Somehow we have come to the end of the first week of May (without any fires or A&E trips, though I’m not saying there weren’t any near misses…) so I’m calling this week a success and it’s time to take a look inside this week’s best children’s books. From finding magic hiding in the ordinary to books that encourage a love of reading, these were our favourite picture books to dive into on the picnic blanket.
1. the library book, by gabby dawnay
Hands up if you love books about books?! I’m a little obsessed… there’s something wonderful about celebrating reading. I bought this one as much for me as for the children, so have thoroughly enjoyed them climbing into my lap with the request that I read it again and again.
Of all the kids’ picture books we have had our noses in this week, this is the one that’s passed the belly-laugh test with flying colours. My nearly-four-year-old is quite enthralled. This story follows friends Zach and Ro on their trip to the library. There’s just one problem… Zach really doesn’t like books! He thinks they’re boring and they take too long to read. Ro just can’t understand how you could possibly not love books, pointing out that there are long ones and short ones, funny and gory. There’s adventure books, pirate books, then some about dinosaurs and fairytales.
Despite his reluctance, Zack eventually gets the reading bug and refuses to leave the library, sat upon a pile of his favourite picture books – Matilda style!
Colourful, lyrical and inspiring – this has quickly become one of our favourite picture books. The illustrations are detailed and engaging, and I love the message that there’s a book out there for everybody to love.
Recommended Age: 3-5 Years
‘These comics, poems and picture books
All wait like paper fishing hooks…
To reel you in – and with a tug
You’ve gone and caught the reading bug!’
Click HERE to purchase The Library Book
2. The Magic Crayon, by amy sparks
I have found that the one thing that always gets wild enthusiasm from children is inanimate objects turning out to be magical. I suppose it’s the familiarity of it all… who doesn’t want to put on their same old boring hat, and discover that it can whisk you away to some fantabulous land?
Well, in this case, it’s a Chloe’s crayon.
Chloe is always falling victim to her big brother’s pranks, like when he tipped porridge down Chloe’s new dress – and Chloe was blamed for the terrible mess. *I’ll out my hand up here and point out that I’m not sure that that’s a prank? Jack just sounds like he’s being quite unpleasant, but we’ll carry on with the story…*
So when Chloe’s notices that her crayon is magical, she decides to draw a witch outside her brother’s bedroom door, and draw Jack as… a frog! The witch then appears, clutching the frog, and flies off on her broomstick. Chloe is horrified that her brother has been taken, and uses her magic crayon to draw everything she needs to follow the witch and save Jack.
It’s one of the best children’s books featuring sibling bonds and loyalty, tied in with magic, adventure, and explosive illustrations – it’s everything you could want from one of your favourite picture books (and quite ideal to pull out on those days when your kids seem incapable of getting along! You know… those days that end in ‘day’…)
Recommended Age: 4-7 Years
‘”I’m sorry,” said Jack.
“You saved me, although I’ve been so mean to you.”
“I did,” Chloe said.
“That’s what great sisters do!”‘
Click HERE to purchase The Magic Crayon
3. When I’m Big, By Ella Bailey
This is a heartwarming story of a lone egg that hatches deep in the middle of a forest in prehistoric times. The tiny dinosaur who comes out of the egg is called Fern, and she sets about exploring the land, trying new things and determined to work out who she will be when she is grown up.
Having established that she does not like to eat leaves (yuck!) or loud noise, or relate to any of the other dinosaur’s characteristics, she decides to wait until she’s grown instead of being in a hurry to find out what the future has in store for her, ending with when she has an egg of her own.
Dinosaur picture books are always a hit in our house, and this is a soft, pretty one to reach for on the shelf of best children’s books. While we can all relate to being young and wanting to label ourselves to gain a sense of belonging, learning to enjoy the present is an important lifeskill and this was a wonderful conversation starter. The pastel colour palette of the illustrations gives the story a soft, gender-neutral feel, and the book itself is also good quality – which feels like such a mum thing to notice, but I really do!
Recommended Age: 3-5 Years
‘Fern knew now.
She didn’t need others to show her who she would be when she was big.
She could simply wait and see.’
Click HERE to purchase When I'm Big
4. Beegu, By alexis Deacon
Beegu (the more I read this, the more convinced I become that we need to own a sausage dog called Beegu… my husband is less convinced) is not supposed to be on Earth. Beegu is a little extraterrestrial – a warm, friendly little creature who just wants to feel welcome. The problem is, the people of Earth do not seem very friendly at all, that is, until she meets the little ones.
