Books for Children

WITH Lots of Love at Bedtime is a collection of stories by well-known authors and illustrators (Little Tiger €15,40 HB).

A small boy’s night fears are sensibly dismissed when he finds that each scary creature has better things to do than scare him. In another story, a tired ginger kitten looks for a place to sleep, but there’s always something to disturb his slumbers. Finally he finds a comforting, lap and all is well. These beautifully told and charmingly illustrated tales will captivate even the most vociferous bedtime protesters.

Minnow And The Bear by Ben Blayyhwayt (Random House; €13.03). Set in pre-historic times, Minnow is a small boy who longs to go hunting with the men, but is told he’s too young, so he sets off on his own. Swept down-river on a branch, which also carries a young bear, the two become friends and good hunters in the undiscovered land. When they grow a bit older and more skilful, Minnow and his bear are welcomed joyfully when they find the delighted family. With colourful, detailed illustrations to pore over, this is a fascinating book to share, or as a read-alone.

Stardoll Top Trends (Random House; €9.50) shows how to dress well and look trendy, with tips on how to mix and match outfits. There is also good information on fabrics. The big plus is a sketchpad to create your own designs. Perfect for the discerning young fashionista.

Hacker by Malorie Blackman (RH C B digital; €7.35). Being a computer nerd proves to be a mixed blessing for Vicky. Firstly she is in terrible trouble when she uses her expertise to get good marks during the school math’s test. Then her father is arrested and charged with the theft of a million pounds by the bank he works for. Vicky’s only hope of clearing his name is to hack into the bank’s computer system. Interesting family relationships and plenty of blind alleys.