The Junior 100 Best Loved Children Books of all time...
in no particular order. Ready?...
1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar
by Eric Carle
Not many children’s books achieve worldwide sales that year on year but Eric Carle’s classic picture book about a caterpillar munching his way to becoming a beautiful butterfly has sold 30 million copies. Carle had only just started out as a children’s author when he wrote The Very Hungry Caterpillar in 1969. Before that, he was a graphic designer. He had been experimenting with a hole-punch in his efforts to find a different kind of children’s book and had suggested a story to his publisher about a worm eating through the pages.
In the story, the newly hatched caterpillar starts to look for food. On day one he eats one piece of fruit, the next two, the next three and so on, until he reaches the end of the week, when he eats a fabulous feast of muffins, pizza and pickle. The following day he has a stomach ache! By now he is too fat to move and we wonder what is next for our hero. There’s a moment of triumph as we turn the final page and discover he has been transformed into a beautiful butterfly.
2. The Guffalo
by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheduler
In a wily woodland mouse manages to escape being eaten by predators by telling them that an imaginary monster is going to appear at any minute. Of course, the mouse doesn’t really expect the monster to put in an appearance, and when it does, he has to use his wits to make The Gruffalo believe that he is so scary himself that the warty beast would be making a really, really big mistake if he tried to eat him!
Julia Donaldson’s use of repeated narrative and smart rhymes soon has little readers chanting the story, while Axel Scheffler’s distinctive, crazy-eyed creatures stylishly underline the humour. “All the Gruffalo’s attributes were really just adjectives that sounded good in the flow of the rhyme,” says playwright/performer Donaldson. It’s a ploy that has been hugely successful as can you believe The Guffalo was published just 20 years ago?
3. Where The Wild Things Are
by Maurice Sendak
Max dons his wolf suit in pursuit of some mischief and gets sent to bed without supper. Fortuitously, a forest grows in his room, allowing his wild rampage to continue unimpaired. Sendak’s color illustrations are beautiful, and each turn of the page brings the discovery of a new wonder.
Where The Wild Things Aremanages to be scary-looking without ever really being scary; at times they’re downright hilarious. Sendak’s trademark run-on sentences lend the perfect touch of stream of consciousness to the tale, which floats between the land of dreams and a child’s imagination. This Sendak classic reaffirms the notion that there’s no place like home.
4. Winnie-The-Pooh
by A.A Milne and EH Shepard
Although the language and turns of phrase are from a bygone era Winnie-The-Pooh books continue to be hugely popular (with the Disney creations only helping to widen the honey-munching bear’s appeal). First published in 1926, the tales were inspired by AA Milne’s own son (immortalised as Christopher Robin) and his cuddly toys.
However, the image of Pooh that we have come to know and love was based on the favoured toy bear of illustrator Ernest Shepard’s son. In the tales about life with Edward Bear (Winnie to you and I), the first collection of stories establishes Pooh’s world with Christopher Robin, Piglet, Eeyore, Rabbit and Kanga, and their many life-learning adventures in the 100 Acre Wood.
5. We’re Going On A Bear Hunt
by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury
First published in 1993, this much-loved spoken-word game for small children evolved into Michael Rosen’s poetic book. A father, his four children of various sizes and the family dog are off in search of adventure… and a bear. On a rainy day, this story is a wonderful way of escaping the confines of the sofa, by suggesting the squelching of muddy fields, the crackle of wild woods, and the swirl and bluster of a snowstorm.
Children of all ages enjoy miming their struggle on the journey that finally brings them to the cave where dwells the elusive bear. However, when they get there, the bear’s just a little bit too scary and back they have to rush, retracing their steps in double-quick time. In Rosen’s reinterpretation, the drama is in the pace of the words, and Helen Oxenbury’s playful illustrations bring the armchair expedition to life (as did the Channel 4 animated version in 2016)
6. Each Peach Pear Plum
by Allan & Janet Ahlberg
The husband-and-wife team who have created so many wonderful children’s books appear several times in this Top 100. Which is not at all surprising: the lilting rhymes, playful sense of humour and Janet Ahlbergs’ warm, cartoony illustrative style are all effortlessly appealing to young readers and their parents. First published in 1978, Each Peach Pear Plum is a picture book for the very young with simple sentences on each page and an I-spy challenge to the reader to find Tom Thumb, Cinderella, The Three Bears, and so on.
The repetitive nature of the text becomes a playful mantra as one clue leads to the next page’s tableau. “I found a little bit of Each Peach Pear Plum in a wonderful little book called The Lore And Language Of Schoolchildren by Iona and Peter Opie,” recalls Allan Ahlberg. “It’s a collection of playground rhymes from the 1930s into the 1950s. It was the idea that you could hide things in the pictures and then reveal them. It’s a very simple text but it runs round in a circle.” Janet died in 1994, but Allan continues to write.
7. Guess How Much I Love You
by Sam McBratney
Many of the most enduring children’s books are seemingly the most simple in design. In Sam McBratney’s modern classic, first published in 1994, a big cuddly hare and a little cuddly hare exchange expressions of love in a warm and reassuring way that any child at bedtime could enjoy. Coupled with Anita Jeram’s gentle illustrative style, it’s not hard to see why this book has sold 28 million copies worldwide.
Yet there is a deeper appeal to this picture book: it touches on how strange an abstract concept like ‘love’ can be for a small child. With an economy of words and a restrained humour, McBratney achieves this. “I wrote it to say something meaningful and humorous, using as few words as possible,” he explains.
