The Christmas Song by Celia and Orison Carlile (Amazon; €4.80) This is a charming offering from a Fermoy-based writing team which sees young Emily so overcome by Christmas anticipation that she just cannot settle down and go to sleep.

Dilly Duckling by Claire Freedman, illustrated by Jane Chapman (Little Tiger; €5.92 HB) is the simple tale of a ditsy duckling who wanders from the rest of the brood to catch her downy feather, which has been caught by the wind.

Rob Scotton’s illustrations are always a joy. In Scaredy-Cat Splat (Harper Collins €8.35) Splat is determined to win the scariest costume prize at school. His ego is knocked by classmates whose costumes are superior.

WHERE Snowflakes Fall, by Claire Freedman, illustrated by Tina Macnaughton (Little Tiger Press; €7.07), is set in cold places, telling how creatures survive the icy landscape of their habitat.