Sometimes the simplest ideas can work so beautifully in children's books if all the elements that make a fab read are in place. In "It's Time to Say Goodnight" we meet a happy little chap who wanders around the farm where he lives, greeting all the animals and characters he meets along the way. Out in the urban jungle he even finds time to say good morning to all the trucks, cars, buses, trash men and other things he sees on his travels.

Being such a busy little chap does mean that once he's finished, it's actually starting to get dark - so it's time to say goodnight instead of good morning!

We love Harriet's rhymes and Barroux's simple but beautiful artwork and wonderfully drawn characters.

A fabulous little book full of discoveries, that is destined to become a favourite book for younger readers...

...And with that, we'll bid you a very good night!


Charlotte's best bit: Goodnight to the chickens! Goodnight to the Ducks!

Daddy's Favourite bit: A simple idea, some lovely rhymes and beautifully simple but nicely put together.

(Kindly sent to us for review by Mat at PGUK / Blue Apple Books)

We rather like monsters, you may have picked up on this on the blog. We talk about them a lot, we devour any new monster books so a fab multi-coloured and accessible monster counting book is bound to get a thumbs up.

"Monster Needs One More" encourages children to count and add using a cast of wonderfully inventive monsters who 'always want one more'. Whether it's hugs or their favourite treats, these monsters are demanding little devils but immensely loveable with it.

We've previously looked at Harriet and Natalie's fab "Monster Be Good" and "Monster Needs One More" continues the theme in grand style.

Charlotte and Daddy Need One (million) more monster book!

Charlotte's best bit: Monster wants one more cuddle!

Daddy's Favourite bit: Fab colourful illustrations and a lovely counting book. Monstrously good!
(Kindly sent to us for review by Blue Apple Books / Mat at PGUK)

As Charlotte starts to read and write more, it's great to find books that blur the boundary between being a "School Book" and a "Home Book" - Making the learning process fun and engaging enough to feel like they're playing, not working.

"Read and Write Rhyming Words" by Harriet Ziefert and Yukiko Kido successfully does just that with a series of K-1 standard exercises wrapped lovingly around some brilliant and cute illustrations. There's a ton of activities in the book ranging from simple 'fill in the missing word' puzzles to more complicated rhyming exercises.

Children have an ear for rhymes so it was a lot of fun to hear Charlotte coming up with a mix of real words and her own silly made up stuff. We rather liked the idea that the first thing this book tells you is to 'break the spine' (Owch) and make it easier to use (and you will need to do that, as children have little patience for a book that's clunky or clumsy to write in). Thankfully the book is sturdy enough to stand up to a bit of punishment, and if you use a pencil you can write directly into the book and rub out / start again to give it a little more of a lifespan.

A fun and engaging book that compliments the sort of things Charlotte is currently learning at school, and far more easier for her to get to grips with than her writing journal has been this Easter holiday, for sure!

Charlotte's best bit: Coming up with rhymes for "Pig"

Daddy's favourite bit: Great cute illustrations and nice page layouts to make children feel more like they're having fun than doing school work

(Kindly sent to us for review by Blue Apple Books / PGA)

Oooh now here's a real treat! We absolutely loved Jenni Desmond's feline debut with "Red Cat, Blue Cat" and I remember spotting an early mysterious mention of "Backstage Cat" back when we were reviewing the book and interviewing the lovely Jenni.

Now the mystery is revealed, and in this collaboration with children's book superstar Harriet Ziefert, once again we have completely fallen in love with Simon, the slightly naughty but supercool moggy in this book.

A theatrical superstar goes everywhere with her beloved cat, and usually he's quite content to be pampered in the dressing room while his mistress sings for her supper on stage.

However, one day when the door's left open a tiny crack, Simon ventures out into the world backstage. It's a world unlike any other, full of odd sights and sounds (and probably smells) and Simon is very intrigued.

But things get a lot more interesting when Simon spots something that really shouldn't be there. A mouse, scurrying amongst the scenery.

Chaos ensues as Simon begins to chase the mouse, not just backstage but on stage too! Can Simon steal the limelight and what will his owner (not to mention all the stage hands) say!

Harriet Ziefert's entertaining story gives Jenni Desmond plenty of scope for doing something she is an absolute expert at - conveying the sense of busy chaotic and frenetic action that takes place when cats start to misbehave. It's also an interesting insight into the inner workings of a theatre production as we get to find out that the star isn't the only person involved.

An utterly beautiful book combining Ziefert's concise and expert observations with Desmond's utterly beautiful illustrative style.

Charlotte's best bit: Simon getting an enormous cuddle (and his expression!)

