If you have the Gaul to play on words, go to Asterix for the Covid basix

When people ask me how they can encourage their children to love words and wordplay, my answer never varies: Asterix.

The indomitable Gaul, created by French writer René Goscinny and illustrator Albert Uderzo, contributed immeasurably to my own love of language. 

Whether English is your child’s first, second or eleventh language, the infinite fantasy and most excellent jests offered by the Gallic pair — and credit must go in no small part to supremely gifted English translator Anthea Bell — combine to create reading joy unparalleled in all the adult books in the world put together...