Best Books to Read to Young Children

Story-telling has been part of many cultures for centuries. Getting lost in a story is one of life’s true pleasures. I believe one of the most beneficial ways to spend time with our children is to sit down with a book, and read to them. When we read to our children, we show them that we want to spend time with them, we want to share something with them that is worth having. Teaching our children to love books and to love reading is one of the greatest gifts we can give them. The best books to read to young children teach them about language and the art of story-telling. And the more time they spend looking at books, the better their reading and writing skills will become, which is pretty important if you ask me.

When you read a book as a child, it becomes part of your identity (Nora Ephron, 1998)

You’ve Got Mail

When my children were small, I spent hours reading to them. The house might have been a mess, the ironing might not have been done, but we sat down and read. Some of those books still live on in our family, even though our children have out-grown them. I find myself quoting lines out of books I read over and over again, and can’t quite let go of. Somehow, they’ve become part of my identity as well. So, I would like to encourage you to sit down with your children and a pile of books, and introduce them to the wonders of reading.

A little disclosure: there are affiliate links on this page! That just means if you click on a link, find something you like and buy it, I’ll make some cash. You won’t pay any extra, though.

How do I Choose a Book to Read to my Children?

With so many children’s books on the market, it can be difficult to know where to start. Finding books that are worth reading isn’t as easy as it might sound! So, I have made a list of some of the best books to read with young children. Generally, I like an interesting story, beautiful illustrations and clever rhyming. Of course, there are many more books that could have been included, but these ones are a good place to start.

The Usborne First Thousand Words in English illustrated by Stephen Cartwright

This was one of the books that I loved as a child, and then spent hours looking at with my own children. With fantastic illustrations on each page, children search for the listed items (and a hidden duck) within each picture. The newer editions have updated illustrations, but I’m particulary fond of the original drawings. I recommend getting a second-hand edition from the 1970s if you can find one.

Excellent for:

• fun illustrations
• increasing vocabulary
• learning to read

Percy the Park Keeper books by Nick Butterworth

The Percy the Park Keeper books really are the most delightful books I have had the pleasure of reading to my children. With entertaining stories and beautiful illustrations, these are the cream of crop when it comes to children’s books.

This Classic Treasury contains 12 stories, although there are many others that can be bought individually.

Excellent for:

• funny stories about Percy’s life with the animals in the park
• beautiful illustrations

Hairy Maclary books by Lynley Dodd

Clever rhyming books are few and far between, but the Hairy Maclary books hit the nail on the head. All about the escapades of a scruffy dog and his friends, these books are entertaining and are a joy to read out loud.

Excellent for:

• amusing stories
• clever rhyming
• developing language skills

Brambly Hedge books by Jill Barklem

For truly beautiful illustrations, the Brambly Hedge stories are above and beyond all others. Drawn by hand, they are full of incredible detail. The stories themselves are lovely. The Complete Brambly Hedge contains all eight stories, although they can be bought individually.

Excellent for:

• delightful illustrations
• children who are able to concentrate on small details and slightly longer stories

Kipper books by Mick Inkpen

Another group of books with funny stories and lovely illustrations. This Story Collection contains four stories, although there are many more, starting with very basic stories for toddlers, progressing to more complicated ones for older children.

Excellent for:

• easy reading style
• amusing stories
• different levels of comprehension

The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen

One of my absolute favourites thanks to the wonderful illustrations. All about a circus ship that sinks, and how the animals make their home within the local community. This is a rhyming book, and it’s done well, although it helps if you can put on an American accent. This one can be a little hard to find in the UK, but does pop up every now and then.

Excellent for:

• beautiful illustrations
• amusing story

Mog books by Judith Kerr

A delightful collection of stories about a family cat, these remain as popular as ever, and rightfully so. This Treasury contains six Mog stories, including one of my particular favourites, Mog and Bunny. There are many more to discover, though.

Excellent for:

• amusing stories
• children who love animals

Where’s the Dragon? by Jason Hook

This is an absolute gem of a book that was read over and over again in our house. Following the adventures of a boy and his grandfather, look for the hidden dragons on every page. It seems to go in and out of print, so isn’t always easy to find new, although a good second-hand copy is still worth having.

Excellent for:

• spotting hidden details
• lovely illustrations

An Itch to Scratch by Damian Harvey

Another rhyming book, all about a daddy gorilla who can’t reach the itch on his back. Easy to read with a fun story, this one became a family favourite.

Excellent for:

• fun story
• easy to read style

A Squash and a Squeeze by Julia Donaldson

No list of best children’s books would be complete without an offering from Julia Donaldson. These have become hugely popular with many having been made into animated films. A Squash and a Squeeze is one of my favourites with a clever story and amusing illustrations.

Excellent for:

• easy to read rhyming
• amusing illustrations
• developing language skills

Planning a trip with young children? Check out my guide to the best places to eat on a road trip.