You Choose

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My 3.5 year old loves You Choose, which is a picture book without a story, simply a selection of different pictures in which you can choose your favourite (house, pet, vehicle etc). I think the appeal is that we spend a while discussing each page rather than reading a set story, and it's very "busy", each page being crammed with things to look at.

He also likes the Katie Abey "We Eat Bananas/Catch the Bus/Wear Pants" which is a similar idea, and Richard Scarry's "What Do People Do All Day", which again has lots to discuss.

Other than getting more books in these series, does anyone have any suggestions for open ended books he might enjoy?

My daughter is 5 and still loves You Chose!! She also loved the Usbourne peep inside books - these are non fiction. And the books where you have to spot certain things throughout the pages.

Same as the poster above! We have the you choose series and the peep inside books.

You Choose is fabulous for kids with SEN and EAL learners.
I think that I'm on my fourth copy!

Would You Rather by John Burningham
Flip Flap Ocean
A Day With Dogs by Dorothee de Monfriend
Creature Features by Natasha Durley
We Wear Pants by Katie Abey

My child’s speech therapist used the you choose books with him. We have Richard Scarry’s busiest people ever which is a big favourite. We also had a lot of usborne peep inside and see under books. He also liked the flip flap animal ones where he could make up new animals.

Thank you for all these wonderful suggestions! I feel a bit silly that I thought that I would have to explain the concept of You Choose when everyone is clearly familiar with it.

It makes me a bit sad to think we've not been to the library in 6 months, and unlikely to go anytime soon as we are in local lockdown. Similarly the pleasure of going to a bookshop and doing some actual browsing is much reduced, I suspect we are not supposed to be handling books. So I feel I can order as many books as I like to make up for it.

Thank you again to all posters.

Neiko Ng books - a bit like Where's Wally but for pre schoolers. Also Migloo by William Bee.

My DC like You Choose too, we have all 3. Does he like fairy tales - the Fairytale Hairdresser books might go down well. As well as being good stories, they have detailed illustrations that cross reference other fairy tales so we spend quite a bit of time discussing them. DS likes them as well as DD, so they do appeal to boys as well.

The Book with No Pictures; BJ Novak

A favourite in our house. Great for sparking up conversations & laughter.

there is also just imagine, by the same authors, & mixed up fairy tales. I read you choose with my children until they were about 10!

My DS loves 1000 Things to Eat by Usborne. He likes to pick his favourite thing from each page and make me do the same. Reading it is one of my favourite (first) lockdown memories.

Our ancient copy of Imagine is in shreds but my 7 and 10 still love it, won’t let me throw it out!

My son liked the Digby Dog books. A bit like where's Wally for younger children - objects to find on each page and lots happening in the pictures.

gerda muller’s season books (spring, summer etc) are wordless & lovely for kids to describe the pictures/tell the story.

Also Journey series (3 book) by Aaron Becker is wordless & amazing for older kids (5 ish?)

Thanks for more suggestions! I've ordered another one of the You Choose books (You Imagine) and going to get The Book With No Pictures, the seasons set and one from the Usborne 1000 series. Migloo is already wrapped for Christmas. I love buying children's books so much.

My kids loved You Choose!

Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus is another good one!

Thank you for all these wonderful suggestions! I feel a bit silly that I thought that I would have to explain the concept of You Choose when everyone is clearly familiar with it.

Don't worry! It made me smile 🤣

I had to hide it at bedtime because it drove me nuts how long it could be spun out for with no 'go to sleep' benefits!!

We used to enjoy You Choose.

Try ‘Rosie’s walk’ where a chicken takes a stroll around the farm while oblivious that a fox is just behind (but being foiled in comical ways). This is a visual book where you describe the story (no text) a very useful step in learning storytelling for children this age.

Ooh, that pigeon has a glint in its eye, in the online basket it goes!

Yes, I think Rosie's Walk is beautifully illustrated too.

Ah yes, the ruses they'll use to put off going to sleep! I used to let DS choose three bedtime stories but had to swiftly make up some rules for story selection when he picked three Beatrix Potters, which were all much longer (and more bloodthirsty) than I remembered.

You choose, you choose in space and just imagine. All my 3 have loved them, DD is 7 and still likes it occasionally.
Mine also liked the 'Oi' books - Oi Dog, Oi Cat, Oi Frog, Oi duck billed platypus.

I love the Oi! books, the expressions on the animals faces are amazing.

We loved You Choose so much we had several copies. Another one with lots to talk about on each page is Look! A Book! By Bob Staake. Lots of fun.

And all the books in the Don't Let The Pigeon Drive the Bus. Brilliant!!!

I recommend "Jonathan the Magic Pony" by Stuart Heritage which my 3.5 year old absolutely adores!