8. Room on the Broom
by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
Julia Donaldson’s partnership with illustrator Axel Scheffler has produced several modern classics one of them being Room On The Broom. First publised in 2001 it blends detailed images with simple, poetic narrative of a flame-haired witch and her familiar broom as they get into all kinds of scrapes.
Lists, repetition and being pursued as a dragon’s dinner all add to the pure pleasure in storytelling that young children respond to so well. “My starting point,” explains Donaldson, “was that a witch on her broom always has a cat. Well, what if she had other animals on there as well?” It has since been adapted in a stage and animated TV version, as well as a interactive attraction at Chessington World of Adventures.
9. Dear Zoo
by Rod Campbell Campbell
When Rod Campbell came up with the idea of “lift-the-flaps” to reveal surprises in Dear Zoo, way back in 1982, the pace and humour introduced a whole new way to enjoy books with preschoolers.“Children enjoy the idea and the logic, and join in easily, owing to the repetitive text and the physical act of lifting the flaps,” says Campbell. In the story, a narrator asks the zoo to send him a pet. However, the zoo keep sending animals which are completely inappropriate – a monkey who is too naughty, a camel who is too grumpy – and each one has to be sent back.
As the story progresses, children love the different shaped flaps which represent animal crates or a snake’s basket, until finally the zoo get it right and send our narrator the perfect pet – a loveable puppy! First published in 1982 Dear Zoo continues to be a family favourite and a live stage version opened in 2018.
10. The Tiger Who Came To Tea
by Judith Kerr
Published in 1968 The Tiger Who Came to Tea celebrates its 50th anniversary next year in 2018. A book that is undeniably a true classic with a little retro charm (check out the mother’s flick-up hairdo and kinky boots!). There is also something strangely stylised about this domestic scene of mother and daughter at teatime that has a real Fifties-feel (despite Sophie’s funky spotty tights). Children love the fun involved in books that mix reality with fantasy. They all know what tea-time is, they know what a tiger is, but tea with a tiger is the silliest thing.
And because Judith Kerr is a wonderful storyteller, she doesn’t get caught up in the small details, such as why the tiger didn’t bother eating Sophie and mummy. And, the coolest thing is that when daddy comes home, he doesn’t just freak out: he suggests the family eat out instead! There is also a regular touring live stage show that really brings the book to life and a truly special afternoon tea at The Savoy in London too.
11. Peepo!
by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
First published in 1981, this wonderful boardbook appeals rather like The Very Hungry Caterpillar – as you simply can’t beat a hole in the page for toddler enjoyment. In Peepo!, a baby glimpses his small domestic world through a little circular cut-out on the page, before the full scene – a cosy kitchen, a visit to the park, the soft light of bedtime – is revealed overleaf.
Set in the early Forties, it’s an unpretentious vision of a baby’s contented life based on Allan Ahlberg’s own working-class childhood. And, the illustrations delight today as they ever did.
12. Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone
by JK Rowling
The book that launched a bespectacled schoolboy-cum-wizard into the stratesphere of worldwide fame, Harry Potter is a literary sensation. The first Harry Potter novel has become one of the biggest selling books of all time since it debuted in 1997. Not bad for a ‘sci-fi’ novel , right?
This book introduces us to Harry – from his magical beginnings as a baby and his discovery, aged 11, of his strange potential as his life at Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry begins. JK Rowling’s ability to write a compelling narrative that appeals to young readers and adults alike has been key to the Potter legend. The later, much darker volumes make Potter daunting for some under-tens but with films, stage versions, clothingand theme parks the world of Harry Potter look set to continue.
13. Hairy Maclary From Donaldson’s Dairy
by Lynley Dodd
First published 1983, Lynley Dodd’s scruffy black mutt Hairy Maclary doesn’t get up to much most of the time – except chewing bones, chasing things and hanging out with his friends. Yet this first, simple rhymer, which introduces small children to Hairy’s array of doggy pals (“Bottomley Potts covered in spots”; “Schintzel von Krumm with a very low tum”, and so on) is a rhythmic delight.
Dodd’s illustrative style is gentle and almost old-fashioned, but it’s the narrative (with playful lilts akin to those of the wonderful Dr Seuss), where the native New Zealander uses the richest language (“cacophony”, “caterwaul” and “howdedoo” are prime examples) that makes her many follow-up books featuring animals with catchy names such roaring global successes.
14. The Cat In The Hat
by Dr Seuss
Theodor Seuss Geisel wrote this vibrant linguistic romp back in 1957 as a primer to help children with the 225 words that were vital to ‘new reader’ vocabulary. The cheeky Cat arrives and causes mayhem with his suggested rainy day games in the home of two young children, while their mother is out. Dr Seuss’ poetic pace heaps excitement upon chaos in a story that’s fun as well as educational.
15. The Jolly Postman
by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
By Allan Ahlberg’s own admission, he and his late wife always liked to make a book very different from the one before. In The Jolly Postman, first published in 1986, our eponymous hero makes his deliveries around a storyland populated by famous fairy tale and nursery rhyme characters. Adventures abound as each communication offers more intrigue.
The envelopes are ingeniously built into the pages and each letter is cleverly designed to delight young readers. So beloved is this book, you’ll rarely find a well-thumbed edition where any of the letters have been lost. Check out The Jolly Christmas Postman for a festive update on this classic published in 2013.
