We share some recommended books for children. From babies to 9 years old, each read will engage and educate.
Pick their next read from inspiring, informative books with messages about friendship, emotions, diversity, loyalty and finding your place.
Baby and Toddler
Flip-Flap Feelings Farm, Lo Cole
(Jonathan Ball Publishers)
A bold, brightly illustrated board book featuring various farm animals and fun rhyming text. Split pages let little fingers open the flaps and watch the farm animals transform from sad to happy, calm to surprised, hungry to full, shy to playful, and awake to sleepy. A wonderful aid to help young children learn about feelings, expressions and develop their vocabulary.
The Forever Bear, Lu Fraser & Pippa Curnick
(Jonathan Ball Publishers)
A charming, rhyming story about finding that special bear to love and cherish for a lifetime. Harry is looking for a bold, brave bear who’s just right to hug, can be his companion on adventures, and who will love him best. Harry searches through hundreds of different bears – talking bears, walking bears, growling bears, squeaky bears – at Mr B’s House of Bears until he finds the perfect friend – the one he’ll never leave behind.
3–6 years
Crocodiles Do Not Like The Toilet, Ali Rutstein & Niña Nill
(Jonathan Ball Publishers)
In this delightful, illustrated book, Manu the Crocodile doesn’t want to miss out on fun. At daycare, he feels the need to use the toilet, but playing is too exciting, and he has an unfortunate accident. Once dry, he returns to find the game is finished. Later in the day, learning from prior experience, he hops off to the loo and returns to show off his best moves at the dance party.
Up and Down and Other Stories, Sergio Ruzzier
(Jonathan Ball Publishers)
In this humorous comic-style illustrated book, the fourth book in a series for early readers, two unlikely friends climb a tree, catch snowflakes and build a bookcase. The odd pair – one a little ditzy and the other a kind encourager – seem blissfully unaware of their differences, and their endearing friendship sees them through many adventures. The characters have a warm friendship seemingly unaffected by their differences.
3–9 years
The Together Two, Roslynne Toerien & Rachel Nyman
(Penguin Random House)
A story about the power of friendship despite diversity, this book explores the surprising relationships between wild animals where strength and weakness partner to support and complement each other. A hippopotamus and a cleaner fish, one large, one tiny, exist in harmony; a warthog and a banded mongoose, one stumpy, one slender, roam together – each benefitting from the other in different ways, are some of the unusual pairings revealed in this colourful, informative read.
Heartman, Stephen Hogtun
(Penguin Random House)
A heartwarming story about fatherhood and the greatest superpower of all, love. Heartman isn’t much of a superhero; he’s not mega-strong or a computer whiz, like other parents, but he fights villains – the mortgage, the bills, the exhausting nine-to-five – to keep his family safe, and he never runs out of love. When his son has an accident on his bike, the other superhero parents try to help, but only one person will do – Dad.
9+
The Flying Classroom, Erich Kästner
(Jonathan Ball Publishers)
A children’s classic, this book follows the adventures of five Fourth Form boys in a German boarding school in the 1930s. The boys, each with different personalities, have a run-in with boys from a rival school, rescue one of their friends, prepare for the Christmas play, titled “The Flying Classroom” about a futuristic classroom, and are mentored by their house master. A bittersweet story about the loneliness and fears of youth, with powerful messages of friendship, loyalty, fun and courage.
Cringe Club, Emily-Jane Clark
(Jonathan Ball Publishers)
A unique, light-hearted read featuring themes of fitting in, adjusting to a new school and making friends. When Kennedy moves to London, making new friends isn’t easy. One highlight is she’s given a phone and can vent to her former friends – awkward teens with some wacky traits – with messages and voice notes in the Cringe Club chat. The story unfolds through WhatsApp-style messages, emojis and screenshots in her group chat, making the reader feel part of the fast-paced action. This book aptly describes the tricky tween years with great humour.
With thanks to the publishers and authors who made the books available for review.
