The Princess Mirror-Belle series makes its transition from early reader to picture book with this stunning and sparkly book from the dream team of Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks.

Poor Ellen has chickenpox and really really want to scratch them. But while mum steps out of the bathroom for a moment, Ellen meets Princess Mirror-Belle who springs out of the mirror and tells Ellen that it's not chickenpox she has, it's Dragonpox! Eeks!

Princess Mirror-Belle is a bit of a know-it-all (Charlotte's description!) and knows exactly how to stop Ellen scratching her spots. A cure is required, with a nice warm bath and anything else that may be to hand! In goes the bubble bath, in goes the toothpaste and even daddy's shaving foam (I really hope Charlotte doesn't get any ideas from this!)

The Princess tells Ellen stories of the land beyond the mirror, where brave knights rescue princesses from dragons and children are allowed to make as much mess in the bathroom as they like!

But what will happen when mum comes back in? Will Ellen's excuse that Princess Mirror-belle caused all the mess hold any water with mum?

With lots of brilliant texture and glitter on each page, and a fairytale feel to the story, this is a great addition to the Princess Mirror-Belle series for younger children who want to see what all the fuss is about. They'll never look at the mirror in quite the same way again!


Charlotte's best bit: Ellen being wrapped up in loo roll. Part of the cure for Dragon Pox apparently!

Daddy's Favourite bit: Rather nice to see Julia Donaldson coming up with a non-rhyming story, and always a pleasure to see Lydia's gorgeous artwork

(Kindly sent to us for review by Macmillan Children's Books)

"The Singing Mermaid" is a book Charlotte has loved for a long time, as our Dentist rather thoughtfully has a copy in their waiting room. Every time we go for a brush up and check up, Charlotte makes straight for the book and we read it together (if there's one really genius idea, it's having great children's books in a dentist to calm them down before they go in!)

The story is a delightfully original twist on mermaid tales. The singing mermaid loves to sing to all the sea creatures and seagulls at Silversands Bay but when a ruthless unscrupulous circus owner tempts her away with promises of gold and soft feather beds to sleep on, the mermaid bids goodbye to Silversands and runs off (sorry, should say "is carried off!") to join the circus.

Life at the circus isn't too bad at first but Sam Sly, the circus owner, doesn't deliver on his promises - and soon the poor mermaid finds herself missing her friends and the golden beach.

Thankfully a Seagull hears her singing one evening, and decides to hatch an escape plan. Can the mermaid possibly get away with nothing but a swishy silvery tale to make good her escape with?

This special edition of "The Singing Mermaid" comes with a gorgeously made Singing Mermaid doll for your little ones to cuddle (and cuddle she did, Charlotte has taken her little Singing Mermaid everywhere with her since it arrived). The book is a pint-sized version of the story which is perfect for tucking into a bag.

Julia Donaldson's writing is as tight and expert as ever, and Lydia Monks' illustrations are colourful and enchanting.

It's a little early to start planning christmas presents perhaps, but this would make a brilliant one!

Charlotte's best bit: Having her very own singing mermaid to cuddle (of course) and the mermaid's spectacular escape from the circus

Daddy's Favourite bit: A wonderful and original mermaid story pitch-perfect to read aloud, with gorgeous art. Love the mini version, perfect for tucking into a child's bag for days out or stays at Grandma and Grandad's house

(Kindly sent to us for review by Macmillan Children's Books)

Here's a welcome reprint for a book that is glitzy, glamorous and full of feline charm. "Glitter Kitty" tells the tale of a glamour puss who is getting ready for an evening's soiree at a local dance contest.

Cuddles can't resist lovely clothes and shoes, so she spends the day dashing around town helping her friends and shopping for an exquisite new outfit to wow the dancers at the competition with. After a long day of shopping though, Cuddles needs a nap (shopping IS tiring business after all). But Cuddles oversleeps! EEK!

Will Cuddles make the contest in time? With a little help from her friends perhaps...!

Glitter Kitty is glam and unashamedly girly but Charlotte is a huge Lydia Monks fan, and we loved Mara Bergman's story - in particular the many moggy characters that Cuddles meets (who could resist a charming cowbow-esque ginger tom called Sugarboy!)

Younger readers will love the textured glitter-encrusted pages, perfect for exploring fingers - and the story is a lovely length to polish off before bed where your little ones can dream of slinky cats, glitter balls and the cha cha!

First published back in 2005, "Glitter Kitty" by Mara Bergman and Lydia Monks will be re-released in softcover format in September by S & S Children's Books.

Charlotte's best bit: Cuddles extremely fashionable taste in shoes. They're a real wow!

