Winnie in Space by Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul

Winnie is fascinated by space and she decides the time is right for a little space exploration. Wilbur is not so sure. Winnie's magical rocket is quite tricky to steer through the universe and poor Wilbur can't even bear to look. He feels a little less anxious when they land on a faraway planet and Winnie unpacks their special space picnic. The inhabitants of the planet are small, with long ears and twitchy noses. They're curious and friendly but these space rabbits have rather strange eating habits - they munch on metal! And, for the space rabbits, Winnie's rocket is particularly tasty. So when it is nibbled clean away, Winnie has to use some quick thinking and some magic to keep the rabbits happy and to rustle up an alternative means of getting home. This glorious galactic picture book takes Winnie and Wilbur on an amazing journey into outer space. But however exciting flying saucers, shooting stars and space rabbits might be, Winnie's a witch who knows there's no place like home!

When i was asked to review this book, I was quick to reply. As my children have grown up, we have read many of the Winnie the Witch series together. This latest book in the series sees Winnie and her cat Wilbur visit space. Winnie and Wilbur decide to take a picnic into space and find a planet to share their picnic on. They finally choose a planet which is inhabited with space rabbits, who have a strange diet of metal leaving Winnie and Wilbur needing to find a new method of travel home.

The book , as with all Winnie the Witch series, have great pictures on each page, they are very detailed pictures and I found myself seeing new details every time i looked at the picture. The attention to detail in the pictures is very high. Each double page spread also has one of the planets drawn, along with its name, introducing children to the planets. The story also introduces children to some of the language used to discuss space and space travel, e.g. asteroid, satellite.

I would recommend this book to children everywhere. As i have previously said, I have read many other books in the Winnie the Witch series, and this book definitely does not disappoint. It is a great introduction into the space theme, giving children the names of the planets, amongst an excellent story which will capture children's imagination and attention at story time!

Thank you to Liz Scott for sending me a copy of this book to review.