"Dark" books are something we've blogged about a lot over the years. Those books that tread a fine line between helping a kid overcome their fears, and actually making their fears ten times worse.

We first read Lemony Snicket and Jon Klassen's brilliantly atmospheric "The Dark" way back in 2013. At the time C was indeed like Laszlo, the main character in this fantastic book, a kid who really didn't like the dark - taking to sleeping with the landing light on and her door open a crack, or with her moon-shaped night-light on her bedside table.

Laszlo's fear of the dark is compounded one night when he has to confront the dark in the deepest darkest place in the house - the basement.

Those of you who have grown up fed on a diet of American movies where kids are petrified of the basement in their sprawling American houses will know where Snicket and Klassen are coming from here. What marked this book out for us was that it was something that ended up becoming a performance piece every time I read it to C, adopting a slightly gravelly (let's face it - menacing!) voice for the dark antagonist in the book.

But the book performs a deft twist at the end, as Laszlo realises that the dark isn't the 'bad guy' after all.

The book opens in the peachy hues of the setting sun, the precursor to Laszlo's anxiety

I can't say I'm a huge fan of Daniel Handler after the recent revelations about his rather sleazy behaviour at book cons and events, but this story is more Klassen's anyway, working brilliantly largely due to the atmospheric illustrations that ramp up the feeling of Laszlo's growing anxiety as the night begins to arrive - brought to a head by his nightlight dying unceremoniously at the start of the tale...

"Down Here" (if a clown's face and a balloon appears, RUN!)

Laszlo literally has to confront his fear head on - and Klassen begins to wrap the inkiest blackness around his characterisation of Laszlo as he descends into the basement.

As a great example of how to do a 'dark' book for kids without going too overboard, this works really brilliantly and even now in the deepest darkest moments in our lives when opening and closing your eyes to the dark makes no difference at all, you'll hear us whisper "Hi Dark, Hi" just like Laszlo, basking in the happy memories this book invokes.

Original Review Link:

ReadItDaddy's Book of the Week - Week ending 1st March 2013 Part 1: Charlotte's choice - "The Dark" by Lemony Snicket and Jon Klassen (Orchard Books)

Kids love fibbing, whether it's about their strange reluctance to brush their teeth, or their deception over who ate the last cookie in the jar.

In the fabulous "There's a Lion in the Library" meet little Lucy Lupin, a terrible fibber who just can't help making up stories and whoppers to get some attention.

Her latest whopper goes largely ignored by adults who are wise to her game, but could Lucy actually be telling the truth this time?

In a delicious twist on "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" this is "The Girl Who Cried Lion" as Lucy tries desperately to convince grown ups that a large growly beast has indeed taken up residence amongst the stacks.

As the story progresses, underpinned by some truly stunning classic-feeling artwork that harks back to the "Little Golden" book days in both style and execution, this tale pays off with a truly scrummy and unexpected end that's pretty dark but extremely funny indeed!

Sum this book up in a sentence: It's an absolute winner this one, taking a well known story trope and turning it into something brilliantly fresh-feeling, yet instantly classic.

"There's a Lion in the Library" by Dave Skinner and Aurelie Guillerey is out now, published by Orchard Books (kindly supplied for review). 

Welcome, welcome, welcome to our stunning Booky Advent Calendar 2019 - with a peek behind door one, and a book that arrived in the midst of a boiling hot summer. Yes indeed, this one was our very first Christmas picture book arrival of this year, and there's nothing more christmassy than reading all about one of the naughtiest unicorns in the world, and his antics around yuletide.

"Oscar The Hungry Unicorn Eats Christmas" by Lou Carter and Nikki Dyson reunites this dream team for a new tale about the surly, grumpy and ever-hungry Unicorn as his bestie Princess Oola readies herself for the big day.

But just before Santa can wedge his big fat bum down the chimney, Oola makes a horrifying discovery. Oscar has eaten the blimmin' Christmas Tree.

What's more, Oscar doesn't stop there, he's determined to scoff just about everything Oola has laid out for Christmas. What on earth will Santa say? Will she end up on the naughty list? Oscar certainly might!

Brilliantly funny with gorgeous christmassy and colourful illustrations, get your Christmas booky celebrations under way in grand style.

"Oscar the Hungry Unicorn Eats Christmas" by Lou Carter and Nikki Dyson is out now, published by Orchard Books (kindly supplied for review).

Before all the controversy surrounding the Disney 'live action' remake of "The Little Mermaid" kicks off, let's immerse ourselves in a truly gorgeous version of the original Hans Christian Andersen story, retold here by Geraldine McCaughrean with glorious new illustrations from Laura Barrett.

"The Little Mermaid" tells the story of Ariel, a mermaid with a wanderlust and a natural curiosity about her world - and the world of humans.

