really nice kids books
Last updated: 04/02/2013 19:10
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Finding kids books with nice illustrations, a story that has them leaning in to follow and wording which rolls easily off the tongue is a wonderful thing. I know they’re not the presents delivering heady excitement on Christmas morning but later in the holidays, when the house is visitor free, curling up on the couch with a new book is very special. Here are a few of my favourites. They are not recently published but are all currently in print. I’ve checked a few online websites and they are easily available.
Q Pootle 5 by Nick Butterworth. From age three. A little alien lands on earth by mistake. With the help of a few locals he fixes his damaged spaceship with an empty cat food tin and heads home. We have read it thousands of times.
The Magic Bed by John Burningham. A small boy finds a bed in a second hand shop. His Gran thinks he should get a new one from the shopping centre but this one has a word carved into the base, which is where the magic comes in. From age three to six.
Traction Man is Here by Mini Grey. He’s like action man but his adventures are in the bath, the kitchen sink, on the countertop and under the pillow. Really great. Age four and up.
Ignis the Dragon by Gina Wilson. Illustrated by PJ Lynch. Real dragons with fire and everything, but not in a scary way. (Ignis’s Granny looks after him.) Beautiful pictures, lovely story.
Frog and Toad all Year by Arnold Lobel. This is just one in a series of Frog and Toad books. It is both good for early readers or for sharing aloud. Frog and Toad are two pals who call into each other most days. Sometimes for Christmas dinner and sometimes just for a chat.
Emil and the Great Escape by Astrid Lindgren. Emil lives on a farm in rural Sweden. This is from age about eight and probably more for boys. Something completely different from the usual gory fare, very popular in our house.
Nicholas Again by Goscinny and Sempe. From the people who brought us Asterix is a series about Nicholas, a schoolboy who attracts adventure without meaning to at all. Again without a wand or a wizard in sight. First published in 1961, it is old fashioned in the nicest way. My nine year old loved it. The Phaidon editions have beautiful covers. (Not that that’s important of course.)
Q Pootle 5 by Nick Butterworth. From age three. A little alien lands on earth by mistake. With the help of a few locals he fixes his damaged spaceship with an empty cat food tin and heads home. We have read it thousands of times.
The Magic Bed by John Burningham. A small boy finds a bed in a second hand shop. His Gran thinks he should get a new one from the shopping centre but this one has a word carved into the base, which is where the magic comes in. From age three to six.
Traction Man is Here by Mini Grey. He’s like action man but his adventures are in the bath, the kitchen sink, on the countertop and under the pillow. Really great. Age four and up.
Ignis the Dragon by Gina Wilson. Illustrated by PJ Lynch. Real dragons with fire and everything, but not in a scary way. (Ignis’s Granny looks after him.) Beautiful pictures, lovely story.
Frog and Toad all Year by Arnold Lobel. This is just one in a series of Frog and Toad books. It is both good for early readers or for sharing aloud. Frog and Toad are two pals who call into each other most days. Sometimes for Christmas dinner and sometimes just for a chat.
Emil and the Great Escape by Astrid Lindgren. Emil lives on a farm in rural Sweden. This is from age about eight and probably more for boys. Something completely different from the usual gory fare, very popular in our house.
Nicholas Again by Goscinny and Sempe. From the people who brought us Asterix is a series about Nicholas, a schoolboy who attracts adventure without meaning to at all. Again without a wand or a wizard in sight. First published in 1961, it is old fashioned in the nicest way. My nine year old loved it. The Phaidon editions have beautiful covers. (Not that that’s important of course.)
