A CHILD'S world is very small and explaining the Earth's vastness, its myriads of people and different terrains is no easy task. Sue Scullard has the answer with a picture book that should become a firm favourite - The Great Round the World Balloon Race (Macmillan $68).
Rebecca and William Fanshaw's intrepid Aunt Harriet invites competitors from all over the world to enter the race which begins at the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Children can follow the mass of colourful hot air balloons from page to page as they encounter obstacles, such as a sandstorm and an erupting volcano, across Europe, the Sahara, the Himalayas, the jungles of Borneo and beyond, making this beautifully illustrated adventure a first geography book to treasure.
Ten Out of Bed by Penny Dale (Walker $135), is another stimulating children's fantasy and an ideal bedtime picture book.
In this adaptation of Ten in the Bed a boy imagines his toys come to life to play trains, theatres, pirates, flying, monsters and more, with one friend falling asleep until all are tucked in bed. Each page in this hardback is lavishly illustrated.
Father Christmas goes the extra mile to deliver a forgotten present to the boy who lives atop Roly Poly Mountain in John Burningham's touching Harvey Slumfenburger's Christmas Present (Walker, $170). As his reindeer are tired he uses whatever other transport comes to hand. The drawings utilise a mix of mediums - pencil, crayon and watercolour. Large type and plenty of repetition will appeal to young readers.