Daddy's favourite bit: Such a frenetic pace, I almost imagine Jenni scribbling away furiously as she visited theatres to start the sketches for this. Love Ziefert's storytelling style too. A winning combination of talent and a superb book, don't miss out on opening night!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Mat Archer / Blue Apple Books)

Sharing a house with a Princess isn't easy. We know this only too well at ReadItDaddy Towers as our own little Princess, Charlotte (she tells us quite forcefully she's a princess but we haven't tried the 'pea' test yet).

Princess Rosebud (or Rosebud as she's known most of the time) likes things 'just so'. Her cuddly toys are exquisitely arranged on her freshly made bed, she likes to draw and paint (but makes sure all her pens and pencils are properly lined up first) and she's good at practically everything she turns her hand to.

But like our own little Princess, sometimes it only takes the slightest thing to cause a giant royal meltdown.

When dinner does not go according to plan one evening, Princess Rosebud explodes quite spectacularly. But learning the story of the Princess and the Pea, Rosebud realises that the uncomfortable lump in her mattress means something after all!

This book is beautifully presented, with a huge sprawling fold-out story segueing nicely with the main plot. Harriet Ziefert's observations on child behaviour are spot on and Travis Foster's humorous cartoon drawings are brilliant.

If you've got one or more little princesses at home, you'll love this book to bits (as will they).

Charlotte's best bit: Princess Rosebud's great collection of toy animals and dolls

Daddy's favourite bit: Brilliantly observed and the foldouts are fantastic too!

(Kindly sent to us by Mat Archer / Blue Apple Books)

In the second of our medical-related ABC books kindly sent to us by Blue Apple Books, we visit the Doctor's Surgery for another funky A to Z.

Of the two books (this and ABC Dentist by the same team), Charlotte preferred ABC Doctor. Possibly because there are a couple of panels that are a teensy weensy bit grim and gross but educational and factual at the same time.

As with ABC Dentist, Liz Murphy's cool little collage-enhanced retro artwork is a brilliant fit for the book. Harriet Ziefert consulted with real life MDs to ensure that all the facts and illustrations aid learning and are a good fit for children who want to know more about what goes on at their local surgery or clinic. It's particularly great if your children absolutely hate visiting the doctor's and want the assurance that they're there to help even when they're sticking a needle in your arm!

Charlotte's best bit: The X-Ray Page. Not really sure what it is about Charlotte and X-Rays, I think she's channeling Rontgen!

Daddy's favourite bit: Again, Liz Murphy's illustrations are top notch and such a good fit for this book.

Blue Apple Books were kind enough to send us some excellent Harriet Ziefert books. We've already looked at '40 uses for a Grandpa' so next on our reading list is ABC Dentist - Healthy Teeth from A to Z.

For most of us, a trip to the dentist is often accompanied by a pain in the mouth, swiftly followed by a severe pain in the wallet. Our dentist is lovely though and Harriet Ziefert's book will allay the fears of anyone who is putting off that check up, hoping that the nagging toothache will somehow disappear on its own.

Liz Murphy's illustrations are the perfect accompaniment to this A to Z of dentistry, mixing painted panels with collage work and lots of fun and colourful characters. You'll learn about the structure of teeth, what an orthodontist does and why it's important to brush and floss.

Educational, fun and absolutely brilliant for a good age range, ABC Dentist is a book you'll find children want to return to again and again, even if they really aren't that keen on visiting the real thing!

Charlotte's best bit: White Teeth, Yellow Teeth and the page on X-Rays.

Daddy's favourite bit: Liz Murphy's awesome illustrative style instantly makes this book approachable and fun.

Our lovely PR contact who handles Blue Apple Books has sent us three absolute corkers to read and the first one that caught Charlotte's attention was "40 uses for a Grandpa" by Harriet Ziefert and Amanda Haley.

We all know how awesome grandparents are. They're full of stories, they know how to fix things, they are (usually) quite sprightly and they have a wicked sense of mischief (particularly where Wagon Wheels are concerned, right Grandad?)

Charlotte adores them all and this book lists all the things that grandads are awesome at (there's an accompanying book for grandmas too, so they needn't feel left out.

As a grandmother herself, Harriet Ziefert writes on the subject with some authority and Amanda Haley's lovely cuddly illustrations are the perfect compliment to the 40 reasons why we all love Grandpa, Grandad, Grampy, Gangy-Ig or Dodo (yes, Charlotte has a grandad known simply as Dodo!)

A really lovely little book!

Charlotte's best bit: E-Pals (though in the picture the little girl is emailing, not Skyping :)

Daddy's favourite bit: Grandad the Cash Machine! (shhh don't mention that one!)