This is a delightful tale about the joyful ritual of the bedtime story, written and illustrated by husband and wife team, Helen and Thomas Docherty.

Every night in subterranean homes and treetops across Burrows Down, rabbits, hedgehogs, badgers and owls read a bedtime story to their young. But then one night the books start to disappear – stolen in the blink of an eye. Who is responsible for disrupting story time? One young rabbit, Eliza Brown, decides to get to the bottom of the mystery…and meets a very strange creature indeed.

This is a really fantastic story to read aloud. The pace and the lively, rhyming text keep the momentum going, and there are plenty of fun opportunities for changes of tone and voice. The illustrations are charmingly detailed and each animal home evokes a distinct atmosphere. The little Snatchabook himself is a particularly wonderful creation. There are shades of Dr Seuss about his ungainly cuteness and journey from (gentle) villain to hero. Snatch a copy whilst you can (or if you have a copy, make sure you hold on to it).

The Snatchabook, by Helen Docherty and Thomas Docherty, published by Alison Green books (Scholastic), is available now.