Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Shopping

From everyday essentials to big purchases, swap tips and recommendations. For the best deals without the hassle, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Books for 3-4 year olds

31 replies

Skate · 20/10/2004 08:26

Not sure I've got this in the right topic but,

Anyone got any ideas for good books for a 3-4 year old - want to get ds a few for Xmas and wondered if anyone with slightly older kids had any particular favourites.

The only one I can think of to get is The Tiger Who Came to Tea.

OP posts:
Hulababy · 20/10/2004 08:36

My DD is actually younger, but some of the books for older children we have incude/seen recommended:
The Gruffalo
The Gruffalo's Child
Room on a Broom
(or anythig by these authors TBH)
Dr Seuss
Mr Men &Little Miss
Shirley Huhes books - Alfie and Annie Rose; lots of others too...

marialuisa · 20/10/2004 08:49

DD is 3.5y and likes anything by lauren child (but particularly the Charlie & lola stories)

Handa's surprise

The Enormous crocodile

The Owl who was afraid of the dark

Horrid Henry stories

George's Marvellous Medicine

but i suspect most of her fave picture books are a bit soppy for boys! For example, Rosie's Babies and Angelina Ballerina stories.

Have you got any of the "classic" books like Not Now Bernard, Where the wild things Are and so on? DD still loves picture books, especially for "reading" to herself.

misdee · 20/10/2004 08:51

going on a bear hunt
anything by mike inkpen (think thats his name)
dd still loves the very hungrey catapiller, peepo and other board books, but she loves getting dd2 more involved.

Original poster
Skate · 20/10/2004 08:55

Great ideas - keep them coming!

Yes, we've got Where the Wild Things Are and some similar. Just needed more ideas - I'm always baffled when I go to a bookshop as to what to get there are so many!

OP posts:
Twiglett · 20/10/2004 09:32

the rascally cake

strongly recommend it especially for boys who think the word 'poo' is hysterical (although the word poo isn't in it)

sample

Mr Rufus Smimskins O'Parsley
Wouldn't eat supper unless it was ghastly.
Wormcast butties, tubes of glue
Pans of slugs in slimy stew
Bogey burgers, brown rat roast
Fat black tadpoles swashed on toast
Washed down with a cup of string
Can you imagine such a thing

(and yes, I did that from memory .. grrrrr)

Twiglett · 20/10/2004 09:34

he's just getting in to Green Eggs and Ham

and loves reading along to

Hairy Mclary from Donaldson's Dairy

(out of the garden and off for a walk went Hairy Mclary from Donaldson's Dairy

tarantula · 20/10/2004 09:48

Speak to the people in your local library. They are always really helpfull and can show you some of the books that are really popular esp the ones they use for storytime. Also look for books that appeal to you too as you'll be doing the reading.
One of my favs was "Im coming to get you" by Tony Ross.

littlerach · 20/10/2004 09:53

Hairy McClairy is great!
Also Percy the Parkeeper.
Pass the Jam Jim.
Room on a Broom.
Dare I say Topsy and Tim?!!

Chuffed · 20/10/2004 09:57

you can get Hairy McLary books with 4 or 5 stories in them and also a series with a cat in Amazon for about £6.
Even my 6 1/2 month old love them. I don't think I've ever heard of a child that didn't like them.

Twiglett · 20/10/2004 09:58

..and Hercules Morse
as big as a horse

with Hairy Mclairy from Donaldson's Dairy

WigWamBam · 20/10/2004 10:05

Farley Farts by Berte Muller
Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper
The House Cat by Helen Cooper
Some Dogs Do by Jez Albrough
No More Kissing! by Emma Chichester Clarke
Thomas the Tank Engine stories
Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp by Carol Diggery Shields
Six Dinner Sid by Inga Moore

Hausfrau · 20/10/2004 10:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

littlerach · 20/10/2004 10:09

Snitzel Von Crum
with a very low tum!!!

WigWamBam · 20/10/2004 10:10

Anything by Giles Andreae is good - he's really Purple Ronnie. Try Giraffes Can't Dance or Commotion in the Ocean

Hausfrau · 20/10/2004 10:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

krocket · 20/10/2004 10:11

Any of the Alfie and Annie Rose stories by Shirley Hughes.

Hausfrau · 20/10/2004 10:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WigWamBam · 20/10/2004 10:13

My daughter hated Hairy McClary!

Marina · 20/10/2004 10:16

Definitely agree with all nominations for The Rascally Cake and both Hairy Maclary and Slinky Malinki!
Bottomley Potts, all covered in spots....
Ds at this age was a big mix of soppy baby favourites and adventurous yuck-centred boy stuff. Still liked Shirley Hughes then (now thinks she's for gurls ) and loved Quentin Blake (Mrs Armitage stories, the one about Professor Dupont and the parrots, and especially the beautiful Green Ship).
My Uncle is a Hunkle is his favourite Charlie and Lola story, it really is a funny one.
He was also starting to take an interest in having Tintin read to him...the detailed drawings fascinate children who are still too young to follow all the plotting. Destination Moon and Moon Landing are good ones....

Issymum · 20/10/2004 10:23

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request

monkeygirl · 20/10/2004 10:27

Duck in the Truck and Fix-it Duck (Jez Alborough) loved in this house.
Chimp and Zee (Catherine and Laurence Anholt)
Crispin The Pig Who Had It All Ted Dewan
All the Blue Kangaroo stories (can't remember the author, sorry!)

WigWamBam · 20/10/2004 10:28

Blue Kangaroo is by Emma Chichester Clarke.

monkeygirl · 20/10/2004 10:32

Thanks!

Hausfrau · 20/10/2004 13:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LunarSea · 20/10/2004 22:33

Any of the "Farmyard Tales" books