Great Books Guide: for 4 to 5 year olds
Here's a round-up of new children's books from the last year (2019), which we think any child aged 4 to 5 will love. We definitely do!
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The Perfect Sofa
Author: Fifi Kuo
Publisher: Boxer Books
Interest age: 2-5
Panda and Penguin love their old sofa, but decide it's time to go shopping for a new one when the springs start to poke through. Fifi Kuo’s illustrations bring warmth and humour to the story of learning to appreciate and love what we already have in our lives.
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We Eat Bananas
Author: Katie Abey
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s Books
Interest age: 4-7
Reading age: 5+Animal friends chomp their way through a variety of different meals in this cheerful celebration of food. Bright, bold illustrations are full of humorous detail and the book is a delight to share with young children.
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Ravi’s Roar
Author: Tom Percival
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Interest age: 3-6
Reading age: 5+When being the youngest and smallest gets too annoying, Ravi roars and turns into a tiger! But who wants to play with a tiger? An entertaining book about losing your temper and recovering from it.
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Hair, it’s a Family Affair!
Author: Mylo Freeman
Publisher: Cassava Republic
Interest age: 4-7
Reading age: 5+This celebration of black hair, demonstrating the variety of hairstyles found in a single family, is another delightful read from Mylo Freeman: full of vibrant illustration and some simple text about elements of everyday life.
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Mini Rabbit: Not Lost
Author: John Bond
Publisher: HarperCollins Children’s Books
Interest age: 3-6
Reading age: 5+Mini Rabbit helps Mother Rabbit to bake a cake, but they run out of berries, so he embarks on an enthusiastic search for the missing ingredient. A delightfully funny picture book, bursting with distinctive, vibrant illustrations.
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Dinosaur Farm!
Author: Penny Dale
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Interest age: 2-5
A glorious mash-up of dinosaurs and farm life, this picture book is pitched perfectly at children who obsess over both. Who doesn't want to see a Tyrannosaurus rex in a combine harvester? It's an absolute winner: fun, daft and educational.
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Have You Seen My Blankie?
Author: Lucy Rowland Illustrator: Paula Metcalf
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Interest age: 2-5
A princess loses her blankie. Who could have taken it? Her brother, a witch, a giant… or someone more fiery? A charming book that stresses the pleasure of sharing and features a brave and compassionate young heroine who is in no way a stereotypical princess.
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Cyril the Lonely Cloud
Author: Tim Hopgood
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Interest age: 3-5
Cyril the cloud drifts alone through the skies, wishing somebody would smile at him. Instead, everyone blames him for spoiling their day. This vibrant, thought-provoking picture book demonstrates the importance of rainwater to make sure the planet thrives.
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Look Up!
Author: Nathan Bryon Illustrator: Dapo Adeola
Publisher: Puffin
Interest age: 4-7
Reading age: 6+Nathan Bryon and Dapo Adeola’s charming picture book gifts us with a gorgeous character in Rocket, a girl whose passion for all things space is as inspiring to the reader as her heroine Mae Jemison is to her.
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Billy and the Dragon
Author: Nadia Shireen
Publisher: Puffin
Interest age: 3-5
Billy and her sidekick, the amusingly monobrowed Fatcat, are at a fancy dress party when a very large REAL dragon swoops down from nowhere and grabs Fatcat! As always, Shireen’s comic timing is first class.
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Daisy and Bear
Author: Fabi Santiago
Publisher: Scholastic
Interest age: 3-5
One Sunday afternoon, Daisy decides that she and Bear should go to the cinema. A funny book with a retro feel, full of silly expressions, happy chaos and a gentle reminder about cinema etiquette.
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Rocketmole
Author: Matt Carr
Publisher: Scholastic
Interest age: 3-6
Reading age: 5+When a brave mole sets off alone for the moon, he changes things on Earth, too. Parents and children will enjoy the inspirational message: you can inspire others if you try hard enough to make your dreams come true, and adventures are always better with friends.
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Bear Moves
Author: Ben Bailey Smith Illustrator: Sav Akyüz
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 3-5
Ben Bailey Smith (aka “Doc Brown”) and Sav Akyüz team up again to deliver this hilariously funny sequel to I Am Bear. Its energetic and colourful illustrations and superb rhythmic text will keep readers in stitches from start to finish.
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My Grandma and Me
Author: Mina Javaherbin Illustrator: Lindsey Yankey
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Interest age: 4-8
Reading age: 6+A true tale of a young girl in Iran, who idolises and follows her grandmother everything, this is a beautiful ode to family and lifelong memories, illustrated with wondrous and intricate detail.
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Little Green Donkey
Author: Anuska Allepuz
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 3-5
Little Donkey loves, loves, loves grass! In fact, Little Donkey doesn’t want to eat anything other than grass for ever and ever. But then Little Donkey eats so much just grass, she turns… green! A hilarious story with a very funny final twist that gently touches on the quirks of fussy eaters.
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The Pawed Piper
Author: Michelle Robinson Illustrator: Chinlun Lee
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 2-4
This feline twist of the classic tale The Piped Piper is a sweet and playful story. A great book to share with little readers that will strike a chord with anyone who has ever yearned for a cuddly cute pet.
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Mummy’s Suitcase
Author: Pip Jones Illustrator: Laura Hughes
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Interest age: 3-5
Mummy is going away for a few days, so well-meaning Ruby Roo and her little brother Barney decide to pack her suitcase. Bursting with lively illustrations, this funny tale will delight young readers.
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Rosie Is My Best Friend
Author: Ali Pye
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Interest age: 3-5
A tale of Rosie and her best friend, who spend every day together and go on lots of adventures – with a twist at the end to delight young readers. A heartwarming, joyful and fun tale of friendship.
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Monty and the Poodles
Author: Katie Harnett
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
Interest age: 4-7
Reading age: 5+Katie Harnett’s adorable book works on two levels: one, as a fun story about dogs, with lovely doggy illustrations, but also as a story about tolerance, compromise and staying true to oneself.
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How Big is our Baby
Author: Smriti Prasadam-Halls Illustrator: Britta Teckentrup
Publisher: Wren & Rook
Interest age: 4-8
Reading age: 5+This marvellous non-fiction book, aimed at soon-to-be siblings, charts the month-by-month development of an unborn baby in the womb. Warm, cheerful illustrations depict different genders, ethnicities and family set-ups, giving it broad appeal.
