"Meep, meep."

The Very Worried Sparrow is not like other baby birds. While they look up at the beautiful blue sky and chirp, the Very Worried Sparrow can only muster a "meep, meep".

While the other fledglings delight in learning to fly, the Very Worried Sparrow is so scared he falls off his branch.. and flies.

When summer arrives, the sparrow's sisters and brothers set off in search of seeds. A frightening sparrowhawk dives down and the Very Worried Sparrow covers his eyes with his wings and waits for the inevitable - but the sparrowhawk flies on by.

With the onset of winter and a snow-coveted ground, the little sparrow is convinced he'll starve but, as ever, his fears are unfounded. Children scatter seeds around and break the icy surface of the lake to give the young birds access to water.

But the Very Worried Sparrow's real worries emerge when his new-found lady friend lays four eggs. His fears for the futures of his brood are finally allayed when a gentle turtle dove tells the Very Worried Sparrow a very important and wonderful story about the Great Father who cares for every sparrow in the land.

Filled with new confidence and a zest for life the sparrow, now a proud father himself, can't wait to tell his children about his new discovery and how they needn't worry about a single thing.

The Very Worried Sparrow was first published almost 30 years ago and has sold 250,000 copies. This new edition, with its beautiful illustrations, can't fail to appeal to young readers, particularly those aged three to six.

It is the perfect length for a calming bedtime read and has found its way into my son's evening routine many times already. In my opinion, it is a must for any young child's book collection.

Published by Lion Children's Books RRP £5.99

Reviewed by Julie Bayley, mother-of-two and project manager of the BAFTA-winning educational website www.headlinehistory.co.uk

Click to buy: Very Worried Sparrow