Jonathan Cape

This is a brilliant, colourful children's book telling the story of evolution through one very bright and intelligent fish, who decides he wants to walk on land, or rather the sand on the beach!

The witty writing is incorporated in the pictures as a part of the whole which makes it very organic. It is a good way to learn about how mammals evolved from the sea - but did man come the same way!

I loved the home made foot shaped boots on the fish's feet and as an illustrator Chris Wormell has created a very exciting book for young children and one that I highly recommend.

Another brilliant book by Alison Weir, surely one of the best historian writers to communicate detail to the lay reader. This time she investigates the trial and execution of Anne Boleyn - the lady in the Tower.

The people involved, their reasons and actions, and the sources of information on which these facts are based, are dissected and discussed. With her detailed knowledge of the original sources of the tudor period, Alison Weir teases and tries out possible and probable motives to try and determine why Anne Boleyn was executed.

Having read an awful lot of historical fiction regarding the Tudors, I approached this latest offering with some trepidation expecting a pale repetition of stale material, even considering the excellent reputation of the author. I am delighted to report that this is not so.

By concentrating on the women that surrounded Elizabeth, Tracy Borman presents an insider's view of her life conveying a very personal and detailed account of an extraordinary woman. A fascinating amount of detail of the everyday existence of women in those times is included from clothing to customs.

I very much enjoyed reading Katherine Swynford by Alison Weir and was struck by how she managed to piece together a history when very little information could be found.