childrens books - 'classic ten' lists
3 - 5 years
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3 - 5 years

Professional Children's Book Reviews - the top 10 best books for kids in the age group 3 - 5 years. Classic children's books that no childhood should be without.

The books in this list are in no particular order.

 

What Do People Do All Day
by Richard Scarry
Inquisitive readers who are constantly asking "why?" will revel in the opportunities posed by this book, which is packed full of busy "people" engaged in all manner of activities. Even adults will find their curiosity sparked by the detailed drawings of industrious characters.


I Will Not Ever, Never Eat a Tomato
by Lauren Child
Lola is a fussy eater. She won't eat peas, carrots, or fish fingers, and absolutely not tomatoes. But her brother Charlie has a solution. Don't be surprised if your little reader develops their own passion for "cloud fluff from Mount Fuji". This book deals with a problem familiar to children and parents and, with the help of bright and fresh illustrations, shows how much fun eating can be!


Possum Magic
by Mem Fox, illustrated by Julie Vivas
Grandma Poss has magic for all occasions, but her best trick of all is to make little Hush invisible. Undoing her magic proves more difficult, and there follows a culinary tour of Australia as the possums search for a cure. Joyful, delightful, and a wonderful taste of Oz for children overseas.


Wombat Stew
by Marcia K Vaughan, illustrated by Pamela Lofts
The wily Dingo is intent on making gooey, brewy, yummy, chewy Wombat Stew. The other animals offer their suggestions on how to improve the dish, but it is not the greedy dingo they are trying to help. A very Australian tale, with a chant full of fun.


The Tale of Peter Rabbit
by Beatrix Potter
Despite somewhat dated language, this age-old classic about the naughty but loveable Peter Rabbit retains its appeal, as do the charming illustrations. Many children will enjoy the story from a younger age, but the pocket-sized books are suited to the older age category and, once hooked on Peter Rabbit, these children may show interest in progressing to some of the wordier Beatrix Potter stories.


Imagine
by Alison Lester
This book is also attractive to a broad age range, with younger children enjoying the beat and rhyme of the verses and the colourful pictures, but older children scanning the detail of the pictures to learn the difference between a tyrannosaurus and a triceratops, a pigmy possum and a brushtail possum.


Green Eggs and Ham
by Dr Seuss
The distinctive, sketchy illustrations of Dr Seuss and the catchy rhymes have enthralled young readers for decades, and most parents will have their own fond memories of a Dr Seuss classic. Sam-I-Am tries his hardest to make green eggs and ham appealing, but the grouch just isn't interested. Eventually, however, to get rid of the persistent Sam-I-Am, he agrees to try them. "I do so like green eggs and ham. Thank you, thank you, Sam-I-Am!".


The Three Bears
by Paul Galdone
This version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears will have young readers joining in, especially when the Great Big Bear says something in his Great Big voice. Galdone's book is a good introduction to the classic fairy tales, which are extremely popular amongst three to five year olds. Progress to other fairytales and a whole new fantasy world opens for your children.


Where's Wally?
by Martin Handford
This book provides the kind of eyesight test children enjoy. Finding Wally hidden in the dense and detailed illustrations will reveal previously unknown powers of concentration. A good car-trip choice.


The Rainbow Fish
by Marcus Pfister
With its glistening silver scales, the Rainbow Fish is the most beautiful in the ocean. But beauty alone is not enough to bring happiness. This story, with its underlying message about sharing, is a worthy addition to any collection.

 

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.