Picture books that children will relish

Many children love picture books full of fantasy tales, fictional heroes and wonderful animals. But there are children who prefer more factual books. If interesting facts are your thing, then you should adore the gorgeous Small And Tall Tales Of Extinct Animals by Hélène Rajcak and Damien Laverdunt. The writers, who have been advised by the National Museum Of Natural History in France, have put together a (hardback) book which is exquisitely illustrated and full of weird and wonderful animals that are, alas, no more. There are quirky animals, such as The Giant Beaver, and well known one, too, such as the Dodo, Great Auk and Woolly Mammoth. My favourite was the Sicilian Dwarf Elephant, which stood only 60 centimetres tall and went extinct about 100 A.D. There were similar small elephants in Malta and Cyprus but the Sicilian ones lasted longest (until Roman times) because of a lack of natural predators - the reason they evolved to that size in the first place. Another good animal-based tale, part of a fine series by ZLS London Zoo, is Wanda Wallaby Finds Her Bounce by Jonathan Emmett (illustrated by Mark Chambers) which has witty drawings in a fun story with a punchline that will make you smile. Lollipop and Grandpa's Back Garden Safari by Penelope Harper (illustrated by Cate James) is a lovely story about an everyday visit to a garden that becomes a great adventure. The young girl and her grandfather encounter Chimpan-trees, a Hippo-Potta-compost and a Clothes-lion. It's a gentle, humorous and sweet tale that is absolutely ideal for grandparents to read with young children. It's not hard to see why The Pirates Next Door won the Waterstone's Best Book for writer and illustrator Jonny Duddle. It's funny, superbly drawn and contains a beautiful, big, bright poster. Children and adult co-readers will love the wit, such as 'Dull-on-Sea' being twinned with 'Ennui-sur-Mer.' The humour in No! by Marta Altes is also a delight. This is the tale of a dog who thinks he's called 'No' because it's what is shouted out whenever he's having fun and getting into scrapes. Furry friends are obviously a staple of children's picture books and Dog Loves Drawing by Louise Yates is a charming tale that art-loving children will enjoy while The Fearsome Beastie by Giles Paley-Phillips (Illustrated by Gabriele Antonini) is a Gruffalo-like monster story with catchy rhymes and colourful drawings. BOOK DETAILS: • Small And Tall Tales Of Extinct Animals by Hélène Rajcak and Damien Laverdunt (Gecko Press, £14.99) • Wanda Wallaby Finds Her Bounce by Jonathan Emmett; illustrated by Mark Chambers (Bloomsbury, £5.99) • Lollipop and Grandpa's Back Garden Safari by Penelope Harper; illustrated by Cate James (Phoenix Yard Books, £6.99) • The Pirates Next Door by Jonny Duddle (Templar Publishing, £6.99) • No! by Marta Altes (Child's Play International, £5.99) • Dog Loves Drawing by Louise Yates (Jonathan Cape, £10.99) • The Fearsome Beastie by Giles Paley-Phillips; illustrated by Gabriele Antonini (Maverick Publishing, £5.99)