Stephen King "Mr Mercedes" His first crime/detective novel?

Stephen King has written three very different novels in the past 18 months - the nostalgic "Joyland", "The Shining" sequel to "Doctor Sleep" and now this, "Mr Mercedes", his first detective novel. The dedication is to James M Cain.
You sometimes think you are reading a Dean Koontz crime/thriller - the psycho killer, the quirky dissimilar characters, misfits, a middle-aged love story. But King's black humour and wry observations are aplenty. The reader as always, is in good hands.
The overweight, retired detective, Bill Hodges, is a fine creation. There are two quick references to vintage King (creepy "Pennywise" and a haunted Plymouth). No Maine locales in this novel, King chooses the Midwest for this yarn. The race against time finale (think "Black Sunday") meant I read into the early hours to finish the book.
A light weight, engrossing read. Recommended.
Scribner 448 pages

Children's books, parents like reading also

As an ex-teacher and a parent, one of the most important things you can do for a child is the daily story at bedtime. In an age of Facebook, tablets, Smartphones, PSP and Wii, this is even more crucial. What books did you like to read your kids, that they enjoyed as well? Here's my list so far, but our daughter (now an adult) concurs:

• "Where the Wild Things Are"
• anything by Alison Lester ("Monsters are Knocking", "I'm Green and I'm Grumpy" especially)
• Tin Tin adventures (my Captain Haddock voice was always crap, though)
• "Thomas the Tank Engine" series (quaint and camp)
• "The Monster at the End of this Book" 
• Fairy tales, the grislier, the better - Rapunzel, Snow White, Hansel and Gretel
• "The Muddle Headed Wombat" series
• Barbar series
• Madeline series
• "The Wind in the Willows"
• "Little Lit" (hipster retelling of fairy tales, Art Spiegelman, etc.)
• "I'm Coming to Get You" (Tony Ross)
• "Not Now Bernard" (David McKee)
• anything by Janet and Allan Ahlberg (especially "Each Peach, Pear, Plum", "The Jolly Postman")
• "Oddkins" (Dean Koontz ... go figure)
• Meg and Mog series
• "The Great Escape" by Phillip Dupasquier (text less so I had to improvise all the voices, huge favourite, book became very worn over the years)
• Beatrix Potter books
• anything by Babette Cole
• anything by Mr Dahl (especially "The Witches")