Book Week: 100 best books for children of all ages
Children need books now more than ever, say the experts. With Book Week starting today, kidspot.com.au has compiled its list of the top 100 books for kids of all ages. See the books.
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Book Week starts on Saturday with the theme Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds.
And the world in 2021 needs stories more than ever, according to the Children’s Book Week Council of Australia, which runs the initiative.
“They are a perfect vehicle to start a conversation, share insights, and ultimately, reach an understanding of the challenges, fears and joys of our young minds,” CBCA national chair, Wendy Rapee, said.
To help nurture your child’s love of reading, kidspot.com.au has pulled together their list of the top 100 books for kids of all ages.
BEST BOOK FOR AGES 0-2
Your baby is never too young to enjoy and engage with books and we know that parents who introduce the habit from an early age are much more likely to continue with it through the years.
At this age, they may not understand the words, but they will certainly enjoy the experience of being held and hearing the sound of your voice. As for content, babies will be particularly drawn to high-contrast illustrations with occasional pops of colour.
For a toddler, a book is a full sensory experience – one that engages not only the ears, but also the fingers and mouth. Therefore, it’s important to invest in books that will withstand the potentially rough handling.
Board books, such The Very Hungry Caterpillar or Peepo! are perfect, as are cloth books (especially the ones with crinkly pages for an extra special sensory experience) and washable books turn bath-time into loads of fun. Lift-the-flap books such as Dear Zoo are particularly engaging for curious toddlers.
When you read, it’s important to go slowly and use your fingers to point at particular words and colours. This also applies to turning the pages – take it slowly – so that your child understands how a book works. Try to change the tone of your voice and the expression as this will convey more meaning to the baby than the words and helps them distinguish individual sounds.
Make sure you set aside some time each day – just before bed is often a great starting point and a classic like Time for Bed is a great choice. Turn off distractions, such as the TV and radio. Reading should be fun, focused and relaxed bonding time for you and your baby. Enjoy!
Best books for newborn babies (and their parents!)
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle: Vivid and colourful collage illustrations and deceptively simply, hopeful story.
Baby’s Very First Cloth Book: Faces, by Jo Lodge: High-contrast images designed to help newborns focus.
Oh, Baby, the Places You’ll Go!, by Dr Seuss: You read it in utero so keep it up when baby is born.
Baby Face Board Book, by Katey Love: Faces are the first thing that your baby will come to recognise.
Baby Touch: One! Two! Three!: Padded, waterproof, perfect for bath time.
Crinkly Book Of Aussie Animals: From the Outback, by Jill Brailsford: Discover creatures from the Australian outback.
Colours, by Chihiro Takeuchi: Intricate paper cut artwork.
Colour Me: Who Loves Pets? by Surya Sajnani: Bring playful scenes to life by wetting the pages of this clever bath book.
Look, Look! by Peter Linenthal: A great focusing tool for tummy time.
Someday by Alison McGhee: Captures the feeling of awe everyone feels at becoming a parent.
Best books for a busy toddler
Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox, Judy Horacek: Sleepy rhymes and bright illustrations.
Where Is Baby’s Belly Button?’ by Karen Katz: Delightful interactive lift-the-flap book.
Where’s Spot, by Eric Hill: Lift-the-flap featuring a worldwide phenomenon
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, by Eric Carle, Bill Martin Jr: Unforgettable images of endearing animals.
Time For Bed, by Mem Fox, Jane Dyer: Soft, cozy illustrations of sleepy baby animals.
Ten Little Fingers And Ten Little Toes, by Mem Fox, Helen Oxenbury: All over the world, babies are different but they are also very much the same.
Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell: A firm favourite with toddlers and parents.
Sophie’s Busy Day, by Sophie La Girafe: Introduce toddlers to the wildly popular 50-year-old from France.
Peepo! By Janet Ahlberg, Allan Ahlberg: Follows a bub’s day with wit, charm, ingenuity and a series of peepholes.
Hooray For Fish, by Lucy Cousins: Colour and rhyme under the sea!
BEST BOOKS FOR 3-5 YEAR OLDS
This where reading with children starts to become a far more interactive exercise and a lifelong love of books can be cemented. What were your favourite childhood picture books? If you were a fan of Possum Magic, Where the Wild Things Are or The Tiger Who Came to Tea, then we have good news – these are the classics that your child will love, too. At this age, the key is to make it fun and engaging. Reading can be your special time together and should never be seen as a chore.
