The first three Henriettas were explosions of delicious words and rompish ‘explorifications’. She tantalised us with her capricious adventures and exhilarating observations; Henrietta’s world was teeming with hullaballoos!

This time around things seem a little tamer, maybe the real madness started when she became a big sister. In this prequel, Henrietta has to have patience because mum is cooking a baby and sadly it is going to take longer than a baked cake. Still, there are other things to occupy her like starting school and meeting her soon-to-be best friend, Olive Higgie.

If you haven’t met Henrietta before, start with this one and then in April you will really get to experience the most marvellous madness that is Henrietta as the first three books are being re-issued in one volume (Henrietta, the Greatest Go-Getter). They are perfect for anyone 5 and up who likes ‘exhillperating’ dilemmas and magical thinking.

Alexa Dretzke