Daddy's Favourite bit: Full of brilliant characters, a luxurious look at feline life!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Simon and Schuster Children's Books

Here's the second of the rabbity books that found their way into our library stack this week. Poor Lydia Monks must've gone slightly rabbit-crazy last year as both this book and Babbit were published in the same year.

Lydia Monks has teamed up with Julia ("Gruffalo") Donaldson many times and most of their books together are rather special.

Rhyming Rabbit is merely OK though, slightly disappointing because it's fairly difficult to like the central character (a rabbit who weaves everything he sees into a little ditty, much to the annoyance of his rabbity chums).

It takes a special kind of sheep to find wisdom and amusement in the rabbit's rhyming ways.

Donaldson brings her rhyming expertise into play in this book, and Lydia Monks' illustrations are lovely as ever but this book just didn't click at all with Charlotte, despite the lure of those lovely sparkly textured glitter pages.

Hmm, strike two for the rabbits then. Oh dear.

Charlotte's best bit: The rhyming rabbit nearly being eaten by a fox

Daddy's favourite bit: As above, sorry but I think it would've been a better book if the fox had enjoyed an early rabbit meal :)

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars


Note to self: Avoid rabbits in the book selection next week!

"Silly daddy! It's Rabbit!"

"No it's Babbit, look, that's a B there!"

"No Daddy it's Rabbit! It's a rabbit!"

Or so went the conversation when we picked up the first of Lydia Monks' rabbit adventures from last year. This one she wrote and illustrated, the other one (following along shortly) was written by Julia Donaldson. But let's look at Babbit first.

Babbit is the beloved rabbit of "the small one" and the small one doesn't look after Babbit very well. So when nasty types kidnap Babbit and tie him to a tree, it's up to the small one and her big sister to save him.

Here's the thing. We love Lydia Monks. We love her illustrative style and we love her characters, but for some reason Babbit failed to grab either of us (I expected Charlotte to love it to pieces, she is mildly rabbit-obsessed after all).

Perhaps it's too personal a story or too personal a set of characters to appeal to other children (but it probably delighted the little girls it was written for / about), though I would admit to liking the 'naughty seat' method of justice and punishment meted out in the book.

Charlotte's best bit: Babbit suggesting that carrots would taste better than his ears

Daddy's favourite bit: Divine justice in the form of the naughty seats

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

After a fantastic reading on the Cbeebies Lunchtime Hour by the gangly Andy, we knew we had to seek out Lydia Monks' "Aaaarrgghh! Spider!" for ourselves.

Having previously enjoyed the very similar "Eeek! Mouse!", we enjoyed this book for the same reasons. Great fun and colourful panels mixed with a humorous story about a poor lonely spider who just wants to be a family pet. Despite trying all sorts of tricks and impressive stunts to win the family over, the poor spider seems destined to spend its days being thrown out of the house (or washed out!)

Of course, everything turns out OK in the end. A great little book and fully deserving of its book of the week status. 


Charlotte's best bit - "Look at me, watch me wash!"

Daddy's favourite bit - Look at the little girl's foot at the very end of the book. Oops!

After seeing "Aaargh, Spider!" read out on Cbeebies, we jumped at the chance to read "Eeeek, Mouse!" when we spotted it at the library. Though the books are similar, this mousey tale is excellent mostly because of the rather sneaky 'thought gags' the family's cat adds to the story. 

At first, like good old Grill Pan Eddy, this little nameless mouse is a thorn in the family's side but a little girl befriends the rascally rodent, and takes great pains to protect it from her daddy's crazy schemes of building a better mousetrap to catch the little blighter. 

If you want to know if she succeeds or fails, you'll have to go and read Lydia Monk's cute story (and if you spot any of her other books like "Oo Oo Gorilla", they're excellent fun!) Although very similar to Grill Pan Eddy, I think we preferred this one by a whisker. 

Charlotte's best bit: The mouse house behind the skirting board

Daddy's favourite bit: A cat with a screwdriver = dangerous!

Rating: 5 out of 5

Julia (The Gruffalo) Donaldson and Lydia (What the Ladybird Heard) Monks team up for a classic children's fairy tale that feels fairly familiar at first, but will soon be adored by younger toddlers thanks to the neatly illustrated panels (which help teach younger children colours) and the rhyming couplets dotted throughout the text. 

Each page is encrusted with glittery tactile surfaces for younger children to touch and feel. A great tale that could become something of a bedtime classic. 


Charlotte's best bit: The wizard's slimy bathroom covered in toothpaste

Daddy's best bit: Monks' illustrations, cute and superbly done


Rating: 4 out of 5