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Feely Bugs: a touch and feel bugs book by David A Carter, Orchard Books, pounds 8.99. Books to feel are not new, but whereas most just stick to the basics, rough and smooth, this latest in the Bugs in a Box series (Alpha Bugs, Number Bugs, Jungle Bugs etc,) has feathery bugs, leathery bugs, fluffy bugs, puffy bugs to touch, feel stroke and peel. Colourful and stylish: the ruby red velvety bug is particularly chic.

Edward's First Day at School; Edward's First Swimming Party; Edward's First Night Away by Rosemary Wells, Walker Books, pounds 6.99 each. Collectively titled "Edward the Unready", these tales of a koala going at his own pace, are inspired. Edward goes to play school, but isn't quite ready to join in with the other children; Edward goes to Anthony's house to play in the snow, but isn't quite ready to stay the night; Edward goes to Georgina's birthday party, but isn't quite ready to give up his arm-bands. Lesser stories would have concluded with Edward loving play school, happily sleeping over and swimming unaided. Instead, Rosemary Wells, takes a far less neat, but much more original line: Edward doesn't go to school, continues to wear his arm-bands, even in the bath too; and is delivered home by Anthony's parents who obligingly dig their way through a snow drift in the middle of the night to get him there. Wonderful tots-eye view illustrations of huge shoes, frock hems and towering grown-ups make this a reassuring tale for all times.

Nero by Laurence Hutchins, Random House, pounds 2.99 Nero is a steam engine who was lonely, shut up in his shed. Nobody came up to see him any more - not even Driver Jones. Then, one day, in walked schoolboys Dan and Sam. Nero is duly buffed up and with a toot and a chuff is set, one suspects interested parties hope, to follow in the rails of Thomas the Tank Engine et al, and have many lucrative adventures and merchandising deals. Don't count on it. The illustrations may be jolly enough, but the text is dull and charmless.

There's a Bear in the Classroom by Nanette Newman, illustrations by Michael Foreman, Pavilion, pounds 8.99. Newman's story of Liza, a lonely schoolgirl in need of a friend, and a large brown bear who keeps her company looks wonderful (Foreman's illustrations are huge, colourful and warm), has good ingredients; a character and situation children can relate to, and a happy ending, but it also has duff jokes (Liza tells her mother her best friend is a bear. "Your friend is bare?" said her mother. "Tell her to put some clothes on"), flabby text and a story that doesn't hang together.

The Big Katie Morag Storybook by Mairi Hedderwick, Bodley Head, pounds 9.99 For fans of Katie Morag and the remote Isle of Struay this bumper special of new stories and rhymes is more of the same and none the worse for that. Katie runs with her friends in the fresh air, befriends a seal, smoothes out troubles between her feuding grannies (home-spun Granny Island and refined Granny Mainland), bakes cakes on the Aga, paddles in the sea, wears fetching Aran jumpers and generally leads the life that country dreams are made of - a big part of Katie's appeal, particularly for stressed urbanites who may even enjoy these stories more than their children. The fact that Hedderwick herself not only writes about, but lives the rural idyll makes the fantasy complete.

Mum and Dad and Me by Jan Ormerod, Walker Books, pounds 9.99 Snapshots of family life- or, as the blurb somewhat pointedly says: "studies of the special relationship between a parent - both mother and father - and a young child". Fathers do not take a back seat here; home well before bed- time, full of inventive games and happy to be bounced on in bed. Mothers set an equally high standard making beautiful dolls out of scraps and smiling sweetly, even when the shopping is emptied all over the floor. Young children will like the gentle and humorous illustrations ,but parents may just find the guilt too much.

Dog is Thirsty by Satoshi Kitamura, Andersen Press, pounds 2.99 More spark, wit and fun from Kitamura in this story of a parched pooch in search of a drink. Part of an eminently collectable board book series (there is also Duck is Dirty, Cat is Sleepy, Squirrel is Hungry), this has more for tinies to chew on than just the pages themselves. It has a narrative funny illustrations of the desperate dog surrounded by indifferent ducks and pigeons, is educational (high, low, dirty, thirsty), and what's more, is wipeable.

Millie and the Mermaid by Penny Ives, Hamish Hamilton, pounds 10.99 A little girl learns to swim in this story of Millie who visits her ample and eccentric Aunt Pearl by the sea (Aunt Pearl is a lighthouse keeper). Millie longs to be in the water, but as Aunt Pearl can't swim, who will teach her? Mermaids of course. Sparkling tails and flowing hair support her in the water, and little-by-little Aunt Pearl lets the air of Millie's armbands and she is swimming by herself. This charming story will appeal particularly to The Little Mermaid, Ballerina Barbie and Polly Pocket fans as the mermaids are all three rolled into one, but behind the pretty pink froth is a well- observed tale about overcoming fear that will speak to all.

Crazy Creature Colours by Hannah Reidy, illustrations by Clare Mackie, De Agostini Editions Ltd, pounds 4.99 Learning colours is given the high-energy treatment in a story of three zany Gerald Scarf-like cartoon creatures. The blue creature is sad, so the yellow creature suggests some painting to cheer him up. Armed with paints and brushes they zoom and collide across the page and in so doing other colours magically appear. Zappy and riotous (jaunty text, paint splats and footprints fill each page), this book goes to show that learning colours need not be a chore.

The Kite and Caitlin by Roger McGough, illustrations by John Prater, Bodley Head, pounds 9.99 Roger McGough, he of the poem about strangers making love on a bus, here, tackles the taboo subject of a young child's death. Caitlin is ill and as she lies limp on her bed she thinks of all the places she would like to fly with her kite: the countryside, mountains, wide open spaces. Caitlin does not get better, but she and the kite do soar together to a place free from pain. Lyrical prose is combined with well- crafted water colours to make this a moving, but not mawkish book.