Apple Juice Radio

In our last ever episode we thank you all for listening... and go back to work full time. Sigh! Thanks everyone, it's been fantastic. Jennifer & Andy

We review our visit to Disney's Magic Kingdom in Florida and revile our girls' new favourite TV show, Winx Club. The Quick Review Disney World, Florida – Wonderful rides and glitzy shows, but with unavoidably long queues, is it really worth it? Andy described it as ‘heroically ersatz’… we are really not the target audience for Walt Disney World. Winx Club – Horrific Italian-made TV show in which fairies-who-look-like-strippers fight witches for control of the world (and cute boyfriends). Absurdly inappropriate for young children, we suspect it may have been executive produced by Silvio Berlusconi. And yet, our girls REALLY love it. Also on the podcast this month: Hoodwinked!  – Fantastic reimagining of the Little Red Riding Hood story that adults will enjoy as much as children. Don’t miss it. Age 6+. Arthur and the Invisibles – Madonna does not buck her cinematic losing streak, this is a terrible film. Age 7+. A Year Without Autumn – Liz Kessler’s latest book is as fast-paced and exciting as her Emily Windsnap series. Sure to be a hit with girls age 9 and above. Alana Dancing Star – Arlene Phillips’ series of dance stories for girls are strictly good fun. Age 6+.

We give a mixed review to Disney's latest fairytale and talk about three new books. The Quick Review Tangled – Andy was enchanted with Disney’s take on the Rapunzel story, but this just goes to show you that men always go for long-haired blondes. Jennifer, on the other hand, was disturbed by some complicated messages for children. School According to Humphrey – The latest installment of Betty G. Birney’s tale of a classroom pet hamster is long-winded in parts but still a great book for teaching children basic values. And kids loves hamsters. Age 6+. The Heron and the Crane – A strangely nihilistic view of courtship; a book that Ingmar Bergman might have written. Fabulously illustrated by Quentin Blake. Age 3+. Magic Farm: A Whole New World – Yes, possibly a new world to replace the Rainbow Fairies! But rather than goblins and Jack Frost, in this gentle adventure three children avoid ‘Little Rotters’ in a gender-neutral adventure on a magic farm. Age 5+.

We compare Megamind and Despicable Me, and enjoy two incredible new books: The Girl Savage and Milo and the Restart Button. The quick review Megamind vs Despicable Me – Why do filmmakers insist on making children's films for adults? Don't we already have Michael Bay for that? We compare two films with villains cast as heroes that only nominally appeal to children, but definitely appeal to 40-year-old men. The Girl Savage – A cross between Pippi Longstocking and something Doris Lessing might have written. An extraordinarily literary book for children, that paints a dazzling picture of life growing up in Zimbabwe. Age 11+. Milo and the Restart Button – Based on the author's own experience of losing his mother to cancer when he was nine, this wonderful book combines laughter and tears on almost every page. Age 10+.

We are much too fraught at this time of year to put together a podcast, so instead we leave you with the musical stylings of our tone-deaf children. Merry Christmas!

Marcus Sedgwick talks about his new Raven Mysteries novel Vampires and Volts. Age 8+.

"Daisy Meadows" has the last laugh. The Quick Review Rainbow Fairies – God we hate these terrible books. Boring, repetitive and utterly devoid of original storytelling. And cynical too – all the UK most popular girls’ names are blatantly used so that Emily, Ruby and Freya can all have a fairy named after them. But guess what, our kids REALLY REALLY LOVE THEM. And our 6 year old now wants to learn to read just so that she can follow the adventures of all 4729 of these execrable fairies. Bah humbug. Return to Rainspell Island (The Rainbow Fairies movie) – And yet the film does what the books fail to do: tells a story in a quite interesting way with moderate intrigue and, yes, even some dramatic tension. Ponyo – Kooky Japanese animé that we tricked the kids into watching by telling them it was by the same director as Return to Rainspell Island. (Miyazaki-san, we are so so sorry.) And yet, the ending is a bit anti-climatic. When I Dream of ABC – A rare treat – an alphabet book that sits down, crosses its legs, and speaks directly to its audience. Full of wonder and warmth. Age 2+

Don’t judge a book by its cover – we both enjoyed these great teen fiction titles. The Quick Review The Dark Divine – A Twilight wannabe that is not at all like the original, for better and worse. Tightly plotted with brilliant twists, this teen-loves-supernatural-creature novel is not as romantically intense as Twilight, but even Andy admitted he thought it was good. Age: late teen. Cherry Crush – The first book in Cathy Cassidy’s new Chocolate Box Girls series is just delicious. Filled with Cathy’s trademark warmth and insight, read it with your daughter and you’ll want to be 13 again. Without the perm this time. Age: early teen. Dead Man’s Cove – Fabulous detective story about a spiky-haired tomboy rescued from an orphanage by an unknown uncle. Laura Marlin comes to live on the wintery Cornish coast, where all the people around her seem to be harbouring secrets. It’s like Rebecca for children! (There’s even a horrible housekeeper a la Mrs Danvers.) Highly recommended. Ruby Nettleship and the Ice Lolly Adventure – Ruby Nettleship isn’t happy with her local playground – everything is broken and there is nowhere for the children to play. Then a mysterious ice-cream van appears and offers Ruby a bright green ice lolly with the words “plant me” on them. This fantastic picture book about a little girl who wants to make the world a better place is brimming with imagination and charming illustrations. Age 3+

Britain's best-loved picture book writer talks about her new book Cave Baby, her relationship with illustrators Axel Scheffler and Emily Gravett, and why she sometimes feels pigeon-holed in the world of picture books.

A review of the shortlisted books for Britain’s top illustration prize, as well as a quick chat about the winner of the Carnegie Medal. The Quick Review Leon and the Place Between – We've been raving about this book for over a year, so we're thrilled to see it on the shortlist. But so that we don't get stale by going on and on about it, in this month's show we instead review Grahame Baker-Smith's new picture book, Farther. Haunting and thought-provoking, with illustrations so enchanting you want to fall into them and stay a while. Age 6+. Millie's Marvellous Hat – A charming story that celebrates the power of a child's imagination. Judges called the illustrations “Kandinsky-esque”. Truly marvellous! Age 3+. Crazy Hair – Creepy story by Neil Gaiman matched with Dave McKean's stunning primitivism-influenced art. Andy’s choice for Greenaway winner. Age 4+. The Graveyard Book – Neil Gaiman rightly won the Carnegie Medal for this outstanding book for children. Not quite as frightening as Coraline, but pretty close. Chris Riddell's chilling illustrations of the Man Jack and his hideous knife are a perfect complement. Age 9+. The Great Paper Caper – Oliver Jeffers's drawings in this very funny book with a subtle eco-message are delightfully retro with a colour palette so pretty you want to put them on your wall. Jennifer's choice for winner. Age 4+. There Are Cats in this Book – Our kids' favourite book of the entire shortlist. Very cute cats with very clever lift-the-flaps. Age 1+. The Dunderheads – Graphic novel for kids age 8+. Fun and imaginative illustrations with a fab story of revenge against a monstrous teacher. Super! Harry & Hopper – The winner of this year's Kate Greenaway Medal. Difficult story about a dog that dies and the boy who mourns him. Illustrations are accomplished but do not inspire wonder as much as respect. Age 5+.