Baby Brains and Robomum

Born with astonishing brain power, Baby Brains invents a helpful robot to do all the things his exhausted parents are run ragged doing. But the robot overheats and, when it washes BB with the dishes and hangs him out to dry with the clothes, he realises that a real mum and dad are much more use. A second, smaller and more controllable Robomum is the answer.

This is as much a book for 21st-century superparents, trying to do everything at double speed while committed to creating precocious children who spurn toys for computers, as for their little ones – really to be appreciated by 5-7 year olds rather than younger. James’s illustrations, in his usual line and wash style, are not as atmospheric as in his environment-based books, but they convey the busy lifestyle of the family with humour. I particularly loved the image of Mum being sped along by the first fully motorised baby buggy – I remember that feeling well!