We love cats, probably more than we love any other domesticated animal - so we had high hopes for Lorna Scobie's gorgeous looking "Collecting Cats".

A little girl has a grand and rather convoluted plan. She's going to collect cats. Lots of cats of all shapes and sizes.

But all she has is cheese!

So her plan evolves. Using the cheese the little girl decides to collect mice (successfully) - and you can probably guess what comes next.

The perfect mousey lure for all those beautiful moggies. The only problem is that a lot of cats are also a lot of work.

Perhaps the little girl might be better off starting - and staying - small scale!

If you've ever heard the expression "herding cats" you'll understand the spirit of this story. It feels like it needed something more in the actual 'story' department but if there's one thing we truly did love, it was Lorna's inventive and many hued moggies in all their glory.

"Collecting Cats" by Lorna Scobie is out now, published by Scholastic (kindly supplied for review). 

Whoah, there are some seriously amazing children's non fiction titles around this autumn, and tons of amazing Natural History titles for wee ones...

Tomorrow sees the release of two adorable 'lift the flap' books for tiny teeny tots, helping them learn all about their gardens and all the amazing creatures and plants that live there - and underwater, where once again they can learn all about amazing animals and plants.

"Pairs in the Garden" is an explosion of colour, tons of brilliant page spreads and zillions of flaps for little ones to open and reveal.

Lift stones to find snails, grass to find ladybirds and lettuce leaves to find caterpillars, then answer a simple counting question.


"Pairs Underwater" is equally colourful, and full of amazing animals that your little ones will love learning about. Lift the flaps to find the matching pairs in this fun novelty series that's all about habitats!

This book has seven die-cut flaps on every spread for little ones to lift to find the matching pairs and spot the odd one out. Lift stones to find turtles, seaweed to find seahorses and shells to find crabs, then answer a simple counting question.

Both books are printed on sturdy card, perfect for little hands, providing fun and enjoyment while out and about or at home, as well as teaching important recognition and memory skills.

Both titles are released on 2nd February 2017, published by Frances Lincoln Children's Books (kindly sent for review).