When she falls in love with a prince, the little mermaid persuades an evil sea witch to replace her tail with legs so she can live on land. 

The "I Love My" books were definitely a staple of C's early years, with the brilliant bright illustrations and bouncy text making them a jolly good read for tinies.

"I Love My Teacher" by Giles Andreae and Emma Dodd is the latest book in the series, perfectly timed for those last few days of school, whether you're a junior or a senior, a pre-schooler or a nursery kid, there's lots of lovely sentiment in this one that shows just how brilliant and amazing our teachers and TAs are.

We'd certainly endorse this over a certain other book doing the rounds at the moment, as a nice little end-of-term gift for the teacher you love!

Sum this book up in a sentence: A brilliant addition to the well-loved series, celebrating our amazing teachers, and all they do for our kids.

"I Love My Teacher" by Giles Andreae and Emma Dodd is out now, published by Orchard Books (kindly supplied for review). 

Our second Picture Book of the Week is a hilarious spy romp with a difference.

In "Secret Agent Elephant" by Eoin McLaughlin and Ross Collins, the spy isn't some suave sophisticated lantern-jawed action man. It's an elephant, and one who can barely wriggle into his stylish tuxedo, let alone cope with the rigours of a life as an international elephant of mystery.

There's a nefarious plot by an arch super-criminal to end the world, and the only man...er Elephant for the job is a pizza-obsessed klutz who is going to need some firm but gentle guidance in the ways of becoming a spy.

Eoin and Ross offer up a great little picture book homage to James Bond (check out Elephant's poor crushed sports car, for example) before diving headlong into the giggles with a brilliant showdown with the nefarious Vincent Le Morte.

As always with picture books, I can never quite tell whether they're going to be a hit, miss or maybe with C - but she enjoyed this one. Psst, secret stuff, she was actually rooting for Vincent at the end so I hope there's a sequel planned with some sort of super-villain jailbreak involved!

Sum this book up in a sentence: A brilliant spy romp with lots of knowing nods and winks to spy movies, as well as the brilliant physical humour of a colossal klutz of an animal trying to slink their way (largely unsuccessfully) through an awesome spy adventure.

"Secret Agent Elephant" by Eoin McLaughlin and Ross Collins is out now, published by Orchard Books (kindly supplied for review).

Out today, and full of positivity, energy and loads of fun, it's "Happy to be Me" by Emma Dodd.

If there's one thing that kids really enjoy above everything else, it's finding a picture book that they can really relate to and identify with, perhaps even find 'themselves' in.

We hear this again and again from authors and illustrators, who look to reflect the diversity and amazing individuality of kids in their books.

"Happy to be me" captures this perfectly in a ticklish funny rhyming book celebrating bodies of all kinds.

Emma Dodd, famous for her brilliant "I love My" series of books has come up with a really lovely heartfelt story for kids of all kinds, with a truly lovely pay-off at the end.

A fab book for building positivity, confidence and self-esteem.

"Happy to be me" by Emma Dodd is out today, published by Orchard Books (kindly supplied for review). 

Poor dads really do get a rough time in picture books. We can count on the fingers of one hand the amount of picture book dad characters that come out glowing and worthy of praise at the end of each story.

So initially we got a bit grumpy about "Daddy Fartypants" by Emer Stamp and Matt Hunt.

This time the dad is a bear, and he just cannot control his parpy trumpy bottom.

No matter what he does, no matter what he eats, Daddy Bear is a rootin' tootin' hot mess and his family really don't like being  around him, particularly his long suffering son.

Like most dads, Daddy Fartypants always finds someone else to blame his guffs on - until he finally meets his match, his son's new teacher Miss Lovelybear who really is lovely - until she lets off a real rip-snorting trouser cough - and blames Dad for it! ARGHH!

This simple action is the catalyst for Daddy Fartypants realising just how unreasonable he's been in trying to blame others for his troublesome tummy squeaks. So a change of heart is definitely needed!

I say that we were initally really grumpy about this book being about a trumping dad (rather than a mum - the mum character is strangely absent throughout the book) but then C fixed me with a steely gaze. "But it IS always you that cracks off the loudest at home, Daddy!" she said.

So I've wound my neck in. Emer ("Secret Diary of Pig") Stamp's hilarious picture book with Matt Hunt's superb illustrations might change a champion window rattler into a more apologetic soul after all.

Sum this book up in one sentence: A rip-roaring trouser-snorting pant-patootling trump-filled windy-woo gufftastic guffaw of a story with a neat little moral at its heart, POOOOOOT!

"Daddy Fartypants" by Emer Stamp and Matt Hunt is out on the 4th April 2019, published by Orchard Books (kindly supplied for review). 

