Happy Families: The heart-warming and hilarious winner of Richard & Judy's Search for a Bestseller 2020

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It is guided by the Education Adviser, Brian Thompson, and written by the award-winning author, Allan Ahlberg. Innovative, funny and moving, his work encompasses storybooks, picture books, easy readers, joke books and novels as well as poems. I love books that give me a glimpse in to other cultures, different families and how they navigate lives issues. This audio collection features 11 classic tales brought to life with original music and dazzling sound effects, all read in Alexander Armstrong's unique style.

The next audio collection from Allan Ahlberg stars more of his best loved characters, including Master Salt the Sailor's Son, Ms Cliff the Climber and Mrs Plug the Plumber. Did it conjure up any forgotten emotions and memories, particularly in regards to when it touched on racism and identity? I think previously it would have been a bit embarrassing to say that I run a small takeaway, but over the last few years, especially since the pandemic, I came to realise that it's more important than you think: just because something hasn't been shown in a glamorous light in the media or in fiction, it doesn't mean it's not important.It reminded me so much of the Welsh village I grew up in where small local businesses like the Li's Chinese takeaway can form the heart of the community.

Happy Families is a gentle family drama about three generations of a slightly dysfunctional Chinese family living in the small town of Cawsmenyn in Wales and the family run takeaway they own.I found the book pretty unexceptional, didn’t find the characters particularly relatable or likeable and admit to being confused by the intricacies of the family relationships but didn’t really care enough about them to go back and seek clarification. For further information about your statutory rights, contact your local authority Trading Standards department or consumer advice center (for example the Citizen's Advice Bureau if you are in the UK). It's quite slow moving and there isn't a ton going on but it was a nice change of pace for me and a lovely insight into family life! One of the times I sent it out, I was told the story is quite boring, so I had to work out which were the boring bits and I chose to take out that subplot.