Horrid Henry’s Christmas Play by Francesca Simon (Orion, £4.99)Horrid Henry wants the starring role of Joseph in his school nativity play, so is appalled when it goes to his younger brother, Perfect Peter. Worse still, Henry only has one measly line

, bird, fish and all of Sean’s other cuddly toys to yawn too, as the narrative passes along. If your child has never noticed how easy it is to start yawning when someone else does, this will be a great book they will enjoy again and again – until

Colours by Orla Kiely (Egmont, £9.99)It is hardly surprising that the queen of gorgeous graphics, Orla Kiely has come up with a colours and objects baby book that is as sophisticated as it is simple. It’s not just reds and blues – tasteful greys

It’s more than 25 years since your first book, Old Bear, came out. Do you still feel pre-publication nerves?“Of course. My new book, Ruby, Blue and Blanket, is a complete departure from before - new characters and text in verse. It’s nerve

wonderful) thing a new life coming into a family is and2) How much new babies look like aliens! (to any friends reading this, of course it wasn’t your baby that made me think this…). From there, all the pieces of this book fell into place.I wanted to tell