The Starburster by Berlie Doherty (Young Corgi, £3.99): ONE of the most enduring types of fairy tale is the 'changeling' story in which the fairies steal a human baby and leave a fairy baby in its place.

This gentle tale brings the theme bang up-to-date. The stolen baby is young Tam's baby sister, Blue. When an ugly changeling appears in her place, great-grandpa sends Tam on an exciting quest to Fairyland to win her back. In order to persuade the fairy king and queen to part with her, he must give them his most precious possession. This is his 'starburster', a wonderful kaleidoscope that great-grandpa gave him when Blue was born. Even after surviving his extraordinary journey through Fairyland, Tam finds it hard to part with this. But when the fairy king and queen get really excited about this piece of 'man magic' and hand Blue back to him, he realises he's done the right thing. A great story to read aloud, or for new readers to tackle on their own. (Age 4+).

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke, translated by Oliver Latsch (Chicken House, £5.99)

HERE'S a really marvellous adventure story with richly developed characters, a colourful setting and a plot crammed with surprising twists and turns. Prosper and Bo are orphaned brothers who have fled their hated aunt and uncle, and run away to Venice. There they join three other homeless children who live in a disused cinema, under the protection of a mysterious boy who calls himself 'the Thief Lord'. An ageing private detective, Victor, is commissioned to track down the runaway brothers. It doesn't take him long to locate them, but as soon as he meets endearing five-year-old Bo, he decides to collude in their disappearance. Vividly set against Venice's canals, alleyways and squares, this is a totally brilliant, engrossing and hugely enjoyable novel, which deserves to become a classic. (Age 8-12)

The Gift Boat by Peter Dickinson (Macmillan, £9.99)

WHEN Gavin's beloved grandad has a stroke, Gavin is right by his side. He calls the ambulance and in the following weeks, as grandad lies insensible in hospital, Gavin waits by his bed, trying to stimulate him to move. It's a harrowing experience, and there are only two things that keep Gavin going. One is the memory of the happy days he and grandad have spent building model boats and fishing together; the other is a mystical belief in the power of the 'selkies' - the seals that live in the harbour near their home in Scotland. In an extraordinary climax to the long, miserable hours he spends beside grandad's hospital bedside, Gavin has the strange experience of seeming to go actually inside grandad's head. A useful story for any child faced with the illness of a relative or bereavement. (Age 8-11)

The Runner by Keith Gray (Corgi Yearling, £3.99)

IN this mini-novel for younger readers, Jason is running away from home to escape his parents and their constant arguments. On the train to Liverpool, where his elder brother lives, he meets 'Jam' - a veteran runaway about the same age, who spends his whole life fleeing children's homes and sleeping rough on trains and at stations. Jam enthrals Jason with tales of his wildly glamorous alternative lifestyle. But just as Jason wonders whether he should join him, who should appear but Jam's parents - proving that the whole tale was just a fantasy. A clever and intriguing tale which recognises many children's fantasies of running away. (Age 7-9).

Published: 26/04/2005