Booklist

Anthony Browne
Silly Billy
Walker 9780744570175
Billy, we are told, used to be a worrier, anxious about almost anything and everything. The story tells us what happens to change him from a picture, quite literally, of nervous dejection into a happy, smiley, confident lad. But this is Anthony Browne and there is naturally a lot going on in layers underneath the straight-forward surface. The name 'Billy' has an alliterative ring to associate with a wimp in another book, and that knitted tank-top seems a somewhat familiar fashion statement too. Those who know 'Willy' and other stories will enjoy finding such things but this is a really fine stand-alone book.

John Burningham
Edwardo, the Horriblest Boy in the Whole Wide World
Red Fox 9780099480136
Edwardo seems, at first, to be no more mischievous than any other normal boy. But every minor misdemeanour met with admonitions announcing how horrible he is results in him living up to a reputation that he has come to believe. What a romp of mess and chaos he can create until unexpected praise strikes home and a reformation occurs. John Burningham is well known for astonishing, thought-provoking picture books which are so successful because they address common concerns and situations through great stories and illustrations. This is another wonderful one.

June Counsel and Neal Layton
But Martin!
Picture Corgi 9780552551380
A hit picture book from 1984 here updated with new, lively, quirky and delicious illustrations, the story is one of accepting differences. Four children from one class in school have different physical characteristics inherited from various racial ancestors. Martin, on the other hand, is bleeping, hairless, air-floating, rapid-calculating and green: he is an alien (a Martian maybe?). Text sizes and placing, pictures and story all combine with an energetic joviality to make an outstanding book with a simple but important theme. In a school class or any group the story could also serve as a splendid discussion starter.

Alexis Deacon
While You Are Sleeping
Red Fox 9780099546971
Here is a unique angle on the idea that toys can take on a life of their own while their playmaster is fast asleep. The toys, like a voice to camera, speak directly to the reader telling of the efforts they exert to protect their owner. They ensure that all is well and even frighten away potential bad dreams. What comes across so brilliantly, especially in the picturing, is love for the child involved. There is a safety at bedtime warmth throughout the book as well as gentle humour. Another original triumph from a startlingly original talent.

Pippa Goodhart and AnnaLaura Cantone
Three Little Ghosties
Bloomsbury 9780747579557
Here's a rollicking rhyming tale about 'ghosties' who are full of 'boasties'. There's a green sparkliness on the cover and surprises to find inside as well as sheer funniness to enjoy. The three enlarge on how amazing they are at putting the frighteners on witches, ghouls and ogres before setting out to put the wind up girls and boys too. At the end is a fine mobile to make, but there's much delight to be had in repeating lines of these rhymes too: ghoulsies … schoolsies … rulsies …! Irresistiblies!

Oliver Jeffers
The Incredible Book Eating Boy
HarperCollins 9780007182275
Even with the risk of encouraging a misuse of books, this title just has to be a good choice. Cautionary tales are a classic form and in this book are given a bang up-to-date treatment. Henry loves books, literally loves them, from the odd nibbled corner to the whole thing, he gobbles the lot. The more pages and books he eats the smarter he grows, until he gets some sort of overknowing indigestion with everything mixed up inside. The only cure is to stick to absorbing things by reading instead. A wonderful book, simple enough for some readers but with a satisfying interlinking of things to explore for the observant as well and one of those perfect integrations of words and pictures.

Geraldine McCaughrean and Jago
Fig's Giant
Oxford 9780192725691
The title has fitting fairytale, folktale resonances for a story told from the viewpoint of a miniature person. It is a beautifully handled, and illustrated, developed out of and in parallel with Gulliver's Travels for the teller is a Lilliputian, Fig. She is a fearful, timid little soul who finds a giant on the beach. Although she thinks that he has probably died she finds the courage to climb those fingers and make her way to his chest to jump up and down. He breathes. She fetches the army to help and he is put into prison, a special imprisonment for such a gigantic figure. Fig then summons goodwill to make friends and tells the giant of her country and its people and eventually the human man is the cause of victory in a war between these small tribes. The appeal of the finely created friendship between a girl and a human man in a world of fear of the unknown, armies and emperors is universal. It is also unusual in that the story will go on beyond where we leave it at the end of this lovely adventure.

Colin McNaughton
We're Off to Look for Aliens
Walker 9781406306453
The first time I read this I just burst into laughter. It is brilliant, full of visual jokes, things to notice on each double page with a well-handled theme involving prejudices. Dad, just like the author, is a picture-book creator and when his new book arrives there is a second bound book inserted into the pages. This has Dad's story about him and his brother, Wilberforce, in rolling rhyme. They are out in space, meeting all sorts of creatures but not in an antagonistic spirit, quite the opposite in fact! The family approve his tale - except for one major point ... Of course, they're probably familiar with Colin McNaughton's earlier Here Come the Aliens. This is a return of the aliens - and a potential classic in its own right.

Philip Moran and Michael Foreman
Soggy the Bear
Mabecron Books 9780953215621
'Soggy' immediately grabs attention as a most uncuddlesome name for a teddy-bear. Skimming through the pages reveals fine wash and detailed illustrations of seaside scenes, stormy and white-topped waves, a toy only just floating, a dramatic rescue from a boat, and a man telling children a story while holding up a bear. For the splendidly dramatic story is essentially true. The teller is the rescuer. The bear is real and lives with other little people and creatures sitting in a 'rescue chair' in a room looking out over the sea at St Ives in Cornwall. Beyond the story are water-safety matters so often overlooked in 'keeping safe' lessons - crucially the message 'Never Go Near Water On Your Own' (even innocuous-seeming seaside wavelets).

Mark Oliver
Robot Dog
Little Tiger Press 9781845061838
Automatic manufacturing of robots is all very well except that when one is damaged and a voice announces 'Scrap!' the little robot dog thinks that is his name. He gets no owner but ends up on the junk-heap and there, distinguished by having a name, he leads the other discarded auto-dogs into making themselves an owner. An original book with lots of dialogue and pictures of machines, bits of mechanics, odds and ends, broken items, rickety things galore. The pictures have much to pore over and investigate as well as a really grand story. The book has deservedly won awards and should come with a customer warning: 'If damaged through over-use, the demand will be that this book must be replaced not scrapped!'

Sean Taylor and Nick Sharratt
When a Monster Is Born
Orchard 9781846165115
The brilliant clarity of the illustrations, including a baby monster head in a pram on the cover, together with a quirky but simple angle on monsters, is terrific. This is a highly original take on a popular theme showing delightful creatures having a grand crazy time. That the whole book is a total delight has been recognised by awards judges. It is also an absolute gift for anyone wanting to encourage young readers to indulge in ideas beyond the book.

Benjamin Zephaniah and Prodeepta Das
J Is for Jamaica
Frances Lincoln 9781845074012
This well-known series of photographically illustrated books has expanded to cover many worldwide localities. Although it is, strictly speaking, non-fiction the text here is unusual, and rather special: lovely, witty verses covering Jamaican life and people from A to Z. The author's obvious affinity with this island comes across well, as folklore, poverty, colour and crops are all covered in sharp-eyed, sharply written pages with evocative photographs as a perfect accompaniment.