The Puffin Mother Goose Treasury, by Raymond Briggs (Puffin, £14.99). Age 0+
Conceived as the biggest colour-illustrated Mother Goose ever, this abridged version of Raymond Briggs' classic title is a must-have for every home with a baby in it. British to its core, it is a vast source of all those half-forgotten rhymes for counting, patting, jiggling and soothing babies and toddlers.
Meg Goes to Bed, by Helen Nicoll and Jan Pienkowski (Puffin, £5.99). Age 3+
The simplicity of Jan Pienkowski's illustrations of the witch Meg, her cat Mog and their companion Owl is as deliciously fresh as ever. And they are a perfect match for the zany, sparely told stories of hocus-pocus magic and wayward spells. When Meg's spell to turn the hair of a Yeti and some confetti into spaghetti goes awry, she stomps off to bed hungry. But Mog and Owl's hunger drives them to make other plans . . .
Aliens Love Panta Claus, by Claire Freedman & Ben Cort (Simon & Schuster, £5.99). Age 4+
The Aliens' obsession with underpants has delighted before. In this surprisingly funny book, this time, instead of stealing underpants, they are giving them away. Children will be entertained to see a spare pair of underpants tucked in with each present as the Aliens help Santa with his packing. Elves in frilly knickers will certainly cause some laughs, too.
There's Going to be a Baby, by John Burningham and Helen Oxenbury (Walker, £12.99). Age 3+
The combined talents of John Burningham and Helen Oxenbury in one book is an unmissable treat. Through touching illustrations, which manage to be both realistic and imaginative, and a subtle, conversational text, all an older sibling's fears about the arrival of a new baby are gently explored and kindly put to rest. Speculation about the baby includes a raft of possible occupations including chef, gardener, sailor and banker, each of which is fleshed out in witty, wordless double-page spreads. Don't wait for a sibling this is a wonderful book for everyone.
Slightly Invisible, by Lauren Child (Orchard, £10.99). Age 4+
Lauren Child is as visually inventive and verbally dexterous as ever in this sophisticated and complex picture book about friendship of all kinds. Charlie loves his little sister, Lola, but sometimes, just sometimes, he likes to play just with his best friend, Marv, on their own. OK, says Lola, but she doesn't really mean it. This tale of how Lola's creative talent for make believe keeps her one step ahead is a classic addition to stories of imaginary friends.
The Gift, by Carol Ann Duffy, illustrated by Rob Ryan (Barefoot Books, £10.99). Age 6+
The poet laureate packs an emotionally rich story full of poetic references to nature into the short text of this picture book. Smitten by the beauty of a woodland glade, a young girl imagines being buried there. No sooner has she had the thought than an old lady appears, and tells her it will happen. All the phases of her life, and especially its creativity, refer back to the glade, which calmly prepares her for the moment of her death. A soothing book to read aloud to any age.
Ottoline at Sea, by Chris Riddell (Macmillan, £8.99). Age 7+
Inventive storytelling in both words and pictures makes this an irresistible jumping-off point for solo reading. Ottoline and her friend Mr Munroe do everything together or at least they did. One day, Mr Munroe takes off on an adventure of his own, and Ottoline has to follow a trail of clues to find out where he can have gone. Intrepid readers, helped by the special glasses slipped inside the cover, will love following the visual clues as the mystery unfolds and Ottoline embarks on her own adventure.
The Story of Britain, by Patrick Dillon, illustrated by PJ Lynch (Walker, £18.99). Age 9+
History's place in the curriculum is once again being debated. This highly readable, chronological narrative is easy to dip in and out of or to power through in big gulps. Patrick Dillon highlights the important moments in "our island story" from the Battle of Hastings to the present day, with a penultimate chapter on immigration, identified as the beginning of a new era. Much of the narrative is character-led, with a relatively even spread of monarchs, popular heroes, military commanders and creative thinkers.
Shadow, by Michael Morpurgo, illustrated by Christian Burningham (HarperCollins, £12.99). Age 11+
A call to arms against the plight of children held in detention lies at the heart of this passionate and moving story. As in War Horse, Michael Morpurgo writes brilliantly about war and animals, conveying the big emotions without preaching. Here, the fortunes of an Afghan boy and the dog who helped him escape from his war-torn country and find sanctuary in the UK, are interwoven. Held in detention, Aman tells his desperate story to his friend's grandfather. Sensing the injustice of it all, Grandpa campaigns to ensure Aman and his mother a secure future.
To order books with free UK p&p call Guardian book service on 0330 333 6846 or go to guardian.co.uk/bookshop
