Books for children

Bright Stanley, Double Trouble, by Matt Buckingham (Little Tiger; €8.35).

Life under the sea is not all bubbles and merry swimming, as Stanley learns when little cousin Dennis comes to stay. ‘Let’s play with a shark!’ he says. Thus begins a heart-thumping chase, as Stanley and his friends steer Dennis away from dangerous creatures of the deep. But the determined little guy has no fear — he knows what to do when he meets a whale. A charming tale of bravery and fun. Delight ages three to five.

Does Farting Make You Faster?, by Glenn Murphy (MacMillan; €7.10) Despite the title, this book is a very readable connection between science and sport. The format is suitable for the young reader: it is a dialogue between author and reader, complemented by humorous illustrations. The emphasis is on how to be successful at your sport, whether bending a free-kick in football, or bowling a tricky ball at cricket. The timing is perfect, given the blanket coverage of the London Olympics. Explains how games are played and encourages youngsters to have a go. Suitable for age 10 upwards.

Dark Inside, by Jeyn Roberts (Macmillan; €8.35) is an uneasy combination of the dystopian and the apocalyptic. Earthquakes have ravaged the planet, but an unexplained evil turns humans into murderous “baggers”, who hunt each other down and kill at random. It is not clear why some people are affected and others not. We see the story from the perspectives of four teenagers: Mason, Aries, Clementine and Michael, who witness the appalling monstrosities. Their flight towards hoped-for safety is breathless and action-filled, but minor characters they meet on the way are more interesting than the teenagers who rely on luck to survive. Perhaps explanation will follow in part two of what seems a trilogy (if it’s not, the ending is an anti-climax). Suitable for age 15 and upwards.