Picture Books
Picture books are often considered to be only for younger children, but I think that they can be enjoyed by children of all ages!
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It was very difficult choosing only 20 books- there are hundreds of wonderfully illustrated books for children that I wanted to put on this list!
The books I have chosen are much loved favourites- either from when I myself was little, from when my own children were little, or they are books that I have enjoyed teaching over the years. In some cases all three! I have read each book 100 times at least, and I love them all!
ALL BOOKS ON THIS LIST ARE WORTH 10 POINTS EACH FOR CHILDREN IN RECEPTION & YEAR 1 , IN OUR READING LEAGUE
Dogger
Shirley Hughes (1977)
I adore Shirely Hughes- she is my all time favourite author and illustrator of children's picture books. Her Alfie and Annie Rose books and her Lucy and Tom books are simply wonderful and the illustrations are brimming with nostalgia of a chaotic and happy childhood. Anything written by Shirley Hughes is sure to be fabulous but my favourite of all of her books is Dogger- the tale of a little boy and his beloved lost toy dog.
words: 1,020
book level: 3.1
The Something
Rebecca Cobb(2014)
This is a great book about a child who finds a hole in their garden. Where could it lead to? What could be down there? The possibilities are endless and everybody has a different idea! I have used this story as a stimulous for many lessons with Key Stage One children, but it's a great story writing starting point for older children too. I particularly like the clever illustrations, with each page divided into over and underground.
words: 270
book level: 2.6
Where the Wild Things Are
Maurice Sendak (1963)
One night a little boy called Max dresses up as a wolf and runs wild around the house until his mother, having had enough, sends him off to bed without any supper. Alone in his room, with only his imagination, Max goes off on an adventure to meet the Wild Things. Where the Wild Things Are is an absolute classic and is always high up on any list of Best Children's Books. It has never gone out of fashion because the idea of a cheeky child with a vivid imagination is timeless.
words: 336
book level: 3.4
A Lion in the Meadow
Margaret Mahy (1969)
This is a great book. I loved it as a child and I love it as a teacher. I have often used this book with KS1 classes. alongside Where the Wild Things Are, and Not Now Bernard by David McKee, as a stimulous for writing about monsters and imaginary friends. It is a charming story about a little boy whose mother won't believe him that there is a lion in the meadow. Before too long, a dragon joins them too! How will the little boy get rid of them?
words: 405
book level: 2.5
The Jolly Postman
Janet and Allan Ahlberg (1986)
All of Janet and Allan Ahlberg's picture books are brilliant- the illustrations are perfect and they are always funny. But in my opinion this one is the best, in fact I think it is one of the best picture books ever written. The teaching possibilities that spring from this book are endless. The Jolly Postman travels on his bicycle, through the land of fairytale, delivering letters to familiar favourites such as Goldilocks and Cinderella. Each page is a new envelope to open, with a letter for a character inside. I have never met a child who doesn't adore this book.
words: 331
book level: 2.5
The Paper Bag Princess
Robert Munsch (1980)
This is a fairy tale with a difference and a brilliant book. A must read for any young feminist- male or female! Who needs a handsome prince in order to live happily ever after? Not Elizabeth! Having out-smarted the dragon and rescued the handsome prince, our fabulous heroine Elizabeth decides that life is better on her own!
words: 554
book level: 3.8
Lost and Found
Oliver Jeffers (2005)
Oliver Jeffers writes beautifully for children- his stories are always touching and poignant. Lost and Found is about a friendship- lost and then found- between a little boy and a penguin, who arrives one day unexpectedly. It is absolutely charming and the themes of lonliness and friendship will resonate with any child. Another of my favourite books by Oliver Jeffers is The Heart and the Bottle , which is another emotional read!
words: 471
book level: 2.9
Mog the Forgetful Cat
Judith Kerr (1970)
Judith Kerr is one of the greatest children's authors and her picture books are delightful. The Tiger Who Came to Tea is considered by many to be her best picture book by my favourite has always been Mog the Forgetful Cat. There have been many books written about Mog and this is the first one. Poor Mog is having a terrible day- everything is going wrong and she keeps getting in everybody's way, quite by accident. Until, also quite by accident, her day is turned around completely and she becomes the hero of the hour.
words: 842
book level: 2.4
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs
Jon Scieszka (1989)
There are two sides to every story, as this hilarious book perfectly illustrates. For the first time ever, Mr Wolf gets his say and we discover that the famous tale of The Three Little Pigs, is not quite all that it seems! This is a great book suitable for children of all ages- not just the very young. Alternative fairytales are great to write with children- other brilliant alternative fairytales that I have taught alongside this book are, The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugene Trivizas and Prince Cinders by Babette Cole.
words: 863
book level: 3.0
Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain
Verna Aardema (1981)
I first came across this story during my teacher training. I observed a brilliant primary teacher composing a piece of percussion music with a class using this book. I have loved it ever since and have taught that very lesson many times over the years. The book uses the pattern and rhythm of This is the House that Jack Built to tell an old Kenyan folk tale of a farmer called Ki-Pat and how he brought rain to the drought-stricken Kapiti Plain. Lila and the Secret of Rain by David Conway is another beautiful story about drought in Kenya and the miracle of rain.
words: 717
book level: 4.6
Oh the Places You'll Go!
