written by Andy Cutbill and illustrated by Russell Ayto, HarperCollins Children's Books, £10.99
Marjorie feels down in the dumps because she can't ride bicycles and do handstands like the other cows. She gets all the attention she could wish for, though, when she wakes up one morning to discover she's laid an egg. Emotions start to run high in the farmyard as Marjorie hits the headlines and the other cows accuse the chickens of 'planting' the egg. A feathery bundle eventually hatches - but one that can moo! In Marjorie's book, that makes it a cow and she calls her baby Daisy.
This is a wonderfully madcap story with wacky illustrations. Only the adult reader will fully appreciate its attack on the media and celebrity culture, but children are sure to be touched by Marjorie's love for her feathered baby.
The Magic Rabbit
by Annette Le Blanc Cate, Walker Books, £10.99
Just as magician Ray says the magic word for his rabbit assistant to appear in a burst of glittering stars, Bunny disappears. In the empty streets of the night-time city, Bunny feels lost and alone. Then, among the litter, he finds a trail of popcorn and glittering stars that leads him back to his forlorn owner waiting for the last train in the underground station. This book's hand-drawn black pen lines with grey washes echo well the city mayhem and the rabbit's fear and set off the shining trail of little yellow stars that lead Bunny back to his owner.
The Squirrel Wife
written by Philippa Pearce and illustrated by Wayne Anderson, Walker Books, £10.99
This is a charming new edition of award-winning author Philippa Pearce's fairytale. In the story, everyone fears the green woodland people, but one stormy night, Jack rescues a green man. The fairy king rewards him with a mysterious 'squirrel wife'. The couple live happily together in the forest until Jack's jealous older brother turns the villagers against him. One day, they lock him up. The king of the green people tells Jack that his squirrel wife can free him, but to do so she must give up her knowledge of the forest and all its secrets. There is happiness ever after as Jack and his wife move back to live in the village and the fairy people keep his jealous brother as their servant until he learns some wisdom. Philippa Pearce remains best known for Tom's Midnight Garden, but here she draws together all the elements of a fairy tale to create an enchanting story.
