Picture book of the month

February's choice was Go To Sleep or I Let Loose the Leopard - a hilarious going-to-bed book with a twist in the tale (or should that be tail?) from the king of comic writing for children, Steve Cole, and illustrated by the award-winning Bruce Ingman.

It was Joe and Ellie’s bedtime. But Joe and Ellie were not in bed. The New Babysitter tries all kinds of tactics, but to no avail.

However the New Babysitter has one last trick up her sleeve: “Go to sleep or I let loose the leopard!” But she couldn’t, she wouldn’t... would she?

Steve Cole has written titles ranging from pre-school poetry to Young Adult thrillers (with more TV and film tie-ins than he cares to admit to along the way). In other careers he has been the editor of Noddy magazine, and an editor of fiction and non-fiction book titles for various publishers. He is the author of the hugely successful Astrosaurs, Cows in Action, Astrosaurs Academy and Slime Squad series. He has also been announced as the author of the new wave of Young Bond books.

Bruce Ingman studied for an MA in Illustration at the Royal College of Art, London, and also taught at a number of art colleges. After illustrating for magazines, including British Vogue and The Sunday Times, Bruce Ingman’s first book When Martha’s Away was published to great critical acclaim, winning The National Art Library Award in 1996. He also won the prestigious Mother Goose Award as the most exciting British newcomer to children’s books. Since then he has produced a number of highly distinctive and individual books.

All our free copies of Go To Sleep or I Let Loose the Leopard have now gone - but it is still available from all good book sellers.