The Book of Why

By Martine Laffon and Hortense de Chabaneix

When I was a little girl my favourite word was "why?" and having no idea why this used to flummox my mother and dumbfound my dad I asked it merrily... and often.

Why is the sky blue? Why are spiders so scary? Why do we dream? Why does it rain? Why do babies cry so much? Why are girls different from boys? Why do people pray?

Children are always asking questions, some of which can be awkward and difficult to answer. The Book of Why provides the answers to over 80 tricky questions which parents are sure to face from their curious offspring at some point.

Parents all around the UK must be breathing a sigh of relief now that someone has answered all those baffling questions... and then some. Interspersed with engaging illustrations by Jacques Azam to aid understanding and bring the explanations to life, The Book of Why makes sense out of what could on the surface appear to be nonsense. For instance 'Why do we cry?' Well, according to the book tears are our very own cleaning fluid and our eyelids our windshield wipers. Crying is actually good for you as tears are the best ways of cleansing the body and keeping your vision clear. Simple! Why didn't I think of that when my own children began irritating me with familiar questions?

The Book of Why, which feels lovely to the touch, tackles both serious and fun questions in an easy-to-understand and entertaining way. Children and parent alike will enjoy the journey of finding out the answers. My favourite one so far is: 'Why am I afraid of the dark?' Because we can't see anything in the dark, that's why!

Have you ever wondered why? Well here's a way to find the answer!

Published by Abrams Press. Hardback price: £7.95.

Sally Gets a Job

By Stephen Huneck

Sally wants the perfect job. Just like the rest of the family she wants to earn her own keep.  Don't we all? However, Sally is a loveable black Labrador. Sally imagines herself in all sorts of exciting jobs. She likes digging in the sand - maybe she could be an archaeologist! She likes bones - maybe she could be a palaeontologist!

Sally Gets a Job, a charming tale written and illustrated by Stephen Huneck, draws on the popular theme of what children would like to be when they grow up. The central character is a lovable dog that children can identify with. The reader learns the thoughts of the dog as he watches everybody being busy; going off to work, going off to school, doing something - everybody but him. He wants to be useful.... Until he realises he has the best job in the world.

Find out what it is.

Huneck's first picture book, Sally Goes to the Beach, introduced readers to Sally, the curious and fun-loving Labrador. An internationally acclaimed painter, sculptor and printmaker, Huneck along with his wife, Gwen, are the owners of Stephen Huneck Galleries. His hand-carved furniture, sculpture and woodcut prints are included in various museum collections, including the White House Collection of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.  Stephen, Gwen and Sally live in Vermont.

Published by Abrams Press. Price: £8.99.

Hush, Little Dragon

By Boni Ashburn and Illustrated by Kelly Murphy

It's nearly bedtime on a beautiful day. Baby and Mama dragon are almost ready to settle in for the night, but Baby can't sleep until he gets a tasty treat because even dragons have to eat!

Mummy dragon searches for just the right snack among the villagers. Not the mean queen, not the three musketeers, not the old magician... the two dragons scour the town, but the people are too tricky!

After travelling in and out of a beautifully detailed medieval town, filled with colourful characters, Mama and baby dragon settle down to a good night's sleep in this warm, funny tale based on the song Hush, Little Baby.

Set to the familiar tune of 'Hush, Little Baby' this sweet and funny bedtime tale will satisfy even the prickiest of baby dragons. It's a poetically written bedtime book with an unusual twist, quite delightful, colourful and with the cutest dragon a child would ever hope to encounter.

Author Boni Ashburn, who lives in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with her husband and four children, hoped that Hush, Little Dragon would encourage her own picky eaters to be more adventurous with food choices. But no matter how much she begged it was to no avail.

Published by Abrams Press. Price: £7.99.