Here's a devilishly clever little animal book for younger readers that uses some pretty nifty illustrative trickery and neat folding pages to give younger children an animal surprise with each turn of the page.

In "Who's Hiding?" by Agnes Baruzzi, fairly ordinary scenes open up and unfold into wonderful animal pictures encouraging children to use their in-built natural curiosity to explore every nook and cranny of a good book.

Charlotte loves anything where page spreads aren't quite what they seem at first, so this was more of a hit than I expected (technically it is for younger children but hey, you're never too old for a neatly executed bit of bookery!)

Awesome animal fun!

Charlotte's best bit: The two lovey dovey birds, forming the shape of a heart. Awwww!

Daddy's Favourite bit: A really wonderfully presented animal book encouraging children to explore and satisfy their natural curiosity

(Kindly sent to us for review by Templar Publishing)

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My Big Book of the Five Senses by Patrick George

Animal Rescue by Patrick George

Lemurs are undeniably cute and utterly adorable, but what they get up to at sleepy-bye time is relatively unknown - until now! Meet "Lemur Dreamer", a fabulous new book from Courtney Dicmas, the extremely talented young lady who dazzled us with vibrant colours and hilarious parrot antics in "Harold Finds a Voice".

Courtney's latest animal hero is Louis, the aforementioned dreamy furry fellah who nips off to bed like normal folk but wakes up all his friends and neighbours with his nocturnal wanderings. Louis snoozes and snores his way through other people's apartments, blissfully unaware that he's causing all sorts of problems. But his friends love him and put up with him until one fateful night when Louis snores his way through one near miss after another!

His friends rally round and prevent a disaster, thankfully. Will Louis ever be able to mend his ways? His friends think they've come up with the perfect plan to save Louis from hurting himself (and walking through their apartments too!)

It's a hoot! Charlotte loved Louis' meanderings and blissed out expressions right up until he wakes up at the very end of the book. We won't reveal what his friends come up with to help Louis, but you're going to love this one, believe us!

Charlotte's best bit: When Louis tells everyone what he's been dreaming about!

Daddy's Favourite bit: An entertaining and hilarious story and a touching tale about how friends rally round to help when you need it most

(Kindly sent to us for review by Templar Publishing)

Check out the utterly dreamy Lemur Dreamer trailer!



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Harold Finds a Voice by Courtney Dicmas

How to Lose a Lemur by Frann Preston-Gannon

Please Mr Panda by Steve Antony

Dangerous by Tim Warnes, released in paperback today and now with awesome stickers!

Pom and Pim are an engaging couple and we've previously taken a brief look at "Pom and Pim" by Lena Landstrom and Olaf Landstrom on the blog.

The adventurous toddler and his favourite toy are back for a new adventure but this time Pim is in danger. Poor Pim has been grabbed by a mischievous dog, and has completely disappeared.

Pom is distraught at the loss of his favourite toy, but teaming up with a slightly more friendly pooch, Pom is hot on the trail of his missing friend. Is he tucked into a bush? Is he hiding under a bench?

Tiddlers will absolutely love the 'hide and seek' peekabo nature of this latest Pom and Pim book, and will love the way the book ends too. Lena and Olaf Landstrom's pint-sized little character is engaging and lovable, and it's a great fidgety little read for younger children.

Charlotte's best bit: Pom's woe-stricken expression as the naughty dog disappears off into the distance with Pim in tow! Naughty dog!

Daddy's Favourite bit: Awesome fun for the very small, another neat little story from Lena and Olaf!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Gecko Press)

Shaun the Sheep - Flock to the Floor from Aardman Studios

With Shaun the Sheep currently making his big screen debut in cinemas, we were lucky enough to be sent a couple of DVDs recently by Studio Canal - including one featuring our favourite woolly-navelled hero himself.

"Shaun the Sheep - Flock to the Floor" from Aardman Animation Studios is the latest home DVD release of Shaun's adventures. Get on your best disco gear and hit the dance floor as Shaun and pals get their groove on.

