There should definitely be more kids' picture books with urban/post-industrial settings. Could I draw competently I would bring to life my lunch-time flights of fancy about rat and pigeon best friends in Bradford, or the grumpy troll that lives under Wigan Pier.

That your four-year-old is aware of Jimmy Stewart is exceptionally cool, though. Come the first of December I am instituting for our two (four and nearly three respectively) an intensive viewing session of Wonderful Life to run to Christmas and hopefully beyond. Anything to prise The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe out of the DVD player.