Must-have classics

For children aged from birth to four

The world and I could argue forever about what’s left off this list. Hundreds of other magnificent books exist. These fail-safe, tried-and-true suggestions are merely for parents who need a little guidance before bravely choosing books on their own.

• I Went Walking by Sue Machin (in the USA by Sue Williams)
• Each Peach Pear Plum by Allan Ahlberg
• Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See? by Bill Martin Jr
• Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
• Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
• Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
• Owl Babies by Martin Waddell
• Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy by Lynley Dodd
• Monkey and Me by Emily Gravett
• Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
• Wombat Stew by Marcia K. Vaughan
• Who Sank the Boat? by Pamela Allen
• Dr. Seuss’s ABC by Dr. Seuss
• Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
• Going on a Bear Hunt by Michel Rosen
• Rosie’s Walk by Pat Hutchins
• The Elephant and the Bad Baby by Elfrida Vipont
• Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

by Judith Viorst