Children and teens roundup, the best new picture books and novels

Article excerpt

A mouse detective; a fresh take on the Odyssey; a dangerous wish; and the world’s most watched reality TV show My Dad Can by Stephen Lightbown, illustrated by Claire Sahara Lemp, Quarto, £7.99 Iris’s dad can turn into dinosaurs, unicorns, anything she imagines, though some people see Dad’s wheelchair and believe he can’t do anything. This soft-smudged, colourful picture book celebrates the playfulness and creativity of parenthood. The Fluffy Futon by Yuichi Kasano, translated by Cathy Hirano, Gecko, £12.99 When Grandma spreads a futon on the sunny porch to air, it’s so fluffy that kittycat, Grandma, hen, chicks and the whole household join each other for a nap in this delightful picture book, perfect for enjoying at bedtime. Continue reading...