Mois : avril 2015

There are so many wonderful picture books for children that it is difficult to know where to start when trying to pick favourites.

I decided to ask around amongst British friends and family to come up with a few ideas. These books below are perfect for children from 2 to 7 years.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

What it’s about: Anyone in the UK who hasn’t heard of the Very Hungry Caterpillar has been living in a cave! Eric Carle’s colourful classic helps children learn about colours and counting, not to mention the life cycle of a caterpillar. This is a great book to start children on a journey of reading. Children younger than 2 will enjoy this book and will start to grow out of it by about aged 6.

Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak

It is quite amazing that a book that was written over 52 years ago is still so popular today but this book is another classic that is enjoyed again and again.

What it’s about: When Max is sent to bed without his dinner, he imagines an adventure to the land of the “Wild Things”, where he meets a crowd of strange Wild Things, that look like scary monsters. When he starts wanting to go home, he wakes up in his bedroom to find his warm supper waiting for him. Sendak tackles the themes of anger and loneliness and children just love meeting all the wild beasts and relate to Max’s feelings of anger. This is perfect for 3 years upwards. The older children will enjoy the illustrations as much as the text.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

Beatrix Potter loved nature and her drawings of realistic animals wearing clothing are simply delightful. The whole series of Potter books are so quintessentially English that it’s hard not to enjoy them. They could be considered a little old fashioned for some (hey isn’t vintage on trend?) but parents also love these picture books for children. These books are perfect for 5 upwards.

There’s a bird on your head by Mo Willems

Ok hands up, I’ll admit I’m a little obsessed with Mo Willems and his Piggie and Elephant books, basically because they are so funny. My kids giggle and laugh aloud whenever we read this particular book, There’s a Bird on Your Head. Reading should be fun after all. The story is told entirely in speech bubbles, with a repetitive use of familiar phrases, making this highly original book perfect for children just learning to read.

Willems is American and he is among the most popular book author/illustrators of all time. I think one of the reasons Elephant and Piggie is so popular with children is the theme of friendship and the silliness of Piggie and Elephant’s conversations. These books can be enjoyed by readers of all ages.

What are your favourite picture books for children?

It is a fact that books for children can help them cope better with reality and manage their emotions.

In this article, we have selected some books for children which bring escapism and entertainment. Reading can be a wonderful way to learn and this tradition of learning about life through books has been around for a long time. Psychologists say that fairy tales allow children to understand the world: the villains are punished and the good characters are rewarded.

Books for children: sibling rivalry

One of our favourite collections of books for children in the area of sibling rivalry is the Charlie and Lola collection. This brother and sister team often find themselves having to work though different emotions that all children can relate to. The quirky, bright illustrations are very appealing even to small children.

Ruby’s Baby Brother by Kathryn White (Barefoot) can help a child talk about feelings of jealousy at the birth of a brother or sister. Ruby is filled with scary emotions when her parents bring her baby brother home from hospital. What will happen to her toys? Will she have to battle for her parent’s attention? But when her little brother reaches out for her hand, those scary feelings melt away and instead she starts imagining all the fun things they will do together.

Books for children: fears

There are so many illustrated stories for babies and toddlers about fears, that it’s hard to choose just one or two. The Black Rabbit, by Philippa Leathers (Walker) is about a little bunny who is afraid of his shadow. The tale shows how he finally learns not be afraid. A fear of the dark is another emotion that small children struggle with. The Dark by Lemony Snicket (Orchard) talks about Lazlo who sets out on a mission to conquer his fear. Both books provide parents with an opportunity to talk about fears with their children.

Books for children: friendship

Any books by Mo Willems are absolute favourites in our household, for the comedy factor and touching stories of friendship. There is a Bird on Your Head has my children in giggles every time. This comical tale features Piggie and Gerald; best friends who have different ways of perceiving things. Gerald is anxious and often thinks the worst and Piggie is confident and often thinks of her stomach! A great tale of friendship that children will go back to over and over again.

Have you found books for children which help them manage their emotions?