Start by giving your child a degree of choice over the books you read. Some kids will insist on the same book being read over and over again – they may even get to the point where they can recite the book back to you which, while possibly a little frustrating for you, is an incredible step in their language and brain development.
Allow your child to turn the page and perhaps ask them what they think might happen next. Trace letters and point at special words or images. In short, a book is a conversation between you, your child and the author.
Your preschooler is going to be a busy little beaver during the day, so it’s a great idea to spend 10-20 minutes in the evening winding down and we have a wonderful selection of books to help calm their racing minds and bodies. It’s also an incredible time of social development and picture books such as Pig the Pug and Room on the Broom are a gentle and amusing way to learn some of life’s most important lessons.
Best books for bedtime
Good Night, Sleep Tight, by Mem Fox, Judy Horacek: Timeless nursery rhymes.
Guess How Much I Love You, by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram: Warm and fuzzy tale of a nutbrown hare.
Goodnight Moon, By Margaret Wise Brown, Clement Hurd: A little bunny says goodnight.
Good Night, Gorilla, by Peggy Rathmann: It’s bedtime at the zoo.
Kissed By The Moon, Alison Lester: Part poem, part lullaby, this gentle story celebrates a baby’s wonder at our beautiful world.
The Sleepy Pebble and Other Bedtime Stories: Calming Tales to Read at Bedtime, by Alice Gregory, Alice M. Gregory, Christy Kirpatrick, Christy Grigg, Jon McNaught: Joint mindfulness activities for both parent and child.
Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney: Mama Llama turns off the light but is everything all right? No!
Owl Babies, by Martin Waddell, Patrick Benson: Comforting read for any toddler who has ever worried about mum leaving them alone.
Most beloved picture books
Possum Magic by Mem Fox, Julie Vivas: Australian bush classic that rates as one of the most popular children’s books of all time.
The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson, Alex Scheffler: An award-winning rhyming story of a mouse and a monster.
Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy by Lynley Dodd: Hilarious rhyming classic of an adventurous dog.
We’re Going On A Bear Hunt, by Michael Rosen, Helen Oxenbury: For brave hunters and bear-lovers.
Where The Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak: Max is experiencing some big emotions and through his fantastical ride, learns to tame them.
The Tiger Who Came To Tea, by Judith Kerr: The story of Sophie and her teatime guest has been loved by millions of children since it was first published more than 50 years ago.
Who Sank the Boat, by Pamela Allen: Five animals go for a row. Children will love guessing who sank the boat.
The Tale Of Peter Rabbit, by Beatrix Potter: Cheeky rabbit Peter disobeys his mother and runs amok in Mr McGregor’s garden. Never goes out of fashion.
Best books for learning life lessons with a laugh
Pig The Pug, by Aaron Blabey: Greedy pug Pig is about to learn a big lesson about sharing
Room On The Broom by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler: A kind witch and her cat invite all sorts of animals to share her broom.
The Very Cranky Bear by Nick Bland: A wonderful rhythm and a joy to read.
Rudie Nudie by Emma Quay: Two kids enjoy those nudie moments between bath and bed time.
BEST BOOKS FOR 6-8 YEAR OLDS
Your child is at the truly exciting age where they are learning to read for themselves. Don’t underestimate the magic of this process – it opens up an entirely new world tothem and the moment your child starts reading road signs to you is one to remember.
It’s important to note that every child is different and their capacity to read will develop at different rates. The key is not to worry but continually encourage your child to have a go. A child of this age will still need your help and now is not the time to stop reading to them. There are many words and sounds they will not know, and they still need to hear a model of fluent reading which can only be provided by an adult.
In most cases, you will need to sit with your child as they take their first step towards independent reading. This is an age of transition. Many will still be attached to their picture books and that’s completely normal. Books such as The Day The Crayons Quit provide a more complex picture book experience, specifically designed for this age group.
Other types of books that help children to transition to chapter books include graphic novels such as the Dog Man series and illustrated chapter books such as the Treehouse series by Andy Griffiths which are tremendously fun, but also offer more dense text to developing readers.
Best hilarious stories
The 13-storey Treehouse, by Andy Griffiths, Terry Denton: Irreverent book that started the phenomenon.
The Bad Guys series, by Aaron Blabey: They sound like the Bad Guys, they look like
the Bad Guys … and they even smell like the Bad Guys.
