What picture books should I buy for DD

[Journeyintomelody]

We have read most of the Julia Donaldson books such as The gruffalo, stick man, room on the broom etc. we already have lots of the classics The tiger who came to tea, the very hungry caterpillar, whatever next. Have a couple of newer books eg. Giraffes can't dance.

We have been going to the library and read some really lovely stories but am looking to buy a few more as we only own 15-20.

I'm looking for some with good illustrations that will be suitable for a 4 or 5 years old.

Thank you

Teacher of 4/5 year olds for 37 years!!

I would recommend anything by Chris Haughton, Jon Klassen or Mo Willems. In the more classic range the following never fail to appeal - Owl babies, Dogger, the Mog books, the Blue Kangaroo series and the Jane Hissey toy series.
As we're coming up to Halloween the following are on my bookshelves- What's in the witches kitchen? By Nick Sharrat.
Funnybones by Alan Ahlberg
Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman
The little old lady who was not afraid of anything by Linda Williams.

Mog and Elmer are both really nice series

For non fiction, I really like this series: https://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Big-Book-Series-6-book-series/dp/B09FPL3TN5

We have all the ones you mentioned and my daughter also loves The Girl and the Dinosaur and A Dress With Pockets.

There’s a Unicorn in Your Book, Tom Fletcher

Hairy Maclary series are great.

Percy the Park keeper and Alfie are also some DD (nearly 4) enjoys.

Spot! They do a great range of books and mine used to love lifting the flaps up in them

Nadia shireen books are excellent for that age. We loved bumblebear and the cow that fell to earth.

I also bought a lot of strong girl books for my DD. Pearl power, intestellar cinderella, violet the pilot. If you like 'a mighty girl' on facebook they have loads of recommendations for every age. They are a US page but have uk amazon links.

I also recommend the usbourne farm series as they are brilliant for early readers.

Say Goodnight to the Sleepy Animals. Its really beautiful and very calming.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0230703968/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=&sr=

She also enjoys The Lion Inside, The Pandas Who Promised, and a few of the others in that range. She really enjoys the Little People, Big Dreams books too - we have a very random mix of them but she enjoys them all.

Tesco often do a 3 for 2 deal in school hols which is great.

You've had some great suggestions already so I'll add something different- we got a child's big encyclopedia aimed at pre schoolers which was brilliant. And we've got 2 of the big 'Complete book of...' We've got Space and Aeroplanes so far. It's a nice addition to just stories as there's so much to look at and talk about.

My DD really liked Little bear's spring at that age. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous.

Another vote for Percy the Park Keeper books. I love them too. The 3 Littlest Yak books are lovely with lovely messages (make me cry, but not the kids)

My son loved the hairy mclary books at that age which PP recommended.

What a fab thread. I love children's picture books. I'll have a look at DS2's shelves as he's five.....

Shirley Hughes books are lovely for the illustrations alone! "Lucy and Tom" at Christmas, or At the Seaside are favourites here.

Press Here but Henre Tullet.

Paddington Bear at the Fair.

Snowball by Sue Hendra.

Betty Goes Bananas by Steve Anton.

When Jelly had a wobble/ When cookie crumbled/when cucumber lost his cool/ the day the banana went bad. All by Michelle Robinson.

Also ...

Mog.
Slinky Malinky/Hairy Mclarey.
Supertato.

Than you for all the excellent suggestions! I'm not sure who enjoys our story time more, DD or me. I'm a sucker for anything with beautiful illustrations or some deadpan humour (Jon Klassen!). Thanks for the non-fiction suggestions. It's too young now, but we enjoyed the Sam Broughton books. I learned a surprising amount from Hello, Whale!

I used to get all our books from wob.com but have found the prices have really gone up since being taken over by Amazon and the last lot I bought had ripped pages and scribbles over the pictures, which was a shame. I really can't afford lots of new books so need to carefully select a few nice ones to top up our library books

My sons used to love the mog books, also Alfie and peepo!!! They are now 19 and 16 and still have their childhood books. Enjoy x

We love the Kipper books by Mick Inkpen. And most things by Mick Inkpen are great too but I have a soft spot for Kipper the dog

Some favourites in our household:

• Look Up/Clean Up/Speak Up by Nathan Bryon
• Agree with a PP about Nadia Shireen - Billy and the Beast, and Barbara Throws a Wobbler in particular
• Anything illustrated by Jon Klassen - the Hat Trilogy in particular is brilliant

The Harry books by Gene Zion
The Little Red Train books - you can spend ages looking at the pictures too

Happy reading ❤️

Caryl Harts Albie series are great also The Book With No Pictures is magnificent if you embrace reading it outloud in the way it was intended.

As someone who is an avid book buyer and still has lots of picture books to donate to the charity shop and DD is 15 now - don't buy them or at least random ones. There is no need, keep going to the library and picking up different ones and then possibly buy ones that become favourites or put that money toward buying beautifully illustrated ones or intricate pop ups for when they get older We have a lovely illustrated Alice in Wonderland, Wind in the Willows and Harry Potters.

I bought so many from theBookPeople now Books4people I believe as their deals were so good and we did read them but regular trips to the library and reading a range of books is so important too.

Mine loved the Fix it duck series - really fun

And Mole and the baby bird - really beautiful.

I used to like the books by Debi Gliori. Trouble with Dragons and No matter What

Also the Richard scarry books are great for enquiring minds

Modern favourites here have been the Wonkey Donkey books, Mighty Min, and the Dragon with the Blazing Bottom
My two also really liked Teddy bears go shopping, which is old and out of print, but can be found second hand.

The You Choose books are good for that age. Our fave was You Choose In Space.

Also on a similar vibe Super Silly Museums.

Fir a beautiful Halloween book Gustavo the Shy Ghost.

Skeleton School is excellent for a Halloween / starting school vibe.

The Lost Leopard is lovely and a bit different.

Katie Morag books have a bit more story than some picture books which is good as they grow.

Tk Max kids book section is always worth a look.

Rachel Bright books are fab and also we enjoyed Snow White in Space (there’s also a Goldilocks one)