Creating a library for my children has taken years. As they will pass from one stage of reading to the next, it’s a project that will never be completed. For me, surrounding Izzy and Jesse with a variety of books, comics and other printed material is incredibly important. I add to our collection at every opportunity, and buying new titles for them is something of a payday ritual!

I hope they {and the other children I constantly shower with book shaped gifts} develop a life long love of reading. In years to come, when they’re asked what their Mother gave them, I wouldn’t mind if they simply responded with ‘books’, because it may be the greatest gift I have to give.

In honour of World Book Day, I’ve compiled a list of 25 books I think every child should own. Of course, I could think of plenty more, but here I’ve simply included titles I feel are a great foundation from which to build a child’s library. The books are intended to be unisex and appropriate from birth through to the early years of primary school. While some of my choices might be lost on a newborn, I think it pays to start early when it comes to collecting books.

The links in this post will all take you to Amazon, but much of our own collection has been sourced from charity shops, jumble sales and the dusty book shelves of other people’s children long since grown.

The Basics

1. {A book of colours} WOW! Said The Owl ~ A cheeky little owl refuses to sleep. As she explores the daytime world she is wowed by the yellow sun, the bright blue sky and the green leaves of her tree, but as night falls she discovers it’s the stars that are most beautiful of all. With bright, bold illustrations that remind me of the work of Eric Carle, this book is a superb introduction to the colours of the rainbow.

2. {A book for counting} Ten Tiny Tadpoles ~ I’ll never forget the first time we read this book to Izzy. The ending truly took her by surprise, and it was a firm favourite for many weeks after. Beginning with ten tiny tadpoles wriggling in a line, the group diminishes by one with the turn of each page, until only a single tadpole remains. When you reach the final spread, ten bouncing baby frogs burst spectacularly from the book.

3. {A book of animals and the alphabet} A Zeal of Zebras ~ Woop Studios uses a witty array of collective nouns {an embarrassment of pandas, a galaxy of starfish and a shiver of sharks} to create a colourful introduction to both animals and the alphabet. This is a delightfully illustrated book, equally worthy of your coffee table as it is your child’s bookshelf. For familiarising children with farm animals I love Eric Carle’s The Very Busy Spider.

4. {A book of the world} Barefoot Books World Atlas ~ I think every home should contain a beautiful atlas for children to pore over as they dream of adventures in far flung places. Little ones will like watching Mummy or Daddy point at the pretty pictures {‘Grandma lives all the way over here, and we live right there on that tiny island’}. As they get older, the colourful maps will bring faraway places to life and the illustrated features about geography, architecture, people, plants and wildlife will reveal countless fascinating facts. One day it might even help them with their homework.

5. {A book for bedtime} Goodnight Moon ~ Now in it’s 65th year, Goodnight Moon remains one of the best ways to send sleepy children off to bed. I recommend reading this aloud from birth. You should expect many years of whispering goodnight to every object in your child’s bedroom to follow.

6. The Gruffalo ~ Perhaps the most well known of Julia Child and Axel Sheffler’s picture books, I’m yet to meet a child that hasn’t fallen in love with the fantastical world of the Gruffalo and that cunning brown mouse. Truth is, every title produced by this talented duo is worth owning. Stick Man, The Snail and the Whale and Room on the Broom are firm favourites in this house.

7. The Very Hungry Caterpillar ~ A classic, and one my children seem never to tire of. Even at 8 years old, I still find Izzy poking her fingers through the pages of this board book on occasion. Carle’s illustrations are perfect, and the caterpillar’s transformation to butterfly never ceases to amaze little readers.

8. Owl Babies ~ I love reading this tale of three baby owls waiting for their mother in the dark. There’s something so comforting about the way the young birds interact, about their yearning for their Mama and the way she masterfully swoops in at the end. This is also a great book for working through issues with the dark or sleeping alone at night {see also The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark}.

9. Dear Zoo ~ A fun lift-the-flap book that has always made my two laugh. Dear Santa is a great festive alternative too.

10. Gorilla ~ Hannah adores Gorilla’s, but has never seen one. Her father is too busy to take her to the zoo. She asks for a gorilla for her birthday, but receives only a toy one. Then, something extraordinary happens, and Hannah spends one magical night with a real gorilla who wears her father’s hat and coat. Children’s Laureate, Anthony Browne, creates intelligent, thoughtful children’s books that are stunning to look at. In Gorilla, new things emerge from the artful illustrations at every reading. If this book proves popular, be sure to check out The Tunnel as well.

11. The Tale of Peter Rabbit ~ Every child needs a full complement of Beatrix Potter books, but this is the obvious place to start. I never get board of reading these stories aloud. If you find yourself craving more of the magical world created by Potter once this section of your library is complete then I can also recommend The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit by Emma Thompson.

12. Rosie’s Walk ~ 40 years old and still fabulous. I love the 70s chic of the folkish illustrations in this near-wordless book, as well as the way Rosie outsmarts that wily old fox.

13. The Tiger Who Came to Tea ~The classic story of Sophie and her unusual tea-time guest is over 30 years old, but still just as magical. When my children are ravenous and ready to eat everything in sight, they often compare themselves to the tiger in this book.

14. Whatever Next! ~ To my mind, Jill Murphy’s book about the bear who climbs into a cardboard box and journeys to the moon to share a picnic of biscuits and fizzy pop with an owl he met on the way, is the epitome of everything childhood should be about. This book perfectly captures the power of a child’s imagination, and in turn fuels that of the reader.

15. The Jolly Postman or Other People’s Letters ~ I love the books of Janet and Allan Ahlberg so much it was quite difficult to limit myself to only one. However, this unique story is executed so well, it seemed a crime to omit it. The witty text, familiar fairytale characters and sweet illustrations would be wonderful enough, but the fun letters, notes and cards sprinkled throughout take this title to the next level. My children adore exploring the pages of this book and while reading every word can take a while, it’s worth letting them stay up a little later at bedtime. Other favourites include Peepo! and Each Peach Pear Plum.

Be sure to stop by later for the final 10. Are any of your favourites among those featured so far?

Love Audrey xxx