100 of the best picture books for children

'I wrote to the zoo to send me a pet . . .' Celebrate forty years since the first publication of Dear Zoo with this gold foiled edition of Rod Campbell's classic picture book. Young children will love lifting the flaps to discover the animals the zoo has sent – a monkey, a lion and even an elephant! But will they ever manage to send the perfect pet? A must for every child's bookshelf, and the thick card pages, chunky cased golden cover and sturdy flaps make it perfect for small hands.

Buster's staying with Grandma on the farm. But where will he find the eggs for breakfast? Not in the stable – oh dear! Young children will love lifting the flaps as they turn the pages and follow Buster around the farm. From the creator of Dear Zoo, this 40th anniversary special edition is a great gift for all Rod Campbell fans. 

An empowering and colourful picture book to help young children celebrate their voice and express themselves. Debut author Madhvi Ramani has taken voice lessons for a number of years, teaching her how to be confident in her own voice. The gorgeously bold and bright illustrations are paired with lots of ways for children to exercise their voice, building self-reliance and self-esteem. 

Odo is off on another adventure with his friends at Forest Camp! Join the little owl, based on the preschool animated series on Milkshake, as he and his friends look after the rock eggs, and get more than they bargained for! Designed to be read and discussed with young readers, Odo: The Egg has bright, engaging pictures that will help toddlers learn about the wonderful wildlife they can encounter in the forest. Fans of Odo can continue to adventures with Odo: Super Owl!

All the birds have eggs to hatch, except Duck. But when Duck finds an egg of his own to look after he's delighted.  But all the other birds think it's a very odd egg indeed – and everyone's in for a BIG surprise when it finally hatches. A beautifully illustrated and cleverly formatted tale with a surprise ending, toddlers will love The Odd Egg. 

Enjoy a family Christmas singalong with Baroness Floella Benjamin, including favourites such as 'We Wish you a Merry Christmas', 'Jingle Bells' and 'Ding Dong Merrily on High'! This stunning gift book features 15 familiar Christmas songs to enjoy and has sturdy tabs, making it easy to find your favourite. You can also learn about Floella's own Christmas memories and traditions, and join her in some festive fun with every song.

This award-winning picture book for toddlers is a fun and educational counting poem from Valerie Bloom, with beautiful illustrations by David Axtell. How much fruit can one little girl eat? Count from one to ten, learning the names of different Caribbean fruits. The rhyming text helps little ones learn to count while exploring the Caribbean’s many delicious fruits.  

In Time for Bed, Panda, children will learn first words about their bedtime routine. Bold, googly eyes and a sliding mechanism bring this adorable panda to life, while children share the simple story and point at the pictures. An ideal book for babies, this title combines bright illustrations, a simple story and first words – a perfect introduction to bedtime routines.

Full of David Axtell’s beautiful illustrations of magnificent animals, this picture book adventure through the African savanna is a rendition of a well-known children’s poem. Two sisters go looking for a lion that lives on the African savanna. They go through swishy swashy long grass, a splishy splashy lake and a big dark cave – but when they finally meet the lion they have to run, run, run all the way home. 

In Black History, young children can read about the lives of inspirational Black people from around the world, from Maya Angelou to Stormzy and from Rosa Parks to Nelson Mandela. This pre-school read features push, pull and slide scenes, and punchy bright illustrations by Jayri Gómez.

Take a hop, skip and a jump into the big wide world with this beautifully illustrated picture book for babies and toddlers. Telling the tale of a brave bunny who ventures out beyond his safe burrow, this is a story all about the fantastic adventures you can experience when you step out of your comfort zone. 

The uplifting new picture book from award-winning illustrator Marta Altés, this a story about the challenges and excitement of moving somewhere new. Starring a friendly dog who can't wait to start his life in his new town – and make lots of new friends – this is a great book to read with children ahead of a move to a new school, house or neighbourhood. 

Eric Carles The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a perennial favourite with children and adults alike Its imaginative illustration and clever cutout detail charts the progress of a very hungry caterpillar as he eats his way through the week.

Sometimes, when you love someone very, very much, you want to find a way of describing how much you treasure them. But, as Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare discover, love is not always an easy thing to measure. The story of Little and Big Nutbrown Hares’ efforts to express their love for each other has become a publishing phenomenon. 

For brave hunters and bear-lovers, the classic chant-aloud by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. Follow and join in the family's excitement as they wade through the grass, splash through the river and squelch through the mud in search of a bear. What a surprise awaits them in the cave on the other side of the dark forest!