16. I Will Never Not Ever Eat A Tomato
by Lauren Child
Lauren Child’s phenomenally successful Charlie and Lola creations had a vibrant life in print long before they were turned into a funky television series. I Will Not Ever Never Eat A Tomato was first published in 2001, and introduces the indomitable Lola, a cheeky preschool madam who always has a smart excuse to justify getting her own way.
However, older brother Charlie appeals to her sense of fantasy to overcome common childhood issues – such as fussy eating. Great fun, and useful if you know a fussy eater who doesn’t like tomatoes, or eggs, or peas…
17. The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe
by CS Lewis
First published in 1950, the first of CS Lewis‘ The Chronicles Of Narnia series tells the magical story of a family of children who have been evacuated from London during the war. Exploring the country house they have moved to, the youngest daughter, Lucy, discovers a secret world inside a disused wardrobe and soon all the children are launched into the world of Narnia. Belief, betrayal and salvation are the strong biblical themes, but the appeal of this enduring fantasy reaches far beyond that.
18. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory
by Roald Dahl
First published in 1964, the enduring appeal of Roald Dahl lies not only in his expert storytelling, but in the gruesome, gory and silly nature of his books. What child hasn’t dreamt of rivers of chocolate? Yet Dahl was never sentimental, and here the hero is the only son of the almost comically poor Bucket family, who wins the final place on a one-off tour of the top-secret sweet factory owned by Willy Wonka.
While Dahl allows us to wallow in confectionery, the other children in the book – greedy, lazy and spoilt – come to sweetly sticky ends. A wonderful novel for young readers which fires their imaginations and offers a cautionary tale. And, of course as all classic book it has been made in a film or two – the classic with Gene Wilder and the updated version with Johnny Depp.
19. The Tale of Peter Rabbit
by Beatrix Potter
Originally written in 1902 as a picture-letter to a sickly five-year-old, Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit paved the way for Potter’s series of wildlife stories of naughty bunnies, ill-fated toads and other well-dressed creatures with human traits. Illustrating her work with a delicate style, Potter brought the wonders of her beloved English countryside to an Edwardian audience who instantly fell in love with her books.
One day, while mother rabbit is out, Peter strays into his neighbour’s garden and proceeds to eat his vegetables, only to be chased away by an angry Mr McGregor. Potter’s writing style has the quaint, mannered charm of its period.
20. The Magic Faraway Tree
by Enid Blyton
Three children discover an enchanted wood where a gigantic magic tree grows. At the top of the tree is a ladder which leads the children to a magic land that is constantly changing – they are sometimes extremely unpleasant (the Land of Dame Slap) or sometimes fantastically enjoyable (the Land of Birthdays, the Land of Take-What-You-Want).
The children are free to come and go, but they have to leave before the land “moves on” or they will be stuck there until the magic hole returns through which they can get down the ladder at the top of the tree. First published in 1943, Enid Blyton’s the Faraway Tree is inhabited by wonderful characters including Moonface, the fairy Silky, The Saucepan Man, Dame Washalot, Mr. Watzisname and the Angry Pixie.
21. Owl Babies
by Martin Waddell and Patrick Benson
Sarah, Percy and Bill wake up one night to find their mother isn’t there. Their loneliness makes them anxious and the fluffy white owls begin to fret, but are overcome with relief and joy when mummy owl comes back. A gently reassuring bedtime read for two-year-olds.
22. Alfie Gets In First
by Shirley Hughes
Once again Hughes’s down-to-earth approach to storytelling stands out. Little boy Alfie accidentally locks his mother and his baby sister outside. Getting the door open again is a convoluted process involving neighbours and all sorts. First published in 1981, the Alfie series of books is a warm and wonderful exploration for preschoolers.
23. Peace At Last
by Jill Murphy
It’s now nearly 50 since Mr and Mrs Bear and Baby Bear first appeared in 1980. Here, they are going to bed, but Mr Bear can’t sleep because Mrs Bear snores. He tries to get to sleep in Baby Bear’s room and every other room in the house, even the car, but each place is too noisy.
Eventually, he notices that all is quiet and he gets back into his own bed to enjoy peace at last… Murphy’s soft illustrations and the comedy found in the domestic scene make this an appealing bedtime read.
24. The Snail And The Whale
by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
Donaldson and Scheffler unite for a beautiful story that encourages children to see how important we all are, big or small. A small snail longs to sail the seas and by hitching a ride with his massive friend the whale, he can explore icebergs, volcanoes and other wonders across the earth.
However, when the whale is stranded on a beach, it is snail who can come to his rescue by writing an SOS message. Richly colourful and charming, with memorable rhyming. And, it also celebrated its 15th Anniversary in 2018.
25. No Matter What
by Debi Gliori
When Gliori got divorced, the experience she saw her own daughter go through inspired No Matter What. First published in 1999, it tell the tale of a parent fox called Large promises Small, her cub, that whatever happens, she will always be there filling their life with love and cuddles.
Small asks lots of questions, but Large is consistent in her reassuring replies. The fluffy illustrative style is appealing to young readers, whether the separation is only temporary at bedtime, or for a more prolonged period of a parent being away.
26. Green Eggs And Ham
by Dr Seuss
Another gem by the inimitable Dr Seuss, and first published in 1960, not only is this book one of the good doctor’s finest adventures into the joy of language, with its nonsense poetry and chugging rhythms, but it’s also a great way to persuade young children that they may actually like a new food! Sam-I-Am is desperate to get his chum to try green eggs and ham and suggests all kinds of scenarios that might make the dish appeal – eating them with a fox, in a box, in the dark, in the rain, and so on.
