Age 2-6

Carle is the gentlest of teachers, but his books always add to a young reader’s knowledge. If you can’t name five species of fish in which the male takes care either of the eggs or of its young, then you too have something to learn from his new picturebook. His earlier title, The Very Hungry Caterpillar (which has sold 18m copies around the world), taught counting, the days of the week and the fact that caterpillars turn into butterflies, as well as giving some good advice about not overeating. Mister Seahorse, his latest, singingly beautiful volume, is about sea creatures who share childcare, but the book also illustrates the idea of camouflage by using acetate pages to reveal hidden fish behind reefs, reeds and rocks. It is a simple, episodic tale — despite its intriguing, recherché information — which gives credit to children’s capacity to learn anything. Buy it not just for what it tells you about tilapias and bullheads, but for the luminous loveliness of the watercolour pictures and for the happy lesson that being male is no excuse for fathers not to be involved with the children.

MISTER SEAHORSE by Eric Carle

(Puffin £12.99)

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