We're real suckers for classic fairy tales and in particular pocket-sized versions perfect for packing into a trunkie and taking on holidays with us. We've been enjoying some of Sterling's range of "Silver Penny" stories over the Christmas hols, and we took a look at:

Beauty and the Beast
King Midas
The Fox and the Grapes
The Lion and the Mouse

Reminiscent of those classic Ladybird books that folk of a certain age will remember fondly, the Sterling Silver Penny range are also lovingly retold and presented with new illustrations - bringing these classic fairy tales to life for a whole new generation.

Short enough to read one or two before bedtime, and long enough to keep your child enthralled, they're fantastic and well worth picking up either as a collection or individual stories to suit your child's tastes.

Charlotte's best bit: Charlotte proclaimed the Silver Penny "Beauty and the Beast" to be "The PROPER version!" - High praise indeed!

Daddy's Favourite bit: A great little pocket sized pocket money range of fairy stories with something for everyone!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Sterling Publishing)

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Beauty and the Beast by Ursula Jones and Sarah Gibb

Red Riding Hood by Alison Jay

Little Red by David and Lynn Roberts

Here's a well-loved fable thoughtfully re-written and presented in a fabulous toddler-friendly format with hard-wearing (chew-proof) card pages, and lots of nooks and crannies to explore.

Lion is king of the jungle, and is not scared of anything. Mouse is quite timid and more than a little bit hungry so when Mouse asks Lion for a lift to sample the juiciest fruit at the top of a high bush, Lion kindly obliges. For what is a great ruler without a dash of humility eh?

Mouse thanks Lion and vows to pay him back for his kindness one day. Of course, Lion finds the prospect of this very amusing - what possible way could a mouse find to pay a lion back in kind?

If you're familiar with this fable, you'll know that mouse does indeed get the chance to pay lion back, and the two become firm friends as a result. We loved the presentation and illustration of this book - the way you can peep through the holes in each page to get a sneaky peek at what lies in store. It's bold and colourful with a nice easy-reading text to accompany the fabulous illustrative style throughout the book. Though technically it's a book that's suited to children younger than Charlotte, as ever, she found it charming and engaging and loved little mouse - who is rather cute!

Charlotte's best bit: Mouse trying to eat a lovely juicy raspberry that's nearly as big as she is.

Daddy's Favourite bit: There are so many rich and varied fables that can stand up to telling and re-telling in children's books and this is one of our favourites. Beautifully presented and retold, a fab book for toddlers everywhere!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Templar Publishing)