Stand by for another cracking edition from Stella Gurney and Matthew Hodson, absolutely roasting hot off the press...

We're always on the lookout for non-fiction books that present awesome facts and details in innovative and original ways...

As children progress through their Early Years reading, and their skills increase, they'll begin to tackle a huge range of different book types - including more factual stuff.

The "Let's Talk About" Range is a neat little series of books that tackle ordinary everyday subjects from a child's perspective.

In the two books we looked at, "Big Beds and Bedtime" and "My New Baby", two children 'tell' the reader what it's like to sleep in a big bed for the first time - or what it's like to have a new baby brother arriving on the scene.

Busy layouts almost mimic the thought processes of a child, and this adds to the appeal of the books - particularly for young readers who work through the books themselves enjoying both the fantastic photos and entertaining text.

Charlotte's best bit: The funny photos of babies and their moods at the end of "My New Baby"

Daddy's favourite bit: A really cool and contemporary look and feel makes these really appealing to early readers, or just to dip into for a quick bedtime read.

(Kindly sent to us for review by Campbell Books / Pan Macmillan)

Now here's a curious little book, found hiding - almost lost because of its size - between the library stacks on our last visit. We've seen a lot of Stella Gurney's work in early years readers so immediately seized on this one (partially seized on it also because it's about a ghost and Charlotte LOVES a good ghost story).

Mr Bickle is a rather happy and jolly chap most of the time, but at night his house is plagued by a mischievous ghost. While Mr Bickle wants to sleep, the Ghost rattles and clatters around the house.

Things go from bad to worse as the ghost interferes with the well-meaning bachelor's rather neat and tidy lifestyle until one day Mr Bickle snaps and gets rid of the ghost in a rather amusing way (kids, do not try that at home OK?)

Once again, Mr Bickle's life is one of quiet serenity and extreme neatness. But...also loneliness. You see, for all his pestering misbehaviour, the ghost was company of a sort - and Mr Bickle soon actually discovers he misses his spectral pal.

So what can he do?

You'll have to read the story to find out, of course. A great little book with the idea that keeping the word count low and featuring an engaging theme will make it a surefire win for early readers progressing from the rather disjointed stories in most phonics books to something that flows and is engaging - just like the books children will naturally move on to next.

Stella's writing is brilliant, even with such constraints - and Sylvia Raga's artwork is quite unique and eye-catching (though if I'm honest, Mr Bickle actually scares me more than the ghost does!)

Charlotte's best bit: What Mr Bickle does to get rid of the ghost! Eeek!

Daddy's favourite bit: Brilliant idea to have books that have a reduced word count but 'feel' like proper children's picture story books despite this. Awesome find!

There's a huge surge of interest in the definitive works of L Frank Baum this year. I'm referring, of course, to his amazing stories of Oz and with new movies on the way courtesy of Disney (a rather dark looking movie treatment at that), and new stage productions and even an animated tie-in too, there's plenty of Oz goodness to enjoy.

On the book side, there's this rather neat "pop up" book that mixes utterly beautiful artwork with photography to re-tell the most famous story in the series - Dorothy's first adventures in the magical land of Oz and her first meeting with some of the most well known characters in children's fiction. The Tin Man, The Scarecrow, The Cowardly Lion and of course the Wizard himself. Not forgetting the wicked witch of the east and her terrifying flying monkey soldiers.

Charlotte loves the Oz stories but is more interested in the fairly slimmed-down versions that have previously been available. This was a perfect book for her, with great interactive paper engineering complimenting the story. Unfortunately she managed to rip one of the parts where the paper mechanics were quite fragile but a spot of glue and a quick fix and all is once again well.

Stella Gurney retells the tale very well, and Lorna Freytag's illustrations are excellent too. Lots to love here so if your children go completely Oz crazy this year, this is a very good book to grab as a tie-in.

Charlotte's best bit: Dorothy's trip along the Yellow Brick Road and her meeting the Tin Man

Daddy's favourite bit: It's a heck of a year for Oz stuff and it's good to see a nice big beautifully presented version of the story retold in such a way. Excellent stuff.

(Kindly sent to us for review by Carlton Books Ltd)