Books for children

For journeys long or short, there’s nothing like a book — long or short — to keep the peace and avoid the ‘are we there yet?’ moans.

In Hello Kitty, The TV Star (Harper Collins; €6.30) Kitty and her friends are thrilled when Fifi is going to be on telly. But Fifi needs to bring pretty photos and pictures to the event. As time comes around Fifi frets that she’ll be dumbstruck. Trust her friends to rally round to help her find her confidence. A delightful easy-to-hold book with big illustrations. Suitable for age four and upwards.

Rory And The Monster Sitter by Rosie Reeve (Bloomsbury; 8.80) will hold the fort for more than half an hour. Rory is a creature who loves cooking. Some of his most delicious efforts are cheese bats, creepy crawly snacks, and hairy cakes. When Mum and Dad go out for dinner and the dozy babysitter falls asleep, Rory and his siblings create the most delicious feast ever.