Zartog’s Remote By Herbie Brennan and Neal Layton, (Bloomsbury pound;9.99) is about a disobedient alien who makes the mistake of engaging warp drive on his first solo flying-saucer flight. When Zartog is forced to make an emergency landing on Earth, his remote is switched for a TV remote belonging to a girl called Rachel, ith some interesting consequences. Brennan’s witty narrative and Layton’s quirky illustrations make this one of the funniest children’s books of recent months and a must for reluctant readers in Year 3 and beyond.

Michael Thorn is deputy headteacher at Hawkes Farm primary school, Hailsham, East Sussex