Our favourite books for 0-5s by age

On the hunt for a brilliant book for a baby, or the perfect present for a 3-year-old? Look no further. We've created six tailor-made booklists - one for every age up to five years old.

It can be a bit of a minefield navigating your way through all the great children's books out there, particularly when you're looking for something age-specific. To help you out, our Books and Early Years teams have chosen a selection of books to engage and excite children at each step of their pre-school journey.

These aren't lists of 'must-reads' or 'best-ever' books, but books that we think will fascinate babies, get 2-year-olds turning pages and make 4-year-olds fall about laughing. After all, the 'right' book is always a book a child wants to hear again and again.

Happy browsing!

Brilliant books for children aged 0-5

Click on each list to see the books and read our reviews.

Best books for babies 0-12 months

Babies love snuggling up close with you and listening to your voice. Here's our selection of fantastic books to try with your baby.

Best books for 1-year-olds

Board books with flaps are great for toddlers at this age. Take a peek at some of our favourite books for sharing with 1-year-olds.

Best books for 2-year-olds

Two-year-olds love joining in with actions and guessing what will happen next. We've picked out some brilliant books we think your child will love.

Best books for 3-year-olds

At three, children can often follow slightly longer stories but they'll still want to hear their old favourites again and again. Here's a selection of perfect picture books for 3-year-olds.

Best books for 4-year-olds

Why not try some of our favourite books for 4-year-olds - slightly longer stories they'll love chatting to you about. From bad bunnies to bug school, storytime giggles are guaranteed.

Best books for 5-year-olds

Five-year-olds might be starting to read on their own, but they'll still love a story. This list is packed with offbeat humour and brilliant characters. Perfect for keeping your child hooked on books.

Bear and cub at the library Bookstart illustration

Try our Bookfinder

Looking for funny books, science books, sporty books... or something else altogether? Use our Bookfinder to search thousands of children's books by age group and theme, then read our reviews to find out more.

Find your next book