0-4 .
Peep inside the Night Time by Anna Milbourne – Reading age 3+
From Usborne’s ‘Peep Inside’ series comes this attractive board book all about the night time. Lift the flaps in the dark, silent night-time scenes to reveal all the activity going on beneath.
Goodnight Already! by Jory John – Reading age 3+
A tale which will resonate with adults as much as with children, as they show us the interaction between Bear, desperate to get to sleep, and Duck, who seems to suffer from insomnia, and cannot bear to be alone.
Once Upon an Alphabet by Oliver Jeffers – Reading age: 5+
An original and imaginative spin on the traditional ABC book, bringing the alphabet vividly to life.
Wolfie the Bunny by Ame Dyckman – Reading age 4+
The bunny family come home to discover a tiny wolf cub on their doorstep. Mama and papa are besotted, but Dot is sure her newly adopted brother will eat them all! She avoids him as much as she can to protect herself – but, one day, a trip to the shops reveals that Wolfie is the one who needs protecting – and what else are big sisters for?
Dot is a feisty, opinionated character who gets easily frustrated by her little brother – something easy to relate to for any child with a new baby sibling.
The illustrations are beautiful and imaginative – evoking the spirit of family life.
Blue Penguin by Petr Horáĉek – Reading age 5+
The Blue Penguin is a touching story about belonging, with magical illustrations on every page.
“I feel just like a penguin,” says Blue Penguin. “But you’re not like us,” said the other penguins and they left him all alone. Will he be able to convince the other penguins he is one of them after all?
One Thing – by Lauren Child – reading age 6+
Another classic Charlie and Lola book. One Thing celebrates the fun small children can have with numbers. Explore the shapes of numbers, the exciting things you can do with them, and the fantastic words that describe them.
A Journey through the Human Body by Steve Parker – Reading age 7+
Interesting facts, scientific observations and funny illustrations make this an ideal introduction to the workings of the different parts of the human body. It explains how we breathe, think, hear and feel, along with the way the major organs work.
It’s an ideal book to share with budding scientists and curious children.
The Spy Who Loved School Dinners by Pamela Butchart – reading age 7+
Izzy is really excited to have been chosen to look after the new girl in her class – but Mathilde isn’t quite what Izzy and her friends were expecting. Firstly she’s tall. Very tall. And her hair is short. Very short. But strangest of all, she LOVES school dinners. No one likes school dinners… she must be a spy!
Space in 30 Seconds – Written by Clive Gifford – Reading age 9+
This concise introduction to space takes a rapid-fire approach: 30 key topics are explained in neat 30 second soundbites, illustrated with cartoon-style artwork.
Animalium Written by Jenny Broom – Reading age 9+
Take a wander through a amazing museum of animals with this unbelievable book endorsed by the Natural History Museum. There are more than 160 different animal specimens to discover, which are cleverly laid out in the style of museum exhibits.
The Way It Is by Bernard Ashley – Reading age 10+
These four short stories offer a glimpse into four very different lives, as we meet some young people in dramatic moments of their lives.
It is fitting that these stories have changing perceptions as their themes – this book will surely do the same for its readers!
The Nest by Kenneth Oppel – Reading age 10 +
A chilling drama with a heart-racing climax, Oppel’s knack of finding an unusual gem of a story that sparkles with memorable moments is in full force here. The Nest is a scary place to be, but you’ll be so glad you entered… Watch out for the sting in this tale