Kids love to cook, and kids particularly love to cook anything that's a break from the norm. Most of all, kids love cook books that are designed for them to use - with a little help from mum and dad, and that's precisely what "Big Meals for Little Hands" delivers.

With a soupçon of french cuisine, and some truly interesting ideas, this child-friendly cookbook looks as delicious as the recipes it imparts. Gorgeous illustrations and engaging characters guide young hands and adult helpers through each recipe, from amazing soups to scrummy salads.

Who knows, it might even get your children trying new and exciting foods that normally they'd turn their nose up at!

"Big Meals for Little Hands" is out on 15th May. Our tummies are already rumbling in anticipation!

Charlotte's best bit: Yummy recipes and great characters, lots to try and do

Daddy's Favourite bit: Flying Eye's drop-dead-gorgeous presentation, in a kid-friendly cookbook you're sure to return to again and again. C'est magnifique!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Flying Eye Books)

It's 2014 and World Cup anticipation will reach fever pitch. Naturally the world's football heroes are getting quite excited about the tournament, particularly Frankie in his latest adventure "Frankie's Magic Football: Frankie and the World Cup Carnival".

After some spirited high-jinks, Frankie ends up slicing the perfect kick - straight into the family's television set after Frankie's rotten brother taunts him during a garden kickabout. Calamity! But before he can try and undo the damage, Frankie and his team are whisked off to Brazil to find three magical items that could help England win the world cup.

Trudging through squidgy swamps, and facing off against an uber-talented team of brazilian street soccer experts and a toothy referee with a serious overbite, it could be Frankie's toughest challenge yet.

"Frankie's Magic Football: Frankie and the World Cup Carnival" arrives on May 1st 2014.

(Kindly sent to us for review by L & B Kids)

First published some years ago now, in this centenary year of the outbreak of World War 1 a reprint of Gary Crew and Shaun Tan's superb "Memorial" is a genius move by Hodder. This paperback version of the book tells the powerful story of a tree, planted to celebrate the return of soldiers from the war. Recounted partially by the children of a WW1 veteran, and by conversations with 'Granpa' it builds an emotive and strong message that we should not forget those who fought and died for us in World War 1 and 2, and the multitude of conflicts around the world where brave men and women give up their lives to serve their country.

Gary Crew and Shaun Tan work wonderfully together. More subtly tinged with a touch of the surreal than Tan's other work, he still produces the most beautiful ink and paint illustrations that lend this book gravitas and a fitting sense of honour and homage.

We have read several books that deal with this sensitive subject well, and this is definitely a book that would suit older children. That said, even a 6 year old could fully understand the message therein: That the modern world and the people in it often overlook the huge sacrifice made, and is it right and proper that a memorial to a long-forgotten war should be removed purely for convenience (as is the fate of the tree or the war memorial in this tale).

I love how the grandson takes up the fight, on behalf of his grandma and grandpa, and their fallen comrades. This is strong stuff, serious stuff but deftly written and beautifully illustrated. Not to be missed if you haven't previously caught this wonderful book.

Charlotte's best bit: Huge debate on the fate of the memorial tree in this book. Should they take down the tree or the monument?

Daddy's Favourite bit: Powerful and poignant. Do not miss this if you are discussing and reading about the WW1 centenary with your children

(Kindly sent to us for review by Hodder Children's Books)

Goldilocks is one of Charlotte's favourite traditional stories. I think it's because Goldilocks is a bit of a subversive devil-may-care character who is a little naughty, and gets away with it too (depending on which version of the story you read).

When you hear that Anthony Browne has reworked the story and given it a poignant contemporary message, you sit up and take notice. Not just because Anthony Browne's artwork can sometimes carry some of his less impactive books, but because he is a writer who can truly deliver on a promise like that.

So Goldilocks in "Me and You" isn't really a character from the wrong side of the tracks, she's not really naughty either - Goldilocks here is a poor girl separated from her mother during a trip to town, whose curiosity leads her to the bear's house. The 3 bears in the story seem to have a privileged life, comfy surroundings, a house full of light and colour and plenty of food on the table. This is definitely not the impression you get about Goldilocks' home life at all.

The beauty of this book is that the story unfolds largely thanks to the reader. Your interpretation of what you're seeing, and your interpretation of what you're reading (and reading into Anthony Browne's subtle theme woven between the threads of the traditional story) is so utterly clever and thumbs the heartstrings rather beautifully. Not least of all when the story reaches a climax that wasn't in the original, but works absolutely perfectly.