27. I Love You Blue Kangaroo!
by Emma Chichester Clark
Lily Brown and her cuddly toy, Blue Kangaroo, are inseparable. However, a procession of new toys oust Blue Kangaroo from pride of place in Lily’s bed and eventually he hops off to her baby brother’s cot.
When Lily sees her beloved cuddly in the arms of someone else she realises that he is too special to lose. A lovely bedtime read by award-winning illustrator Chichester Clark, a former Royal College of Art student who was taught by Quentin Blake.
28. Pants
by Giles Andreae and Nick Sharratt
Given that poo and potties can even dominate the conversation of adults, in a child’s first few years, it’s no surprise that young readers delight when their parents read them an ode to pants.
Beyond that, Andreae’s flowing rhymes and Sharratt’s comic illustrative style raise the silliness stakes as the book explores various pants and how they might suit different incongruous settings. Great fun. The follow-up More Pants continues the fixation with underwear with more fun and frolics.
29. James And The Giant Peach
by Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake
In true Dahl style, this adventure (first published in 1961) is rather strange, but wry and compassionate. Before the first page is out poor James Henry Trotter is orphaned and condemned to a life of cruelty with his Aunts Spiker and Sponge.
However, one day he meets a strange man who offers him a bag of magic grains, only James drops the bag in the garden and a mighty peach appears. James is befriended by a clutch of insects who were also affected by the magic and they all fly away on an incredible adventure.
30. Dogger
by Shirley Hughes
Hughes’s ability to capture something precious and important to young children from their own lives, makes her works enduring favourites decades after they were written. Dogger is a toy dog whose owner Dave takes him everywhere.
Dave and his family’s life of school, treats and bathtime provide a comforting backdrop to a story in which Dave actually loses Dogger. Both must go through hard times before a happy reunion brings the story to a comforting close for readers.
31. Mog The Forgetful Cat
by Judith Kerr
If family cats are independent creatures who wander off and do their own thing, Mog is no different. Often the moggy is daydreaming her way into a series of adventures, and in this book, Judith Kerr’s first ever Mog story, she forgets she can’t fly when she chases birds and forgets that she has a basket when she sleeps in front of Mr Thomas’s view of the television.
Like any naughty toddler she is told off for everyday misdemeanours, so the books translate beautifully. Despite Judith’s sad passing in 2019 at the age of 96 her legacy continues within the pages of every book she wrote.
32. Maisy Goes To Hospital
by Lucy Cousins
Maisy, Mimi, Mausi or even Molly has been translated into 28 languages and sold over 25 million copies. There are now more than 150 colourful first stories about the little mouse and her friends. A wonderful route to colours, objects and early words from prolific author Lucy Cousins.
33. Matilda
by Roald Dahl, Illustrated by Quentin Blake
Made into a Hollywood film in 1996, Matilda is the story of a girl genius breaking out from the confines of a horrible home life and boring school. Instead, her supportive and encouraging teacher Miss Honey and Matilda’s own special powers transcend Roald Dahl’s vision of neglectful parenting.
Matilda celebrated her 30th Anniversary in 2018 with a re-issued hardback with 3 original and brand-new covers by the original illustrator – Quentin Blake of course, each with a career that Blake himself has imagined that Matilda might have at 30 years old.
34. Charlotte’s Web
by EB White and Garth Williams
Charlotte is a spider who lives in a barn where one day, a runt piglet called Wilbur comes to live. When she discovers that Wilbur is destined for slaughter, the spider manages to save him by writing special messages in her web.
The pair become famous and are celebrated at the county fair, but sadly a spider’s life is not a long one. EB White’s book for confident readers explores sometimes difficult issues in a compassionate, celebratory and magical story.
35. One Snowy Night
by Nick Butterworth
This, the first Percy book, has Nick Butterworth’s trademark soft illustrative appeal. Percy the Park Keeper always feeds the animals, but when there’s heavy snow, he realises he’ll have to keep them safe and warm in his hut and it quickly becomes a bit of a squeeze. The Percy series has enjoyed huge success with preschoolers.
36. Thomas The Tank Engine
by Rev W Awdry
Reverend Awdry made up the railway stories for his young son, Christopher, based on his own childhood love of steam trains. Embuing the various trains and engines with human traits, Awdry created tales that taught little children about life – tantrums, mishaps an’ all.
Now an international phenomenon, the original books have a wonderfully dry humour that appeals to adults and children alike.
37. Mr. Men
by Roger Hargreaves
Several Mr. Men books made it into the voting box (including some of the Little Miss series, which began in 1981). Simple in design and illustration, these bold characters get up to all kinds of comic capers because of their particular traits or habits. Mr. Tickle was Roger Hargreaves’ first invention, but the series continued with the likes of Mr. Bump, Mr. Messy and Mr. Forgetful, all of which allow young children to explore different personalities through fun stories
38. The Baby’s Catalogue
by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
Inspired by their own baby daughter’s love of shopping catalogues with nursery goods in them, the Ahlbergs created a lovely picture book of objects and scenes from a baby’s world to share with a child as a first book. Beautiful, pastel-shaded illustrations have made this a classic that continues to delight toddlers.
