Now the school summer holidays are in full swing here is a great collection of books to help you entertain your children, full of ideas and things to explore.

Big Scary Monster Thomas Docherty
Synopsis:On top of a mountain not very far from here lived a Big Scary Monster. This monster was bigger and scarier than any other creature – and he knew it. But one day, he went for a walk down the mountain...

http://www.templarco.co.uk/picture_books/thomas_docherty/thomas_docherty.html

Hot Brands Verdict
This is a delightful and charming book, children will love the way the story builds, perfect for story telling, and excitement as the Monster comes down the mountain. Highly recommended!

Thomas Docherty is appearing at:
Edinburgh International Book Festival:

Monday 31 August at 3pm in the RBS Corner Theatre, Charlotte Square Gardens, Edinburgh

www.edbookfest.co.uk

He is also appearing at the Bath Festival of Children’s Literature on Saturday 19 September at The Mission Theatre at 4.30pm

www.bathkidslitfest.co.uk

Robots: A Noisy Pop-up Book-Derek Matthews

Synopsis:Come on a tour of the robot factory! Meet Coggie, Rusty and Andy Android, then find out what is made at their factory in this pop-up, soundfilled robotic adventure from Derek Matthews.

http://www.templarco.co.uk/happy_snappy/noisy_pop_ups.html

Space: A Noisy Pop-up Book-Derek Matthews

Synopsis:Cat and Mouse are off on an outer-space adventure – and you can come too! Blast off, land on the Moon and meet a few extraterrestrials in this pop-up and sound-filled space trip from Derek Matthews.

http://www.templarco.co.uk/happy_snappy/noisy_pop_ups.html

Hot Brands Verdict
These books are great fun, our junior reviewers were really surprised as
they turned the pages with all the different noises contained inside. They loved the baby robot’s giggle which is truly inspired. Absolutely delightful, wonderful books. Highly recommended !

Happy Christmas Boris! (September 2009)
Sam Lloyd

Boris is back! This festive frolic sees Santa entrusting Boris to deliver presents to all the little monsters. Totally enthusiastic, as usual, he might need a bit of help, but Santa-Boris is going to save the day!

http://www.templarco.co.uk/novelty/sam_lloyd.html

Hot Brands Verdict
Although not out until September we have seen an advance copy of this and we highly recommend it for everyone’s Christmas list. Our junior reviewers absolutely love Boris, and Happy Christmas Boris is an absolute joy. Highly recommended!

Love Your World (Made With Care) by Dorling Kindersley
Synopsis: A DK Made with Care book is created using the best ethical and environmental practices possible. We have taken great care to source local printers, FSC paper (Forest Stewardship Council) and to use only non-hazardous vegetable inks. Plus we only use printers who look after their workers.

Children can make a big difference to take care of the planet. From growing a garden in a tray and turning yogurt pots into plant pots, to switching lights off when leaving a room, this fun book is full of fantastic ideas for you and your child.

And if they do really well they can earn a special Green Team certificate and chart!

Love Your World's Carbon footprint
DK measured the carbon footprint of this book by detailed examination of the total carbon emissions produced at every stage of the book manufacturing and printing process.

http://www.dorlingkindersley-uk.co.uk/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9781405339070,00.html#synopsis

Buy Love Your World (Made With Care) from Amazon.co.uk

Hot Brands Verdict
This is a delightful book with a wonderful message, our junior reviewers were enchanted by it and immediately started working on their promises in order to get their certificate.

It is full of wonderful photographs and is a really important introduction to caring for our planet. We also loved the way the book was made. Highly recommended!

A Little Guide to Trees by Charlotte Voake
Synopsis: What sort of tree did Robin Hood's bow come from? What pine tree drops its needles in the winter and how did the monkey puzzle get its name? These are just some of the wonderful facts that you'll discover inside this book.

Trees give us shade and the oxygen we breathe, like tall green giants that watch over us. And they are beautiful!

Use the delicate illustrations and simple text to help your child identify the trees they see every day, whether they live in the country or the city. This book is a wonderful way of encouraging a child to interact with their environment, helping them to respect and protect the trees that surround them. Eden Project Children's Books

Buy A Little Guide to Trees (Eden Project Childrens Books) from Amazon.co.uk

Hot Brands Verdict
We loved A Little Guide to Wild Flowers, Charlotte’s previous book and A Little Guide to Trees is equally delightful. The watercolour illustrations are mini works of art and there is a scrapbook at the end where children can collect their own pictures of trees. Each tree is beautifully painted and surrounded with fascinating facts. Pure delight, we loved it ! Highly recommended !