The DVD features 10 episodes from Shaun's recent TV run: The Looney Tic • Men at Work • The dog Show • Missing Piece •Wildlife Catch •The Pelican •Bad Boy • Remote Control • Phoney Farmer •Ground Dog Day

And if, like me, you still remember Morph from the days when he used to pop up on Take Hart, you'll be tickled to know that you also get 5 exclusive new Morph episodes to watch as well! YAROO!

Doozers - From Jim Henson Studios

Sticking with nostalgia for a moment, remember those cute little busy folk The Doozers from Fraggle Rock? They're now stars of their own animation series, specially for younger viewers. Join the Doozers in a whole stack of adventures, solving problems through teamwork, engineering and having tons of fun doing it (We really love all the crazy little vehicles the Doozers trawl around in!) Meet the Pod Squad: Spike, Molly Bolt, Flex, and Daisy Wheel as they design, create and innovate - and inspire your little 3-6 year olds to get busy building their own crazy contraptions too.

"Shaun the Sheep - Flock to the Floor" and "Doozers Volume 1" are out now from all good retailers.

(Kindly sent to us for review by Studio Canal)

"Squirrel Boy vs the Bogeyman" by Dave Lowe  (Phoenix Yard Books)

"Gladiator School - Blood Oath" by Dan Scott (Scribo Publishing)

Dan Scott's awesome "Gladiator School" series is now up to book six, and the series goes from strength to strength. Chock full of atmosphere and history, Gladiator School brings together Lucius and Quintus, two brothers enrolled in the toughest school in Rome. Training for the arena, for combat  and for strength, Lucius and Quintus struggle to survive under the watchful eye of the harsh Crassus, a combat-hardened gladiator trainer as grizzled as a pit-bull. 

Science is magic by any other name to children, and for some kids the scientists behind some of the most astonishing theories and discoveries of the last two centuries are like magicians. Most will learn a good dose of science early on in school but others (like Charlotte) will have their curiosity piqued enough to demand gorgeous books like these, that celebrate scientists in a language kids can understand, with dazzling visuals to knock their socks off too.

"Rebel Science" by Dan Green and David Lyttleton celebrates scientists who may be more renowned for being a bit maverick, a bit more "out there" with their ideas but true scientific pioneers in their particular fields.

We instantly fell in love with the presentation of "Rebel Science" that dishes up gorgeous double-page-spread after double-page-spread of facts and figures, mad experiments, crazy theories and of course most importantly the personalities behind some of the world's greatest scientific discoveries. It does so in a slightly cheeky and irreverent way, but I think the likes of Einstein, Newton and Curie would probably quite like it that way!

We couldn't resist a bit more research into some of the awesome scientists detailed in this book, but I think Charlotte was genuinely disappointed in a couple of cases, to find out (in her own words) that "most of them look old fashioned and ordinary! Not like in the book!"

Out of the mouths of babes!

"Rebel Science" is out soon from Templar Publishing. Whack on your lab coat, grab a couple of test tubes and DO SOME SCIENCE!

Charlotte's best bit: Rather too much grisly enjoyment of passages detailing pioneers who chopped up poor folk to discover more about the human body!

Daddy's Favourite bit: A rocktastic rap-battling celebration of cool science deliciously presented and wonderfully illustrated. It's blinding us - WITH SCIENCE!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Templar Publishing)

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Professor Astrocat's Frontiers of Space by Dr Dominic Walliman and Ben Newman

Laika by Owen Davey

Those snooping snafflehounds are back for another globetrotting adventure, this time finding themselves not lost in London, but at large in the U S of A!

Jack and Deputy Poco Loco return for a fourth outing and this time they have a new friend in tow. A wonderful little Opossum called Penelope who literally drops in on the pair, lost and a long way from home.

But never fear, the dog detectives are on the case - with Jack absolutely sure he knows a short cut back to Penelope's New York home.

Thus begins a caper across a continent as Jack and Poco Loco's navigational skills and local knowledge of short cuts is put to the test. It's a jolly good job Penelope doesn't have to be home in time for tea!

It's a fantastic excuse to get to know more of America and the amazing cities and landmarks you can find across the pond. Huge fun for kids who love exploring and finding out about other cultures and countries. Just never ever stop to ask Jack or Poco Loco for directions if you're lost!

