I’ve always loved reading, and as soon as I found out I was expecting my son, who is now nearly 4, I knew I wanted to pass on my love of literature. His bookshelves filled up quickly which made me very happy, and now I have a 7 month old baby girl too, I’m so excited to be able to share all the books with her too.
I asked my son to pick two of his favourite books for this post, and I’ve chosen three others that I love reading with him and my daughter.
The Snail and the Whale (Julia Donaldson)
The Snail and the Whale was his first pick. Julia Donaldson’s books have been incredibly popular in our house, The Gruffalo and Stick Man being firm favourites, but there was something about the beauty of The Snail and the Whale we loved. Telling the story of a snail who wants to see the world, and the whale who takes him on an adventure on his tail. The screen adaptation of the story is absolutely beautiful too.
Oi Frog
Another choice by my son, Oi Frog is absolutely hilarious. Animals can only sit on objects that rhyme with what they are – so a lion must sit on an iron (ouch!) There are a few other books in this series, Oi Dog, Oi Cat, Oi Duck-billed Platypus and Oi Puppies. They’re all really funny and simple to read, but also really good for explaining simple rhymes.
The River (Patricia Hegarty, illustrated by Hanako Clulow)
This is one of my favourites. It’s the story of a little fish on an epic journey into the unknown. The highlight is the beautiful illustrations, and my son loved the little holographic fish in the middle of the pages.
Dream Big, Little Leader (Vashti Harrison)
“Dream big, little one.
There’s so much you can do.
Just look at all the women who came before you”
Educate. Teach. This board book is beautiful and inspiring. It should be on every child’s bookshelf. Simple words and gorgeous illustrations.
Little People, Big Dreams
I couldn’t talk about children’s books without mentioning the Little People, Big Dreams series. My friend kindly got us the Jane Austen one as a gift for my daughter when she was born, and I’ve since bought Marie Curie and Ella Fitzgerald. They are beautifully illustrated, educational and such an amazing addition to any bookshelf.
Which books do you have on your child’s bookshelf?
