Children's picture books

The Topp Twins and illustrator Jenny Cooper (There's a Hole in My Bucket and Do your Ears Hang Low?) have teamed up again, this time giving a new spin on the old favourite, She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain.

This set (book and CD) is a lot of fun. Cooper's illustrations are energetic and endearing and it's the perfect song for the Topp Twins.

This is a slightly sanitised version - there's no killing the old red rooster or having chicken and dumplings - so it works for all ages. Perfect for singing along to in the car. Ages: 2+.

• Anyone who enjoyed Edward Lear's beautiful nonsense poem The Owl and the Pussy-Cat will love this next chapter by Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo.

In this further adventure, a crow steals the Owl and the Pussy cat's golden ring and they set off determined to find it, travelling by balloon to the Chankly Bore then across the sea and the Jelly Bo Lee till they find the Pobble who has no toes (but does have their ring).

It's a beautiful, dreamy story in the same rhythm as the original. The illustrations by Charlotte Voake are unusual but expressive. Ages: 3+.

• This book and CD set is the latest offering from Wonky Donkey author Craig Smith. Sung to the tune of Did You Ever See a Lassie, it details the hardships that Daddy (a zebra) goes through after eating an apple with a green, electric guitar-wielding worm inside.

Putting aside my concerns that my kids might become scared of fruit, or Daddy getting sick, or hospitals, or going to the toilet, I just didn't think this had the same charm as The Wonky Donkey. But it has a catchy chorus and the zebras are well-illustrated. This is for kids who love poo jokes. Ages: 2+.

• ABC: Letters from Dunedin is a reissue of the 1981 original that matched artist Annie Baird's Dunedin-inspired paintings with author George Griffiths' verses.

This is an A-Z tribute to the things that make Dunedin special- A is for Albatross, H is for Harbour, J is for Josephine and O is for Octagon - and it's great to have a book filled with local references and landmarks.

While Griffiths' verses seem slightly old-fashioned and some work better than others, fans of Baird's art will enjoy the 24 paintings featured here. This would make a great teaching resource in Dunedin schools. Ages: 6+.

• Maurice Sendak's much-loved Where the Wild Things Are and In the Night Kitchen (Kei te kihini o te Po, translated by Brian Morris) are the latest children's books to be translated into te reo Maori by Huia Publishers.

These are a great resource for children and language learners. The stories are proven winners and there is free well-paced audio of both books available either by scanning the QR code on the back or going to the Huia website. All ages.

• Award-winning children's writer Gavin Bishop's brings back Bruiser the digger in this sequel to his 2010 book Bruiser.

It's a simple story: the city is covered in snow, and Bruiser must dig everyone out, even when he's tired after a long day and just wants a can of oil.

The machines are the main characters (no people here) and live in a bold, colourful world with touches of collage. This is one for machinery-mad children. Ages: 3-5.

- Laura Hewson is an ODT subeditor and mother.