Everyone has a favourite pair of pants, be they hipsters, boxers, Y-fronts or frilly knickers...

Weirdly, we received this book for review the very DAY after we'd been to a local zoo, and mused about just what happens to all that dung. We spotted a poor zoo worker shovelling heaps of antelope plops, and imagined that - though the stuff was stinky - it would be brilliant for the plants.

So in "Poo in the Zoo" we meet a happy little chap whose job it is to clean up after all the animals. Big jobs, small jobs, stinky jobs and slimy jobs, the poor little fellah is quick with his spade but sometimes shovelling shmelly shtuff is a seemingly endless and thankless task.

After a rather mischievous iguana escapes, poo takes on a whole new dimension as the iguana ruthlessly breaks into the canteen and eats his fill, before polishing off his robust lunch with a few fireflies for good measure. The resultant poo, rendered in all its glowing glory by Ada Grey's rather expert way of painting plops, is quite spectacular and something to behold.

The glowing poo is put on display, and is shortly procured by an avid collector of all things scatological, taking pride of place in his collection. With the moolah, the little zookeeper can afford a robot to do all his shovelling for him (we think this book needs a sequel where there's a robot rebellion against being made to do our dirty work!! Get on it, Steve and Ada!)

It's a book that's almost guaranteed to put a huge grin on your little ones' faces and if you can keep a straight face while reading Steve's awesome plop-based rhymes, we'll gladly raise our hats to you!

Charlotte's best bit: A jar of Bluebottle poo (in the rather awesome poo-based end-papers!)

Daddy's Favourite bit: It's pongy, ploppy, slimy and sloppy but we love it all the same! A poo-tastic peer into the behind the scenes cleanup at the zoo!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Little Tiger Press)

QED Publishing's "Storytime" range features great little stories for younger children. With "The Special Guest", Charlotte took one look at the cover and knew exactly what to expect - but we can't resist a tale that sets a vainglorious character up for a bit of a fall.

In this case that character is Zebra, who receives a royal invitation to dinner from The King of the Jungle. Yep, a hungry lion. So add those two things together and you can expect complete mayhem.

Zebra gets carried away with his preparations and primping - and before he can even set out, there's complete chaos. He needs a bath, needs his mane trimming and his stripes retouching - and that's before other animals also horn in on the act (in Rhino's case, quite literally) to see if THEY can invite themselves to the royal buffet.

Lion is a gnarly and sly old beast though, he's going to get his dinner at all costs and really can't wait to tuck into a nice juicy zebra steak or two! Will Zebra escape Lion's hungry jaws? And why on earth has Elephant painted his bottom all stripy?

Little ones will chuckle along with this hilarious tale. Steve Smallman's art is always absolutely brilliant, and we rather like the Zebra despite all his preening and pomposity.

Charlotte's best bit: Lion coming to a prickly end at the hands (or should we say spines) of a cute porcupine. Owch!

Daddy's Favourite bit: A great little story that sets up its stall right from the cover, but still contains enough giggles and surprises to keep your little ones entertained!

(Kindly sent to us for review by QED Publishing)

We love a book that starts off slowly, then builds to a rip-roaring calamitous climax as the story unfolds. Such is the case with "Hippobottymus" by Steve Smallman and Ada Grey. A strange rumbling bubbling sound echoes across a swamp, and is easy on the ears. A small mouse suddenly realises that it almost sounds like a rhythm and adds a subtle squeak or two to the tune. Before long, the rest of the jungle animals are joining in with the bubbling rumbling squeaking squawking sound as the tune builds to a cacophonous explosion of noise and music.

Mouse takes a bow, but wait a minute, Hippo has something to say about how the tune came about. It all started with a can or two of beans....Phrrrrrt!

There's a period in children's lives that usually kicks in around 1 1/2 to 2 years old, and doesn't end...(at all?) where farts, botty burps, tummy squeaks, trouser coughs, window rattlers, cushion creepers and (in this case) swampy rasps are the most amusing and high-brow form of humour known to man & beast. Hippobottymus is a musical and riotous celebration of that fact, and is absolutely sure to have your little ones giggling and gurgling like drains!

Hippobottymus by Steve Smallman and Ada Grey is out in April from Little Tiger Press

Charlotte's best bit: Naturally, the big botty-burping reveal when Hippo lets rip!

Daddy's Favourite bit: A fantastic farty flump-fluff fall-about-funny tale! Farp!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Little Tiger Press)

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Bear's Big Bottom by Steve Smallman and Emma Yarlett

Who can possibly resist a cheeky bum-based story? Well we obviously can't, particularly when that big bottom belongs to a big cuddly friendly bear.

