I like Brigitte Macron. She’s smart, chic and looks like she’d be fun to spend time with. She literally hasn’t put a foot wrong since she moved to the Elysée Palace – a point highlighted by her radical new approach to work meetings. Instead of holding interminable meetings around a boring conference table Mme Macron has introduced the concept of walkabout meetings. With staff from her office at her side, ...keep reading
Rachel Bright is one of the most talented – and prolific – children’s authors around. Under-fives (and over-fives too) love everything about her books while adults admire the witty storylines, thought-provoking themes and captivating illustrations. Bright’s latest title, The Squirrels Who Squabbled, is one of her best yet. Illustrated by Jim Field (her collaborator on The Lion Inside and The Koala Who Could), it’s the tale of two greedy squirrels ...keep reading
One of the best moments of the week is when the postman rings the doorbell and hands me a pile of books to review. Parents often ask me for recommendations so here are some of the best new picture books for children aged five and under. Thank You, Mr Panda by Steve Antony (Hodder Children’s Books, £6.99) Steve Antony is one of the most talented illustrators around. The Queen’s Hat ...keep reading
I love the idea behind the Little People, Big Dreams series for children. Aimed at five to eight-year-olds, this collection tells the stories of famous women who achieved remarkable things. The title stems from the fact that women like Amelia Earhart, Maya Angelou, Coco Chanel and Frida Kahlo began life as small children with big dreams – which they all went on to fulfil. The books are stunning and I was thrilled to discover that ...keep reading
I’m a big fan of World Book Day but it was always a bit of a trial when my son was small. Like most schools in the country, the one he attended asked all the children to dress up as a famous literary character on the day – much to the delight of every child except one. My son. As all the others trooped into class dressed up as Harry ...keep reading
When it comes to producing gorgeous picture books Rachel Bright and Jim Field are a winning combination. Bright writes the stories and Field illustrates them and the result is magical. The Koala Who Could is their latest creation. Written in jaunty rhyme, it’s ideal for reading aloud and will strike a chord with children and adults alike. The star of the show is Kevin, a sweet little koala who is as ...keep reading
My children are in their 20s now but my heart still skips a beat with happiness when a new Lauren Child book arrives in the post. Lauren Child is the award-winning, bestselling author of some of the best children’s books around – from Clarice Bean and Ruby Redfort to the incomparable Charlie and Lola. With text that twirls exuberantly across the page and brightly coloured, multi-textured illustrations, her stories stand ...keep reading
A rush of celebrities are following in David Walliams’s brilliant footsteps and writing children’s books. In recent months Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy and former Home and Away star Isla Fisher have thrown their hats into the literary ring. The Big Biscuit Bike-Off is the third in Hoy’s Flying Fergus series about a boy with a big imagination and a passion for bikes while Isla Fisher’s Marge in Charge is the ...keep reading
How appropriate on the Queen’s 90th birthday to receive the brand-new paperback edition of one of my favourite children’s books – The Queen’s Handbag by Steve Antony. It’s even more appropriate considering that little Mia Tindall, Princess Anne’s granddaughter, stole the show in Annie Liebovitz’s stunning portrait of the Queen with seven of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. How? Because in an apparently unscripted moment, she picked up her great-granny’s £1,000 ...keep reading
The very best picture books for young children have a crystal clear message at their heart. And that’s what makes The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright and Jim Field a real winner. It’s a sweet story, told in rhyme, about a tiny mouse who lives under a rock and is ignored by everyone he encounters. Worse still, he’s trodden on, sat on and has no friends at all. But in ...keep reading