Bears, bears, brilliant bears! Many a fantastic children's book has featured bears as its star characters. But the bear in this story is a little different. Patchwork is, as you've probably guessed from his name, a patchwork bear who gets up to all sorts of adventures along with his 'real' bear chums.

But even a hyperactive patchwork bear needs some downtime, and today Patchwork just wants to find a quiet spot for a rest.

Patchwork goes undercover to scope out the very best snuggle spot. There is a problem though, everywhere Patchwork goes, other animals seem to have staked their claim first. Will Patchwork ever find the perfect spot for forty winks?

We'd not encountered the Patchwork Bear series before, and it's absolutely superb. It's quite surreal, rendered in Jacqueline Schmidt's trademark mix of realistic and surreal art but the story flows utterly beautifully, making the whole thing feel very dream-like.

There are some truly stunning illustrative panels...

Deep down in the briny blue with a wonderful whale

(Did you spot Dory and Nemo in that pic? They do love making cameos in children's books don't they?)

We loved the supporting cast of mischievous bears and other animals too!

Everyone has come round for a snuggle!

Charlotte utterly loved spotting all her favourite animals, and thoroughly enjoyed Patchwork's adventures. Hopefully there'll be more soon!

Charlotte's best bit: Patchwork can hold his breath for AGES!

Daddy's Favourite bit: Surreal but wonderful storytelling, really felt original fresh and different. We approve!

(Kindly sent to us for review by POW! Books)

Our first Festive Book of the Week for December is a book I knew we'd like from an illustrative perspective (we absolutely love everything Rebecca Cobb does) but weren't too sure about from a story perspective.

You see, I guess we're not really in the market for Richard Curtis' brand of writing. Though I'll bow to his genius back when he was writing some of the funniest comedy on TV (Blackadder) he made me laugh like a drain, but with movies like "Notting Hill" and "Love Actually" - and even TV like "The Vicar of Dibley" I never really liked the schmaltzy stuff as much.

But this book is fantastic, and it feels like a truly original christmas story that may have an air of familiarity to anyone who has been stuck at home with the kids on a "Snow Day" - when school is closed and there's no way to get from A to B.

Two folk turn up to school regardless of the weather, a boy called Danny and his least favourite teacher, the strict and stern Mr Trapper. Danny and Mr Trapper are SWORN ENEMIES so imagine being stuck in a snow-bound school all day with the person you like least in the world.

Amazingly though, Mr Trapper and Danny bond over their shared predicament - and this is where the story really starts to warm the cockles of even this old cynic's heart. Mr Trapper sees something in Danny's character that isn't unlike his own. Both seem fairly lonely, and perhaps can find common ground if only they can think of a way to jazz up the cold and miserable day.

Mr Trapper and Danny decide to ditch the lessons for the day, and embark on a wonderful set of adventures doing all the things that schoolkids (and probably quite a few schoolteachers) dream of doing when the school is empty. Misusing school supplies to good effect (though we're not sure we approve of using schoolbooks as makeshift ice skates) and building the world's biggest snow fort.

It's almost a shame when the snow is all but fleeting, and starts to disappear - meaning the next day will just be yet another boring school day. For one fantastic day though, these two characters share a bond that lasts for a long time, recalling just how much fun can be had in the snow.

Utterly and completely brilliant and well deserving of our first "Booky Advent Book of the Week" for the festive period!

Charlotte's best bit: Mr Trapper and Danny's utterly incredible (and huge) Snow Fort

Daddy's Favourite bit: A thoroughly original and heartwarming story with the most glorious and wonderful illustrations. Lovely stuff!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Picture Puffin)

EEEEEEEEEP!

One of the trickiest things about writing a regular blog that's designed to be a mouthpiece for your child's opinion is the assumption that the blog is "all you". It's tricky, and I've often wondered how other kidlit book bloggers balance things and try to ensure that the voice you read (hear) is the voice of the organ grinder, not the typing monkey.

I always go out of my way to say "We" rather than "I" in blog posts, opinion pieces and correspondence with the lovely booky folk who send us books. I'm always at pains to point out that, though I might hate the very BONES of a book that's all about a twinkly fairy and her glitter-covered pals, Charlotte would absolutely eat that book alive.

Most importantly though, the whole deal around the "Book of the Week" nominations. Sometimes we just can't agree on what should be book of the week and some quite animated discussions have taken place when Charlotte's rooting for one book and I'm rooting for another. Should I just politely step to one side and leave it at her choice? (The simple answer is "quite possibly" but sometimes it really is impossible to pick just one brilliant book nomination per week).

