Children’s books

BIG AND LITTLE, by Ana Martin Larranaga (Caterpillar Books; €5.92), is a boxed set of four, sturdy board-books, just the right size for small hands to hold.

Each story features the fun activities of parent animals with their small offspring. With bold line and strong colour, these books are little gems, for ages two to three years.

The Chinese Sausage Dog, by Nuala Illek (Eloquent Books; €7.34). Set in China, the eponymous sausage dog, Dumpy, meets a lost porcupine in Golden Hoot Jungle. He promises to get him home safely to Shamian Island. He turns to his friend, Campi, a clever golden retriever, for help. When Dumpy hears his mistress, Mrs Candy Shoo, discussing a visit to the island, he and Campi smuggle the porcupine into the car. When he gains his freedom, the porcupine wants to go back to his two new friends. A pleasant tale for aged eight-plus.

Billionaire Boy, by David Walliams (HarperCollins; €15.40 HB), is the story of Joe Spud, age 12, whose father’s invention of Freshbum, a loo roll that’s moist on one side and dry on the other, has resulted in riches beyond imagination. Joe and his father live in luxury in Freshbum Towers. Joe attends a snooty exclusive school. But is he happy? No. He longs for the imagined friendliness of a state school. Once there, he makes friends with Bob, who has no interest in wealth. But can Joe keep the secret of his posh background from the school bullies? A laugh-aloud page-turner for age 10-plus.

Boom, by Mark Haddon (David Fickling; €7.10). When Charlie overhears two of his teachers conversing in a foreign language, he and narrator Jimbob are convinced they are up to no good. Charlie disappears on the same day as the two teachers. Jimbob, with his sister, Becky, follows the trail. This rewrite of Gridzbi Spudvetch (1992) has the typical quirky Haddon characterisation, but has been overtaken by newer, similar stories.