Our Picture Book of the Week once again reminds us that it won't be long till we have yet another utterly stunning piece of work from Studio Laika, the animation studio who consistently knocks it out of the park with their truly brilliant movies.

"Missing Link" will be out soon, but before then we have a wonderful picture book prologue to the story you'll see in the movie.

"A Smile for Sasquatch" by Steven Marten and Aaron Cushley introduces us to Mr Link, the big fuzzy cuddly Sasquatch that features in the upcoming film.

Experience the heartwarming journey of Bigfoot . . . better known as Mr. Link, a sensitive soul in search of companionship.

Making new friends isn't easy when you're a sasquatch who lives in the middle of the lonely forest.

Absolutely love how the friendship unfolds in this book

The old saying goes "Manners maketh the man" but what of the dragon?

These noble beasts have impeccable manners but just like humans, their tiddly toddlers aren't always able to maintain their politeness or good behaviour.

"When a Dragon Comes to Stay" by Caryl Hart and Rosalind Beardshaw humorously examines what it would be like to host a sleepover for a scaly mythical beast.

Will the littlest dragon behave herself? 

Ever hated your hair? Folk with curly hair (including my wife and daughter) usually have a fight on their hands to tease, tame and get their hair into shape - and probably get quite a bit grumpy when anyone compliments them on their naturally curly hair.

That's how it is in "Mira's Curly Hair" - Yes, Mira really hates her hair...

It curls in the front. It curls in the back. It curls everywhere!

Cramming an amazing museum's entire collection into a book would be quite some feat and in "This or That?" by Pippa Goodhart, it's quite an achievement to see such a huge swathe of the amazing British Museum collection of artifacts cropping up in a deliciously designed activity book for the tiniest of tinies.

Using clever layouts and amazing quality photos of the exhibits, kids can take a cultural journey around the collection, deciding which objects they like best.

Would you love a Viking Helmet or a Bronze Age Mask?

How about an egyptian cartouche or perhaps a beautiful silk gown from the furthest reaches of the orient?

Opulent treasures and amazing things are there to be discovered, and thanks to a handy set of pictorial guides at the back of the book you can find out what the objects are and from which era.

Sum this book up in a sentence: A thoroughly absorbing and fascinating look at one of the most impressive museum collections on the planet, filled with truly amazing objects.

"This or That?" by Pippa Goodhart is out now, published by Nosy Crow / British Museum (very kindly supplied for review). 

Another ticklish book for very tiny book lovers, this time with a nod to classic fairy tales and fables of yore.

"The Little Green Hen" by Alison Murray is the story of the titular chick who is fortunate enough to live in a beautiful apple tree.

The Little Green Hen tends it lovingly every day - pruning, sowing new seeds and keeping the pests at bay. It's not an easy task, and soon The Little Green Hen decides to ask her friends for help.

Peacock is too busy!

Cat's schedule is packed.

As for fox? Well he's really not going to be any good at all.

But soon there's a catastrophe, and as a storm floods the countryside the aforementioned animals realise that there's only one safe haven - the Little Green Hen's Apple Tree Home!

Will she let the animals shelter in her tree?

It's up to you to find out in this lovely adaptation of a classic tale.

Sum this book up in a sentence: A lovely nod to the original Little Red Hen with some interesting twists and touches to raise it a cut above the rest.

"The Little Green Hen" by Alison Murray is out now, published by Hodder Children's Books (kindly supplied for review). 

Nosy Crow's partnership with the National Trust leads to some truly lovely little books, and we loved the idea of a board book for budding busy little bees who want to get out into the garden and have a go at growing things.

"Sunflower Shoots and Muddy Boots: A Child's Guide to Gardening" by Katherine Halligan and Grace Easton has a superb selection of outdoor activities to encourage kids away from their screens and out into the fresh air.

With a sturdy (hopefully mud-proof) board-book packed with brilliant activities and green-fingered ideas, top tips and fascinating facts, from growing berries and flowers in old hats and welly boots, to making miniature indoor magic gardens or even growing your own secret den.

Each of the activities may also help wildlife to proliferate in your garden, and you can even have a go if you haven't got a huge garden - there's plenty of scope to adapt each of the activities to suit, or perhaps even use these in school as the basis of some outdoor learning activities.

It's really wonderful this, and let's face it, kids don't need much of an excuse to get muddy!

Sum this book up in a sentence: The perfect first book for green-fingered kids who fancy trying their hand at growing and nurturing a wonderful outdoor environment.

"Sunflower Shoots and muddy Boots" by Katherine Halligan and Grace Easton is out now, published by Nosy Crow / National Trust (very kindly supplied for review). 

More bunny business from Ellie Sandall with the next book in her "Everybunny" series.