Weirdo, by Anh Do: Fitting in won’t be easy but it will be funny!
Dog Man, by Dave Pilkey: Part-dog, part-man police officer/superhero but he’s all fun.
The Day The Crayons Quit, by Drew Daywalt, Oliver Jeffers: Duncan’s crayons stage a rebellion.
Ella And Olivia series, by Yvette Poshoglian, Danielle McDonald: Mischievous sisters are always cooking up fun.
Matilda, by Roald Dahl: Extraordinary little girl with a magical mind
The Cat In The Hat, Dr Seuss: A fun-loving talking cat causes utter pandemonium.
Pippi Longstocking, by Astrid Lindgren: Daring, spirited, Pippi is a rebel for the ages.
Horrid Henry, by Francesca Simon: One of the most successful antiheroes in kids’ fiction.
Best magical reads
The Magic Faraway Tree, by Enid Blyton: A magic tree where magical beings live.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett: A lonely girl finds a secret garden.
Animalia, by Graeme Base: Fantastical alphabetical journey through the animal kingdom.
A Bear Called Paddington, Michael Bond: The bear from darkest Peru continues to delight.
The BFG, Roald Dahl: A loveable giant mangles the English languagerite.
Most inspiring books
The Invisible String, by Patrice Karst, Joanne Lew-Vriethoff: Bestselling picture book about the unbreakable connections between loved ones
Little People, Big Dreams board books: Explore the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists.
Cicada, by Shaun Ta: A cicada works in an office but not all the people appreciate him.
Goodnight stories for Rebel Girls, by Francesca Carvallo: Kid-friendly tales of extraordinary women
Stuart Little, by EB White: One small mouse on a very big adventure.
BEST BOOKS FOR AGES 9-12
Hooray! You now have a child who can read with some independence. Again, development at this age can be variable so you will probably need to be on standby to listen to your child read and answer questions about the pronunciation of tricky words.
Having your child read to you is now just as important as you reading to them which, if you want to keep that special bonding time, you should continue to do. Sadly, this is often the age at which some children lose their love of reading and see it as a chore or ‘schoolwork’. What’s more heartbreaking is that this is precisely the age at which the themes and plots in the books for this group become so much more interesting and imaginative, not to mention more relevant to their lives!
Now is the time to get your kids hooked onto some of the amazing series that are available for this age group. The more mature and confident readers will be able to tackle the Harry Potter series. But if you need something a more gentle, The Land of Stories series offers a terrific, and lengthy, reading experience.
For parents, the other wonderful aspect of this age is the chance to introduce your children to the authors of your childhood – Roald Dahl, Judy Blume, CS Lewis and EB White still resonate just as strongly with young readers as they ever did.
Best fantastical reads
Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone, series by JK Rowling: a cultural phenomenon that tells the story of an orphan boy-wizard who takes on a world of evil
The Land Of Stories, series by Chris Colfer: Fast-paced adventure series mixed with classic fairytales.
Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl: A poor boy wins his golden ticket to the world of his dreams.
Nevermoor: The Trials Of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend: A cursed girl escapes death and finds herself in a magical world.
The Hobbit, by JRR Tolkien: Timeless classic that takes us into the spectacular world of Middle-earth
The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, by CS Lewis: Narnia is the land beyond the wardrobe door, a magical country waiting to be set free.
The Neverending Story, by Michael Ende: Before the film was this epic story of imagination.
Charlotte’s Web, by EB White: A tender novel of friendship, love, life, and death.
A Series Of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicke: Exquisitely dark comedy that is hilarious and deftly crafted.
Best action and mystery stories
Gangsta Granny, by David Walliams: Story of prejudice and acceptance, funny lists and silly words
The Famous Five, by Enid Blyton: Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy the dog embroil themselves in mystery after mystery.
How To Train Your Dragon, by Cressida Cowell: Hiccup Haddock Horrendous III’s rise to fame through his dragon-training exploits.
Artemis Fowl, series by Eoin Colfer: An adrenaline-packed series described as “Die-Hard with fairies”.
Percy Jackson And The Lightning Thief, series by Rick Riordan: Mixes classic Greek mythology with modern adventure.
Murder Most Unladylike, series by Robin Stevens: Thrilling murder mystery series, starring schoolgirl detectives Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong.
Best stories about growing up
Are you there, God, it’s Me Margaret, by Judy Blume: All the trials and tribulations of puberty.