This book is a few years old now but it so deserves a lot more attention. If you think you've read every single take there is on Goldilocks, make room for one more, this is superb.
Charlotte's best bit: The great 'reaction' when Goldilocks realises the three bears have come back home

Daddy's Favourite bit: One of the best retellings of Goldilocks, proving that Anthony Browne engages and works with the reader in such subtle and wonderful ways. An important book this, and it so deserved a lot more attention. Go find it in your library or pick up a copy if you can.

Ay ay ay (or should that be Neigh Neigh Neigh!) This is a book I couldn't really help review so I signed over to Charlotte who will tell you why she loves this book so much. Over to you, sweetheart!

This book is really great because it has My Little Pony in it, and there's a boy pony!

The boy pony is a prince, and he is marrying the princess and they have invited everyone to their wedding. You have to choose your stickers and stick them on each page, and you can stick the ponies down, and their food.

I love My Little Pony because the ponies are cute.

(Daddy's notes)

I'm used to seeing books elicit an excited gasp of wonder, this book almost sent Charlotte into a whirl of oohs and ahhs. She really does love My Little Pony and loved spending hours making up the various scenes in the book. As she says, there are tons of stickers ranging from characters to scenic items, decorations and lots of lovely wedding bits and bobs.

It's unashamedly cute and girly, but my unashamedly cute girl loves it to little bits. The only real negative point is that it would've been nice to be able to easily detach the sticker sheets and use them separately. Charlotte also wanted guidance on where some of the stickers should go but once she got used to the fact that the stickers could be used anywhere in any of the scenes, she was in her element with the book.

My Little Pony Princess Pony Wedding Sticker Book is out today, May 1st, from Orchard Books.

Charlotte's best bit: The Princess Pony with her cool and groovy multicolour hair (and gorgeous dress)

Daddy's Favourite bit: Amusingly, the boy pony appears to be dressed in the same groom attire that Prince William wore when he married Kate. Nice!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Orchard Books)

Salina Yoon's books are always heartwarming and engaging (see "Penguin in Love"). It's really nice to be able to get a sneaky look at her next book, due on 8th May.

"Found" reminded me of an incident when I was a wee whippersnapper, and I'm sure it's something that others can identify with. When I was a lad, I found a corgi Batmobile in the sand while playing on a beach. Someone had lost it - and being brought up right and proper, I tried to find the owner. Just as I'd decided no one was coming back for it and I might be in with a chance of taking it home, another little kid came along looking very sorry for himself - and it turned out to be his.

Long story short, Salina's book features a rather similar tale of a bear who one day finds a bunny while out on his travels. It's the most adorable bunny you could ever lay eyes on. Bear is equally conscientious and starts a huge campaign to reunite the bunny with its owner.

During the course of the next day or two, Bear becomes rather attached to the bunny and really hopes with all his heart that no one claims it. Unfortunately someone does, and bear is extremely tearful about it. But what happens next is quite unexpected...!

Of course you'll have to read the book to find out what happens. This is a really lovely little story that touches your heart, and the ending is a real warm fuzzy moment!

Charlotte's best bit: Charlotte really loved the bunny, and wanted one of her own (I am hopeless at sewing though!)

Daddy's Favourite bit: A heart warming story, and a moral tale that is so lovely to read. Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Bloomsbury Children's Books)

Phew! Is it really 15 years since Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees' brilliant book "Giraffes Can't Dance" first strutted its funky stuff across our bookshelves? I guess it must be because here's the anniversary edition of this timeless book. One that has somehow evaded our beady eye up till now but we're very happy to 'meet' it!

Gerald the Giraffe is tall, slender and we'd love to finish this sentence off by saying "graceful" but when grace was being handed out, poor Gerald was at the back of the queue. Despite his stature, Gerald really cannot dance. He stumbles, trips and lollops around in a quite ungainly fashion.

The annual animal dance championships are in full swing, and poor Gerald can only look on as all the other animals take to the stage to bust their best moves, dancing with style and energy.

Will poor Gerald ever be able to join in? Perhaps it's not a case of skill but a lack of a friendly helping hand that has held our Gerald back. So when an unlikely friend whispers some sage advice to Gerald, maybe things will change.

We've often described the sheer pleasure that some books can give when you read them aloud. Giles Andreae always has a way of producing the most pitch-perfect flowing stories as we learn Gerald's plight and follow him through his dance debut.

Guy Parker-Rees' gift for illustrating animal stories comes to the fore and he can really go to town, producing charming and engaging characters (not least of all Gerald himself!) and a multitude of brilliant expressions as the story unfolds.

We're extremely glad we've caught up with this book in its 15th year. Don't leave it too long before you check it out too!

Charlotte's best bit: There's one really lovely spread in this as Gerald slowly begins to find his groove. Such a beaut!

