Great Books Guide 2025-26: for 4 to 5-year-olds

Three children set off on an expedition to a faraway land to discover dinosaurs.

Bob is hiding in a box and being very noisy. Every time Bob gets away with it, he finds more and more ridiculous things to add to his box. A great book to read aloud. 

Andy the ant wants to have a small birthday party. But before long, the whole colony turns up at his home! Can the ants work together when an uninvited guest crashes their fun? 

Agnes the Chihuahua isn’t the biggest dog in the book. Neither’s Magnus the dachshund or Popcorn the beagle. So who is the biggest dog in the book? With repetitive text making it a joy to read aloud, this is very fun and sweet – even for cat lovers! 

A child joins a new school and gets a whirlwind tour from a very confident pupil. Along the way, she realises that he doesn’t need a tour guide right now – he needs a friend. 

Flo the sheepdog tries to help Farmer by feeding the eggs and brushing the carrots. That’s right, isn’t it? Oh no, Flo! A funny farmyard fiasco. 

A boy wonders why his new classmate won’t join in and looks so sad, then discovers she has had to flee her home and everything she knows. A gorgeously illustrated book celebrating being welcoming and kind. 

Gran injures her knee while teaching a dance class so Kwesi choreographs some very special moves to put her at the centre of the action once more. This exuberant picture book celebrates the joy of dance and the loving relationship between grandparent and child.

The creator of this picture book offers to draw anything the reader wants on the next page… as long as it’s not a tiger. Unfortunately, if you try not to think about tigers, that’s all that pops into your mind. Funny, colourful and interactive, this story highlights the importance of perseverance.  

Zahra hates long walks, so when Uncle Jerome picks her up from school and suggests they take ​‘the long walk home’, she is less than thrilled. But when birds become pterodactyls, Zahra begins to see this walk is like nothing she’s ever experienced before. Huge fun.

A silly, fun, and inventive rhyming book about some clever chickens and the lengths they’ll go to in order to stand out.

A lovely book about friendship, trying something new, and going out of your comfort zone. Full of rhyming, fun language.

Another ingenious interactive book from the creator of Press Here. You can paint with just your hand! 

An alien family crash into the house of Mr and Mrs Li and insist they are human. 

Femi the fairy adores playing football, but her shots aren’t always on target, which often gets her into trouble. A charming picture book about following your dreams, with rhyming text and vibrant illustrations. 

A young child moves to a new area and decides to build their own friend. When another child lends a hand, the pair gradually realise that they have made a real friend after all. 

This bright and sweet book is a lovely way to look at differences between cultures, as well as what unites us.

Hank honks ALL the time. Can he really learn to be considerate to others? A funny story that will have children joining in with the honking. 

Debra the zebra can count! But what comes after ten? A heartwarming picture book to snuggle up with together. 

Frank’s off to a party, but is he looking too delicious? Funny and silly, this will have children laughing – and possibly feeling a bit peckish… 

Liliana is very strong. She can lift a piano, a cow, and even a whale! A brilliant collaboration between two award-winning, much-loved creators. 

This book will hide away from you, but you can help it become more confident by answering its questions and becoming its friend. A really creative and funny book which teaches readers social skills.  

Rene opens a café, but her only customer is an ogre! By disguising her food as disgusting bats and battered mice, she becomes a hit with the locals. A brilliantly illustrated, hilarious picture book.  

Join Stevie the World’s grumpiest slug as he learns about all the things that makes slugs special in this hilarious picture book. A mixture of narrative and non-fiction with excellent illustrations. 

Don’t Trust Fish is an absolute must read for any fan of humorous picture books. It’s an absolute hoot on every page, while also giving the reader some really quite interesting facts about fish.