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New is not necessarily better
At Lovereading4kids we are constantly asked to recommend great books for children and so far we have focused on mainly new books.
However there are some books that we think will grow old gracefully and will affect a new generation as powerfully as the generation before. Simply Essential reading.
Just click on the age range you are interested above the books.
To create this list Lovereading4kids has worked closely with Julia Eccleshare to create a list of ‘essential reads in childhood’ – those titles which we think should be read as part of growing up.
So now, in addition to being guided on the best of the new children’s titles, we're delighted to be able to guide you through those titles we feel have a timeless quality about them and should appear in every child's life at some point.
To view a range of classic literature from Alice (Alice in Wonderland) to Zeus (Tales of the Greek Heroes), then click here.
Allan Ahlberg
David Almond
Edward Ardizzone
J M Barrie
Nina Bawden
Malorie Blackman
Raymond Briggs
Kevin Brooks
Julie Burchill
Melvin Burgess
Rod Campbell
Eric Carle
Eoin Colfer
Helen Cresswell
Roadl Dahl
Joseph Delaney
Julia Donaldson
Anne Fine
Mark Haddon
Eric Hill
Shirley Hughes
Mick Inkpen
Dick King Smith
Rudyard Kipling
Ursula Le Guin
Astrid Lindgren
Michelle Magorian
Louisa May Alcott
Gerladine McCaughrean
Anthony McGowan
Herman Melville
Jill Murphy
Michelle Paver
K M Peyton
Terry Pratchett
Philip Pullman
Meg Rosoff
J K Rowling
Louis Sachar
J D Salinger
Marcus Sedgwick
Maurice Sendak
Anna Sewell
Clive Smith
Rosemary Sutcliff
Jonathan Swift
E B White
Jacqueline Wilson
Benjamin Zepaniah

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Children's Book 'Must Reads'
To see essential reads for kids of a certain age, just click on one of the tabs below. You'll find some highly recommended reads.
Essential Reads - Ages 0-5
Pat Hutchins
A simple and utterly delightful joke lies at the heart of this classic picture book now celebrating its 40th anniversary. Rosie the hen sets out for a walk around the farmyard. The words describe exactly the route Rosie takes as...
Format: Paperback - Released: 07/01/2010
Maurice Sendak
When Max is sent to bed without any supper for making mischief, he sets off on an amazing adventure across the sea to the land where he meets the ‘wild things’. The wild things roar their terrible roar and gnash...
Format: Paperback - Released: 04/05/2000
David Mckee
Delightfully witty, Two Monsters is a classic picture book with a strong message about understanding other people’s point of view. The Two Monsters live on different sides of the mountain and so see the world from different angles. Communicating through...
Format: Paperback - Released: 02/10/1997
Eric Carle
This is a much-loved classic but as relevant today as it was when first published 40 years ago. Its vivid and colourful illustrations and cut back and die-cut pages together with some very simple text provide a wonderful story that is...
Format: Paperback - Released: 28/11/2002
Mick Inkpen
This was the book that introduced the lovable Kipper to millions of children the world over. A truly wonderful story to share and to be treasured and loved time and time again. Written in a single afternoon by the author,...
Format: Paperback - Released: 20/07/2006
Janet, Ahlberg, Allan Ahlberg
A celebration of babies – their dinners, prams, accidents, gardens, bedtimes and bath times, books , pets and even their Mums and Dads. Everything that is familiar to a baby is beautifully captured in Janet Alhberg’s soft illustrations which ask...
Format: Paperback - Released: 27/09/1984
Allan Ahlberg
One of our 'Must Reads'. Fabulous illustrations, wonderful rhyming text with not a word out of place; this is a book that no nursery bookshelf can be without. Guaranteed to have huge appeal with babies and young toddlers. It’s definitely the...
Format: Paperback - Released: 31/03/1983
Martin Waddell
A hugely enjoyable read. Farmer duck toils hard all day while his lazy farmer does nothing. So the duck’s many friends decide to club together to get their own back on the lazy farmer and in so doing the duck...
Format: Paperback - Released: 04/09/1995
David Mckee
Elmer the colourful patchwork elephant has been a nursery favourite since this first book was published in 1989. A modern classic, this picture book is known to millions, and continues to be one of the biggest selling picture books ever,...
Format: Paperback - Released: 06/09/2007
Allan Ahlberg, Janet Ahlberg
Greenaway winner in 1978. Simple rhyming text and engaging interactive pictures for children to find characters they might know. Wonderful detail in the illustrations provides endless entertainment in that with each read you find yet more in them...
Format: Paperback - Released: 13/03/1989
Shirley Hughes
Winner of the Greenaway of Greenaways in 2007 and Greenaway winner in 1977. Filled with humour and Shirley Hughes' deft touch, this is a book for young readers to tackle by themselves, as well as a delight to...
Format: Paperback - Released: 18/11/1993
Rod Campbell
Have you ever wanted a pet? How do you find the right one? An elephant is too heavy, a giraffe is too tall, a frog is too jumpy. Hidden behind a flap, each new arrival that the zoo sends...
Format: Paperback - Released: 28/03/1985
Stan Berenstain, Jan Berenstain
One of our 'Must Reads'. Lively pictures, charming characters and the fact that the story only uses 24 words, but to beautiful effect, make this a brilliant book for beginner readers. The bears are running through the woods in the...
Format: Paperback - Released: 08/08/1991
Eric Hill
This is definitely one of those ‘essential experiences’ of childhood. Children identify brilliantly with the naughty little dog through some big bold illustrations, simple text and lots of flaps revealing Spot’s many friends. A real classic first published 25 years...
Format: Paperback - Released: 27/10/1983
Raymond Briggs
This is one of the all time favourites of any nursery and certainly a book to turn back to time and time again whether you’re a child or an adult. No words, just the most wonderful pictures telling a poignant...
Format: Paperback - Released: 25/09/1980
Graham Oakley
A brilliant picture book thankfully now back in print. The stunning, detailed and humorous illustrations tell the entertaining story of how Sampson the church cat and Arthur the church mouse take over the local church despite the reservations of the...
Format: Paperback - Released: 23/10/2009













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