We Catch the Bus Katie Abey

If you have a little one with a penchant for all things vehicular, then they’ll surely love this book. What it lacks in story, it certainly more than makes up for in the bright, busy, vehicle-packed illustrations that are full of giggle-making details.

Every spread takes a different theme be it buses, planes, trucks, trains, diggers, cars, bikes, boats, emergency vehicles, tractors or rockets; and children can make up their own stories inspired by what’s happening on any of the pages; there’s certainly plenty of action on each one.

‘Which bus would you catch?’ is the lead-in to the first spread whereon we find 10 different buses, all being driven by jolly-looking animal characters and there are plenty of other zany animal characters to spot too.

One waiting at a bus stop asks, ‘How many footballs can you count?’ while the driver of the book bus inquires ‘What’s your favourite story?’.

Every other spread has a similar relevant lead-in and an abundance of ways to involve youngsters.

They could look for the fish on the airport spread or perhaps play spot the fairy tale characters/items; maybe they’ll discover that a certain big bad wolf keeps putting in an appearance.

This one surely guarantees hours of enjoyable immersion.

A Super Weird Mystery: Danger at Doughnut Diner Jim Smith

This is the first of a new hilarious detective mystery series from the Lollies award-winning creator of the popular Barry Loser books.

If you like your books ‘super weird’ then this one is definitely for you.

Melvin has just moved from the city to Donut – a circular island with a hole in the middle – and he’s shall we say, underwhelmed.

However, when he meets Rhubarb, creator of her own school newspaper and a total obsessive where mysteries are concerned, things become rather different.

To date Rhubarb hasn’t actually had anything mysterious to write about but Melvin notices that the children at school are acting very strangely indeed. This couldn’t by any chance be connected with the Donut Hole Monsters that everyone is so keen on collecting, or could it?

It’s not long before the two of them scent a mystery and are hot on its trail. The trouble is, this trail is going to plunge them slap bang into the centre of the donut hole.

If only the two can get back out safe and sound, then perhaps at last Rhubarb will have something to report on in her newspaper. That assumes that they solve the mystery before the entire population of the town is brainwashed. No easy task then!

Bursting with laugh-making moments and crazy pictures, Jim Smith has another winner here.

Weird Little Robots Carolyn Crimi, illustrated by Corinna Luyken

Science lover Penny Rose moves to a new neighbourhood and spends much of her time in the shed creating little robots – robots with character – using found bits and pieces. What she really wants though, is a human friend.

When she meets bird watcher and birdhouse maker extraordinaire Lark, who also lacks a friend, the two girls become kindred spirits.

At Lark’s suggestion they create an entire RoboTown in the shed from discarded oddments and lava lamps.

But then their friendship is tested to its limits when Penny Rose (but not Lark) is invited to try out for the Secret Science Society.

She breaks a promise made with Lark by showing some of the robots to the society members (who are popular pupils at school) in order to prove her worth. Can their friendship survive?

With its message that girls can do anything, this story of friendship, forgiveness and being true to yourself is an absolute gem – compassionate and funny.

There are sufficient twists and turns in the plot to ensure readers remain engrossed; and the language of Crimi’s telling is apposite – ‘Her cheeks burned hotter than a Bunsen burner’, for example.

Both main characters are wonderfully divergent and their dialogue really reflects their personalities.

Corinna Luyken’s illustrations are great too – especially those robots.