Charlotte's best bit: Vegas, baby! Vegas!

Daddy's Favourite bit: A continent-spanning caper that cracks along at a fair old pace!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Maverick Publishing)

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The Dog Detectives - Lost in London by Fin and Zoa

Detective Paws by John O'Leary

Most of us (and most of our children) at one time or another must've had a special blanket, cuddly toy or trinket that never ever left our sides when we were tiddlers. Mine was a scratty nursing blanket which was called "My Cuddle", my little brother had something called "Blankie" (a piece of brightly coloured fluffy material) and Charlotte used to have a little lambswool blanket. I've heard tales from parents of what happens when those beloved items go missing, and children absolutely refuse to accept a replacement (or worse still, tales of children throwing three day long tantrums if those items are ever washed). I wonder if this was the inspiration for Roo the Roaring Dinosaur by David Bedford and Mandy Stanley.

Roo doesn't exactly look like the sort of dinosaur who throws his weight around, roaring willy-nilly and bothering the local animals. Roo, in fact, is a tiny wee mite who has a precious blanket called his Moomie. Roo and his Moomie are inseparable, until one day a visitor crashlands on Roo's island in a hot air balloon. The new visitor is a big and friendly woolly mammoth who quickly becomes a firm friend. But all too soon playtime is over, and the mammoth needs to get back home.

Alas his hot air balloon is a complete write-off, with a huge hole in it - a hole that just happens to be exactly the same size as Roo's Moomie...

Can Roo possibly give up his most treasured possession so that his friend can get home?

There are some wonderful scenes in this, quite touching in fact. Charlotte was initially quite bullish about the fact that this was a "Baby book, not for me" but when we settled down to read it (as we do with all the books we get sent, regardless of whether madam thinks they're 'baby books' or not), she snuggled down with me and our big Canadian horse blanket, cuddled close and fell quietly in love with this cute little story.

Oh - the roaring bit. Remember we said Roo doesn't do a lot of roaring? Read to the end of the book!

"Roo the Roaring Dinosaur" is out today, hooray!

Charlotte's best bit: Charlotte was initially not a fan of this, until we settled down for a good few reads through. She really loved Roo's particular way of speaking - toddler speak!

Daddy's Favourite bit: A wonderfully subtle and touching tale of friendship - oh and those utterly precious items that kids absolutely can't stand to be separated from. A lovely little Dino tale!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Simon and Schuster Children's Books)

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Lettice the Fairy Ball by Mandy Stanley

A Boy Wants a Dinosaur by Satoshi Kitamura

Dinosaur Roar by Henrietta and Paul Stickland

Yay! It's time for another book in Julie Fulton's awesome "Everso" series, depicting the strange characters and comings & goings in Hamilton Shady. It's a crazy town and there's always something going on. Not the place for a peaceful holiday.

Even more so as we meet the latest character dreamed up by Julie and ace illustrator Elina Ellis. Daniel O'Dowd might look like a fairly ordinary boy, but like most boys he really isn't the quietest little dude. In fact most of the residents of Hamilton Shady need to walk around with cotton wool in their ears when Daniel is around.

The town is in peril though! Out in the dark reaches of outer space, a gigantic asteroid threatens to collide with earth, wiping out Hamilton Shady in the process. Could a loud-mouthed boy possibly save the world?

You'll have to read the book to find out. We have loved each and every one of Julie's books, but Charlotte was a little bit sad. One character was missing from the book, our favourite gastronome Mrs Macready was nowhere to be seen (or did we miss her completely Julie & Elina?)

"Daniel O'Dowd was Ever So Loud" is out today from Maverick Publishing.

Charlotte's best bit: The poor aliens who have to suffer a severe dose of earache thanks to Daniel

Daddy's Favourite bit: Awesome rhymes, perfect comic timing, another cracker from Julie and Elina

(Kindly sent to us for review by Maverick Publishing)

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Mrs Macready was Ever So Greedy by Julie Fulton and Elina Ellis

Miss Dorothy Jane was Ever So Vain by Julie Fulton and Elina Ellis