have twirled their wands of surreality over this pacey and fresh feeling book. Who would YOU choose to win? "The Weasel Puffin Unicorn Baboon Pig Lobster Race is out now from Digital Leaf and all good indie stockists.

Loving the perspective in these illustrations. Very groovy, Superhairies!

Charlotte's best bit: Unicorn Land, which is indeed as fabulous as you'd imagine a Unicorn's garden would be!

Daddy's Favourite bit: It's crazy, surreal with a mouthful of a title and some serious nose thumbing at "The picture book rulebook" but who couldn't love it for that!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Amanda at Digital Leaf)