39. That’s Not My…
by Fiona Watt and Rachel Wells
A simple idea that has stretched to all kinds of themes. Chunky boardbooks with textured pages take a child through a simple narrative: “That’s not my dinosaur/teddy/dolly/tractor”. And on each page there’s a reason why not – like bumpy skin, shiny hair ties, squashy wheels, until eventually we arrive at the right item.
As well as the touchy-feely experience, the basic vocabulary repetition is a valuable – and enjoyable – early learning tool. With over 50 titles in the collection every child will have a favourite or two.
40. Horrid Henry
by Francesca Simon and Tony Ross
Horrid Henry hates his brother Perfect Peter, and his classmates Moody Margaret, Weepy William, Aerobic Al and, well, you get the idea. School life is all about avoiding work and causing the teachers as much grief as possible; home life is a trial of avoiding parental discipline, while also eating all the sweets, cheating at competitions and generally being horrid.
His wickedly rebellious world appeals to young children instantly, and Francesca Simon‘s first volume has spawned a young-reader series now immortalised on television and a movie starring Angelica Huston too. The Dennis the Menace of his time.
41. The Wind In The Willows
by Kenneth Grahame
It might be 100 years old, but this novel about Ratty, Mole, Badger, Toad and the other animals of the riverbank is an evocation of rural England that still captures the imagination. Adapted again and again as an animation, film, stage play and television series, Kenneth Grahame’s story, which afforded the wildlife human characteristics, brings themes of friendship and morality to children’s books.
42. Goodnight Moon
by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd
A sweet and enduring bedtime book in which the reader can say goodnight to the objects around the room and outside the window, in preparation for sleep. Margaret Wise Brown’s reassuring read is regarded as a major text for early childhood in America and has enjoyed much success here, too.
43. Where, Oh Where, Is Kipper’s Bear?
by Mick Inkpen
Subtitled ‘A pop-up book with light!’, this is a playful bedtime story where Mick Inkpen’s dry-witted dog has to go on a hunt for his cuddly toy. The series of Kipper books began in 1991 and have been adapted deftly for television. Despite the rich ginger colours of our hero, the scenes are often basic on a white background, allowing Inkpen’s humour and a child’s imagination to do the rest.
44. Where’s Spot?
by Eric Hill
One of the great pioneers of the lift-the-flap novelty books for babies, Spot remains a timeless classic. Here, the honey-and-black puppy has gone missing at dinner time and mummy dog, Sally, must find him.
Eric Hill’s deceptively simple narrative and bright, bold illustrations make this a great choice with very young children. Hill has sold millions of books in the Spot series
45. Is It Bedtime Wibbly Pig?
by Mick Inkpen
Simple counting, vocabulary and exploration of emotions are all great pluses that the Wibbly Pig series bring to Mick Inkpen’s sweet little picture books. In this story, a very familiar bedtime scenario is played out: Wibbly Pig wants to do everything but go to bed. Splashing in the bath, counting the stairs… what else can the little pig do to side-step sleep? Of course, eventually he has to give in to slumber – so a happy ending for all parents!
46. Monkey Puzzle
by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
A clever book with a familiar children’s picture book theme: a little animal who’s lost his mummy. However, Julia Donaldson’s easy rhyming narratives are never one-dimensional, and here, children can enjoy the fun of the monkey meeting all kinds of beasts who share one or two traits with his mother, but who are completely different to him, before being reunited with his family.
47. Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland
by Lewis Carroll
The oldest book in the Top 100, the sheer brilliant fantasy of this story has not dimmed in over a century. Originally created by Lewis Carroll (real name Charles Dodgson) to amuse three young girls on a boat trip down the Thames, it tells of a curious child (Alice) who follows a large white rabbit down a rabbit hole, only to find a door opening to a strange world of weird creatures.
A Cheshire cat, a tea party, a Queen and a Duchess all add to the very English adventure. A great story to read to children of six years and up.
48. The Gruffalo’s Child
by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
In the first book, the Gruffalo is the threatening beast of legend, but in a clever switch it’s now the Big Bad Mouse who is the object of awe and fear in this sequel. Julia Donaldson’s lilting rhyming narrative here has the Gruffalo telling his child about the legend of said rodent.
Of course, the curious little one just can’t resist going in search of the Big Bad Mouse as this tale twists and turns comically again. This is a gentle follow-up with a sophistication we’ve come to expect, and a great way to dispel fears of monsters before bedtime.
49. Meg And Mog
by Helen Nicoll and Jan Pienkowski
Simple, fun witchy tales that paired Helen Nicoll’s humorous narrative with Pienkowski’s trademark mix of stark black characterisation and rich colourful landscapes. The Meg And Mog series has continued to appear for over 30 years, and is great for developing vocabulary.
50. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
by Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carle
It is the glorious collage illustrations of Eric Carle that has made this book such a hit. Brown Bear has the now trademark textured colourful pictures better known in The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The question-and-answer format allows children to participate in and predict the narrative and spot things with Bear.
51. Mister Magnolia
by Quentin Blake
Dahl illustrator Quentin Blake has written some wonderful books for small children. Mister Magnolia is a poetic joy in which our hero possesses lots of wonderful objects, animals and even two sisters, but he only has one boot!
52. Duck In The Truck
by Jez Alborough
There’s something almost Looney Tunes in the pacing and the humour of Jez Alborough‘s first Duck book (Fix-It Duck and Captain Duck followed). Duck and his friends end up in a manic, muddy mess. This is a fun, rhyming romp for three-year-olds, with slapstick visuals.