We've also had some quite amusing conversations about fame. "Who are these people you talk to on Twitter?" asks Charlotte, when I show her tweets where lovely authors, illustrators and book folk have chatted to us over everyone's favourite social media distraction. I explain that sometimes authors and illustrators say hi, favourite things we've said, and give us brilliant feedback and encouragement. I wonder if one day through the magic of the internet, where nothing ever seems to go away, whether Charlotte as a grown up will trawl through the blog or through tweets or facebook posts to find out how ReadItDaddy came about (I really hope she does, if for no other reason than to hear her youthful voice reflected in the books she's loved and read).

I had a point somewhere, it seems to have rolled under the settee - ah yes, there it is - the point is simply this. Please, please give my gorgeous girl her props because really it's her opinion on books that matters, her favourite bits and her exclamations of joy as a parcel of books arrives and lights up her world. This is her blog and I aim to make sure that in 2015 that is made clearer than ever before.

I'm just the monkey who presses the buttons to put words on the screen because the organ grinder can't (yet!) but watch out world when she can!

Muhahahah! This book is PERFECT for catching your children out. To give you an idea of what I'm getting at, this is how things 'went down' at ReadItDaddy Towers when this book arrived.

Me: "Charlotte, we've got a GREAT new book to review! It's called 'The Book with No Pictures'"
Charlotte: "I don't like books with no pictures!"
Me: "Trust me, you're going to LOVE this one though! It's hilarious!"
Charlotte: "No I won't! Don't like! Wah wah wah (or words to that effect)"

Some cajoling and convincing later, we snuggled down with B.J. Novak's book which has caused quite a calamity over t'pond, and rightly so - it's a work of genius.

It's worth saying at the outset that this book is probably a real win for parents who love reading aloud (and also a real win for kids who do too!) - Like a piece of performance art, "The Book with No Pictures" lets big show-offs (like me) really go to town with gusto when reading through.

It starts off subtly. No pictures (as promised), fairly plain text, like an introductory passage tucked into the end papers of a weightier tome. As I read, Charlotte wore the expression of someone who would rather be cleaning her teeth with a hedgehog than listening to me read - but then the first snigger arrived. On its heels the first giggle, then the first guffaw, and after that - completely uncontrollable laughter which carried on right through till the end of the book when Charlotte shouted "AGAIN! AGAIN!" - as your children probably will too.

"The Book With No Pictures" shows just how brilliant B.J. Novak's inner knowledge of what makes people (particularly children) laugh, without resorting to fart, bum and poo gags. It comes with a bit of a warning though, the 'reader' must be self-deprecating enough to take the book's focus on making them look a bit daft in good stead (of course, I love anything that forces people to laugh at themselves as well as everyone else, so does Charlotte!)

It's a great idea, one that could easily become a series, one that children may initially be sceptical about but will ultimately fall about laughing over. Most of all though, it's a gorgeously potted piece of performance art wrapped in book covers. The only negative I'd have on it is that it might not stand up for re-reading as once the gag is given away, kids will know what to expect (which is all the more reason for B.J to get cracking on "The Next Book With No Pictures" as soon as possible!)

Charlotte's best bit: Finding out that my head is made of blueberry pizza! Charming!

Daddy's Favourite bit: It's a real hoot to 'perform' this book, I just absolutely loved that initial grumpiness that Charlotte had when she heard that the book wouldn't have any pictures - turning to giggles, snorts and outright guffaws of laughter once the book shifts into gear! What an awesome idea!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Puffin Books)

Christmas wouldn't be christmas without "The Snowman" and now it's definitely not christmas unless his canine sidekick makes an appearance too! "The Snowman and the Snowdog" was utterly delightful and your tiniest littlest ones will absolutely love this sturdy board book and finger puppet version of the story.

It's a book that's a little too young for Charlotte but one she absolutely loved showing to her tinier cousins, reading and acting out the story as Snowdog gambols in the snow and flies through the air with ease - along with his friends.

The book is really nicely produced, even though Snowdog looks a little giraffe-necked at times (a little bit too much enthusiastic waggling from Charlotte!)

Thoroughly festive!

Charlotte's best bit: Snowdog's soft little socky ears!

Daddy's Favourite bit: A lovely little version of the christmas classic perfect for acting out The Snowdog's adventures!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Puffin Books)

Poetry and prose are definitely our bag. Top ReadItDaddy pal Elsa Takaoka obviously likes a tricky rhyme to share with her kids too as she's put together a devilishly delicious tome full of awesome poetry for her two children and for you to share with yours too.

"A Moat is not a Goat - Poems for Clever Little Girls" follows Elsa's interesting writing style of letting the reader have loads of fun, solving fiendish clues and reading aloud rhymes that trip off the tongue with ease.

As you'd probably gather from the name of the book, this poetry collection is squarely aimed at smart girls who love to read, but smart girls who love all the things that girls do too so the characters in Elsa's poems aren't just your ordinary everyday boring dress-obsessed princesses, they're girls with sass and brains too (and if there's one thing we definitely like on this blog, it's girls with sass and brains just like Charlotte!)

