Books have a vital role to play in terms of both the educational and emotional development of young children. They are wonderful learning tools – often providing tactile and visual stimulation, as well as evolving language skills. But perhaps most importantly, they have the power to transport children from one world to the next. They give them the opportunity to climb into another person’s skin and understand what life might be like for that character. In a world where there is so much fear of what is not properly understood, what greater opportunity can there be than this? Five childcare professionals took a look at some of the newest picture books on the shelves.