The genie, responding to her urgent wish for a change of menu, presents her with a magic spoon. Nutmeg is an enterprising girl who finds a bottle and releases a genie. In Nutmeg (Andersen Press £10.99), he reasserts his offbeat talent in a world slightly reminiscent of Tim Burton's: colourless but intriguing where children eat cardboard, string and sawdust for breakfast. (All ages.)ĭavid Lucas is the author of one of the best picture books of last year, Halibut Jackson. My children dote on this elephant family I am privately convinced no one can enjoy them quite as much as I do (Mrs Large is my alter ego). Mr Large is a well-intentioned spouse but he should stick to his day job (whatever that might be). What follows is domestic chaos, as Mr Large takes over. She is feverish and retires to bed with a hot water bottle.

This time she is hoping for more than five minutes' peace.

In Mr Large in Charge by Jill Murphy (Walker £9.99), Mrs Large is still skiving off child care whenever she can.

'Cold Potato Mountain' is unforgettably outlandish too: it is what happens when a faddy fantasist architect fails to eat up his mash. But I won't rock the boat by telling her sad story. My favourite is Norah's ark (did you know Noah had a sister?). His collection of imaginary 'castles' is a surreal treat. Thompson is a one-off, a wit, a virtuoso. And Castles by Colin Thompson (Hutchinson £10.99) is unconstrainedly escapist. It is marvellous when picture books take on big, metaphysical questions but we all need a ladleful of fantasy too. But it is also about regeneration (the little acorn that grows into a tree is, as one of my sons said, 'the only bit of life left behind'). And it tackles the subject of death through the story of an ancient oak that dies, leaving behind a young friend (the lonely tree of the title). It is a collaboration between the Child Bereavement Trust and the Tree Council. But my children's response has been so intense that I now see it has something very special about it. The illustrations are compelling but not to my taste: strange trees with leaves like sprouting broccoli, Smurf-like faces. I am not sure what I would have thought of The Lonely Tree by Nicholas Halliday (Halliday Books £12.99) if I'd been reading it by myself.