Children’s Books

The Big Beach Boogie by Jenny Arthur (Caterpillar Books €10.66 HB) is a big, colourful, musical counting book to welcome summer.

Starting with one drumming octopus, it bounces along via other music-playing sea creatures to five guitarist crabs. The verse on each page has an easy-to-press button for listening to the individual instruments. The final pop-up scene reveals the complete fishy ensemble in full orchestral performance. Delightful fun for toddlers.

For youngsters who like books of facts — especially grotesque facts — That’s so Gross! Creepy Crawlies by Mitchell Symons (Red Fox €5.92) is a most informative read for any age. Couched in cartoon illustrations, it compellingly reveals the real, gruesome and complex world of insects from around the globe. !

Casper Candlewicks in Death by Pigeon! by Ivan Brett (HarperCollins €7.10) This debut novel has all the chaotic drama, surreal characters and, most of all, hilarious narrative and dialogue that can be packed into a paperback. When the great magician, Tiramisu hits town in a blaze of pomposity and rudely creates a stir in Casper’s Dad’s restaurant, the loyal boy responds by slipping coriander into his Oyster and Asparagus Terrine — even though Tiramisu had insisted ‘NO CORIANDER!’ And that’s where the trouble starts when the magician puts a curse on the whole village. Laugh-aloud madness (and one to get boys reading) age 9+.

The Cave by David Gatward (Barrington Stoke). On a week away on a school trip at an outdoor centre in the Yorkshire Dales teenage Carrie is horrified when a trip down a deep cave is on the list of activities. She has always managed to keep her claustrophobia a secret. How will she cope with the terror under the ground? The author skilfully draws the reader into the horrific, sweaty, panic-filled situation. An exciting read.

- Mary Arrigan’s new book The Rabbit Girl (Frances Lincoln €8.35) for age 11+ is on sale in bookshops.