YOU can probably tell - what with all the paper doll wardrobe pieces - that I had a thing for paper dolls when I was a wee girl. I also liked those books of push-out-and-make village scenes. I had one that was a northern hemisphere Christmas scene, complete with trees and park benches and people all dolled up in their winter finery.

Matte Stephens’ illustrations remind me of those press-and-play paper scenes and have me hankering to draw the little strip of shops in my small coastal suburb. Hmmmm, I have more ideas than I can manage just now.