53. The Smartest Giant In Town
by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
The scruffiest giant in town attempts to buy a whole new outfit. However, on his way home, George encounters various animals in need and ends up giving away all his fabulous new gear (his shoes make the perfect abode for a mouse and her homeless mouselings, for example). Clever and funny reading.
54. Floss
by Kim Lewis
The first in a series of stories about Floss the sheepdog that tells of how she goes from being a playful town dog to a hard-working farm animal. Kim Lewis creates a wonderful natural landscape in the writing and illustrations. A great story that’s told without getting too sentimental.
55. Hippos Go Berserk!
by Sandra Boynton
A great counting book in which a bored hippo calls his mates around until eventually there is what can only be described as a mayhem of hippopotami. Sandra Boynton’s soft, rounded illustrations make this a charming book for very young children, and something of a classic.
56. The Story Of Tracy Beaker
by Jacqueline Wilson and Nick Sharratt
Human, honest and told in a language that doesn’t patronise children, Jacqueline Wilson’s stories don’t boast happy endings, yet they have become incredibly successful. Tracy Beaker is a ten-year-old in a care home with apparent “behavioural difficulties” – she has become an anti-hero for our times.
57. Heidi
by Johanna Spyri
An orphaned girl who is taken to live with her reclusive grandfather in the Swiss Alps, Heidi is a warm-hearted child who gradually helps the old man to find a new happiness. But then she is packed off to the city by an aunt where the cultural differences cause her to learn even more life lessons. Stirring, girls’ own stuff. Often adapted for television and film.
58. A Squash And A Squeeze
by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
“Wise old man, won’t you help me please? My house is a squash and a squeeze,” moans an old lady to a friend. He suggests she takes in a series of farm animals to solve her problem. Of course the little house is made even more cramped and chaotic.
But when the wise old man then advises the lady to shoo them all out again, she realises her house seems positively palatial after all! Children love the poetic repetition, the naughty animals and the fun adjectives: “tiny”, “titchy”, “teeny”, “weeny”, and so on.
59. Olivia
by Ian Falconer
The black, white and red in Falconer’s stylish piglet tales perhaps stem from his sophisticated background as a painter and illustrator for The New Yorker, the New York City Ballet and the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.
In the first book we’re introduced to a busy little pig who loves to get dressed (and try everything on), sing, build sandcastles, dance, paint, and eventually go to bed! Ian Falconer‘s series has seen Olivia try her trotters at ballet, the circus and, in her latest foray, help get Christmas sorted.
60. The Bad-Tempered Ladybird
by Eric Carle
Eric Carle’s story is about a moody little fellow who gets on the wrong side of everyone, no matter how big they are. But, he gets his just desserts and learns the joys of a pleasing disposition!
62. A Bear Called Paddington
by Michael Bond HarperCollins
Michael Bond was inspired to write about the accident-prone bear from Darkest Peru when he bought the last teddy bear on a shop shelf. In the story, Paddington is found at the station with a sign reading “Please look after this bear”. Kindly Mr and Mrs Brown adopt him – to their well-meaning cost!
63. The BFG
by Roald Dahl
Despite Sophie being scared of him when she first sees him at her bedroom window, The Big Friendly Giant is just that. He blows sweet dreams through the windows to children at night, and battles unfriendly giants. Roald Dahl creates a wonderful giant language – the bad ones eat children or ‘humanbeans’. Also, catch the 2016 film version of The BFG by Steven Spielberg.
64. Goodnight Poppy Cat
by Lara Jones
Lara Jones‘ touch-and-explore series of books appeal to very young readers who find this round, ginger cat adorable, and love squishing the bathtime bubbles.
65. Fantastic Mr Fox
by Roald Dahl
Mr Fox enjoys his life doing fox-like things, such as eating chickens and turkeys, much to the annoyance of farmers Bunce, Boggis and Bean. The trio decide they must rid themselves of this pest any way they can, but Mr Fox and his fellow wild animals manage to outwit the foolish men.
Typically Roald Dahl in its cruel characterisation (paired with Blake’s illustrations) of the vile farmers and its dark comedy, this is a great antidote to the more wholesome reads available for six- and seven-year-olds.
66. The Man On The Moon
by Simon Bartram
Subtitled A Day In The Life Of Bob, Simon Bartram‘s beautifully illustrated picture book is all about a polite English chap who lives on Earth and commutes to the Moon every day to work – showing tourists around and dispelling the rumours that aliens exist.
Except that keen young readers can spot aliens everywhere, hiding in craters, sneaking into Bob’s rocket and even peering out of his garden bushes back home! An offbeat delight with a retro Fifties shimmer to it.
67. Black Beauty
by Anna Sewell
Parents of a certain age will remember the classic Seventies television series of Black Beauty, but this Victorian tale of a fine young foal who passes through the hands of good, bad and cruel owners, is still classic reading for all little girls who are mad on horses.
68. Fix-It Duck
by Jez Alborough
Our plucky Duck hero spots a leak in the roof, but can he fix it? Well, no he can’t, but we can have some great fun the ensuing slapstick chaos. Jez Alborough plays with language to wonderful effect, with a tongue-twister challenge young children find hilarious.
