My Welsh Grandma made a mean christmas pud. Every year she'd begin it around...january 1st, and she'd spend an entire day mixing, mashing, coaxing, splashing and topping off an evil mixture with more cooking sherry than is humanly allowable. Then the mixture was allowed to steep (and some might even say 'fester') until it was ready to be steamed in a gigantic white muslin, in the same pot Grandad used to steam his army socks (for rambling in), until it was ready to serve on Christmas Day.

Perhaps puddings like this were the inspiration for Leyland Perree and Stuart McGhee's latest hilarious book "The Unpleasant Tale of the Man-Eating Christmas Pudding" because surely no pudding born into the world in such a way could ever be anything but evil. It could certainly knock you on your back with one spoonful.

The man eating christmas pud is a thoroughly caddish curranty criminal, stopping at nothing to ruin christmas for the poor family who end up playing hapless hosts to it. But as scary and mean as a man eating christmas pud can be, can it possibly stand up to Mr Claus himself?

We loved this, the twist in the middle and then a suitably satisfying end as Mr Christmas Pud meets Mr Saint Nick and...well we won't spoil it for you, you'll have to read the book and find out what happens. Just watch out you don't break your teeth on the sixpence in the middle!

Nab your copy of "The Unpleasant Tale of the Man-Eating Christmas Pud" from Ghostly Publishing.


Charlotte's best bit: Is a man-eating christmas pudding any match for a man in a red coat and a white beard?

Daddy's Favourite bit: Love the sheer mayhem in this at the start! ROARRRR!

(Kindly sent to us for review in digital form by Leyland Perree)

You join us as we drop in on Eel and Ock as excitement ramps up to frenetic levels under the sea. We have (almost literally) dived headlong into the bubbling briny deep to find out what happens during "The Great Reef Race".

This independently published book by Leyland Perree and Stuart McGhee looks absolutely brilliant, and that's one of the first things that struck us. We see a lot of indie and self-published titles, some great, some needing a serious amount of work to bring them up to publishing standards but in the case of "The Great Reef Race" you get rhymes that flow, illustrations that are clear, eye-catching and awesome, and a general feel of quality.

Eel and Ock look brilliant, we really enjoyed the energy of this book as their preparations for the race allow us a sneaky insight into all the other marine characters who pop up during the story (big plus point, lots of species for Charlotte to spot!)

As the story moves at such a pace (and as Leyland has obviously spent a lot of time making his rhymes fit together so nicely) it's a sing-song tale that's a joy to read out loud. Coupled with Stuart's artwork, this is probably one of the most impressive indie-published titles we've seen in a very long time. Top work guys!

You can pick up the book from the Ghostly Publishing web site. 

Charlotte's best bit: All the little fishes and creatures trying to help Whale (who gets stuck in a wreck!)

Daddy's favourite bit: There's a heck of a lot to love here, from great rhymes that trip off the tongue to some really nice artwork that reminded me of the classic comics like Whizzer and Chips and The Beezer which I used to read as a kid. Fantastic and thoroughly recommended.

(Kindly sent to us in digital form by Leyland Perree / Ghostly Publishing)

"...And they all lived happily ever after".

Do you get a bit annoyed that most children's books always have to end on a high? It's very rare to see a children's book end on a dark note.

I was quite interested to see how Charlotte would react to "The Witch of the East" by Mark Boyde and Scott McGregor. Before I'd read the book I'd spotted the image of "The Princess" and thought immediately that she'd win Charlotte over...

Well she ticks all the right boxes, but this Princess isn't at all what she seems!

"The Witch of the East" builds a fantasy world populated by a rather nasty old hag, whose favourite food just happens to be fairies. No not fairy cakes, actual fairies - the sweeter the better. Of course, the good fairy folk know very well to keep well away from the deep dark woods. But the lure of a beautiful princess in peril draws them out of their homes. They rescue her and in her gratitude she offers to throw the fairies a party they'll never forget...

Once the book reached its (slightly gruesome) conclusion, Charlotte wanted to know what happened to the fairies. Being a big fan of Tinkerbell I don't think it sat well with her to imagine Tinks ending up in a burger, or roasted in a pot, her bones picked clean.

Then it struck me. Of course! This book would be an absolutely massive win for boys, tired of their sisters' prancing around with a pair of fake fairy wings on, wishing that something (or someone) would come along and put a stop to all the frolicking!

Darkly tinged, rather beautifully presented (ace illustrations by Scott), slightly disjointed (we felt like there was a page missing towards the end of the book but the jarring sense that all does not end well is intentional) and definitely not recommended for before-bed reading. Nonetheless if you want a book that doesn't end with a sugary sweet sentiment, this is most definitely it.

Charlotte's best bit: The beautiful Princess (even if she's not quite what she seems, she's beautiful!)

Daddy's favourite bit: It's almost refreshing to read a children's book where everything ends on a deep dark note but couldn't help feeling very sorry for the poor fairy folk in this!

Each book sold will directly benefit the Scottish Burnt Children's Club.

More information available on the "Tales of Mordekai Hagg" website

(Kindly supplied to us for review by Ghostly Publishing)