Did you know that kids think that food tastes better when there is a cartoon character associated with it? That's what makes The Food ABC books so clever; they subtly send a message to "eat the rainbow" - think carrots, zucchinis, beans, even mushrooms - without focusing on food at all.

The stories teach positive life lessons that are relatable to modern-day kids, from tidying your room and staying off digital devices to self-esteem and the importance of a good night's sleep.

Never preachy – young kids are on to this! – the author craftily works each virtue into a modern world setting while embracing topics as weighty as health, hard work, tidiness, self-confidence, narcissism, money, optimism and the importance of family – even the dangers of tech devices and child-aimed advertising are covered.

To the author’s credit, she masterfully weaves these lessons into the storylines in a way that kids can relate to and understand – and that parents can appreciate, too.