Books for your growing child (Toddler and Preschooler)

Let your child learn and grow through reading.

Interesting story books for your child

Nurturing a Healthy Lifestyle

1. The Grouchy Ladybug Author: Eric Carle Publisher: New York: HarperCollins, 1996 Call Number: JP CAR Synopsis A bad-tempered ladybug refuses to share the aphids on a leaf with a friendly ladybug, and challenges it to a fight. The other ladybug taunts that she should fight with bigger creatures, and so off it flies to challenge other animals that are much larger. The braggart finally learns the value of respect and good behaviour when it comes back full circle to experience kindness from the friendly ladybug.
2. Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse Author: Kevin Henkes Publisher: New York: Greenwillow Books, 2016 Call Number: JP HEN Synopsis Lilly loves school and idolises her teacher, Mr Slinger. When Lilly brings her new purple purse to school and cannot wait till Sharing Time to show it to her friends, Mr Slinger confiscates it. Lilly’s fury leads her to do something that she regrets later, and she sets out to make amends. Children will identify with Lilly’s eagerness to show off her new toy, and learn from her experience, and the importance of waiting for the right opportunity.
3. The I'm Not Scared Book Author: Todd Parr Publisher: New York: Little, Brown and Co., 2011 Call Number: JP PAR Synopsis This is a perfect book to share with young children on facing their fears. Common childhood fears are featured on one page, e.g. “Sometimes I’m scared I will get lost in the grocery store” while the opposite page provides a solution to the fear, e.g. “I’m not scared when I stay close to Mommy”. The delightful bold and bright illustrations, done in Todd Parr’s trademark style with black outlines, will appeal especially to young children.
4. Shark in the Park! Author: Nick Sharatt Publisher: Oxford ; New York: David Fickling Books, c2002 Call Number: JP SHA Synopsis Timothy Pope is testing out his brand new toy, a telescope, at the park. Is that really a shark he sees through his telescope? Children will love joining in with the words and actions every time Timothy raises his telescope to the sky, ground, left, right and all around!
5. The Squeaky Door Author: Retold by Margaret Read MacDonald Publisher: New York: HarperCollins Publishers, c2006 Call Number: JP 398.2 MAC -[FOL] Synopsis Little Boy is staying over at his Grandmother’s, but gets frightened by a squeaky bedroom door. His grandmother tries to comfort him by bringing in the cat, dog, pig and even the horse to stay in the bed with him! The humorous illustrations feature the animals in their pyjamas, and the repetitive text guarantees that children are able to join in reading the words aloud after the first or second reading!
6. Spot Bakes a Cake Author: Eric Hill Publisher: London: Frederick Warne, 2004 Call Number: JP HIL -[BA] Synopsis Follow Spot and his mother as they go around gathering ingredients to bake a birthday cake for Dad. This is a board book with short simple text in large print. With attractive double page spreads and flaps for little ones to lift and find out what is hiding behind it, teachers will find it a useful tool to show their young ones how cakes are made.
7. Wemberly Worried Author: Kevin Henkes Publisher: New York: Greenwillow Books, 2000 Call Number: JP HEN Synopsis Worry, worry, worry. Little Wemberly is worried about everything, from the crack on her living room wall to the bolts on the playground slide. Things threaten to spiral out of control when she has to go to school. What if the teacher is mean? What if she wants to cry? What if she can’t find the bathroom? She is just so anxious and shy until she meets someone in class who seems to be as shy as she is and they hit it off. The author captures aptly the nature of worrying in children with illustrations and creative text that are sometimes melodramatic and often hilarious. Older children will also enjoy the many humorous details that the pictures add to the story. More importantly, the book gently assures children that despite the worries, things can and often end well.
8. Grumpy Bird Author: Jeremy Tankard Publisher: New York: Scholastic Press, c2007 Call Number: JP TAN Synopsis One day, Bird wakes up grumpy. So grumpy that he doesn’t even want to fly. He decides to walk instead. But to his irritation, his animal friends decide to walk with him. They follow him wherever he goes, and do whatever he does. Bird remains grumpy until he realises that he could be having fun. A colourful book with simple text and beautiful double-page spreads. This is a good book to show that it is okay to be grumpy, but it is always better to have fun instead!

