Caroline Carpenter and Charlie Morris celebrate Earth Day by reaching for their binoculars and exploring the thriving world of children's books about nature and the environment. Joining us on our ramble through the library shelves are Lauren James: YA author and founder of the Climate Fiction Writers' League, and Dr Jess French: qualified vet, TV presenter and non-fiction author of children's books. After airing our shared trauma of The Animals of Farthing Wood, we discuss beloved encyclopaedias, terrifying dystopias, and reflect on some more positive visions of the planet's future. Plus, we all share a book that's been making us happy this month.

Buy all the books mentioned in today's episode from our new shelf on Bookshop.org - https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/downtherabbithole

Follow us on Twitter @DTRHradio or Instagram at @DTRHradio. Follow Caroline at @CarolineC1988, Charlie @charlieinabook, Lauren at @Lauren_E_James and Jess at @zoologist_jess

Hannah Love and Sam Sedgman are joined by authors Steven Lenton and Michelle Harrison to tackle the greatest question of our lifetime: which are better, cats or dogs? Hear the fur fly as we share some of our favourite canines and felines from children's literature past and present, debating which is funnier, cuter, more adventurous and more loyal. Plus, we each share a book that's making us happy this month.

Buy all the books mentioned in today's episode from our new shelf on Bookshop.org - https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/downtherabbithole

Follow us on Twitter @DTRHradio or Instagram at @DTRHradio. Follow Hannah at @AitchLove, Sam Sedgman @samuelsedgman, Steven at @stevenlenton and Michelle at @MHarrison13

New presenters Sam, Caroline, Charlie and Hannah offer some alternatives to recommend instead of the same old dependable children’s classics, with some of our favourite picks in different genres from the last 20 years. Plus, we each share a book that’s making us happy this month, and find time to address some of the most pressing questions in children’s literature: "were Goosebumps actually scary?" and "exactly how many Animorphs books were there?".

Buy all the books mentioned in today's episode from our new shelf on Bookshop.org - https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/downtherabbithole

Check out the YA Book Prize on Twitter at @YABookPrize or at YABookPrize.com

Follow us on Twitter @DTRHradio or Instagram at @DTRHradio. Follow Sam Sedgman @samuelsedgman, Charlie at @charlieinabook, Caroline at @CarolineC1988 and Hannah at @AitchLove