CREATIVE CRAFTS FROM PLASTIC CUPS. By Nikki Connor. Watts pound;8.99. CARING FOR YOUR PETS. By Julian Powell. Wayland pound;9.50.

WHY DO SOME PEOPLE USE WHEELCHAIRS?. By Harriet Ziefert and Emily Boon. Dorling Kindersley pound;4.99.

BUSY PLACES: Railway Station. By Carol Watson. Watts pound;8.99.

FICTION

LITTLE RABBIT’S BEDTIME. By Alan Baker. Kingfisher pound;7.99.

KICK BACK. By Vivian French. Barrington Stoke pound;3.99.

HOW TO LIVE FOREVER. By Colin Thompson. Red Fox pound;4.99.

No reading skills are required for the colourful activity book Creative Crafts from Plastic Cups, one of a series which can provide self-managed entertainment. All the step-by-step instructions are visual, straightforward and easy to follow and materials are readily available.

Although aimed at small children, several activities could be enjoyed by a wide ability range including young people and adults with learning difficulties.

Other titles in the series are Creative Crafts from Cardboard Boxes, from Plastic Bottles and from Cardboard Tubes.

Well illustrated with full colour photographs, Caring for Your Pets provides visual information for those who learn by looking rather than reading. The large print text is clear and simple with plenty of white space surrounding it and no more than three sentences on a page. Extension activities and a topic web appear at the back of the book.

Why does my friend wear a hearing aid and Why do some people read with their fingers are just two of the questions answered simply and clearly in Why do Some People Use Wheelchairs?, aimed at five to seven-year-olds.

Excellent full colour photographs support the clear print. Informative and accessible, it is useful for individual interest or for stimulating discussion.

The Busy Places series comprises eight books about 24 hours in the life of a railway station, football stadium, school, building site, or whatever. All have full colour photographs accompanied by a few very simple sentences per page which, in this title, create a surprisingly informative picture of life in a busy railway station, who works there and the wide variety of jobs they do. The pictures and information are not childish and this book could be used by readers of a wide range of abilities and ages.

Many books have touch-and-feel gimmicks, but Little Rabbit’s Bedtime is an excellent tactile book for young children and those with visual impairment. Little Rabbit discovers lots of everyday textures while getting ready for bed, from his sticky honey sandwich to his bristly toothbrush. Children will enjoy exploring the pages with their fingers, and the book wears well.

Josh, the lead character of Kick Back, doesn’t have many friends. He thinks it is because he has big ears and big feet. But then he is asked to join a pop group as drummerI The title and cover are eye-catching. The clearly printed text with simple sentences and short paragraphs is well laid out and frequently interspersed with full-page black and white illustrations.The pacey action and colloquial style help the reader along and the interest level is 10-plus.

This new publisher of material aimed at reluctant readers is worth watching.

the stunning picture book, How to Live Forever, can be enjoyed by readers of all ages.

The story begins in a library which contains every book ever published. After closing time, the pages open to reveal strange landscapes and cities. But How to Live Forever is missing, so Peter and his cat set out to find it.

Minimal text and absorbing illustrations encourage the reluctant reader to delve deeper into this fascinating and visual book.