Best books for children

Harrison Loved His Umbrella by Rhoda Levine (New York Review, €12.60 HB) Harrison persistently refuses to part with his constantly open umbrella to the annoyance of his parents.

This convinces other kids to follow suit, so much so that parents are driven to distraction.

Just as suddenly as he had taken to the umbrella lark, he then abandons it in favour of swinging a yo-yo, also constantly. The subtext is the gap between parents and their children, and possibly the unnecessary angst they feel about their annoying habits. Suitable for age six plus.