"Everybunny Dream" is the perfect book for teeny tinies to snuggle up with as they relax after a long day.

As the night-time sky descends, a mummy and her bunnies settle down for a snuggly bedtime story and a lilting rhyme in Ellie's trademark style.

Cuddle up and snuggle tight.
Close your eyes and say goodnight.
A cosy group,
A peaceful scene...
EVERYBUNNY DREAM!



Do you love hearing soothing stories before you settle down for bed time? Then this one's just for you. 

Are you scared of bees? Do you worry that they might sting you?

In "I Saw a Bee" a little boy isn't sure what to make of bees - and reacts aggressively at first.

But bees are hugely important to our ecosystem, in fact without bees we'd be in a whole heap of trouble - as our pollinating friends are vitally important to the world's plant life, busying themselves by ensuring that plants can reproduce and proliferate across our planet.

Using simple but effective repeating text to reinforce the message of how important bees are, the little boy in the story realises that looking after bees, providing them with lots of lovely flowers to gather pollen and nectar from, and helping his own garden to thrive can be hugely satisfying, as can doing every little bit you can to help maintain our planet's important species. 

When I was a kid at school, nearly everyone was encouraged to either write for, draw for or contribute to the school magazine. It became something of an anarchic publication, perhaps an insight into most of our mental states at the time.

There's something insanely satisfying about making your own publication to share with others, and now Kristyna Baczynski and Laurence King Publishing are making it easier than ever with the arrival of "Read All About It: 10 Mini Magazines to Make and Share".

Everything you need is tucked between the covers of this brilliantly designed and inspirational book, with 10 pull-out 'zines' to get you started, and a ton of ideas to inspire you once you've used the book's resources and quite fancy striking out on your own.

From animal safaris and recipes to you and your family, pick your favourite topics and get going!

Each mini magazine has a distinct theme, with lots of ideas for stories, features and pictures - the rest is up to you and your imagination so let it loose and come up with something truly brilliant!

With fully-illustrated instructions and hints and tips along the way, this brand new book from zine publisher and comic artist Kristyna Baczynski will get you making your own brilliant zines in no time.

Our Second Book of the Week sees us FINALLY catching up with a colossal talent in children's picture books...

"A Mouse Called Julian" by Joe Todd-Stanton is the sort of picture book that feels like it's been in your collection for donkey's years, oft read and loved to the point where its pages are faded and well-thumbed.

...And yet this is a brand new book, harking back to an era when children's stories weren't always about solving issues or confronting real-world problems, but just about exquisitely crafted storytelling, glorious characters and perhaps a tiny pinch of a moral in there just to add the pepper to the sauce rather than overpowering the whole thing.

We've not seen ANY of Joe's books before, which is something we're absolutely going to rectify now, but "A Mouse Called Julian" was a brilliant introduction. Starting off with a rather timid little mouse who doesn't actually mind a solitary life. Julian has become expert at avoiding other people, which is just the way he likes it as he curls up comfortably in his too-adorable-for-words little hole-home (which is decked out so beautifully, like a scene from "The Borrowers" but with a distinctly mousey feel to it, just lovely!)

Such an adorable little network of homes, and Julian's is well placed to avoid his rather obstructive neighbours

When Julian ventures out into the wide world he's also scurrilous and quick, very good at avoiding the farmer and her dog, or cats that would make a meal of Julian.

But the titular mouse doesn't realise he's being watched...

If there has ever been a more accurate and delightful depiction of a fox in a children's book, we've yet to see it!

A wily fox rather fancies dinner at Julian's place - with Julian being the dish of the day. Luckily for Julian the plan doesn't quite pay off as planned, and after being forced to spend a little time together, Fox and Julian reach something of a mutual agreement that Fox won't scoff Julian if the little mouse can somehow free him from being trapped in Julian's front window.

Here's where there's a shade of "The Mouse and the Lion" but Joe doesn't just adapt that familiar tale, there's an absolutely breathtaking twist as the book draws to a close (which we won't spoil!)

Oh no! Poor Julian!

It was one of those moments in a book that stopped C in her tracks, something she didn't anticipate or see coming when she can usually give me constant side-eyes through the course of a picture book, knowing exactly what's going to happen as the plot unravels.

The surprise is great though - just a tiny piece of a story that works so beautifully at every point. Joe crafts the story so that it's textually minimal, to let those stunning visuals take over and flesh out the story - the mark of a brilliant picture book in our opinion.

What an immensely talented fellow and what a truly gorgeous book.

Sum this book up in a sentence: A book that feels familiar, comfortable, but exquisitely crafted and yet so original and delightful with an absolutely killer twist.

"A Mouse called Julian" by Joe Todd-Stanton is out now, published by Flying Eye Books (kindly supplied for review).