We love the alluring shelves and tables of books, of course - each a passport into a new world of glorious escapism or fascinating discovery. We’re also rather keen on the etcetera… the audiotapes, magazine, toys and games.

The evenings are getting longer and lighter, and bedtime reading has never been so addictive. Check out the latest thrillers (the wait is over for the new Robert Muchamore). Chuckle over glorious picture books. Laugh hysterically at zany humour. Books Etc is brimming with books to relish.

Here are this month’s top five best sellers.

THE SLEEPWALKER by ROBERT MUCHAMORE - An airliner explodes over the Atlantic leaving 345 people dead. Crash investigators suspect terrorism, but they're getting nowhere. A distressed 12-year-old calls a police hotline and blames his father for the explosion.

It could be a breakthrough, but there's no hard evidence and the boy has a history of violence and emotional problems.

Only CHERUB agents can unearth the truth. They're trained professionals with one essential advantage: adults never suspect that children are spying on them. For official purposes, these children do not exist.

• We say, “This is the latest brilliant, unputdownable instalment in Muchamore’s addictive Cherub series. The notion of child spies is so appealing to kids!”

BLOOD BEAST by DARREN SHAN - The master of horror returns with a new spine-tingling adventure in the fifth title of the Demonata! Grubbs Grady has so far escaped the family curse, but when he begins to experience alarming symptoms at the onset of the full moon, he is scared that the jaws of fate are opening and about to swallow him whole.

He has cheated death, defeated demons, moved on with his life. But Grubbs is torn between the world of magic and his wolfen genes. Can he fight the beast inside or will he fall victim to his tainted blood?

• We say, “All the spells, severed body parts and horror you expect from Shan, with a nail-biting and shocking finish. Utterly unputdownable."

ALIENS LOVE UNDERPANTS by CLAIRE FREEDMAN - "Aliens love underpants, in every shape and size, But there are no underpants in space, so here's a big surprise..." You probably thought aliens came down to Earth with a view to taking over the planet - but, no, they simply want to steal your pants!

This zany, hilarious tale, delightfully brought to life by Ben Cort's vibrant illustrations, is sure to enchant and amuse the whole family.

• We say, “With a madcap, rhyming text, perfect for joining in, this story is fantastically fresh and funny - you'll laugh your pants off!”

IN THE NIGHT GARDEN’ LITTLE LIBRARY BOX SET - This work lets you meet your favourite characters from "In the Night Garden". Six little board books in their very own slipcase make for a great introduction to the magical world of the Night Garden. Available in a hugely successful format, little libraries have sold over 290,000 copies so far!

• We say, “A perfect present for young readers.”

COWS IN ACTION: THE WILD WEST MOO-NSTER - This work by Steve Cole is a brilliantly funny and wildly quirky series from the creator of Astrosaurs. Professor McMoo is a very clever cow - so clever, in fact, that he has managed to build himself a time machine from discarded farming machinery.

He and his two cow friends, Pat and Bo Vine live on the Barmer farm, in fear of the hideous farmer's wife, Betty. But they are also star agents of the CIA - Cows in Action, a crack team of cow commandos! In the future, cows live peacefully with humans as equals, not as food. But some cows in the future try to use the technology of time travel to interfere with history - and the Prof has to help stop that! It's a goldrush!

The CIA have been sent back to 1860s America where a ter-moo-nator and his shifty sidekicks are trying to get their hands on all the unclaimed land in the Wild West. With all the local cattle going missing and a sinister monster on the loose, can McMoo, Pat and Bo stop the FBI and save history as we know it?

• We say, “Irresistible bedtime reading. Kids love the story. Adults love the word-play!”

  Click here to visit the Books etc whiteleys site.

---

Click to share this story on your favourite Social Networking site.