Sometimes I Just WON'T is a hilarious and helpful book about the ever-changing moods of small children. Being a toddler is an emotional rollercoaster. Some days you want to put your coat on, you don’t mind sharing and you can't wait to have your bath. But some days, you just WON'T! And sometimes that’s OK. But, with a little kindness and encouragement, you might find that something you don’t want to do can become something you love to do.

Margaret Wise Brown's comforting, rhythmic text accompanied by the warmth of Clement Hurd's classic mid-century illustrations make Goodnight Moon a timeless picture book, which is known and loved around the world. In a great green room a little rabbit is tucked up snugly and safely in bed and is getting ready to say goodnight to all the familiar things that surround him, one by one. 

Get ready for bedtime with Buster. Join his as he has a bath, puts on his pyjamas and brushes his teeth. Complete with simple, engaging text and touch-and-feel patches to engage little one's sense, this board book is a great addition the often challenging bedtime routine. As you switch out the lights, say goodnight to Buster too! 

Hairy Maclary is off for a walk in town, and on the way he's joined by many furry friends of all shops and sizes, from Bottomley Potts to Schnitzel von Krumm. But when they suddenly find themselves face-to-face with Scarface Claw – the toughest Tom in town – it's time to run all the way back home! The brilliantly clever rhyme and vivid, engaging pictures have made this story into a children's classic.

Join a cast of wickedly funny witches as they count down to Halloween in this delightful board book. Giggle with glee as the witches brew potions, fly their broomsticks, cast spells and more, with hilarious results! Little ones can pick their favourite witch from page to page until there's just one witch left – all building up to a pop-up pumpkin surprise! 

Try, from bestselling authors, rugby legends and best friends Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield is an irresistibly big-hearted picture book about a friendship between two young boys. When Rob and Kevin's teacher asks the class to think of their hero, Kevin knows exactly who to pick: the fast, brave and strong captain of the Roaring Bears rugby team! Rob, however, feels unsure. Do heroes really have to be big and strong? Before long, Rob and Kevin start to realise that perhaps being a hero is about much more than strength and muscles.

A fun-filled, snappy adventure story, The Tooth Fairy and the Crocodile is the brand-new picture book from the creators of What the Ladybird Heard. When Ruth Mary the tooth fairy sets off to collect teeth from animals in the jungle, she soon gets more than she bargained for in the form of a crocodile with an extremely toothy grin! With Julia Donaldson’s trademark rhyming verse and Lydia Monks’ bold illustrations, this is a must-have addition to any little one’s bookshelf.

Maisie Jones has a dream – to uncover the real-life dinosaur bones that she knows are buried deep on the beach near where she and her family live. But when she finally makes an incredible discovery, she finds herself chasing a man in a top hat determined to take the glory for himself. Will she stop him and get the chance to share what she’s found with the world? A fun, feminist story, Maisie Jones and the Dinosaur Bones is inspired by the real-life story of palaeontologist Mary Anning.

Every child is unique, and in this new picture book, Smriti Halls and Chaaya Prabhat celebrate the differences that make each one of us special. A joyful story about celebrating your family story told through lyrical verse and bright, vibrant illustrations, Best of All is inspired by author Smriti Halls’s experience of raising her children to celebrate their family history and British and Indian heritage.

The boy knows he's a bit different to most of the boys in his class, but he loves his long hair. Join him as he takes you on a journey and shares how his long hair is a part of who he is, strong, fearless, wild and unique. A beautifully illustrated picture book about celebrating who you are, My Hair is as Long as a River is the perfect story to teach young children about the joy of standing out from the crowd. 

The little cat really needs to take a nap, but he’s so busy playing and having fun he hasn’t got time to waste on sleep! Funny, fresh and sure to have parents giggling as much as their little ones, Cat Nap is the first in an engaging and enchanting new picture book series for young readers by the best-selling creator of Please Mr Panda, Steve Antony. 

This bestselling story of a witch and her cat, and the medley of creatures that hitch a ride on her broom isn’t just for Halloween! The witch loses her hat, bow and wand which are returned by a dog, a bird and a frog, all eager for a ride on her broom. It’s the more the merrier until the broom snaps under its heavy load - and there’s a greedy dragon looking for a snack . . .

