Franny or anyone else who 'knows' their books!

[NotAnOtter]

Please could you help me.
I saw the thread on Mr Rabbit and the lovely present and have since tried to buy it ( out of stock everywhere until january'
Anyway - that aside - i am looking for slightly more memorable obscure books for my soon to be four year old.
He is my fourth so i do have the usuals - but love books with a bit more to them. i love Barefoot books - so have most of them - have been inspired recently by Knuffle Bunny - laughed out loud at 'Baby Brains' but feel i need some outside influence to really pep up his bookshelf!!!
PLEASE could you tell me a few of your favourites - i dont mind having to search for them - if you just steer me towards authors etc. A bit of cultural diversity is always a good start - and old books....
Any ideas!! Thankyou!

I love "Big Mamma made the world" - it's my fave kiddies book

Does Charlie and Lola appeal to boys as much as girls? My daughter LOVES "I am Not Sleepy" - we "read" it together now, she decides whether she wants to be Charlie or Lola and I read the other while she repeats hers from memory. One of only a handful of books she "reads" along to (others are probably too young for you to buy now as are mostly board books like Bear on a Bike, Hippos Go Berserk, or ones you probably have like This is The Bear, Hairy McLary). She's 3.5 years old so similar age group.

If still in print, Jessica Harriet's New Neighbours was a great one we got as a present for eldest.

Yes, my boys love charlie and lola.

Have you read "The Man on the Moon" by Stan Bartram (I think)? My almost 4 year old and his nursery friends love it.
Also love "The Time it Took Tom" by Nick Sharratt.
Ginger by Charlotte Voake

I guess you may already have "Harry the Dirty Dog" and "The Tiger Who came to Tea". Both timeless classics.

My sister and I ,loved a book called "Leo the Late bloomer" when we were kids. i bought it for her daughter last Xmas and she cried!!

My boys' fave is "Billy's bucket"

thanks so much everyone I am going to research all these - its SO helpful having you all to turn to!
Keep them coming!

The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew It Was None of His Business is our current favourite.

without a shadow of a doubt - the Richard Scarry books
And the Little Mole book is hilarious!

wow - my basket bulging on amazon!! leo the late bloomer looks fab!

going to search scarry now!

there was a good thred on children's books a little while ago..franny will find it

I'm really enjoying reading 'Nothing' by Mick Inkpen to dd (4)
I also found some old Ladybird books in a junk shop in the summer and we love those too.

this is the thread i was thinking of here

Mick Inkpen books are gorgeous - we especially liked "Billy's Beetle". There's a book called "So Much" which is brilliant but I can't remember who it's by. Jill Murphy's Large Family books are great.

Where the Wild Things Are
The Gruffalo
Room on the Broom
The Snail and the Whale
A Squash and a Squeeze
When Mummy Turned into a Monster
The Lighthousekeeper's Lunch
The Big Big Sea
There were Giants in Our House (I think that's the title - it's by Martin Waddell and it made me cry every time!)
A million Chameleons

Oh, hello, some great suggestions on here! A few more we love are the Trish Cooke books Full of Love and So Much .

Most of the other books I would really recommend are out of print, but you will find them on Amazon or eBay. Mary Ann Hobermann's books are absolutely superb and completely unappreciated - we love A House is a House for Me and The Cozy Book

I second Big Mama Makes the World - matriarchal creation myth

A Lion in the Meadow - mother and son make up stories together with surprising results

Michael Bird Boy - fab heartwarming story about friendship and taking care of the environment (sounds pukey but is marvellous)

and The Bunyip of Berkeley's Creek - about being different and having a positive self-image.

All of these are brilliantly illustrated picture books suitable for roughly age 2 - 5.

Oh and maybe slightly over the head of this age group but soooooo wonderful, is How Tom Beat Captain Najork and His Hired Sportsmen which I promise anyone will enjoy.

For chapter books to read aloud we love Milly Molly Mandy, My Naughty Little Sister, Jamie and Angus stories and The Bullerby Children .

I am very chuffed you are asking me, I hope I haven't overwhelmed you with links.

This is a subject close to my heart so I may come back and add some more later

Virginia Lee Burte some wonderful children's books in the 50s.You can get them on Amazon.The illistrations are brilliant and the stories are a touch longer. Perfect for a 4 yr old

Oh, and Mr Rabbit and the Lovely Present - plenty of copies here - do you mind second hand books? Most of our library is pre-loved...

Oh, and I have just remembered the Frances stories, by Russell Hoban. Anybody else read them?

The Story of Ferdinand, by Mungo Leaf

Blimey, which Ant and Bee went for £903? I have a couple, find them blomin awful to read so may be tempted to sell if the price was right

thankyou thankyou thankyou ! I love the idea of second had as 'why not?'
Gosh just realised you had linked them all Franny!! Thanks for all the offereings i will check them ALL out !!! I can just tell I am going to love them from the few i know....!
FAB MUMSNETTERS!