This week's book of the week is a truly dazzling and sumptuously presented non-fic book that impresses the socks off us...

Got an art itch that you need to scratch? In the long summer holidays we find that happens a lot...!

Time for another fantastic fact-filled observational book that makes history fun!

Here's a fantastic and fun book that may well seem like a bit of a strange concept to some. After all, most kids are done with ABC books by the time they start reading themselves...

Here's a pair of fantastic activity books to stimulate your senses and bring out your creative side.

The "Etchart" series allows you to take a stylus and bring out the amazing beauty of the designs in both books.

Starting with "Hidden forest" there are 9 different scenes to etch your own designs onto, with black scrape-friendly surfaces providing a wealth of colourful designs once you start to reveal the layer underneath.

It's a neat idea both my wife and I remember from our childhood, brought forward in time to dazzle a whole new generation of creative kids who will love this simple but thoroughly absorbing activity.

The designs are really beautiful, intricate and folk-arty...

Reveal the glorious colours underneath the black etchable surface.

It's then over to your child's imagination to make their own beautiful designs spring to life.

There's also "Secret Sea" for children who prefer something a bit more nautical, again with 9 fabulous designs featuring undersea animals and plant life, ready for your artistic designs and etchings.

We loved these books, there's something quite restful and mindful about gently scratching away at the dark surface to bring out the colours (though you might want to put some newspaper down so that all those little black bits don't go all over carpets or clothes for younger kids).

The "Etchart" range starts with "Hidden Forest" and "Secret Sea", both available now from Wide Eyed Editions (kindly supplied for review). 

Our Picture Book of the Week this week serves up history with a twist(ory). The brilliant "Spot the Mistake: Lands of Long Ago"

Our Second Book of the Week oozes luxurious wonder across every page spread. The fabulous "Natural World"