69. You’re All My Favourites
by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram
Like Guess How Much I Love You (in our Top 10), this Sam McBratney tale reassures children about parent-child love and closeness. It’s a great book if your child has siblings, because here three little bears want Mummy Bear and Daddy Bear to say which one of them is their favourite. Needless to say, the parents put each individual’s mind to rest…
70. The Snowman
by Raymond Briggs
After working on the slime of Fungus The Bogeyman, Raymond Briggs wanted something airy and pleasant to work on, hence the soaring, crisp clean landscape for his much-loved The Snowman. It’s hard to avoid thinking of Aled Jones’s voice when you picture this story, but the power of Briggs’ heart-warming book lies in the fact the story is told using only images.
A boy’s snowman comes to life and takes the child on an incredible journey to meet Father Christmas. However, the Snowman can’t last forever and the boy must come to terms with his loss when the warm weather melts his friend away. The Snowman celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2018 – and published a heartwarming re-telling of this classic tale by Micheal Morpurgo.
71. Good Night, Gorilla
by Peggy Rathmann
The zoo keeper is doing his last evening round and saying goodnight to various animals, but there’s one gorilla who isn’t ready for bed and who releases all his other furry friends…Peggy Rathmann‘s charming book is also available as a gift pack with a toy gorilla!
72. You Choose
by Pippa Goodhart and Nick Sharratt Picture
A vibrant picture book with detailed cartoon-style illustrations from Sharratt and a lively narrative from Pippa Goodhart who offers young children the chance to choose where to live, sleep, what to do, play, and so on. A great book for interactive reading.
73. Giraffes Can’t Dance
by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees
Owing to his ungainly physique, Gerald the giraffe can’t dance. However, a friendly cricket reassures him that everyone can dance, they just need the right tune! A lovely rhyming picture book about understanding differences.
74. Pumpkin Soup
by Helen Cooper Picture
Cat, Squirrel and Duck love their soup, but one night the recipe is upset and mayhem ensues. Helen Cooper‘s beautifully illustrated book could be just what you need to persuade a fussy eater to try new meal-time ideas.
75. Peter Pan And Wendy
by JM Barrie, Illustrated by Robert Ingpen
Based on JM Barrie’s original stage play, Peter Pan The Great, the novel is a roaring childhood story which raises deep questions about growing up, the end of innocence and the blurring of fantasy and reality. Peter Pan lives in Neverland in a state of perpetual childhood with the Lost Boys and likes to swoop down to hear bedtime stories in the real world. One night he connects with children, Wendy, John and Michael, who fly off with him to his magical home for a perilous adventure.
76. Peek-A-Boo
by Jan Ormerod Bodley
This is a classic first boardbook for babies, combining their love for playing peek-a-boo with the fun of flaps to lift. On each page a baby hides behind a bib, bath towels or snugly bedclothes. Very young children respond to seeing other babies in the illustrations. In truth, you’ll be hard-pushed to find any family copy that hasn’t been very well-thumbed indeed.
77. Burglar Bill
by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
Burglar Bill has stolen everything he possesses, from his breakfast to his bed. One night, when he’s out robbing houses, he steals a box which he discovers to his horror has a baby inside! Soon, a robber comes to his own house: it’s Burglar Betty, mother of the baby… For children who are beginning to read independently.
78. The Complete Book Of Farmyard Tales
by Stephen Cartwright and Heather Amery
Sam and Poppy get into all kinds of situations on their mother’s farm and the nostalgic picture books collected here convey that wholesome excitement beautifully. There’s a small yellow duck to find on each page. Comes with a CD also.
79. Mr Gumpy’s Outing
by John Burningham
Mr Gumpy fancies a trip along the river, but there are plenty of other passengers waiting to join him – children, a pig, a rabbit and many more. Can his boat (and his patience) cope with their rowdy antics in John Burningham’s nicely-paced tale?
80. My Friend Bear
by Jez Alborough
Alborough is the master of relating human experiences through a child’s relationship with their teddy bear; it’s a device employed by many picture books. In My Friend Bear, little boy Eddy finds a kindred spirit whose best friend is his teddy, too – except it’s a real bear.
81. The Enormous Crocodile
by Roald Dahl
Despite there being an abundance of child-eating in Roald Dahl’s books, they continue to be extremely popular with children. In this story a mean croc in the muddiest river in Africa is out to find as many juicy little children to eat as he can, but the wild animals he boasts to have other ideas, until elephant finally gets rid of him for good.
82. Funnybones
by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
Here the Ahlbergs’ inventive sense of humour creates a story about a family of skeletons who live in a “dark dark cellar” in a “dark dark house” in a “dark dark street”. One night, the two skeletons are out walking their skeleton dog, when it bumps into a bench and ends up as a pile of bones they have to fit together again. Great fun, and this year’s ‘Booktime’ free gift for young children starting school.
83. My Dad
by Anthony Browne
Inspired when he one day found his father’s old dressing gown and felt instantly close to him, Anthony Browne wrote this lovingly illustrated evocation of a child’s pride in his father. It instantly appeals: most children see their parents as superheroes even when their feats of heroism are simple everyday tasks. Cute. See also My Mum
84. Where’s My Teddy?
by Jez Alborough
Eddy loses his teddy and goes in search of him in the woods. He finds a very large teddy, which he thinks is his grown big. But it belongs to a real bear who then finds Eddy’s teddy and thinks it’s his that has shrunk…
85. George’s Marvellous Medicine
by Roald Dahl
George concocts a medicine to make his grandma more likeable, but makes her grow extremely large instead. When George tries to recreate the mixture it makes things extremely small and grandma glugs that down too… A wonderful piece of writing.
