The Diabolical Mr Tiddles

By Tom McLaughlin

Published by Simon and Schuster

£5.99

Fearsome dinosaurs, whooshing jetpacks, rockstar guitars, a horse called Alan...just a few of the things Harry unexpectedly finds in his bedroom. Where are they coming from?

Tom is given what he wants most ‘in the whole wide world’, a cat! Tom makes sure his new ‘furry-purry’ friend Mr Tiddles is as happy as a cat could be, and makes sure he has everything he could possibly need. In return the adventurous Mr Tiddles loves Tom, and treats him with ever more extravagant and outrageous treats, and with the arrival of Alan, the horse, Tom decides it is time to investigate.

‘The Diabolical Mr Tiddles’ is funny and engaging, and the quirky illustrations provide lots to talk about. This is a brilliant and charming debut book from Tom McLaughlin.

Interest level 2+

Reading level 6+

Available from Rumpus in Didsbury or nominate Rumpus as your local bookshop and buy online @ www.hive.co.uk

Our colleague came in last week to report her 7 month old son's favourite baby toy is now officially the baby whoozit. He loves the bright colours and can now lift the nose and peer at the mirror. She has also washed the whoozit in the washing machine and it looks fine, much better than it did after being chewed for the last 4 months. Click on the picture of the whoozit above to see this fantastic toy and others from this range.

With Easter coming the perfect present for your baby is the irrestibly cute Hunny Bunny Snugglepod baby doll. This sweet little baby sleeps in a pink bunny style pod, absolutely gorgeous! Click on the picture or here to see on our website. Also available are the Sweet Pea and Lil' Peanut Snuggle Pod dolls.

Last Saturday Rumpus was visited by Lizzie Finlay, the children's author and illustarator. Lizzie read her wonderful book 'Little Croc's Purse', playing games and the reading was finished off with chocolate coins in special save, spend and share envelopes and special lemonade. Lizzie Finlay's first book she wrote and illustrated, 'Dandylion' has been long listed for the Kate Greenaway Prize, good luck Lizzie!

Recommended high chair toys are the whoozit table top toy that can be batted and distracts babies while we try and get food in them! We've also found the whoozit water mat helpful. Babies press and play them while sitting up at the table or highchair, and what is particularly useful is it can just be rinsed clean. Click here or on the pictures to see the products.

The whoozit activity spiral has become our top seller this week, it is now priced at £11.74. Click here or on the picture for details. It is a great interactive, visually stimulating toy for prams, car seats and buggies. As your baby gets older they will start to play with the toys hanging from the satin ribbons, and initially will be intrigued by the highly defined images which are designed scientificaaly to allow young babies to see them clearly.

Teething Toys for babies

This week we've had a few enquiries regarding the best toys for teething. Here are our top 3 recommendations:-

The winkel from manhattan is made froma special pliable plastic which chills in the fridge and then can be chewed to soothe sore gums, CLICK HERE for more info.

The whoozit zigzggles is a rattle and pull toy with the added benefit of textured chew pads for teething babies, CLICK HERE for more info.

Our other favourite is the whoozit squeak and teethe, colourful, lots of interesting chew pads, and featuring the querky whoozit character face, CLICK HERE for more info.