childrens books - 'classic ten' lists
18 months - 3 years
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18 months - 3 years

Professional Children's Book Reviews - the top 10 best books for kids in the age group 18 months - 3 years. Classic children's books that no childhood should be without.

The books in this list are in no particular order.

 

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy
by Lynley Dodd
Hairy Maclary, a loveable, scruffy black dog, is joined by a procession of canine neighbours, and together they go exploring. The simple but inventive rhymes and the repetition will have children engrossed in the story, while adult readers will love giving each dog (with names like Schnitzel von Krumm and Muffin McLay) their own accent and personality.


Peepo
by Allan and Janet Ahlberg
Here's a little baby, one, two, three, look through the peep-hole, what does he see? There are hours of entertainment in this classic, as children absorb the detail in the nostalgic illustrations.


The Gruffalo
by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
It is hard to choose which of Julia Donaldson's books to include, but The Gruffalo is hard to beat. The imaginative and rhythmic verses are fun to read aloud, while the story, with its moral that brain can beat brawn, retains its appeal no matter how many times you read it. Axel Scheffler's illustrations offer a beautiful accompaniment to the text. The clever sequel, The Gruffalo's Child, is also a winner.


Owl Babies
by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Patrick Benson
This story is a great one to read to children who are dealing with separation anxiety. The three owl babies wake in the middle of the night to find their mother gone. They ponder where she might be, but become increasingly concerned, particularly Bill, the smallest, who bleats "I want my mummy!" throughout the tale. The ending, however, leaves children reassured that their loved ones will always come back.


Each Peach Pear Plum
by Allan and Janet Ahlberg
Another classic by this husband and wife team, Each Peach Pear Plum weaves together some of the best-known characters from traditional fairy tales. Use of rhyme and repetition, and clues in the pictures, make it easy for young readers to join in.


Mr McGee
by Pamela Allen
Mr McGee lives under a tree, and that's not the only unusual thing about him. Pamela Allen has written over thirty picture books in two decades - this is just one of her books to be cherished


Where the Wild Things Are
by Maurice Sendak
The night Max wore his wolfsuit, he embarked on a wild adventure to a land of fearsome yet somehow friendly creatures. In the end, though, there's no place like home. This story flows beautifully as Sendak's sentences run on from page to page, and the pictures, particularly of the monsters engaged in their wild rumpus, are glorious.


Magic Beach
by Alison Lester
Lester's beautiful illustrations will charm young readers, as they seek out familiar characters on each page - the dog, the girl with the watermelon hat, and the bespectacled boy. The accompanying text is imaginative, engaging, and fun to read.


I Want My Potty
by Tony Ross
One of a number of Tony Ross stories dealing with manners and social skills, this royal potty saga is bound to prompt a few giggles. Even princesses need to go through toilet training...and even princesses have accidents.


There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake
by Hazel Edwards, illustrated by Deborah Niland
Hazel Edwards has a wonderful ability to write from a child's point of view. Most young readers will empathise with the narrator, whose hippo on the roof can do all sorts of things she is not allowed to herself.

 

The information on this page has been contributed by Carolyn Batt. Carolyn is a
former staff journalist with The Age in Melbourne and The Daily Telegraph in London, and now writes on a freelance basis for publications in Europe, the US and Australia.