The message in this book is that we all need someone to watch over us. Through beautiful watercolour paintings that flood the pages with colour and atmosphere we follow a little boy, his mother, and grandfather on a boat trip and their return to the safety of the harbour and home. The pictures are so evocative that they transport us onto the deck of the little fishing boat on the ocean, they let us taste the salty spray of the waves, hear the rumble of the storm, and see the guiding brightness of a star that shines as darkness falls. But the book is more than the depiction of a journey, it's a lyrical exploration of what it means for us to be loved and nurtured and how each of us wants to feel safe and secure, even at those times when we crave adventure and independence. This is an unashamedly lyrical book. With powerful words and beautiful illustrations, it is bound to become a favourite at bedtime.

It's hard to be patient when you're only a very little bear, and Little Pip cannot wait until Christmas! Every day he wakes up and thinks the day has finally come — it's driving Daddy Grizzle nuts! Poor Daddy Grizzle... and poor Pip! How will he be able to carry on waiting — there are still so many sleeps to go.

The naughty step is the place Sam has to sit when he has done something he knows he Really shouldn't have. And Sam isn't alone. Captain Buckleboots is sitting on the naughty step too and so is Father Christmas — uh-oh, oh no! What's going to happen on Christmas Eve now?

How Many Sleeps till my Birthday is the perfect birthday countdown book! It's hard to be patient when you're only a very little bear, and Little Pip cannot wait until his birthday. And he's driving Papa Grizzle nuts! Every day he wakes up and asks the same question. Poor Daddy Grizzle... and poor Pip! How will he be able to wait until the big day? Luckily, Pip has his big Daddy Grizzle there to help. An hilarious and endearing story that every parent will recognise! Mark worked in printing and as a bookseller before turning his hand to writing. He has now written a number of picture books including the fabulously funny Captain Buckleboots on the Naughty Step and Father Christmas on the Naughty Step. From quirky to lyrical, Mark has a real talent for capturing the familiar moments in children's everyday lives with warmth and humour. Mark lives in Bristol. Sebastien is French and studied fine and applied arts at Strasbourg University before becoming a freelance illustrator. He moved to London in 2000 and has since worked exclusively on children's picture books.