Little Earth People show kindness and compassion, and are far more accepting of differences. Beegu eventually finds her mother and returns to space in their spaceship, but she never forgets her adventure on Earth.
This is a fantastic picture book for demonstrating the lasting impact of a simple act of kindness and acceptance. The illustrations are meaningful, and this feels like one of the best children’s books for both home and the classroom.
Recommended Age: 5-7 Years, though I would definitely say 3+ as my preschooler loves it!
‘Beegu told her parents all about life on Earth.
How Earth Creatures were mostly big and unfriendly, but there were some small ones who seemed hopeful.
Beegu would always remember those small ones.’
Click here to purchase Beegu
5. Big Hedgehog and Little Hedgehog take an evening stroll, by britta teckentrup
If you are a fan of a bookshelf filled with celebrations of nature, slow living and stunning illustrations, you’re going to fall head over heels for this book.
This is the tale of Big Hedgehog and Little Hedgehog’s journey home. Despite the lateness of the hour, Big Hedgehog is struggling to hurry Little Hedgehog home, because there are just so many fascinating distractions in nature. Whether it’s admiring the sun setting or saying goodnight to the fish and the frogs, Little Hedgehog is finding a thousand reasons to prolong bedtime! Finally, Little Hedgehog insists on counting the stars until they run out of numbers. At this time, Big Hedgehog is sure that they should be getting home… only to discover that Little Hedgehog has fallen asleep.
This is easily one of the best children’s books of all time. It’s a fairly new release, and the children are quite besotted with the details. They can pore over the pages for hours, noticing things they have seen on our walks and whispering goodnight to the owls on the page. The colour palette is earthy and inspired by the colours of the natural world, darkening as the evening draws in.
A soft, enjoyable story of soaking up the time together as the world winds down around us, and a lesson in patience for those of us who have forgotten to count the stars with our children. (Sometimes. Sometimes it’s Monday.)
Recommended Age: 3-7 years
‘Big Hedgehog found Little Hedgehog hidden in the deep grass of a meadow.
“Do you see the beautiful flying lights? Little Hedgehog asked with big eyes.
“These are called fireflies, Little Hedgehog,” explained Big Hedgehog.
“Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a meadow so magical!”
And they forgot the time and watched the fireflies dance.’
Click here to purchase Big Hedgehog and Little Hedgehog Take an Evening Stroll
6. The Little book of hopes, by elyse shellie
You know that new love that parenthood gives you? I don’t mean something as simple as a love for someone new. I mean that fit-to-burst, feels so much it causes you to ache kind of love that you couldn’t possibly have imagined before you met your children. You know that?
This book is full of that.
The pages of this book are utterly enchanting in its celebration of personal qualities that really matter: kindness, compassion, persistence, resilience and honesty. The narrator lists their hopes for their child, from celebrating differences with ‘I hope that you’ll invite kids of all spots and stripes to play’, to hoping for an appreciation of simple things in life ‘ I hope you’ll find wonder in big things and in small.’
This is the song of a parent’s heart, and an important reminder that the little things we want for our children matter far more than the measures of success in the modern world.
The illustrations of familiar scenarios fascinate the children while they tug firmly on my heartstrings. While they’re colourful, they aren’t too bold and bright, making each page feel a little like a memory. The body language observed throughout the illustrations in the book is incredible, and gives the pages a wholesome feel.
The pictures are widely diverse while not needing to highlight the fact in the text. Being mixed race, I strongly believe we should give our children diverse bookshelves without needing to highlight differences to normalise acceptance by all.
This book is definitely one of the best children’s books of all time for parents to share with their little ones.
Recommended Age: I couldn’t find an age recommendation for this book. While I would say 3-7 years, I also think it would make a thoughtful keepsake at any age.
‘I hope that you can talk to me
when things in life are tough –
that you can tell me anything:
your goals and dreams and stuff.
Click here to purchase The Little Book of Hopes
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*Disclosure: Some items may be gifted and links within this post may be affiliate links. This means that if you purchase through the links, I earn a small commission though this is at no additional expense to you. As always, I appreciate your support and would never recommend a product we have not tried, tested and loved.
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