Children's Books - 2 to 4 years old
As a child grows older reading stories together is a wonderful bonding opportunity. No parenting aid compares with a book in its capacity to establish and maintain a relationship with a child. A child’s imagination is an amazing thing and children today are very lucky that there are literally thousands of books to educate and enthral them.
Encourage pre-school children to choose a book for you to read them. Show them the way the words go from left to right on the page by underlining with your fingers – yours first, then theirs. Talk about any new words that come up and try to use them in conversation with your child when story time is over. This expands their vocabulary and helps them gain confidence with language.
As they head towards starting school, you can look at a new story book together but without reading the words. Encourage them to tell you the story by looking at the pictures for clues. Give plenty of praise and encouragement. This is one of the first ways they will learn to read once they get to school. There are so many beautifully illustrated books on the market, that it will be a treat for you both.
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More Pants by Giles Andreae |
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Sleepy Little Yoga by Rebecca Whitford |
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Dippy's Sleepover (Pocoyo) by Jane Clarke |
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Mole's Bedtime Story by David Wood |
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Princess Poppy: The Birthday by Janey Louise Jones |
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Elmer and Snake by David McKee |
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Farm Babies: A Stencil Book by Steve Lavis |
Find out lots of fascinating facts about your favourite baby farm animals, and best of all, create your own FARM SCENE – just pop out the stencils, take a piece of paper and something to draw with, and off you go! |
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Sadie the Airmail Pilot
by Kellie Strom |
Sadie the Air Mail Pilot is the story of one brave and fearless pilot who overcomes all the elements, terrible conditions and even a plane crash to deliver the mail! Like all the dedicated Air Mail pilots, Sadie is kept busy by the arrival of never-ending sacks of mail and the Air Mail HQ chief who barks orders at his staff. |
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Dinosaurs: A Stencil Book by Anne M Didierjean |
Find out which dinosaurs were the biggest, smallest, fiercest, brainiest and other fascinating dinosaur facts in this brilliant stencil book. And best of all, create your own dinosaur world – just pop out the stencils, take a piece of paper and something to draw with, and off you go! |
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Shark in the Park by Nick Sharratt |
This is a funny picture book from the talented illustrator and writer Nick Sharratt, following Timothy Pope on a trip through the park. Is that really a shark he can see? Turn the page and find out... |
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Alfie Weather by Shirley Hughes |
Enter the delightful world of Alfie and his baby sister, Annie Rose. Ordinary aspects of a toddler’s life are reflected back with charm and humour, plus gorgeous illustrations. |
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Elmer and the Hippos by David McKee |
The elephants aren’t very happy with the hippos sharing their river. Elmer is as wise as ever as he keeps the peace and finds a solution. |
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Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak |
Fabulous classic tale of Max’s bedtime adventures originally published in 1967 and currently being made into a film by Spike Jonze. |
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The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler (ill) |
Bestselling modern classic about a clever mouse taking on a monster. Children will love the rhymes and the illustrations. |
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The Shepherd Boy by Kim Lewis |
I loved this book when I was younger as it seemed like a proper story. James longs to be a shepherd, just like his Dad. Over the year, he watches his father deal with the sheep and he learns from him. Then at Christmas, he gets a very special surprise! Reviewed by Ranald, age 9 |
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What Shall We Do, Blue Kangaroo? by Emma Chichester Clark |
Lily’s family of aunts, uncles and little brother wouldn’t be complete without Blue Kangaroo. He shares her adventures and offers his unique perspective on his beloved Lily. |
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Some Dogs Do by Jez Alborough |
Sid finds one day that he can fly. When his schoolmates tease him he returns home forlorn. But dad has a secret to tell Sid… |
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The Shopping Basket by John Burningham |
Meet a pig who punches people, a greedy goat and a stupid monkey in this funny tale of Stephen as he outsmarts a host of bullies who are after his shopping. |
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The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr |
Originally published thirty years ago this enduring classic begins as Sophie opens the front door. What she doesn’t expect to find there is a big, furry, stripey tiger – who wants to come in for tea. |
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The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugene Trivizas & Helen Oxenbury (ill) |
A clever and hilarious reversal of the old tale which sees the three little wolves defending their home against the big bad pig, his sledgehammer, pneumatic drill and dynamite. With a refreshing surprise ending! |
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My Many Coloured Days by Dr Seuss |
Gorgeous illustrations introduce children to colours, feelings and the variety of life, as seen through the eyes of the inimitable Dr Seuss. |
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Frog in Love by Max Velthuijs |
Frog is feeling peculiar. Happy and sad at the same time. What could be wrong with him. The surprise diagnosis charts his romance with Duck where green meets white and we find that love knows no boundaries. |
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Shaggy Dog and the Terrible Itch by David Bedford & Gwyneth Williamson |
Poor Shaggy Dog is being driven crazy by the itch on his back. Help from various people relieves the itching for a while – but then it comes back! Who can help?And what will happen to the “itch”? |
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Down by The Cool of The Pool by Tony Mitton & Guy Parker-Rees (ill) |
Frog and his energetic farmyard friends frolic by the pool – an energetic rhyming story that will have everyone up dancing along with frog. ‘Down by the pool in the cool of the day, frog cried wheeeee can you dance like me?’ |
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Brown Paper Bear by Neil Reed |
When jess goes to stay at her Grandad’s she doesn’t expect the magical adventures that await her when she meets Brown Paper Bear. |
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The Snowman by Raymond Briggs |
The classic story of the snowman who takes the little boy who made him to visit Father Christmas. |
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Olivia by Ian Falconer (Illustrator) |
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Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg |
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Pass the Jam, Jim by Kaye Umansky |
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Bear in a Square by Stella Blackstone |
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You Choose! by Pippa Goodhart and Nick Sharratt
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Mixed Up Fairy Tales by Hilary Robinson |
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My Dad by Anthony Browne
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My Dad is a celebration of all the different characteristics and qualities of my Dad. Each page has a picture of Dad in a different guise and the tag line “My Dad is......”. For example, My Dad is as wise as an owl, My Dad isn’t afraid of anything, My Dad’s a great dancer. And it ends with the author giving Dad a hug. |
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Zagazoo by Quentin Blake
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Tell Me Something Happy Before I Go to Sleep by Joyce Dunbar and Debi Gliori
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George and the Dragon by Chris Wormell
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Pants by Giles Andreae
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Yuk! by Kes Gray
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The Runaway Train by Benedict Blathwayt
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Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper
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Chicken Licken by Jonathan Allen
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Biscuit Bear by Mini Grey
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Katie Morag and the Birthdays by Mairi Hedderwick
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Thomas Races to the Rescue! by W Awdry
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Thomas' Wonderful Word Book by W Awdry |
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Calling All Engines by W Awdry |
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Thomas' Magnetic Play Book by W Awdry |
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Railway Rhymes by W Awdry |
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Princess Poppy: Poppy's Secret Christmas (Hardcover)
by Janey Jones |
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Delicious! by Helen Cooper |
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Alfie's World by Shirley Hughes |
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Alfie wins a Prize by Shirley Hughes |
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Little Red Train's Race to the Finish
by Benedict Blathwayt |
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