Mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunties and many other grown-ups spend long hours with small children. We do it alone and we often do it with very little sleep.

In this section of Make Family Magic, I share stories about the many times that children’s books have come to my rescue.

In my experience of being a parent in real time (with three young kids!) reading together has changed the mood, it has helped answer life’s big questions, and so much more.

This is not parenting advice. These are not quite book reviews, and not exactly blogs. Call it whatever you like, but we hope it helps you navigate the tough days with your kids.