Dr. Seuss (1990)
Dr. Seuss's fantastically surreal picture books are what get a lot of children reading independently. They are hilariously funny and the brilliant illustrations are easily identifiable and like no other. Dr Seuss's books also tend to have a wonderfully positive and up-lifting message or moral. That is true of this book in particular. Giving children the message that the world is their oyster and they are heading for brilliant things! Another of my favourites is Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?
words: 917
book level:3.3
Little Red
Bethan Woollvin (2016)
Another fairy-tale favourite retold, with a bold, brave and independent heroine. Move over damsels in distress from long-ago tales, there's a new kind of princess in town! Bethan Woollvin's second picture book Rapunzel is just as brilliant. The simple illustrations, using only one colour and shades of black, white and grey, are very effective and the retellings are funny and empowering!
words: 253
book level: 1.9
Room on the Broom
Julia Donaldson (2012)
Everything that Julia Donaldson writes turns to gold. She is simply fabulous. Her funny rhymes are so catchy and memorable that her books are all firm favourites in any household with young children! Any list of picture books would be incomplete without her on it. The Gruffalo is of course another favourite of ours, but Room on the Broom just pips it as my favourite!
words: 835
book level: 3.7
Tidy
Emily Gravett (2016)
Emily Gravett writes great books for children and her illustrations are gorgeous. One of my favourites of her books has such beautiful illustrations that it only has the need for three words- Orange Pear Apple Bear. Tidy, also beautifully illustrated, is a funny book about a scupulously clean badger who takes his cleaning obsession one step too far. Having ruined the forest, he realises that he needs to lighten up and let nature take its course.
words: 717
book level: 4.6
The Promise
Nicola Davies (2013)
This is a beautiful book, suitable for children of all ages, young and old. It is a poignant story of hope. A neglected girl living in a neglected city steals a bag from an old lady one night. When she is caught, the old lady demands a promise and it is this promise that will change the direction of the girl's life and the lives of everybody who the girl meets. For inside the stolen bag were seeds, which the girls must plants wherever she travels, changing the landscape as she goes.
words: 521
book level: 3.7
Five Minutes Peace
Jill Murphy (1986)
Jill Murphy has written a number of outstanding picture books- Whatever Next, Peace at Last and The Last Noo-Noo, to name but a few. But, perhaps because I am a frazzled mother of four, my favourite of all of her books has always been Five Minutes Peace. Mrs Large has every mother's sympathy as she desperately tried and fails to get just five minutes peace, away from the racket of family life!
words: 456
book level: 2.4
The Dot
Peter H Reynolds (2003)
I was first introduced to this book in my first week of training to be a teacher and I found it really inspiring. Vashti hates art lessons and is convinced that she is rubbish at it. Her teacher asks her to do the best picture that she can, so Vashti draws a dot. Her teacher asks her to sign it and at the next art lesson, Vashti sees her dot framed and hanging on the wall. Convinced that she can improve on the simple dot, Vashti begins an artistic voyage, ending with her own exhibition. This is a book that illustrates what a difference a few kind and encouraging words or actions can make.
words: 326
book level: 1.9
Three Monsters
David McKee (2005)
David McKee is brilliant. He has written some hugely successful picture books, such as Elmer and Not Now Bernard. This book, Three Monsters, is one of his less famous books but it is my favourite one. Very real, adult issues are addressed through David McKee's witty story and vibrant illustrations. A yellow monster arrives on an island asking for help, having had to flee from an earthquake on his own island. He is met with hostility and rudeness from the red and blue monster, who do not want to welcome the outsider.
words: 548
book level: 2.9
Voices in the Park
Anthony Browne (1998)
There is so much going on in this book- I could study the illustrations for hours. The more you look, the more weird and wonderful details can be found. The same simple story of a trip to the park, is told from four very different points of view- two children (although naturally, being an Anthony Browne book, they are infact gorillas!) and their respective parents. The story manages to be both poignant and funny. I studied this book with a Year 4 class a few years ago, and they absolutely loved it and created some fantastic stories inspired by the four different voices. This is a great picture book for older children.
words: 533
book level: 2.8
Last Stop on Market Street
Matt de la Peña (2015)
This is one of the most uplifting picture books, which reminds us that there are so many things to be grateful for and there is beauty to be found everywhere, even in the most unexpected of places. C.J's Nana is the most positive and sunny person, and she makes the bus ride to the soup kitchen entertaining and beautiful, for both C.J and the reader. The illustrations in this book are absolutely delightful.
words: 757
book level: 3.3
