Books for children

FOLLOWING the release of the film, Random House have followed up with Tintin, The Sticker Book (€4.50), for ages 4-6, which will amuse and create a new generation of fans.

With 100 stickers, adventure games, puzzles and a host of characters to place in dodgy situations, this is a useful, creative activity book to hold in store for wet days, long journeys or fluey bedridden boredom. For newly independent readers there’s Tintin, Danger at Sea (Bantam; €4), a spin-off from the movie for fans age 7+ to treasure. The easy-to-read adventure and realistic, action- filled graphics will delight newcomers to Tintin but Hergé’s comic-book line drawings will no doubt affectionately remain the real Tintin for older readers.

The Little Book of Minibeast Hotels by Ann Roberts, illustrated by Mike Phillips (A&C Black; €10.66) is an informative and intriguing book for young nature lovers. The ‘hotels’ are practical homes for small creatures. Made from rolled-up newspapers, empty juice cartons, tin cans and other household has-beens, they provide shelters for garden creatures such as ladybirds, beetles, bugs and slugs that can all be discreetly observed by children. The text is structured with easy-to-read layout and non- fussy text. This is a fascinating handbook for age six and upwards.