3 new picture books to look out for autumn 2018

I regularly receive children’s books to review, and these are three of recent new titles I’ve received that I will be talking about with friends:

Mrs Blackhat by Chloe and Mick Inkpen (Hodder Children’s Books, £12.99)
To get in the spirit of Halloween, look out for the funny picture book Mrs Blackhat by father-daughter duo Chloe and Mick Inkpen. The rhyming story is about a witch who only has black things–apart from a ginger cat. She is desperately trying to make her cat black too, and I found it hilarious to read about Mrs Blackhat’s strategies for fixing the problem. (Hint: It’s all about online shopping for this witch!)

Mummy Time by Judith Kerr (Harper Collins Children’s Books, £12.99)
For a thought-provoking picture book for parents, I like Mummy Time by Judith Kerr, the 95-year-old author of The Tiger Who Came to Tea. This innocent-looking book surprised me by its story about a mum taking her toddler to the park. While the mum is chatting away on her mobile phone, she has no idea what her toddler gets up to, and I think the story makes for a brilliant reminder to parents – and a funny read for children. I can’t stop thinking about this cleverly-written picture book as it highlights the importance of living in the moment and being present for our children.

Speed Birds by Alan Snow (Oxford University Press, £14.99)
When I’m next buying a present for a little car enthusiast, I know I’ll be thinking about the new beautifully-illustrated picture book Speed Birds by Alan Snow. The book, recommended for children aged 5 and over, tells the story about a crow who wants to be the fastest bird on earth. I find the story truly original as it teaches children about how cars work, including facts that will delight young budding engineers.

Tags: Books, Children's books, Harper Collins Children's Books, Hodder Children’s Books, Oxford University Press, Review