Adventurous Poppy the pigeon needs to build a new nest, and what better place could there be for her to set up her home than one of London’s most iconic sights? With Marion Billet’s brilliant, bold illustrations of London landmarks including Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and the London Eye and features of the four seasons for little ones to spot, this book will introduce children to our capital’s best-loved locations and the wonders of British weather.

The fresh and funny story of a little princess who hates the stuffy palace, but loves the creatures she meets in the garden. Clara is a princess who loves collecting creepy-crawlies and making them her friends. When Clara discovers that an ogre she keeps in her shoe under her bed isn’t an ogre at all, he offers her a way out of her predicament. There’s only one thing she needs to do . . .

After Otto invites one of his friends to share his comfy basket, word quickly spreads around the neighbourhood. Soon he's sharing his cosy bed with all the dogs in the area, even taking in the local strays. Will Otto ever get his basket back to himself? Otto The Top Dog is a delightfully funny tale that will show young readers that while it's fun to share, sometimes too much of a good thing isn't so great either!

A heartfelt story about a playful young wolf and her best friend, Bear. Wolf and Bear is a beautiful tale of hope, kindness and love. This heartwarming book is the perfect launchpad for conversations with young children about feelings and friendship. Written and illustrated by the hugely talented Kate Rolfe, winner of the V&A Student Illustrator of the Year Award 2022.

Inspired by the incredible true story of a lost little penguin, and the vets who saved his life, The Penguin Who Lost His Way is perfect for young animal lovers. Hoppy the emperor penguin loves swimming in the sea with his friends. But one day Hoppy swims too far, and loses his way . . . ending up on a strange beach, all alone and far from home. How will poor Hoppy get back to his family?

Baroness Floella Benjamin travelled from Trinidad to London with her older sister and two younger brothers when she was just ten years old, as part of the Windrush generation. This is her inspiring true story. Arriving in England to be reunited with the rest of her family, cold and unfriendly London wasn’t quite what Floella expected. This beautifully illustrated and powerful true story about overcoming adversity is full of Floella’s trademark optimism and joy.

When this fearless rabbit sets off for a climb, there's no stopping him. Not mysteriously vanishing climbing buddies, nor the strange tentacles, and especially not the very clearly labelled signs of danger . . . But sometimes, perseverance and blissful ignorance do pay off! Ross Collins' No Climbing! is a not-so-cautionary tale that young readers will love.

Follow a little girl as she paints her own adventure with her bright blue tree frog companion. With luscious green trees to climb and red hot air balloons to sail away in, children will delight in the rhyming text, vibrant artwork, flaps to lift and holes to peep through. Written by Julia Donaldson, the bestselling author of The Gruffalo, and illustrated by Sharon King-Chai, Colours, Colours Everywhere will keep little ones entranced.

This joyful and empowering alphabet book teaches children their ABC and celebrates Black children, encouraging all kids to love the skin they’re in. Each letter of the alphabet contains affirming, positive messages, from E is for Empowerment, to L is for Lead to W is for Worthy.

Could Dad be a grizzly bear? He has fuzzy fur, big paws and he loves the outdoors. He sleeps a lot, and he ate all the honey. What else could he be? Sometimes, when it's scary at night, there's nothing better than a big bear hug.

This empowering picture book about loving who you are comes from Karamo Brown, star of the hit Netflix series Queer Eye, and his son Jason. Follow a boy and his father as they spend the day in the city together, talking about all the ways they are perfectly designed for each other.

Starbird is an original fable about freedom and love, stunningly illustrated by Sharon King-Chai. Starbird’s songs delight all who hear them, but when the Moon King traps Starbird in a cage as a gift for his daughter, all the colour and life in his voice begins to drain away. With beautiful illustrations and shiny silver foil throughout, this stunning picture book is an exquisite gift for any child or adult.

It's time to walk to school and mum wants the children to get there on time. But what Mum doesn't realise is that the hill is in fact the tummy of a sleeping giant and it's important to tread carefully when the floor turns to lava! Getting the kids to school on time can be filled with hurdles – A Wild Walk to School perfectly captures the epic adventure it can be.

Meena wants to join in when the adults have a party, but only grown-ups get to stay up late. So the next day Meena decides, “I’m actually really grown-up now!” She has lots of fun planning her own grown-up party, going to work and experimenting with fashion, but she soon finds out being a grown-up isn’t as easy as it seems.