This book definitely has us pondering the picture book as an art form. Take a look at Magda Brol's superb "When the Crocodiles Came to Town."

As C gets older and wiser (and fussier about picture books) it takes a certain blend of picture book ingredients to win her over.

Well, both of us really. After you've been reviewing children's books for ten years, you're always on the look-out for something that brings a new method of conveying a particular message to the table.

It's becoming more and more prevalent in children's picture books that messages of acceptance, and celebrating differences - as "different is good" are needed more than ever.

Kids must look at news stories and reports and just shake their heads sometimes, and I know in particular kids of C's age group are definitely affected by what's going on around the whole Brexit debacle here in the UK.

In Magda's book, two chaotic crocodiles are the subject of much consternation for the townsfolk. They're outsiders, they do things differently - and though they don't actually cause any trouble, the townsfolk can't be doing with them at all.

Eventually it becomes too much for them - and they're forced to leave. But this leaves the town at the mercy of two nefarious robbers, who are looking to steal as much as they can.

Will the crocodiles return and perhaps see those nasty robbers off? And what will the townsfolk think of their "outsiders" then?

We loved this from the moment we clapped eyes on the colourful cover, and read through several times to soak up the hugely positive message here. Kids learn from their parents that differences can be celebrated and embraced and it's also great to see so many picture books taking up this cause too. Perhaps if the kids can get the message, we grown ups (who should really know better) can too.

Sum this book up in a sentence: A fabulous book with a strong moral message about celebrating 'differences' with a subtle but beautifully delivered punchline or two.

"When the Crocodiles Came to Town" by Magda Brol is out now, published by Orchard Books (kindly supplied for review). 

When I was a kid, I was mildly obsessed with lighthouses. Many family holidays to the Isle of Wight, and visiting the amazing lighthouse at The Needles - and the one at the end of Portland in Dorset cemented my love of these amazing buildings with their vital role to play.

I still dream of living in one.

In our first Picture Book of the Week this week, the sublime "Hello Lighthouse" by Sophie Blackall you will meet one such family who live in a tall lighthouse in the middle of tempestuous seas.

From dusk to dawn, the lighthouse beams, sending its light out to sea, guiding the ships on their way. A lighthouse keeper primes the wick and keeps the lamp burning all night, winding the clockwork mechanism to keep the light turning. As the seasons pass and the waves rise and fall, outside, the wind blows; inside, the lighthouse keeper writes, and the rhythms of his life unfold.

Soon he is joined by his wife, and eventually their baby daughter is born, all within the circular confines of the lighthouse's sturdy walls. Life is good.

Our first Book of the Week once again touches on a subject that is very much in the news, as important as ever...

Our second Picture Book of the Week is the utterly charming and delightful "Mole's Star" by Britta Teckentrup.

Gently imparting the important message about how beautiful the world is, and how sometimes we take so much for granted, it's the story of a little mole who absolutely loves his new home underground.

But every evening, Mole comes out of his burrow to watch the twinkling stars in the sky above.

Mole's wish comes true, the stars are his for the taking!

Utterly beautiful page spreads like this really make this book stand out.

With possibly the sparkliest cover we've seen in a long time, meet Oscar, a mythical creature with a heck of an appetite!

Here's a book that rather neatly cuts through one or two 'defaults' we've come to expect in children's picture books...

Combine two of the finest talents in children's books and great things are bound to happen...just ask George!

More funny bunny fun from Ellie Sandall. They've danced, they've dreamed and now they're ready to count, those busy bunnies...!

It's that most wonderful time of the year, and we're now four books into our Booky Advent Calendar, running throughout December right up until Christmas Eve.

We're bringing you the very best books to stick on your christmas list to Santa, including loads and loads for very little ones.

Here's a delicious little penguin tale from Rachel Bright.

"All I Want for Christmas" is a gorgeous cuddly little story talking about all the exciting things that kids love about the run-up to christmas. Little Penguin is so excited, as Christmas is going to be amazing - but there's so much to prepare and get ready before the big day!

Thankfully everyone's willing to pitch in and help, including little penguin of course!

Absolutely LOVE this spread!

Such a fun little book with tons of heartwarming moments...

Awwwww!

Lovely to see a dad / child book for very little ones, reinforcing that bond dads have with their kids.

Are you excited yet? We are!

"All I want for Christmas" by Rachel Bright is out now, published by Orchard Books (kindly supplied for review). 

We absolutely LOVE The Powerpuff Girls. One of the joys of being a parent is introducing your kids to all the cool stuff you've loved watching in younger days...

 We do love James Mayhew's books. He creates amazing stories around the idea of introducing children to different aspects of our rich and varied culture, ranging from classic artists to ballet and opera.

I must admit, I never really understood the whole fidget spinner thing...but kids are absolutely crazy about the things!