Kids Book Club - December

From babies to pre-teens, Chorlton Bookshop has the latest children’s book releases

Published on November 30th 2011.

0-4 years
Again!
Emily Gravett
9780230745360
£10.99

A SMASHING Christmas gift, this: a brilliant, unusual idea that also delivers post-modernism straight to the nursery. A feisty little dragon has a favourite bedtime story, and requests – nay, demands – it over and over at bedtime. But after a few reads Daddy Dragon is flagging and wants to sleep. And you definitely don't want to disappoint a young dragon. Suffice it to say that the back cover of the book has a scorched hole blasted through it. Light, breezy and full of character, it's both inventive and simple, an admirable combination. Your own young dragon should adore it. Just make sure you're not pulled through a life-imitating-art wormhole nexus by Boxing Day.

4-6 years
The Pirates Next Door
Jonny Duddle
9781848772199
£10.99

GROWING up in the dreary town of Dull-on-Sea just isn't exciting enough for young Matilda. She craves more oomph in her life – and she certainly gets it when the Jolley-Rodger pirate family weigh anchor along the road. Matilda befriends their youngest, Jim Lad, but the rest of the neighbours are less delighted at this turn of events and try everything to get shut of the interlopers. This is a superior picture book, as rich and entertaining visually as it is verbally - glorious illustrations, a rollicking narrative rhyme and a lesson about not being judgmental to boot. Even the format is full of ideas: the dust jacket folds out as a pirate poster. Author/illustrator Duddle has worked for Aardman Animation, home of Wallace and Gromit, and is heavily involved in Aardman's forthcoming feature film, Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists. If it's as good as this, Duddle is a name we'll be hearing more and more.

6-8 years
Mr Gum and the Hound of Lamonic Bibber: Bumper Book
Andy Stanton
9781405258227
£9.99

IF you and your offspring have yet to encounter the deliriously potty world of Mr Gum, you're in for a treat, and this makes a nifty primer. Previously a mini-adventure published for World Book Day, it's been bulked out as an A4 story-cum-activity book complete with stickers and assorted oddments. The story itself is a riff on The Hound of the Baskervilles, but hereby rendered daft, spooky, hilarious and occasionally downright disgusting. Mr Gum is the local horror, and young Polly is always out to stop him. On this occasion Jake, a friendly whopper of a dog, has been blamed for a series of night-time menacings. Will Jake be deported to Australia, or has he, just possibly, been framed? OK, so it's not exactly a whodunnit – but it is full of Andy Stanton's trademark zany wit, stylistic quantum leaps and none-more-oddball characters. Plus stickers. And a recipe.

9-12 years
Gangsta Granny
David Walliams
9780007371440
£12.99

CELEBRITIES turned children's authors: usually they should be given the widest berth possible. This game's much more difficult than it looks. But Walliams – familiar to many as an actor, comedian, and charity swimmer – has proved that can turn his hand to this too. He's notched up three well-received books already – namely The Boy in the Dress, Mr Stink (recent adapted for the stage) and Billionaire Boy. Now Walliams offers up the tale of Ben, a young lad whose heart sinks at the prospect of staying over with his grandma. But apart from all the usual habits of a pensioner, it turns out that Ben's granny has a secret career as a jewel thief – and she draws him into her barmy grand plan to pinch the crown jewels. Evidently Walliams is a great admirer of Roald Dahl, but then, who in their right mind isn't? And he does it with a sense of freshness and panache, and matches much of Dahl's natural love and understanding of childhood. This is zippy, engaging writing that will draw in even the most reluctant young reader.