The Lone Ranger - a Little Golden Book Classic, I Am Pilgrim, To Kill a Mocking Bird and an Origami Yoda

I love this one. Such a welcome change from Transformers, Batman, Spiderman and all the other characters my boys have had a fixation on over the past decade.

It is exactly what you would expect. Young Tom Mason sits on a rock and waits to wave to his brother, who is due to pass by. He's Bill and he drives the stagecoach. But hang on a second, here it comes, but the drivers seat is empty!

Luckily, the Lone Ranger and Tonto are not too far away. "Listen Tonto!" the Lone Ranger cried. "That youngster's in trouble!" It transpires that a dastardly gang have stolen the stagecoach with its cargo of gold and seem to think they have got away scot free....

"That may not be their fire," the Lone Ranger said. "But if it is, those varmints are mighty sure of themselves. Let's check."

They do a whole lot more than check! They ambush and catch those filthy, no-good thieves! Excellent stuff. For ages four and up.

Elsewhere in the house is more edge of the seat material.

This is currently on sale in Tesco for under seven euros and I am looking forward to getting stuck in.  I've just finished my annual re read of this,

and am hoping it will be a move from the sublime to the ridiculously exciting.

And here we have an actual Origami Yoda...

Do you have kids aged eight and up who have not read this series? Well, you shouldn't. 

Thumpity Thump Gets Dressed by Cyndy Szekeres

This is another Petit Livre D'Argent. I have it in French but its easily available in English. Thumpity Thump Gets Dressed by Cyndy Szekeres was first published in America in 1984 and its such a sweet little book.

When Thumpity Thump wakes up, the weather is warm.

So he dresses in his swimsuit. But the weather changes - he is too cold! He puts on his playing clothes and hops into the sandbox. But the weather changes - it is too windy!

He puts on a woolly jumper and with Daddy's help, gets his kite. But the weather changes - it is too wet!

And so on. No matter what Thumpity Thump wears, he has to go back inside to dress differently. But every time his Mum and Dad and there, waiting for him with comfort and cuddles. I think it highlights how often in kids books the main character is isolated and figures things out alone. Not that that is a bad thing - it clears the way for many adventures. But here it is nice that this little bunny gets so much love - for Thumpity Thump there is no such thing as too much cuddles.