What's that coming over the dune, is it a monster? It is, a grizzly slimy sea monster, and look who it's vomited up onto the otherwise spotless sand on the Island of Brilliant seafront! Jack Meggitt-Phillips, the wunderkind author of the glorious 'The Beast And The Bethany' series, as well as a brand spanking new adaptation of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde. A shame he didn't bring a mop to clean up the vomit, but high tide should see to that. Emily Drabble of Booktrust recommends the best of the latest crop of books for August reading pleasure - and the Ukulele Uff Trio treat us to a dollop of blue skies and musical sunshine.

Emily recommends:

Squid Bits - That’s A Nice Hat by Jess Bradley. DFB

Worm’s Big Dig by Tom Inn-Disbury - Anderson

A Sister like you, Sarah Hagger-Holt - Usborn

They sent a Cat to Saturn by Valerie Bloom and Ken Wilson Max - Otter Barry

Lotta & Lola Pudding NOW Please by Lauren Child - Simon and Schuster

"The Old Order Changeth And Maketh Way For New" - but not without a fight. As Frank gives in to the inevitable, with the encouragement of some restraining techniques, he welcomes the magnificent Patrice Lawrence to his old job as Children's Laureate. In a coup for Nadia and Frank (and boy did they need one), Patrice has swum straight from her inauguration ceremony to the island. There, she tells them about her plans for her tenure - with vulnerable children as her top priority. It's an emotional day for certain - all a bit much for all concerned, particularly Nadia, who is heard inadvertently saying something nice about Frank. You heard it here first, dear listener.

He's behind some of the most celebrated and beloved books of recent times - Goth Girl, The Edge Chronicles, Ottoline and a gazillion more - and he's also, it turns out, the captain of the Mellow Submarine! Which is excellent news for Frank and Nadia, as it means that Chris Riddell (for it is he) is able to swing on by for a piercing, no-holds-barred interview about wine gums among other things. Always keen to get his bearings, he whips out his trust pen and pad to sketch the first official cartographic sketch of the island, revealing coves to our two resident coves that they never knew existed. The big shock comes in the form of an orchard, the result of a certain someone palming them off with a bushel of apples some time ago. It's a joy to have Chris run aground for awhile, why not pull up some driftwood and have a listen?