Someone has come along to join Winnie-the-Pooh and Christopher Robin on their adventure, but who could it be? It can't be Kanga and Roo – they're sailing a boat – and it can't be Owl, because he's at home. Could it be Heffalumps who want to eat Pooh's beloved honey? Or perhaps Pooh and Christopher Robin are accompanied by a pair of friends who are never far away on a sunny day. Winnie-the-Pooh and Me is a brand-new Winnie-the-Pooh story, featuring the best-loved characters from the Hundred Acre Wood.

The doorbell rings just as Sophie and her mummy are sitting down to tea. Who could it possibly be? What they certainly don't expect to see at the door is a big furry, stripy tiger! This warm and funny picture book story is perfect for reading aloud, or for small children to read to themselves time and again. First published in 1968 and never out of print, it has become a timeless classic enjoyed and beloved by generations of children and parents. 

One night Max puts on his wolf suit so his mother calls him 'Wild Thing' and sends him to bed without his supper. That night a forest begins to grow in Max's room, and an ocean rushes by with a boat to take Max to the place where the wild things are. Max tames the wild things and crowns himself as their king! But when Max has sent the monsters to bed, and everything is quiet, he starts to feel lonely. He realises it is time to sail home to the place where someone loves him best of all.

Discover how the rhino got its wrinkly skin, how the elephant got its trunk, how the camel got its hump and more in these creative, witty stories by Rudyard Kipling. With reimagined rhyming text by Eli Woodward, and detailed contemporary illustrations by award-winning Marta Altés, this new edition of the classic Just So Stories would make a wonderful gift for young readers. 

When jeweller Mr Peacock receives a once-in-a-lifetime job from the Lion Prince, he’s grateful for the help from his new apprentice, a shy chicken. That is until he discovers a startling robbery and that his apprentice has disappeared! A heartwarming new animal fairy tale from Axel Scheffler, The Jeweller’s Apprentice is a story about forgiveness and learning from your mistakes.

Aziza is excitedly packing her suitcase ready to go on holiday when she finds sand and seashells from the fairy door all over her room! Before long, she is stepping through the door and out onto Shimmerton’s beach, where naughty fairies are causing havoc by accidentally awakening an ancient shell-walker who has been asleep for many years under the sand. Inspired by creatures from world mythology, Aziza's Secret Fairy Door and the Mermaid's Treasure is the fourth title in the magical adventure series from Lola Morayo, illustrated throughout in black-and-white.

From award-winning historian and broadcaster David Olusoga comes this stunning visual journey through Black British history for young readers. Offering answers to thought-provoking questions such as: when did Africans first come to Britain? And who are the well-dressed Black children in Georgian paintings? Black and British: An Illustrated History is an introduction to 1800 years of Black British history, from the Roman Africans who guarded Hadrian’s Wall, all the way to present day.

Rediscover Eva Ibbotson's award-winning, bestselling classic adventure with this gorgeous gift edition. Maia, an orphan, can't wait to reach her distant relatives a thousand miles up the Amazon. She imagines a huge, loving family with whom she will share great adventures. Instead, she finds two spiteful cousins who see the jungle as the enemy and refuse to step foot outdoors. But the secrets of the rainforest more than make up for the horrible twins in this joyous Amazon adventure . . . 

This beautiful edition presents Costa Award and Kate Greenaway Medal winner Chris Riddell's gorgeous new visual interpretation of Lewis Carroll’s classic story. Featuring a foiled jacket, head and tail bands and a ribbon marker, and with lavish colour illustrations throughout, this gorgeous hardback will be treasured for years to come. This is a picture book every Alice fan should have on their bookshelves.

This joyful celebration of Lewis Carroll’s love of language is a wonderful introduction to his life and the origin of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Award-winning author Katherine Krull uses many of Carroll’s own words, from brillig and uglification to frumious and chortle, to tell the story of a man who’s legacy continues to delight children today. One Day in Wonderland is strikingly illustrated by Júlia Sardà, making this a book to treasure.

Step into the magical world of ballet with this timeless collection of four stories, each one based on a beloved classical ballet. Delight in dancing swans, fantastical firebirds, sleeping princesses and sugar plum fairies in this fresh, dynamic and magical collection that will delight all ages from five and up. With its gold foil cover, jewel-like colours and striking design, this is the ultimate gift for all fans of ballet and fairy tale and a glorious celebration of story, dance and theatre. 

Long Walk to Freedom is the amazing story of a true hero. Mandela's famous biography has been specially adapted for children in a beautifully illustrated picture book. Discover how a little boy whose father called him "troublemaker" grew up to fight apartheid, become South Africa's first black president and campaign for freedom and justice throughout the world.