Children’s books

Alfie In The Bath

Little Alfie loves bath-time when he can play with his toys, and create an imaginative sea world of big creatures with tentacles, snappy crabs, and, most of all, a huge storm of waves — for obliging Dad to mop up!

Beautifully illustrated and full of imagination and fun, this is just the book to woo even reluctant little water-shy three-year-olds.

Take A Circle by Britta Teckentrup (Words and Pictures, €12.60)

This colourful book will complement the shape-recognition studies of the junior classes. Beginning with a ball, it moves through the obvious circles that a toddler meets during the day.

The circles already dealt with appear at the side of each double-page spread. Suitable for age three-plus.

Paddington At The Palace by Michael Bond Illustrated by R.W Alley (Harper Collins, €8.80)

Paddington and his good friend Mr Gruber are very excited about their trip to see the Changing of the Guard at the Palace.

However, the railings around the Palace are so crowded it looks like little Paddington won¹t even catch a glimpse inside. To make matters worse, a boy points at Paddington believing him to be a soldier¹s lost Busby! An endearing story for age three-plus.

Cliffs Of Moher And The Burren — My Ireland Activity Book by Natasha Mac a’Bháird (O’Brien, €7.99)

This is an attractive collection of puzzles, games, history and myth. Though the target audience is younger children, adults will learn quite a bit.

Topics dealt with include, the origin of the name “Moher”, its connection with The Aran Islands and the protection the cliffs provided for Ireland during the “Night of The Big Wind” in 1838.

There are interesting tales of the fairy meadow of Cloonasee, the tragic leap of foals from Aill na Searrach, and a tantalising legend of the lost city of Kilstapheen.

Intertwined are word searches, colouring challenges, and for the weary driver a time-consuming search for the ubiquitous Larry and 17 other humans and artefacts on the giant cliff face. A must for this day out.