Pyjamarama: fun books to read with children in Reception

We hope you enjoy reading these brilliant books together

Reading books to children has lots of amazing long-term benefits. Sharing a story or a fascinating information book is a great way to bond, and it improves children’s overall wellbeing. But, most importantly, it’s fun! We hope you enjoy reading these brilliant books together.

  • Big Bad Dragon Club

    by Beach 

    2023 2 to 6 years 

    • Funny
    • Picture books
    • Poetry and rhyme

    A funny picture book about dragons learning they don’t always have to be bad!

  • Femi and the Mindfulness Machine

    by Flo Fielding, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud 

    2023 4 to 6 years 

    • Picture books

    Femi’s wind machine for Science Day doesn’t always work. Gran has some useful advice – but what will happen at school when it matters? With techniques to calm anxiety, and gorgeous illustrations, this picture book will stimulate conversations about feelings. 

  • Whose Dog is This?

    by Andrew Sanders, illustrated by Aysha Awwad 

    2023 4 to 6 years 

    • Adventure
    • Funny
    • Picture books

    It’s only been ten minutes since Albert’s dad left the living room, but in that time, chaos has occurred! Dad comes in to find a flustered Albert lying amongst toppled-over furniture with mud and macaroni cheese covering the walls. Albert blames the mess on the dog in the room. But wait a minute – Albert doesn’t have a dog...Whose dog is this? 

  • This Rock is Mine

    illustrated by Alice McKinley 

    2023 4 to 6 years 

    • Funny
    • Picture books

    This is a fabulously funny picture book by the author of Ten Fat Sausages brimming full of Michelle Robinson’s trademark silly humour. So The Thunk is a beast, a bit like a skink, although more like a skunk on account of the stink, thought to be extinct but young explorer Hector Voltaire who’s had his fair share of other kids saying his head’s full of air, is determined to find one. 

  • Geoffrey Gets the Jitters

    by Nadia Shireen 

    2023 2 to 4 years 

    • Funny
    • Picture books

    Geoffrey’s jitters are out of control! How can he get rid of them? Told with humour and great empathy, this picture book from the author-illustrator of Barbara Throws a Wobbler is both funny and helpful.

  • Who’s Afraid of the Light?

    by Anna McGregor 

    2023 4 to 6 years 

    • Non-fiction
    • Picture books

    Meet Fergus, who is a real deep-sea creature. But we can only see his eyes. What could he be? An enjoyable anarchic mash-up of fiction and non-fiction, with facts at the end, and a surprise reveal.

  • Gina Kaminski Saves the Wolf

    by Craig Barr-Green, illustrated by Francis Martin 

    2023 4 to 6 years 

    • Adventure
    • Picture books
    • Autistic spectrum conditions
    • Neurodiversity

    Retelling of Little Red Riding Hood with a neurodivergent protagonist.

  • The Thunk

    by Michelle Robinson, illustrated by Deborah Allwright 

    2023 4 to 6 years 

    • Funny
    • Picture books
    • Poetry and rhyme

    This is a fabulously funny picture book by the author of Ten Fat Sausages, brimming full of Michelle Robinson’s trademark silly humour. 

  • The Egg Incident

    by Ziggy Hanaor, illustrated by Daisy Wynter 

    2023 4 to 6 years 

    • Funny
    • Graphic novels

    Humphrey the egg isn’t allowed to do anything energetic – especially not climb walls. But when he and his new friend are locked in the park, he has to escape somehow! A very funny graphic novel that will have children giggling out loud. 

  • Who Rules the Rockpool?

    by Matty Long 

    2024 6 to 9 years 

    • Adventure
    • Funny
    • Non-fiction
    • Picture books

    Crab boasts that he is the ruler of the rockpool, as he’s so brave and strong, but Prawn insists that there’s more to survival than just being tough. An entertaining picture book with colourful, cartoon-like illustrations and plenty of witty one-liners. 

  • Space Pirate Bears

    by Alastair Chisholm, illustrated by Jez Tuya 

    2023 6 to 9 years 

    • Adventure
    • Funny
    • Picture books

    A funny and inventive picture book that celebrates the power of storytelling. One dreary day Dad tells Jamie and Abby a story about a band of intergalactic heroes – the Space Pirate Bears – who must defeat evil Doktor Drab and save the galaxy from dullness…

  • My Family Your Family

    by Laura Henry-Allain, illustrated by Giovana Medeiros 

    2023 6 to 9 years 

    • Picture books

    An accessible, useful non-fiction guide to all types of families.