86. Father Christmas
by Raymond Briggs
Briggs was inspired to write Father Christmas by his father, who was a milkman, because “both have wretched jobs: working in the cold, wet and dark”. Indeed, Briggs’s Santa is far from the jolly fellow most children know about. Instead, humour arises from the begrudging old chap having to lug himself out of his cosy home to work on his busiest night of the year.
Children love the confounding of their expectations in this deftly written and illustrated classic.
87. Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book
by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
A totally ingenious idea! Charlie is reading a book about a captain at sea, who is reading about Goldilocks, who is reading about… and so on as the warped fun unravels. A glorious celebration of children’s books.
88. The Hobbit
by JRR Tolkien
Long before the blockbuster films, Tolkien’s fantasy series had legions of fans old and young. The Hobbit is regarded as the prelude to The Lord Of The Rings and it is probably the best place to start for readers under ten.
Wizards, dragons and dwarves play out JRR Tolkien‘s adventure with the furry-footed Bilbo Baggins, the reluctant Hobbit hero.
89. Fidgety Fish
by Ruth Galloway
A loveable picture book and a cautionary tale. Tiddler is too fidgety to stay at home and eventually his mother lets him go off on his own – so long as he steers clear of Big Fish. Tiddler encounters all kinds of other sea creatures, when all of a sudden he’s gobbled up. Luckily for Tiddler, his fidgeting comes to the rescue!
90. Famous Five
by Enid Blyton
Enid Blyton sure knew how to brand a product decades before most people had heard of ‘marketing’. In this the first ripping Famous Five yarn, Julian, Dick, Anne, tomboy George and Timmy the dog go in search of shipwrecked treasure and foil the villains also on its trail.
Plucky boys and girls using their wits to nail adult criminals made for great adventures. All 21 Five novels are still lashings of fun.
91. Little Miss Muffet Counts To Ten
by Emma Chichester Clark
A clever twist on the nursery rhyme, in this pretty picture book, the spider persuades Miss Muffet not to run away and in return two, three, four and more other creatures arrive and reward her bravery with treats. Emma Chichester Clark‘s surprising tale is a lovely way of introducing first numbers at storytime.
92. Miffy
by Dick Bruna
Bruna says Miffy’s very basic rabbit form is down to his own limitations as an illustrator, yet her simplicity has made her an icon. Some of the books have no words, others have small verses to follow. Hello Kitty might have stolen her thunder in recent times, but Miffy’s looking good for 69.
And, continues to be a classic book for young children. Author Dick Bruna passed away in 2017 – but his books will last forever.
93. Elmer
by David McKee
While some parents might associate McKee with the erstwhile Mr. Benn, there are now two generations who can’t see a grey elephant without wanting to colour it in a rainbow patchwork of colours.
A cheery fellow, Elmer has appeared in David McKee‘s series of books about life in the wild: he helps to sort out the plight of his fellow elephants in Elmer And The Hippos and arranges a jungle jamboree in Elmer’s Concert. Elmer celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2019.
94. Harry The Dirty Dog
by Gene Zion and Margaret Bloy Graham
Avoiding bathtime is a hot topic in bedtime stories, and this one is a real classic. Harry, a white dog with black spots, is such a soap-dodger it’s hard to tell if he’s actually a black dog with white spots… The 1950s design style is a real treat.
95. Rosie’s Walk
by Pat Hutchins
Rosie the red hen walks around the farmyard – and manages to avoid being eaten by the cunning fox. Pat Hutchins’ picture book is a vibrant, comic tale with no words and lots of slapstick moments.
96. The Incredible Book Eating Boy
by Oliver Jeffers
Henry loves books but one day he accidentally discovers they taste good too! He goes on a spree of gorging volumes and volumes, only to find that he is also filling up on knowledge!
But just how healthy is this new diet? Oliver Jeffers was quite a new talent when we compiled this list and had already been acclaimed for his other books, Lost And Found and How To Catch A Star. Now Oliver Jeffers is now up their with the children’s author and illustrator greats.
97. Mr. Wolf’s Pancakes
by Jan Fearnley
Jan Fearnley‘s story is a great twist on the story of the Little Red Hen who toils to make bread with no help from her friends. Here, the charming Mr Wolf is in the mood for pancakes, but no-one, especially the snooty Chicken Little, will help him. Of course, everyone wants to eat when the air is filled with the aroma of cooking – but does Mr Wolf want guests?
98. Eloise
by Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight
Kay Thompson was a Hollywood star (the absolutely fabulous magazine editor in Funny Face) and whose party trick was to act the precocious little girl. Eventually she created a series of books about this six-year-old who lives at the posh Plaza Hotel in New York City in the care of her very British nanny. Rather like a St Trinian’s girl who’s won the Lottery.
99. Little Rabbit Foo Foo
by Michael Rosen and Arthur Robins
Do you know a toddler who likes to lash out for fun? Little Rabbit Foo Foo has to learn that cycling around bopping other animals on the head is not good form. Michael Rosen’s simple but direct narrative is married perfectly with Robin’s colourful cartoon illustrations.
100. That Rabbit Belongs To Emily Brown
by Cressida Cowell and Neal Layton
Emily gets up to all kinds of imaginary adventures with her cuddly rabbit. However, Queen Gloriana (another little girl) has heard tell of the rabbit and sends all her horses and men to offer riches in exchange for him. Emily refuses but one night he is stolen!
Emily marches straight to the palace to find him and ends up showing Gloriana that she can create her own beloved cuddly that is well-loved and played with every day.