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Children's books

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Original poster

Beautiful Children's Books

32 replies

CoffeeChocolateGin · 19/05/2022 22:59

I'd like to buy a really lovely book as a Christening present. Something that will stand the test of time, something that is beautiful to look at. I originally thought an anthology (Aesop, Grimms etc) but completely open to other ideas.
The child is one so ideally something that can be enjoyed by a toddler but will also be something lovely to look through as an older child.

Any suggestions?

OP posts:
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OldTinHat · 20/06/2023 12:04

I was given an illustrated copy of Black Beauty. I'm 51 now and it's still on my bookshelf.

mooner · 20/06/2023 11:51

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Mumtoone39 · 25/07/2022 23:29

In addition to all the lovely books already suggested, I also like many of the alan/ Janet Ahlberg books - partic "peepo", "each peach pear, plum" and "the jolly postman." Also the " Katie morag " books have lovely illustrations.

CoralPaperweight · 31/05/2022 23:41

Sam Usher's books are amazing - we have some of the 'Seasons' ones - Snow and Rain. They are large format paperbacks and the illustrations are breath-taking. I also like the stories which are focused on a boy and his grandad blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Snow-by-Sam-Usher/9781783700738

RedPanda901 · 27/05/2022 14:41

They don't have beautiful covers but the Hairy Maclary series is amazing as is the Alfie series by Shirley Hughes.
Beautiful illustrations and the stories are so well written – really important for parents who have to read books over and over.
I will keep these books long after my children don't want to read them.

This Moomintroll book is amazing too. Wonderful lyrical prose and a cloth cover with delicate papercut pages.
shop.moomin.com/collections/books/products/the-book-about-moomin-mymble-and-little-my-sort-of-books

PerspicaciousGreen · 27/05/2022 14:21

Fiona French does picture books with the most beautiful, heart-patteringly-thrilling illustrations I have ever seen. There are some Christian ones, like Paradise, Easter and Bethlehem (so very suitable for a christening!) and some folk tale ones (like Little Inchkin or Anancy and Mr Dry Bone). My 2yo and 4yo are absolutely obsessed with them and so am I! They're likely to be used sooner (from as soon as they can encounter paper books without ripping the pages) than any of the admittedly wonderful but rather older books recommended above, and not to be regarded as "too precious" for the child to actually use. I highly highly recommend them as gifts.

That said, The Complete Brambly Hedge is lovely and has a mouse christening in one of the stories! (And children definitely do enjoy Beatrix Potter and The Wind in the Willows - ignore PP!)

Original poster
CoffeeChocolateGin · 20/05/2022 12:50

Thank you, I love these suggestions...may end up purchasing more than one!

OP posts:
Emmelina · 20/05/2022 01:44

My children have a copy of this, it’s absolutely gorgeous inside.

Beautiful Children's Books
BunnyBerries · 20/05/2022 00:21

The Mog Treasury. It's big and the illustrations are beautiful and the sentences are simple and perfect for a child learning to read themselves too, not just be read to. Not to mention, kids love adventure tales about animals like cats! So it won't just sit on a shelf.

scrivette · 20/05/2022 00:09

The Shirley Hughes Collection (all the stories in one book).

It's a lovely book with beautiful illustrations, the stories are good and they include poems in them.

My DC love them and have done since very small. They are a pleasure to read out loud.

SkankingWombat · 19/05/2022 23:53

I agree with a PP, the Brambly Hedge series are indeed beautifully illustrated. My DCs have my childhood copies and love pawing over the details as much as I used to.
Less suitable for toddlers, but would be fine to read to an older preschooler and perfect once they become readers themselves, is the Chris Mould illustrated version of The Iron Man.

AugustSeptemberOctober · 19/05/2022 23:40

Sorry quote didn't work - I meant to second the suggestion of the Lost Words.

MsJuniper · 19/05/2022 23:40

Lots by Marc Martin is beautiful and much loved by my older child so it has longevity.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1783704659/ref=cmswwrawdooMW1RY7C2KKDZQM06EC3W

AugustSeptemberOctober · 19/05/2022 23:39

PushingAnElephantUpTheStairs · 19/05/2022 23:13

The Lost Words is gorgeous.

I second this, it's a beautiful book.

Also, I Am The Seed That Grew The Tree. It's full of nature poems that can be dipped into, both classic and modern.

PicniKTime · 19/05/2022 23:35

www.wob.com/en-gb/books/ben-hoare/anthology-of-intriguing-animals/9780241334393?gclid=Cj0KCQjw1ZeUBhDyARIsAOzAqQJpxqHJoIE-UpmOe6uOQC-Rh0zkyypGQ2RTLAvgX-HROiBxN1qjUYUaAudxEALw_wcB

we have this. It’s beautifully illustrated. Stands test of time. They’ve looked at it at all ages.

TheDuchessOfBeddington · 19/05/2022 23:32

I got my first niece a folio copy of “A little Princess” with illustrations.

Fleur405 · 19/05/2022 23:25

Oh the places you will go by Dr Seuss

Original poster
CoffeeChocolateGin · 19/05/2022 23:24

Sgtmajormummy · 19/05/2022 23:21

www.amazon.co.uk/Wind-Willows-Panorama-Pops/dp/0744575532/ref=sr_1_10?crid=3W50D98039XB4&keywords=The+wind+in+the+willows+illustrated&qid=1652998409&sprefix=the+wind+in+the+willows+illustrated%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-10

You've sparked a memory with this one! I had one very similar as a child.

OP posts:
GetOffTheTableMabel · 19/05/2022 23:23

Maharajah20 · 19/05/2022 23:20

Beatrix Potter collection

https://www.amazon.co.uk/World-Peter-Rabbit-Complete-Collection/dp/0723257639/ref=sr11_1?crid=3URFZ6VTXRPFH&keywords=complete+beatrix+potter+collection&qid=1652998730&sprefix=Complete+collection+of+bea%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1

The illustrations are beautiful. The words, however, are quite dark and disturbing in some tales (like Squirrel Nutkin) and children do not enjoy sitting and listening to them as a rule. The same is true of Wind In The Willows. Gorgeous to look at. Absolutely not something a child is likely to sit and listen to, or read themselves.
illustrations by Jan Pietrowski are beautiful.

Original poster
CoffeeChocolateGin · 19/05/2022 23:22

These are great suggestions, thank you!

OP posts:
PushingAnElephantUpTheStairs · 19/05/2022 23:13

The Lost Words is gorgeous.

Sgtmajormummy · 19/05/2022 23:12

I love the original illustrations of The Wind in the Willows done by E.H.Shepard, the same artist who did Winnie the Pooh, but I saw a beautiful modern version recently.
I’ll link it on Amazon.