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Children's Picture Books

If your child is three years old or more he may well already love books, particularly if you have been reading to him from an early age.

Now is the time to cement his love affair with books by reading him outstanding children's picture books which are not only entertaining but which introduce new words and experiences which your child may not have come across before.

At this age children start to have strong preferences for the books they want to hear and will undoubtedly demand the same book again and again. This repetition helps them to start to make connections between the words they see in the book and what they hear you read. They will start to join in with certain words and will often learn favoured books by heart. They will begin to empathise with the characters and compare the story in the book with their own experiences.

So what are the best children's picture books which should be on every child's bookshelf?

Children's Picture Books

To try to come up with a definitive list of the best picture books for kids I combined over 20 highly regarded lists of children's books including winners of prestigious children's books awards, reading lists from reputable sources and bestselling books of all time. Those books mentioned on more than one list are shown below, with books at the top receiving the most mentions.

At the top of the list of children's picture books, with no less than nine mentions, is "Where the Wild Things Are", which was first published in the 1960s. The oldest book on the list is "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" which amazingly has been around for over 100 years. Of more recent authors, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler stand out with an impressive three books on the list: "Room on the Broom", "The Snail and the Whale" and "The Gruffalo".



Where the Wild Things Are 1. Where the Wild Things Are book depository amazon
by Maurice Sendak
First published 1963

Activity using this book

The Cat in the Hat 2. The Cat in the Hat book depository amazon
by Dr. Seuss
First published 1956


The Tale of Peter Rabbit 3. The Tale of Peter Rabbit book depository amazon
by Beatrix Potter
First published 1902

Activity using this book

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom 4. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom book depository amazon
by Bill Martin Jr. & John Archambault
illustrated by Lois Ehlert
First published 1989


Corduroy 5. Corduroy book depository amazon
by Don Freeman
First published 1968


Curious George 6. Curious George book depository amazon
by H. A. and Margret Ray
First published 1942

Activity using this book

Green Eggs and Ham 7. Green Eggs And Ham book depository amazon
by Dr Seuss
First published 1960


Guess How Much I Love You 8. Guess How Much I Love You book depository amazon
by Sam McBratney
illustrated by Anita Jeram
First published 1994


Olivia 9. Olivia book depository amazon
by Ian Falconer
First published 2000


The Napping House 10. The Napping House book depository amazon
by Audrey Wood
illustrated by Don Wood
First published 1984


The Snowy Day 11. The Snowy Day book depository amazon
by Ezra Jack Keats
First published 1962


Are You My Mother 12. Are You My Mother? book depository amazon
by Philip D. Eastman
First published 1960


Can't You Sleep Little Bear 13. Can't You Sleep Little Bear? book depository amazon
by Martin Waddell
illustrated by Barbara Firth
First published 1988


Dogger 14. Dogger book depository amazon
by Shirley Hughes
First published 1977


Grandfather's Journey 15. Grandfather's Journey book depository amazon
by Allen Say
First published 1993


Harry The Dirty Dog 16. Harry The Dirty Dog book depository amazon
by Gene Zion
illustrated by Margaret Graham
First published 1956


If You Give a Mouse a Cookie 17. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie book depository amazon
by Laura Numeroff
illustrated by Felicia Bond
First published 1985


Love You Forever 18. Love You Forever book depository amazon
by Robert Munsch
illustrated by Sheila McGraw
First published 1986


Oh, the Places You'll Go 19. Oh, the Places You'll Go! book depository amazon
by Dr. Seuss
First published 1990


Room on the Broom 20. Room on the Broom book depository amazon
by Julia Donaldson
illustrated by Axel Scheffler
First published 2001


The Gruffalo 21. The Gruffalo book depository amazon
by Julia Donaldson
illustrated by Axel Scheffler
First published 1999


The Little Engine That Could 22. The Little Engine That Could book depository amazon
by Watty Piper
First published 1930


The Mitten 23. The Mitten book depository amazon
by Jan Brett
First published 1989


The Snail and the Whale 24. The Snail and the Whale book depository amazon
by Julia Donaldson
illustrated by Axel Scheffler
First published 2003


The Snowman 25. The Snowman book depository amazon
by Raymond Briggs
First published 1978


The Tiger Who Came To Tea 26. The Tiger Who Came To Tea book depository amazon
by Judith Kerr
First published 1968


To find the best picture books for younger children, check out these preschool books for under threes. Or, if you child is older, he might enjoy these picture books for older readers, written for children aged five and above.

If one of your favorite picture books for kids is not on the list, then please do share it with us. We'd love to hear about it. Just click here and follow the instructions.

For more ideas of classic children's books, check out these lists of top children's books or winners of these children's book awards.




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