Children’s books

EVERYONE who knows the story of the little girl who lost her sheep is naturally full of sympathy for her. But what really happened?

Let’s hear the true story from the sheep themselves in the Nursery Rhymes Crimes version of Little Bo Peep by Priscilla Lamont (Frances Lincoln; €13.03 HB). Minding sheep can be very boring, so Bo Peep suggests a game of hide-and-seek. The search involves the angry farmer, his wife and a long-legged policeman. This wittily illustrated, rhyming version of the old nursery rhyme is laugh-aloud fun for age three and upwards.

Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Bunny by Steve Smallman, illustrated by Caroline Pedler (Little Tiger; €13.03 HB) is a tale of come-uppance. When eldest bunny goes to fetch carrots for the family, a big bully bunny insults and robs him. As each other member of the family takes on the bully, each of them goes home emotionally hurt and empty-handed. But when it comes to baby Betty, it all ends well — except for the bully. Very satisfying for age four and upwards.

The Double Life of Cassiel Roadnight by Jenny Valentine (HarperCollins; €7.10). When 16-year-old Chap (he doesn’t know his real name) has the chance to take on the identity of Cassiel Roadnight, he decides to take the risk. Cassiel had been missing for two years and Chap bears a remarkable similarity to him. His new ‘family’, brother Frank, sister Edie and their mother are somewhat puzzled by the change in the so-called Cassiel’s personality. However, when Floyd, a former friend of Cassiel suggests he may be in great danger from a member of his ‘family’, this spurs him on to unravel the mystery of the real Cassiel’s disappearance. An unusual and ultimately satisfying search-for-identity novel with a surprising twist at the end. However, Chap’s obvious lack of knowledge about his supposed past in his new home does jar a bit in some annoyingly staccato dialogue.