Meanwhile Back On Earth

Oliver Jeffers, Harper-Collins Children’s Books, £16.99

Any parent who has been at the wheel of the car while their kids bicker in the back seat will love Jeffers’ new picture book bursting with vibrant imagery and moving moral messages. In off-beat style, Jeffers gives us a dad travelling the universe and trying to scupper squabbles by treating the youngsters to tales of nature and history, and showing that what connects us is greater than that which divides.A gem of a book to enjoy snuggled up with the wee ones on a blustery autumn afternoon.