Ballet Shoes, by Noel Streatfield: Three orphaned sisters take to the stage to earn a living and follow their dreams.
Goodnight Mr Tom, by Michelle Magorian: Young Willie Beech is evacuated to the country as Britain stands on the brink of World War II.
Once, by Morris Gleitzman: A young Jewish boy who is determined to escape the orphanage he lives in to save his Jewish parents from the Nazis
Wonder, by RJ Palacio: Unforgettable, life-affirming story of a boy who just wants to blend in.
BEST BOOKS FOR AGES 13-18
By this age, most children will have developed their own tastes in literature and the key here is to foster that interest, wherever it lies. You may no longer read books together (though it’s wonderful if you do!) but that doesn’t mean your reading connection has to end. Continuing your reading relationship doesn’t have to be complicated, it just comes down to taking an interest.
Talk to your kids about what the books they’re enjoying. Ask them to describe the plot, or the characters. Find out what they’d like to read next, and borrow it from your local library, or buy it for them. Ensure books a standard gift for each birthday and Christmas.
For this age group, some of the most popular novels have film tie-ins – the Hunger Games and Divergent are great examples. If your child has enjoyed the movie, why not introduce them to the book?
Stories for this cohort often have a ‘coming-of-age’ theme. Teenagerhood can be difficult to navigate, and books that depict these challenges can help our kids to understand they are not alone. Novels such as Laurinda, Jasper Jones and Looking for Alibrandi are terrific, insightful stories that confront issues of race, identity and class in Australia.
This is also the time to introduce your teen to some of the most famous works of literature – To Kill a Mockingbird, The Outsiders, and Little Women still have much to say to young people of today and have certainly stood the test of time. Perhaps now is the time to undertake ‘buddy reads’ where you and your child read the same book? After all, the key to fostering a keen reader, is to be one yourself.
Best classics
The Outsiders, by SE Hinton: A teen struggles with right and wrong in a society in which he believes that he is an outsider.
The Diary Of A Young Girl, by Anne Frank: A young Jewish girl hides from the Nazis.
The Catcher In The Rye, by JD Salinger: Classic novel of teenage angst and rebellion.
Anne Of Green Gables, by LM Montgomery: Heart-warming story of a spirited orphan on the idyllic Prince Edward Island.
Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott: Generations of readers have fallen in love with the March sisters.
Lord Of The Flies, by William Golding: A plane crashes, stranding a group of schoolboys who turn on each other.
To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee: Unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy Southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it
Looking For Alibrandi, by Melina Marchetta: Laugh and cry as Josephine Alibrandi, 17, learns the hard truths of getting older.
The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak: Superbly crafted writing burns with intensity as death takes hold in Nazi Germany.
Jasper Jones, by Craig Silvey: In the summer where everything changes, a young boy learns why the truth of things is so hard to know.
Best books for today’s teen
Does My Head Look Big In This?, by Randa Abdel-Fattah: When Amal, 16, decides to wear the hijab full-time, her entire world changes.
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins: Katniss Everdeen risks her life in a televised fight to the death.
Divergent, by Veronica Roth: In a dystopian world, Beatrice must decide between loyalty to family, and being herself.
Tomorrow, When The War Began, by John Marsden: Ellie and her friends return from a camping trip to find their country has been invaded.
The Maze Runner, by James Dashner: When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. Exciting and terrifying.
The Fault In Our Stars, by John Green: Explores the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love
The Hate You Give, by Angie Thomas: Starr Carter, 16, moves between two worlds and doesn’t fit into either.
One Of Us is Lying, by Karen McManus. Five strangers walk into detention and only four walk out alive.
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, by Jenny Han: Lara Jean’s secret letters get mailed to all her crushes.
Laurinda, by Alice Pung: Scholarship girl, Lucy Lam, finds herself in a battle for identity and integrity at her new private school.
WHERE STORIES COME TO LIFE
WHETHER it’s a rainy weekend or the zillionth week of lockdown, kidspot.com.au knows the unique kind of pain that comes from trying to entertain your kids indoors.
Which is why it is happy to be able to provide families with a FREE DreamWorks activity ebook. We’re talking 30 pages of kids’ favourites, whether it be Boss Baby, Trolls or Croods … there’s something in it for everyone. Check it out at kidspot.com.au
Originally published as Book Week: 100 best books for children of all ages
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