Take one Olivier Award Winning Songwriter, comedian and playwright...add an illustrative genius and what do you get? Sheer picture book bliss!

With fantastic 'lift the flap' page spreads and a surprise around every corner, here's an adorable little pair of new board books by Tad Carpenter, recently published by Sterling.

The "Who's that?" range tantalises youngsters with 'hidden' characters tucked behind neat little flaps and cutouts.

In "When I grow up" kids can find out all about the various jobs adults do, and perhaps even think about what they'd love to do themselves when they're old enough. The minimalist text is perfectly suited to younger readers just starting out, with loads and loads of attractive illustrations to lead them through the book.

There's also...

Arctic Animals again follows the "Who's That" theme of hiding animals amongst the snowy landscapes just waiting to be discovered by your little ones. Lift the flap and find out all about polar bears, arctic foxes and snowy owls hiding away playfully.

They're a great little pair of books, hugely attractive and engaging. A bit too 'young' for our fussy little miss but your younger children will love them to bits!

Out now from Sterling Publishing

Sometimes, reviewing self-published titles is a bit like eating a bag of Revels with a blindfold on. Now I don't actually mind coffee revels, it's the peanut ones I object to - so I'm always waiting for that slightly burnt nutty taste when munching through a bag and not paying attention.

Patrick George's "When I Grow Up" - to stick with the Revels metaphor for a bit longer - is the orange creme of Revels. It's a lovely book, satisfying, beautifully illustrated and with a rather neat little twist for youngsters who love their picture books. In each spread, detailing lots of different jobs and careers little ones might want to turn their attention to when they're older, transparent pages fold over to complete a picture, neatly transforming the person into what they want to be.

Naturally, any book that features folk who want to be superheroes or astronauts always gets a thumbs up from us.

A wonderful idea. Perhaps more suited to children slightly younger than Charlotte but again, a book that she can quietly cuddle up on her own with and enjoy just as much as when she's cuddling on my lap and reading with me.

Charlotte's best bit: I Want to Be a Superhero!

Daddy's Favourite bit: I Want to Be an Astronaut!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Patrick George Publishing)