The Big New Yorker Book Of Dogs is big all right: 21cm x 28cm and 395 pages, with a generous smattering of those gloriously sly and sardonic New Yorker cartoons. The content is generally serious in tone.

Peter, the 14-year-old narrator, plus elder brother Hans, the handsome horse-tickler, and sister Tilte, the obsessive reader of other people's diaries, realise their parents have vanished. Ostensibly, Mum and Dad are on holiday in the Canaries.

Books editor Linda Herrick and her reviewers select the best for all ages and interests

Whether you're an armchair traveller or frequent flyer, this summer pick up a paperback or download an e-book and read the best of contemporary travel writing.