Children’s Books

SLEEPY ME by Marni McGee, illustrated by Cee Biscoe (Little Tiger; €7.10 padded cover). From reading a book with his Daddy, we follow Baby Bear’s bed routine from brushing teeth to bidding good night to the moon and stars and into cosy bed. With simple rhyming text and wonderful illustrations, this is a loveable bedtime treat for toddlers.

Wanda and the Alien by Sue Hendra (Red Fox; €7.10) Wanda befriends an alien who has crash-landed in the woods; she helps him repair his ship. But her friends hide in fear of the strange creature. Of course, all ends happily. A subtle story of how someone who is ‘different’ can be embraced into friendship.

The Real Rebecca by Anna Carey (O’Brien; €7.99). Teenage Rebecca Rafferty is happy enough that her mother writes adult books, but when teacher Mrs Harrington begins expressing her admiration of Mum in class, Rebecca is mortified. Matters take an enigmatic twist when Mum becomes secretive and is found reading teen magazines. Rebecca and her usually squabbling sister unite to understand this. When all is revealed, the sisters’ embarrassment rises several notches. With a cast of credible characters and told with a typical teenage blend of humour and angst, this is a laugh-aloud treat for age 10 and upwards.

Bruised by Siobhán Parkinson (Hodder Children’s Books; €8.35) is the poignant story of the violence and neglect that challenge Jonathan, the 14-year-old narrator. His father has deserted the family and his mother tries to numb the consequences in a stupor of drink, leaving Jonathan in charge of his four-year-old sister, Julie. The catalyst that forces Jonathan to take Julie away from home comes when the child is punched in the face by the drunken mother. Together, after ransacking the freezer of their much-loved, recently deceased granny, the youngsters face into a journey of desperation. Their flight has uncovered an issue far more serious than Jonathan could have imagined. The tension never flags, and the boy’s narration captivates to the end. Age 12 and upwards.