Picture Books For a Royal Baby Story Snug
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Authors, illustrators & book bloggers choose books to give to a Royal baby

Story Snug sends many congratulations to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Kate and William, on the birth of your little princess.

Giving a book as a new baby present is a lovely idea to help start a child’s home library. We asked authors, illustrators and book bloggers which book they would choose to give to the new royal baby and why. There are some lovely choices on this list.

Anne Booth, author of Girl With a White Dog and Lucy’s Secret Reindeer; ‘There are so many gorgeous books for babies, so it is very hard to choose. I think I would give her two old favourites: ‘Guess How Much I love you?’ by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram, and ‘Can’t you Sleep Little Bear?’ by Martin Waddell and Barbara Firth, because, Royal or not, the important thing is that all babies need to know they are loved and listened to, and both those books were ones I shared with my children and we all found very comforting to read over and over again.’

Emma, book blogger at My Book Corner and organiser of International Book Giving Day; ‘The 150th anniversary of Alice’s now famous adventures, makes the timing just perfect. This edition has been a favourite of mine for some time, not least because it features the glorious, original illustrations by Sir John Tenniel. Such a gorgeous book to gift & keep forever.’

Paula Harrison, author of The Rescue Princesses and The Red Moon Rising series; ‘I would choose The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. This book is a classic that has entertained masses of children. It has a very simple storyline and lovely touches of humour.’

Sally Poyton, book blogger at Space on the Bookshelf; ‘Thinking of one book that Iโ€™d give a gift to the new royal baby, is tricky, as there are so many beautiful books. But I have thought very hard and decided Iโ€™d give Debbi Glioriโ€™s โ€˜Dragon Loves Penguinโ€™. Itโ€™s an exquisitely illustrated picture book with a story of love and acceptance, family and bravery. Plus it has Penguins and Dragons! Whatโ€™s not to love?’

Sam Garton, author and illustrator of I Am Otter and Otter in Space asked Otter to choose a book; ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt sounds like the most fun thing ever, as long as Otter Keeper came too. I wouldn’t be scared, but I think Giraffe might be. Teddy should get to meet some of his family, so he would be too excited to be scared. It’s also a really pretty book with fantastic pictures. Otter Keeper says there is a lot of nice repetition and fun sounding words, making it great to read with very small people.’ – Author: Michael Rosen / Illustrator: Helen Oxenbury

Zoe Toft, book blogger at Playing By the Book‘Peekaboo by Giuliano Ferri is everything I think a board book should be. It’s playful, interactive, beautiful and perfectly reflects a world Baby can understand and enjoy. Babies just love playing peekaboo and in this delightful book they get to explore who’s hiding, indeed who’s playing peekaboo with baby behind each flap. Soft, gentle illustrations, combined with the best possible ending make this book where baby a perfect book to give a newborn.’

Zoe has also written two blogposts with the arrival of a royal baby in mind – Building a Baby Library and Books for big brothers and sisters to-be.

Anne Booth also thought about books that she would give to Prince George; ‘I think the Royal big brother might need something just for himself too, and as an example of a modern book illustrated by a new young contemporary artist, I’d give him ’15 Things not to do with a Baby’ by Margaret McAllister and Holly Sterling, to help him with a few important tips! And I think he should have a cuddle and a special read of another book by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram, ‘You’re all my favourites’, so that he knows that a new baby doesn’t mean there is any less love to go around!’

Phil and Charlotte, book bloggers at Readitdaddy, told us about a special book, Stories For a Prince, which was published on Prince William’s birth; ‘This book was originally written for your Dad, little Princess – and in it, children wrote their own very imaginative collection of stories to be read to your dad at bedtime. The stories are fabulously inventive, with some fantastic artwork by brilliant children’s illustrators at the time (including illustrative royalty Babette Cole!) It’s a fantastic book, someone really needs to do a modern equivalent methinks as I’ve a feeling it’s sadly out of print (though I’m sure your daddy has kept a copy!).’

Story Snug; It is hard to choose one picture book but we finally decided that Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg would be a great book to start a royal baby’s library. It is a lovely, first ‘I Spy’ story in which the rhyming text encourages a child to find various fairytale and nursery rhyme characters that are hiding in the pictures.

Do you have a favourite book that you give on the birth of a new baby?


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24 responses to “Authors, illustrators & book bloggers choose books to give to a Royal baby”


  1. Stacie Theis avatar

    I must have read The Very Hungry Caterpillar to my oldest son a thousand times. He could recite the entire book by the age of 3. Guess How Much I Love You has always been one of my favorites. A perfect selection for the new little Princess!


    1. Catherine avatar

      Many young children (and their parents / teachers!) can recite ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ word perfectly ๐Ÿ™‚


  2. Julie Grasso avatar

    Wow, what a unique situation, giving a book to a princess. LOL I would not be able to choose either, although, there are some great books that are about the non traditional princess, perhaps I would give her one of those for when she is older. Thanks for some great recommendations, and for joining the Kid Lit Blog Hop


    1. Catherine avatar

      Yes, The Kite Princess and Princess Smartypants are two of our favourite non princessy princesses ๐Ÿ™‚


  3. Rebecca U avatar

    Going on a bear hunt is a big hit in this house #PoCoLo


    1. Catherine avatar

      It’s a great book, we saw a fantastic Going on a Bear Hunt puppet show last year.


  4. You Baby Me Mummy avatar

    What a great round up of lovely stories. Thanks so much for linking up to #TheList x


    1. Catherine avatar

      It was really exciting waiting to see which books everybody would choose ๐Ÿ™‚


  5. C.L. Murphy avatar

    You’ve shared some great recommendations. Hooray! It’s a New Royal Baby! by Martha Mumford was released in April and looks regally fun, too. Stopping by from the #KidLitBlogHop.


    1. Catherine avatar

      Thanks for your recommendation. I haven’t seen Hooray! It’s a New Royal Baby!, I’ll keep my eye out for it ๐Ÿ™‚


  6. Laura avatar

    What a sweet list! Definitely some of our favorites here.


    1. Catherine avatar

      We have several of these on our bookcase too!


  7. Sian avatar

    What a lovely list. We have most of these and enjoy reading them.
    #TheList


    1. Catherine avatar

      There are some great choices aren’t there, it seems that many classic picture books are still favourites ๐Ÿ™‚


  8. Mrs Tubbs avatar

    Some lovely books there. I’m not sure what I’d go for, a classic like the Tiger Who Came to Tea or something newer, like the Gruffolo. #readwithme


    1. Catherine avatar

      It’s hard to choose just one isn’t it?!


  9. chantelle hazelden avatar

    Some brilliant choices, classics ๐Ÿ™‚ thanks for sharing with #readwithme x


    1. Catherine avatar

      I found it really interesting to hear ReaditDaddy’s choice. I had no idea that a book had been published for Prince William’s birth.


  10. PJ LaRue avatar

    I would recommend Little Green by Arnold Rudnick. Its message tells children to find what they are good at doing, because every one is good at something. It also has a warm message about diversity and acceptance of differences.


    1. Catherine avatar

      I have just looked up Little Green as I don’t know the book. It sounds like a really cute story ๐Ÿ™‚


  11. Catriona avatar

    Such lovely books. I think I’d find it impossible to choose just one!


    1. Catherine avatar

      It took me a while to narrow down my choices to one. Dear Zoo is a book that I often give to a new baby too ๐Ÿ™‚


  12. Helena avatar

    this is such an adorable idea. Great book choices!


    1. Catherine avatar

      They are, aren’t they ๐Ÿ™‚