For example, we giggled our way through "The Five Sisters" which deceptively lures you in with illustrations that might recall those sugary Disney princesses, but each of the five sisters cuts her own style and takes no nonsense - particularly the youngest (who was, of course, Charlotte's favourite!)

We also loved "The Mollusk's Daughters" which is a lovely poem that feels like a traditional fairy tale, wrought in rhyme with a dash of a moral lesson about vanity and obsession with beauty.

Elsa's awesome poem collection is available for your kindle via this handy link so if you have a poetry obsessed smart girl at home, check it out!

Charlotte's best bit: She loved the poems mentioned above, and also "A Moat" which is an awesome poem about building!

Daddy's Favourite bit: A neat little collection from Elsa, perfect for mighty poetry-obsessed girls everywhere!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Elsa Takaoka)

I may be in the minority here, but I always loved getting at least one annual for Christmas. Big thick and weighty hardback versions of my favourite comics all wrapped up and ready to be chipped away at when christmas toys had run out of batteries, and the Queen's Speech was on telly.

Charlotte loves annuals too and we were absolutely over the moon to be able to take a look at the new Official Lego Annual for 2015. This is the rather 'boy-centric' annual rather than the official Lego Friends annual, but nonetheless it was very well received by a little girl who is still head over heels in love with The Lego Movie - and often goes straight for our huge box of generic lego over the more 'girly' stuff.

As you'd expect from Ladybird Books it's jam-packed with content, and if your child already receives the Lego Club Magazine (which is free to sign up for, by the way), this is a really cool annual bringing together the same sort of content. Build ideas, great comic strips, fun puzzles and activities and a whole bunch of Lego Movie goodness to keep you building well into 2015 and beyond. Once you're done with the book you can even dig out the little lego strips provided on the front cover and see how many different things you can make from those!

Charlotte's best bit: She has her eye on the new Polar Explorer Lego (we'll have to see what Santa brings!)

Daddy's Favourite bit: An awesome annual for budding builders!

(Kindly sent to us for review by Ladybird Books)

Day 2 of our advent calendar sees a thoroughly rotten yuletide character who could give The Grinch a run for his money. Meet Santa Claws - and no that's not a misspelling. Santa Claws is a foul and stinky beast who dresses up in a red coat and hat, marching through the snow to spread christmas chaos as he trudges from house to house. He scoffs the mince pies (and the carrots left out for rudolf) and all he leaves little children are the sort of presents no one wants to see in their stockings (needless to say this is the bit that made Charlotte laugh the loudest in this brilliantly hilarious tale).

It's not too long before the real Santa notices that a doppelganger is horning in on the christmas action, and so St Nick puts a stop to Santa Claws misbehaviour.

Can the two of them work together to save christmas?

This is a chaotic and fun tale from the author and illustrator of "Yikes! Stinkysaurus" back with a seasonal tale full of fun!

Charlotte's best bit: Santa Claws leaving little brown 'presents' everywhere after eating practically all of the seasonal scoff in site!

Daddy's Favourite bit: Hugely fun and naughty, a hilarious antidote to stuffy and serious christmas books, we LOVE it!

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

Screaming Sands Volume 2 - "Battle of the Beach Freaks" by Sam Hay (Catnip Books)

It's almost that time of the year when people sit down to consume vast quantities of clucking birds and brussels sprouts but before the festivities kick off, let's take a look at a couple of new chapter readers from the awesome folk over at Catnip Books. 

"Frozen Fish Fingers" by Jason Beresford (Catnip Books).

We're kicking off our Booky Advent Calendar again this year in grand style! Each day throughout December (well, the weekdays at least!) we'll be hunting out some spectacular Christmas books young and old, new and well-loved, to get your christmas booky shopping lists off to a flying start.

So let's begin the proceedings with something distinctly different. It's part activity book, part advent calendar (so of course today would be a PERFECT day to pick up a copy and get cracking opening those windows).

"Adventivity" contains a whole bunch of brilliant resources and materials for 25 engaging christmassy 'make' projects. The front cover of the book doubles up as an advent calendar (no chocolate I'm afraid, Charlotte!) and inside you'll find lots of awesome ideas from creative christmas cards to brilliant festive models.

Each project is illustrated in detail, and though it's fairly easy for older children, adults might need to pitch in and help as things get a little tricky for little hands. The book makes the assumption that (like us) you have a lot of crafting materials at home too, so be prepared to raid the recycling bin to get creative!

All said and done, there's a ton of fun to be had here in this innovative christmas book and it's certainly healthier than a chocolate advent calendar!

Charlotte's best bit: Making the awesome christmassy animal models to pop on her windowsill

Daddy's Favourite bit: A fun and engaging activity and nativity / advent book that should keep your little ones busy all December and beyond!

(Kindly sent to us for review by QED Publishing)