Though as many of us will already know, packing a few extra tonnage in the trunk area doesn't come without its own drawbacks. Knocking things off shelves, making you utterly rubbish at hide and seek, and taking up all the room on the sofa when it's time to sit down and relax. Big bums aren't always welcome and though the lovable bear in Steve Smallman's story is a good friend, sometimes his clumsiness upsets his friends.

The last straw happens at a party as Bear's derriere causes abject chaos, and soon Bear slinks off to hide away.

But with a wily fox looking for supper, could bear's backside save the day?

With bouncing rhymes befitting a big bumpy boingy butt, this story is fun and cheeky and Emma Yarlett's fantastic illustrations once again establish her as a talent to keep a sharp eye on. We love big bear butts and we cannot lie :)

Charlotte's best bit: Bear's rather brilliant monstery coup de grace at the end of the book. Rarrrrr!

Daddy's favourite bit: A book that is a sheer joy to read aloud, with plenty of giggles and big beautiful bouncy illustrations. J-Lo's right, a big bum can be an asset after all!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Little Tiger Press)

We're coming at you thick and fast today with more #readitmd13 'Dad book' reviews. You may be forgiven for thinking that Little Tiger Press have cornered the market in books that you can slide into your dad's present pile on Fathers Day (Sunday June 16th!) There are some truly brilliant books in their range and we're a sucker for Steve Smallman's work, so let's take a look at "My Dad".

In a similar vein to "To Dad - You're a Star" once again the book celebrates all the brilliant things that dads do.

This time, with Sean Julian's fuzzy cuddly animal drawings we get some great double spreads of animals and their dads - everything from the cuddliest bear cubs to the roaringest lions.

It's lots of fun and nicely written in rhyme so if you're looking for a book that has great bedtime reading appeal long beyond Father's Day this one would definitely fit the bill.

Charlotte's best bit: Dad helping out while learning to ride a bike

Daddy's favourite bit: Awww, very cute illustration for dad's healing abilities.

(Kindly sent to us for review by Little Tiger Press)

Like a streak of yellow, Dr Duck races in to save the day! Once again we're steering you towards books not eggs this Easter and here's a duck on a mission. You've wowed at Doctor Dog, You've had a  thermometer jabbed up your nose by Doctor Ted so here's Dr Duck, the one-man (sorry, one-duck) mobile doctor who can bandage you up in no time at all.

Dr Duck is always on hand to help his animal friends. A Giraffe with a sore throat? It's catastrophic but Dr Duck knows exactly how to cure the poor thing.

A Gorilla with rather embarrasing wind? No problem, Dr Duck is there with a Kite...I'm kidding, you'll have to find out for yourself how our MD (Medical Duck) fixes that particular problem!

This book is brilliant and definitely a huge hit with Charlotte, who still has quite a fascination with doctor characters in children's picture books.

Not to be confused with "Doctor Duck" (the Songbird Early Readers book by Julia Donaldson). It's a lot of fun, and brilliantly illustrated (we really loved the good doctor's superb looking Motorcycle Combination!)

Charlotte's best bit: Needless to say, lot of mirth and laughter at the Gorilla. Pee-EWW!

Daddy's favourite bit: Tight and entertainingly funny writing, beautiful illustrations, make sure the good Duck Doctor makes a housecall this easter!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Little Tiger Press)

Oh my, there are only 35 sleeps to go until Christmas and by now, your busy little bees (just like Charlotte) must be hopping from foot to foot with excitement.

A bit like the little fellow in this book, a cute and cuddly puppy who wants to know why his household has suddenly gone completely crazy! There's a tree in the lounge, stockings are hanging from the fireplace and everyone's rushing around in a mad dash with no time to play with busy little puppies. Fortunately, Puppy's friend - the very wise and very laconic cat is on hand to offer advice and tell Pup what's really going on.

In "Puppy's First Christmas" Steve Smallman tells a cuddly yuletide tale that warms the cockles just as nicely as a glass of mulled wine. Little pup is such an inquisitive and energetic chap that you can't help but catch his enthusiasm. Alison Edgson (who we're beginning to believe has 8 arms and holds a paintbrush in each one, she is SO busy!) paints such beautiful christmassy scenes too.

The book has lovely touchable panels that are as warm and fuzzy as the book itself, so younger children will love exploring each page and panel to see which bits are textured.

Charlotte's best bit: Cat and Puppy stealing christmas food! Naughty!

Daddy's favourite bit: Lovely fuzzy touchable panels, a perfect book for babies and toddlers as well as children Charlotte's age.

(Kindly sent to us for review by Little Tiger Press)