Books for children

SPLISH, Splash, Splat by Rob Scotton (HarperCollins; €8.35) is another feast of fun from this brilliant artist/writer.

Water-hating Splat is horrified when his mum reminds him that swimming lessons begin today. “Water is scary, wet and makes me soggy,” he whines. It turns out that his pal and sometime arch-enemy Spike hates water too. But friendship comes to the fore in this irresistible, richly illustrated book-for-keeps for age three and upwards.

The Broomstick Bike by Veronica Bennett (Little Island; €8.35). Eleven year-old Zack is staying with his eccentric, outspoken granny, Magda, while his parents are in Slovodnia to reclaim the family business which had been taken over years ago by the now banished Communists. When time passes and there is no word from Mum and Dad, Magda uncovers her vintage motorbike and, with Zack riding pillion, they both set off across Europe to find them. The plot is thrilling and perfectly paced. The relationship between Magda and Zack, two credible characters, bounces with lively dialogue. The tension, excitement and sparky wit never falter in this most entertaining read. For age 10 and upwards.

Angel Kiss by Laura Jane Cassidy (Penguin; €8.35). When Jacki King’s mother buys an old cottage in the village of Varna, the subsequent move away from friends and the music scene in Dublin is particularly hard on the teenager. The natives of the town, however, are very friendly, though this is offset by Jacki’s blinding headaches which are associated with her psychic awareness. A series of enigmatic insights sets her on the trail of a young girl murdered years ago, thus putting herself and her mother in danger. The teenage voice is consistent throughout and, though the writing is a bit uneven at times, this is a stunning debut novel.