Daddy's Favourite bit: A charming story that's truly lovely to read aloud, and a great core message delivered expertly by two of the best in the business!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Orchard Books)

Purely on the strength of the amount of time Charlotte has spent with this book this week, "Lil' Merl and the Dastardly Dragon" is an absolute bloomin' marvel. Over the course of a weekend away (travelling to visit Charlotte's new baby cousin, all of a week old, bless her) we needed a book that would keep Charlotte busy and engaged for those times when we were kicking our heels in a hotel, or when "Grown Ups" were waffling on about baby things.

Liam Barrett's fantastic activity book was perfect. But first, let's introduce Lil' Merl. He's a wizard who learns of a dastardly dragon, fiery of breath and destructive, who has razed a local castle.

Merl decides that the only thing to do is to take on the dragon, summoning all his magic powers and enlisting the help of his elf friends.

Through a series of kid-friendly puzzles, colouring, dot to dot and activities, you can help Merl on his quest - meeting nefarious goblins and creatures along the way before confronting the dragon himself.

I'm sure other book bloggers go through a similar quandary to us - but when you've got a book that is as gorgeous as this, it takes a real strength of will to let your little ones go to town on it with their pencils and crayons. Liam's illustrations are stylish, colourful and fun, and the puzzles are gauged at exactly the right age for Charlotte (6 and up) so parents won't need to intervene too much.

As with all Flying Eye's books, it's beautifully designed and presented - and the core theme of dragons, wizards and magic has a fairly wide appeal. We did wonder where the girls were though (Well there was a witch, I guess).

Note that the lack of girls does NOT detract from the book in any way, Charlotte loved the characters regardless of Merl being a little boy rather than a girl, just thought I'd better point that out!

Charlotte's best bit: Picking the hardest challenge in the book - a really cool code breaking section where you have to decipher a letter in code, and then work out the combination of the lock on a cage. Tough but she nailed it!

Daddy's Favourite bit: This book has absolutely captured Charlotte's attention and imagination. It takes a bit of moxy to let your child draw in (deface) such a lovely book, and the price might feel a bit steep to some folk - but it's worth it for the days of activity and engagement that it gives.

(Kindly sent to us for review by Flying Eye Books)

This week's Indie-Pen Dance Wednesday book is such a lyrical delight to read aloud that we're getting quite carried away with how beautifully it reads.

"Stunt Crow" is the story of - yep you've guessed it - a crow, but if you've ever seen a bird more aerobatic than Stunt Crow in a children's book, we'd sure like to hear about it.

David Freedman's book, delightfully and beautifully illustrated by Mike Kelly, regales us with the tale of one plucky bird who is the master of the skies, with a cheeky sense of fun and the ability to soar and whirl like a dervish.

Not many birds are crazy enough to take on a fox! Swoop!

No one is safe from Stunt Crow's aerial attacks, certainly not poor Fox who is divebombed. But when a new antagonist shows up, even Stunt Crow might have to watch out - Eagles are not to be trifled with.

Beautiful prose that whirls and wheels just like Stunt Crow himself, and a story that layers excitement and tension right up to a brilliant finale and a showdown with Eagle, Stunt Crow really is a superbly satisfying book. Children have a huge capacity for appreciating stories that are not stilted and stuttered, but flow like this and Stunt Crow truly is a rare treat that Charlotte really enjoyed. She also enjoyed the rather fabulous Origami crow that came with the book too!

You can obtain David's book from the Stunt Crow website via this link

How lovely is this origami crow, sent by the author!

Charlotte's best bit: Stunt Crow divebombing Fox and making her run for cover!

Daddy's Favourite bit: I loved that opening line, five crows coughed from the branches of a tree by the wind.
Beeee-eautiful!

(Kindly sent to us for review by David Freedman)

Do you dream in colour? Dreamscapes and the realm of the mind are a fascinating subject for a children's book, because you can weave a story world that's limited only by your imagination. Laurence Anholt lets his imagination fly in this story of Jack, who is determined to stay awake all night to capture all the best bits of dreams, and bring them back to the real world.

As the world enjoys its restful slumber, Jack steals into the dreamworld armed with the Dreamsack, which he will use to claim his treasure. What will he find as he explores?

Wholly original, with subtle flavours and reminders of "Alice in Wonderland" and some absolutely fantastic and imaginative artwork by Ross Collins, this is a story that gave us a nice little jog because it wasn't quite what we were expecting. We rather love some of the inventive characters Jack encounters as he works his way right to the very heart of his dreamscape where something magical and glowing exists.

Enter Jack's dreams, you may be surprised at what you'll find!

Charlotte's best bit: The ultimate treasure nestled in the very heart of Jack's dreams. Can it be brought back to the real world?

Daddy's Favourite bit: That rare thing, a children's book that feels original and inspirational, and a perfect combination of story and illustration. Dreamy indeed!