Sephy's Story by Julia Green

A simplified retelling of the Persephone myth for early readers. For anyone unfamiliar with the story – Persephone (or 'Sephy' in this version) is kidnapped by Pluto, the God of the Underworld, and tricked into agreeing to be his wife. Sephy's mother Demeter (Goddess of the Harvest) is distraught by her daughter's disappearance and stops caring for the earth, prompting Zeus (King of the Gods, and in the original myth, Persephone's father) to intervene.

After some negotiation, Sephy is allowed to live half the year above ground but must remain as Pluto's consort the rest of the time - thus explaining the changing seasons. Whilst Julia Green (best known for her young adult novels) does a decent job of condensing and conveying the essence of the story, the subject matter seems somewhat inappropriate for the intended age range. The fact that Sephy is portrayed as a little girl, forced against her will to live with a beardy old man, makes the whole thing frankly rather sinister.

The Dressed Up Giant by Kaye Umansky, illustrated by Doffy Weir

Giant Waldo is perfectly happy with his trusty old suit, and plans to wear it to Beefy Betty and Ed's wedding, but his girlfriend Heavy Hetty has other ideas. After a traumatic clothes shopping mission, both giants are dressed up to the nines, and are on their way to the wedding, when disaster strikes! Hetty's hat blows away and Waldo's shiny new outfit gets covered in mud whilst trying to retrieve it.

Resorting to his old brown suit, Waldo feels like himself again, and is extra delighted to discover that all the other men at the wedding are also wearing their ancient 'too-tight' suits! Umansky's witty text is perfectly complemented by Weir's rather retro, but wonderfully expressive, illustrations. The third and final book about these larger-than-life characters, The Dressed Up Giant subtly conveys the important message that personality is more important than appearance.

When Anna Slept Over by Jane Godwin

This early-reader tackles the subject of staying away from home for the first time, and takes into consideration all the things that might worry a child, not least the matter of whether to take their comforter along. Any child who has a special toy or blanket, from which they cannot bear to be parted, will identify with this situation – the fear of ridicule set against the emotional attachment to the thing. While the story is reassuringly familiar, its telling is rather mundane, perhaps intentionally so, as the writing style is almost like that of a child describing their own experience. I cannot imagine this being a book which would stand repeated readings, but it may be helpful in dealing with this specific issue.

Flotsam & Jetsam by Tanya Landman, illustrated by Ruth Rivers

Flotsam and Jetsam are quirky characters made of wood and string, conjured by the fleeting imagination of a child in a boat - who thinks he sees faces on some floating debris. But long after the child has forgotten this passing fancy, the characters take on a life of their own. A propitiously magical start gives way to a rather more mundane story of the everyday comings and goings of this eccentric pair, as they build a life amongst the detritus on the beach where they are washed up, and befriend a hermit crab who they find in a Sainsbury's carrier bag. I can't help feeling there was potential for more humour in this surreal set-up, which also promised more than it ultimately delivered in the way of magic and adventure. Nevertheless, a sweetly dreamlike tale which may well inspire young imaginations.