Uneversaurus by Aidan Potts

Synopsis:No human has ever seen a dinosaur . . . and no human has ever seen a dinosaur book like this one! We all think we know what dinosaurs looked like, but how can we be sure? From fossils to fur, skeletons to skin colour, Professor Potts leads a colourful investigation into what we know and what we can only guess at, and encourages readers to make some guesses of their own. You will never think about dinosaurs in the same way again.

Hot Brands Verdict
This book is hugely imaginative look at dinosaurs, packed with subtle humour that grown-ups will appreciate and asking questions aimed at children. Full of illustrations and a wonderful opportunity to colour your own dinosaur at the end. We loved this book ! Highly recommended !

http://www.kidsatrandomhouse.co.uk/

Wild Flowers of Britain and Ireland In Association with Plant Life Rae Spencer Jones, Sarah Cuttle
Synopsis: “Wild Flowers" is a unique photographic field guide that is aimed at the plant lover, and not necessarily those with specific botanical knowledge. The close-up photographs allow you to examine each plant in detail - so you will know your English from your Spanish bluebell - and because it is done by colour instead of name, it is much easier to navigate. Full of fascinating information, including where and when you will find the flowers, their characteristics, and anecdotes on their historical background with their medicinal and culinary uses. You don't even need to go out into the field to enjoy these beautiful and sometimes elusive flowers.

Buy Wild Flowers of Britain and Ireland In Association with Plant Life: A Photographic Field Guide to Over 600 Species: In Association with Natural England from Amazon.co.uk

Hot Brands Verdict
This is a stunning book full of beautiful photographs of wild flowers with detailed information. Absolutely perfect for flower identification, and summer holiday collecting. Highly recommended!

The Bumper Book of Nature Stephen Moss

Synopsis:When is the last time you climbed a tree? Went pond-dipping? Picked blackberries? Held a snail race? Or tracked down a badger set? If the answer is ‘can’t remember’, or even ‘never’, The Bumper Book Of Nature will inspire you to change all that for good. Whether you live in the heart of the city, in the suburbs or the deepest countryside, The Bumper Book Of Nature is a treasure trove of nature activities, ideas and information, to inspire and entertain you wherever you are.

Go pishing for birds; become a bat detective; take a city safari; find snakes and lizards; identify spiders and their webs; look for owl pellets… Make nettle soup; or itching powder from rosehips; make a bark rubbing; an elder-stem peashooter; or elderflower fritters. Wake up in time to hear the dawn chorus; listen to the heartbeat of a tree; or just stand out in the rain for half an hour…

With The Bumper Book Of Nature the whole family will want to switch off the television and computer, pull on their wellingtons and get outside to discover the endless bounty, beauty and fascination of nature right on our doorstep.

Lavishly designed with over 160 full-colour illustrations of British wildlife and flora, along with gorgeous black-and-white line drawings throughout, this beautiful and timeless book will be treasured for years to come by children and parents alike.

http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/catalog/book.htm?command=Search&db=main.txt&eqisbndata=0224086162

Hot Brands Verdict
This is an absolute treasure trove of information, full of places to go, what to see, throughout the year. It is absolutely perfect for parents and children to explore nature together. There are a wonderful sections on how to identify creatures. Highly recommended !

NIGHTLIGHTS - Meditations for You and Your Child
Introduced by David Fontana, Joyce Dunbar and Anne Civardi

Synopsis Twenty spellbinding stories for you to read to your child – meditations to foster calm, confidence and creativity.

Encouraging a child to meditate might at first seem an unlikely proposition – but in fact meditation, if approached in an inventive and appealing manner, brings enormous benefits to children. It can calm their anxieties, build their self-esteem, teach them the values of quietness and thoughtfulness, and help them grow as balanced, well-adjusted individuals. This book is written for children beween the ages of 4 and 8, and is a collection of 20 narrative-based “meditations” for an adult to read aloud. Designed to help your child to develop concentration, creativity, self-confidence and relaxation.

Hot Brands Verdict
One of our junior reviewers is a very bright, very active little girl who has great trouble ‘switching off’ from the day. Reading these stories to her and doing the relaxation exercises have really helped her. The stories are delightful, just the right length for a bedtime story and are followed by some positive affirmations which are written in the right language for children to understand. One of our junior reviewers summed it up perfectly. ‘I love it because it relaxes me and helps me to get sleepy’
Highly recommended!

http://www.dbp.co.uk/book_preview.asp?b_id=143

Buy Nightlights: Stories for You to Read to Your Child - To Encourage Calm, Confidence and Creativity from Amazon.co.uk