Picture Books
Dinosaur Dig by Penny Dale
Dinosaur Dig is a great first counting book for any child obsessed with dinosaurs and transport. It introduces ten different kinds of dinosaur and ten different types of heavy duty machinery (all the dinosaurs and vehicles are labelled at the beginning and end of the book) and puts a heavy emphasis on dirt! The pictures…
Big Red Bath by Julia Jarman and Adrian Reynolds
The Story: Ben and Bella are joined in their big red bath by a succession of animals. When Hippo tries to get in the bath it leaves the bathroom and ends up flying around the world. Flamingoes come to the rescue so that Ben and Bella can get home and tell Mum and Dad about…
That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown by Cressida Cowell & Neal Layton
That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown is a favourite story here, my daughter finds Queen Gloriana’s behaviour seemingly un-queenlike! In our house this is a particularly well read bedtime story, one of those that my daughter often chooses when she’s tired and wants to spend time with comforting, familiar characters.
Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
Each Peach Pear Plum is a book that I have loved ever since my teaching practice days and if you are looking for a first picture book story it is ideal for very young children (there are also cloth and board books). It is a very interactive book which invites the reader to ‘I spy’…
Katie’s Picture Show by James Mayhew
Katie’s Picture Show was the very first of James Mayhew’s Katie books that I bought. We’ve read many more since and also been to one of James’ storytelling sessions at The National Gallery in London.
Have You Seen the Crocodile? by Colin West
The Story: A group of birds, animals and insects are wondering where the crocodile is. The crocodile is much closer than they think and each double page spread reveals a little bit more of him until we see that one of the animals is actually sitting on the crocodile’s head. The crocodile reveals his presence…
One Snowy Night by Nick Butterworth
One Snowy Night is a lovely warm bedtime story for a cold night!
The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr
My daughter has informed me that we have to put tiger food on our next shopping list (just in case a tiger comes to tea!).
You Choose by Pippa Goodhart and Nick Sharratt
Our first picture book of the year is not a story. It’s non fiction but not in the sense that it is an information book. I would call this book a discussion book. A really fun discussion book!
We completely must Go to London by Lauren Child
Our last book of the year has to be about our favourite brother and sister combination, Charlie and Lola. ‘We completely must Go to London’ is a great way to introduce young readers to some of London’s famous buildings and landmarks. Already my daughter likes to pick out the places that we have visited and…
