Children’s books

HOP, Skip and Jump! By Lia Foa and Katie Saunders (Caterpillar Books; €7.10) is a clever mix of bouncy rhymes and busy activities.

Each colourful spread has a familiar creature — a flamingo balancing on one leg, a giraffe at full stretch, a crouching spider, etc. Seamlessly integrated into each scene is a photo of a child imitating the same activity, providing lively entertainment for active toddlers.

The Random House Mini Classic Collection (€7.10) comprises Edward Lear’s The Owl and the Pussycat, Quentin Blake’s Mister Magnolia, Debi Gliori’s Tell Me Something Happy, John Prater’s Again, and Anthony Browne’s Willy and Hugh. All beautifully illustrated and perfect travel entertainment for small hands, for age four and upwards.

Barrington Stoke score again with Sterling and the Canary by Andy Stanton (€7.10). Sterling Thaxton is tall, handsome and dynamic at sport, but rather thick. All the girls love him, but not new girl Lizzie Harris who loves maths and remains aloof and indifferent to Sterling’s advances. Even with the help of his best friend, Doctor Edward Mackintosh. Sterling is smitten, but how can he wow this maths genius when he’s rubbish at the subject? Enter the educated canary who takes Sterling under his wing — so to speak. A laugh-aloud read for age 10 up.

In Too Much Trouble by Tom Avery (Frances Lincoln; €7.10) brothers Emmanuel and Prince have been lodging with their uncle Victor in London. The boys abscond to London where they are tutored by a modern Fagin-like character who teaches them the art of pickpocketing and survival. Through a series of flashbacks we see Emmanuel’s dilemma clarified as his parents’ moral standards would be directly opposed to what he’s now forced to do. This is an interesting take on the seedy London underworld of deprivation and illegal immigration.