If you wander around the children's department of a book shop (especially here in the UK) you would soon realise what a ridiculous statement that is. I was in

If you wander around the children's department of a book shop (especially here in the UK) you would soon realise what a ridiculous statement that is. I was in Waterston's children's department (UK bookseller chain) this weekend and found myself amazed at the sheer diversity of kids books. There was a multitude of amazing kids titles full of bonkers ideas and fascinating fun prose (a lot of it made up of made up words and interesting sounds). There were also weird and wonderful illustrations to join them. Myself and my kids browsed and laughed and (in one case - 'Goodbye Mog' - cried (although the language of the book is traditional, the subject matter - death - was unusual for a kids book)). lemony Snicker is also a case of inventive ideas rather than inventive language. But we picked up all sorts of weird books with strange language and big colourful pictures. I came back impressed thinking that the kids book market was in a healthy imaginative state and wishing I went to 'rea'l book shops more often — you don't get a real sense of what is out there from an online bookstore. I'd forgotten how wonderful browsing was.