Book Recommendations for International Children’s Book Day

Nosy Crow’s playful dinosaur book, ‘Where’s Mrs T-Rex?’, for 0-3s with beautiful and engaging illustrations by Ingela P Arrhenius’ is a staple in our collection.

It’s not always easy to know where to start when reading with very young children, but this book uses robust felt flaps and a surprise mirror at the end to stimulate sensory development in a fun way that can be enjoyed right from the very first few months. And let’s face it…you can’t really go wrong with a cute dinosaur book!

Xavier Deneux’s thoughtful designs make simplistic and tactile books to stimulate the first steps in a child’s education.

‘TouchThinkLearn: Numbers’, uses fun but simple illustrations with die-cut shapes for children to trace their fingers in and around, learning the shapes of the numbers as they go.

Allowing children to physically engage in the book gives them an opportunity to have an equal role in the reading experience with our volunteers, even before they have any language skills.

Powerhouse duo author Malorie Blackman and illustrator Dapo Adeola have come together to create a modern story that is a feast for the eyes in ‘We’re Going to Find a Monster’. For those children who loved ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’, this book is a natural next choice. With cleverly designed text, we see bold words and phrases to help children join in as clever repetition through the book builds their confidence in word recognition.

Morag Hood has created a page-turner for 4-year-olds in ‘Aalfred and Aalbert’; the story of two aardvarks looking for companionship, but hampered by their opposite sleeping patterns! Humorous and heartwarming, this story can be read together but includes language that is easily recognisable for 4–5-year-olds to read independently. The illustrations are detailed enough to add a little extra to encourage comprehension and perhaps a little imagination of your own.

Leo and the Octopus by Isabelle Marinov follows Leo as he goes on an unexpected journey of friendship with an octopus. With child friendly sensory descriptions though the book, we get an insight into what it is like for a child with autism.

This book creates a great story to help children discuss their feelings, and whilst we know that the main character is autistic, it also promotes a wider discussion for any child about what it is to be lonely and how embracing difference can lead to positive friendships.