Dealing with childhood anxieties really isn't easy in a children's picture book...

There's something completely irresistible about freshly baked bread, isn't there? Particularly a freshly baked baguette...

We're used to Mo Willems' knockabout humour with his beloved "Pigeon" series of books, but here things take a decidedly darker turn - with a delicious twist in the tale of "That is Not a Good Idea".

The book, laid out in a faux silent movie style, details the story of a wily fox as he meets a young and slightly dizzy looking chicken while out for a walk in the market one day.

Using all his wicked charms and evil eyebrow-hypnosis, the fox convinces the innocent hen to accompany him for a walk. Chicks warn that "that is NOT a good idea" but the hen doesn't listen! That's where the twist comes in, as you'll find out at the end of the book. We'll say no more.

Loved the narrative in this. Kids love repetition in stories to reinforce a point, particularly when the pay off is so satisfying and unexpected. It's really NOT a good idea to miss this book!


Charlotte's best bit: A lovely happy supper at the end (with a twist!)

Daddy's Favourite bit: Fiendish, dark and mischievous. Just the way we like our Mo Willems books!

Pigeon, the opinionated and sometimes rather scatty hero of Mo Willems' brilliantly funny book series is back, and this time he's hungry! When he finds a hot dog just sitting there, begging to be eaten, it's like a dream come true. But what happens when a (seemingly) innocent little duck happens to pass by just as Pigeon is about to gorge himself?

Mo Willems is a master of situation comedy. With backgrounds reduced to a bare minimum, and simple characters you'd think there'd be little depth or room for brilliant comedy timing in a book like "The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog" but each and every spread has a giggle factor that goes right off the rip-snorter scale.

Needless to say, Pigeon doesn't quite get to enjoy his meal in peace and there's a delicious (mustard-free) payoff at the end. Definitely one of our favourites of the Pigeon series. If any adult has ever tried to enjoy a lovely slice of chocolate gateau all to themselves while out with their children, they'll definitely identify with pigeon here!


Charlotte's best bit: Duck is so cute but looks can be extremely deceiving!

Daddy's Favourite bit: I love pigeon's outrage and his sarcasm. He's awesome!

I'm slightly gobsmacked to discover that we have NOT reviewed any of Mo Willem's "Pigeon" books before on the blog (quick check, nope, none there, not even tucked down the back of the ReadItDaddy sofa!) so let's rectify that right away with a real rip-snorter from the series.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with The Pigeon, he's a chatty (and some might even suggest slightly annoying) feathery chap who, once he sets his mind on something, absolutely will not stop until he does it - often with hilarious consequences.

This time Pigeon wants a puppy. A cute adorable puppy. Watered three times a day, given plenty of soil and sunshine, the perfect pet.

Of course, pigeons are usually fairly small (and a bit fragile). Puppies (even dinky ones) are definitely not, so when Pigeon finally achieves his aim, was a puppy all he'd imagined it would be after all?

Pigeon is a great character, as daft and annoying as the real thing (believe me, we have a real love-hate relationship with pigeons at ReadItDaddy towers - anyone who has been woken up at 4.30 AM on a summer's morning by a noise that sounds a bit like "Do DOOO Doo, DO DO!" on a loop for 14 hours straight will find it difficult to love the little blighters either) and in some ways it's always great to see his lofty aspirations go awry. Mo Willems has a gift for clean images suffused with sparse text but with the weighty hammer blow of comic perfection delivered in all the right places. You'll go coo-coo for Pigeon!

Charlotte's best bit: What Pigeon wants AFTER the puppy. Eek!

Daddy's Favourite bit: Like all the best children's books, the pigeon books are simple, straightforward, uncomplicated but hilariously and deliriously funny.

We begged, nay PLEADED with the Pigeon not to try and drive the bus. We even lost a Knuffle Bunny along the way but so far we've been pretty safe from running into hungry Dinosaurs.

Thank goodness for Mo Willems' new book, which is a cautionary tale about being in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and scoffing far too much chocolate (something we're definitely, woefully far too familiar with).

What happens when Goldilocks trades three bears for three dinosaurs? Well, at first the welcome mat will be extended, and the chairs will be comfy, the beds wonderfully made and the lure of hot, cool and "just right" chocolate pudding will be too tempting to pass up.

Like Mo Willems' "Pigeon" series, we loved the fact that Mo gets away with tweaking and poking fun at children's story mainstays while introducing abject chaos in copious amounts, and great characters who you're never sure you should side with or run screaming away from.

With Mo's trademark art style lending itself well to a book chock full of things for children to discover (see how many Pigeon cameos you can spot!) it's a hilarious and enjoyable romp.

Charlotte's best bit: Pigeon turning up in various places (pigeons are very cheeky like that) and the Dinosaur's "welcome" mat.

Daddy's Favourite bit: Whacky and zany, with plenty of giggly moments. Oh and lots of chocolate, which can only be a good thing* (*Unless you're trying to avoid being a Dinosaur's main course!)

(Kindly sent to us for review by Walker Books)

Most toddlers have a favourite toy that they refuse to be separated from. My nephew is on his third (or is it fourth) Joe Jingles (though I think it's only the third or fourth because of some sneaky midnight swapping by his parents, and spun stories about Joe being 'reborn' every once in a while because the old one gets so manky!) Charlotte's current favourite is a singing unicorn (yes, it really sings, and if you've any experience with 'singing' toys, singing is a very loose description of what goes on). 

The wee lass in this book is hopelessly and completely in love with her Knuffle Bunny (that's ker-nuffle, not Nuffle) and proudly takes it with her on her first day at school. Sadly, she soon realises that it's not as unique as she thought. Her evil nemesis at school, the terrible Sonja, also has a Knuffle Bunny (that's Nuffle, not Ker-nuffle) and after arguments and a mix up, the wrong bunny goes home with the wrong girl. 

An amusing tale, with rather neat artwork (a mixture of bold drawn characters and surroundings mixed with photo montages), and a happy ending. 

Charlotte's best bit - The classroom argument

Daddy's favourite bit - Fully identifying with the daddy trying to instil in his daughter the meaning of '2 AM'