What are the must have children's books?

swimminginaseaofdebt

Evening everyone,

I've been a member of the MSE boards for a while though I usually only lurk here and post on the DFW sections!

Anyway I wanted to ask everyone what they thought was a must have children's book? I've got a four and a half old month son and I'm planning to start buying him a book every month. He's my first child at the age of 33 so it's been a while since I delved into these types of books!

It'll be nice to hear what books other people and their children enjoyed. Thanks in advance to anyone that replies

74jax

I had a daughter. Winnie the Pooh, Mr men, Enid blyton books.

mr_knight

We love the Gruffalo, going on a bear hunt, what the lady bird hears and the Julia Donaldson Acorn wood collection. The traditional nursery rhyme books are much loved too.

The book people is great for collections, the Julia Donaldson books often come in at £10.

My two enjoy the library too.

suejb2

You're going to get the classic l suggestion list of Gruffalo,and others, Tiger who came for tea, Hungry caterpillar, Spot.. All great books but parents feel obligated because somehow if they don't get them their little one will be marred for life!

May I suggest Jazzy in the jungle, You choose and Bear in a square ( others in this collection).

pinkshoes

The Book People often have the Julia Donaldson collection at a reasonable price - SO worth it.

The very hungry caterpillar - my 11 month old twins love this!

Alfie stories.

Shark in the Park

MrsSave

Off the top of my head ds loves,

Each peach pear plum,
Upsy down town,
Bear hunt,
Peace at last (and that series),
The very hungry caterpillar,
Any Julia Donaldson books.

Nicki

As well as those already mentioned

Dear Zoo
Peace at Last
Room on the Broom
The little red train

And when an older toddler, Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham by Dr Seuss

barbarawright

You could do worse that start working your way through this list (by the editor of the Guardian children's book pages). It's a great mix of old and new, British and foreign

https://1001kidsbooks.wordpress.com/2012/11/19/on-where-the-list-of-1001-childrens-books-i-must-read-before-i-grow-up-too-much-comes-from/

kingfisherblue

The Alfie books by Shirley Hughes are brilliant stories and the illustrations are fantastic too. Firm favourites in our house. Also Dogger by the same author.

The Hairy McClary series.

Six Dinner Sid.

Several of the ones above.

And congratulations on your new baby. It's never too early to read to him - my children were less than three months old when I started to read them stories. I hope that you and your little one enjoy books together as much as I have enjoyed them with my own children (and I still read to my middle son, who has learning difficulties).

LilElvis

I bought a limited edition hardback copy of Bear Hunt on amazon a couple of weeks ago. I paid the cover price of £17 - but it is signed by both the author and illustrator. I've also bought signed copies of Julia Donaldson books for less than rrp on Amazon.

building_with_lego

Whatever you remember from your own childhood (and can thus pass down) and whatever you enjoy reading out loud.

For me that's 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' and a variety of Dr Seuss books, and 'The Snail and the Whale' and 'Room on the Broom' by Julia Donaldson- you'll be reading them over and over and over and over so you do need to enjoy the words and the pictures for your own sanity.

Alexis Deacon is a favourite of mine too, particularly "Croc and Bird".

While your boy is so small use the time to explore books from the library or a charity shop and find out what you enjoy reading to him. In time you'll get more ideas, and if you have a good bookshop nearby it's easier! Once he's older you'll be reading those favourites until you don't need the words...