1. The Grouchy Ladybug

Author: Eric Carle
Publisher: New York: HarperCollins, 1996
Call Number: JP CAR

Synopsis

A bad-tempered ladybug refuses to share the aphids on a leaf with a friendly ladybug, and challenges it to a fight. The other ladybug taunts that she should fight with bigger creatures, and so off it flies to challenge other animals that are much larger. The braggart finally learns the value of respect and good behaviour when it comes back full circle to experience kindness from the friendly ladybug.

2. Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse

Author: Kevin Henkes
Publisher: New York: Greenwillow Books, 2016
Call Number: JP HEN

Synopsis

Lilly loves school and idolises her teacher, Mr Slinger. When Lilly brings her new purple purse to school and cannot wait till Sharing Time to show it to her friends, Mr Slinger confiscates it. Lilly’s fury leads her to do something that she regrets later, and she sets out to make amends. Children will identify with Lilly’s eagerness to show off her new toy, and learn from her experience, and the importance of waiting for the right opportunity.

3. The I'm Not Scared Book

Author: Todd Parr
Publisher: New York: Little, Brown and Co., 2011
Call Number: JP PAR

Synopsis

This is a perfect book to share with young children on facing their fears. Common childhood fears are featured on one page, e.g. “Sometimes I’m scared I will get lost in the grocery store” while the opposite page provides a solution to the fear, e.g. “I’m not scared when I stay close to Mommy”. The delightful bold and bright illustrations, done in Todd Parr’s trademark style with black outlines, will appeal especially to young children.

4. Shark in the Park!

Author: Nick Sharatt
Publisher: Oxford ; New York: David Fickling Books, c2002
Call Number: JP SHA

Synopsis

Timothy Pope is testing out his brand new toy, a telescope, at the park. Is that really a shark he sees through his telescope? Children will love joining in with the words and actions every time Timothy raises his telescope to the sky, ground, left, right and all around!

5. The Squeaky Door

Author: Retold by Margaret Read MacDonald
Publisher: New York: HarperCollins Publishers, c2006
Call Number: JP 398.2 MAC -[FOL]

Synopsis

Little Boy is staying over at his Grandmother’s, but gets frightened by a squeaky bedroom door. His grandmother tries to comfort him by bringing in the cat, dog, pig and even the horse to stay in the bed with him! The humorous illustrations feature the animals in their pyjamas, and the repetitive text guarantees that children are able to join in reading the words aloud after the first or second reading!

6. Spot Bakes a Cake

Author: Eric Hill
Publisher: London: Frederick Warne, 2004
Call Number: JP HIL -[BA]

Synopsis

Follow Spot and his mother as they go around gathering ingredients to bake a birthday cake for Dad. This is a board book with short simple text in large print. With attractive double page spreads and flaps for little ones to lift and find out what is hiding behind it, teachers will find it a useful tool to show their young ones how cakes are made.

7. Wemberly Worried

Author: Kevin Henkes
Publisher: New York: Greenwillow Books, 2000
Call Number: JP HEN

Synopsis

Worry, worry, worry. Little Wemberly is worried about everything, from the crack on her living room wall to the bolts on the playground slide. Things threaten to spiral out of control when she has to go to school. What if the teacher is mean? What if she wants to cry? What if she can’t find the bathroom? She is just so anxious and shy until she meets someone in class who seems to be as shy as she is and they hit it off. The author captures aptly the nature of worrying in children with illustrations and creative text that are sometimes melodramatic and often hilarious. Older children will also enjoy the many humorous details that the pictures add to the story. More importantly, the book gently assures children that despite the worries, things can and often end well.

8. Grumpy Bird

Author: Jeremy Tankard
Publisher: New York: Scholastic Press, c2007
Call Number: JP TAN

Synopsis

One day, Bird wakes up grumpy. So grumpy that he doesn’t even want to fly. He decides to walk instead. But to his irritation, his animal friends decide to walk with him. They follow him wherever he goes, and do whatever he does. Bird remains grumpy until he realises that he could be having fun. A colourful book with simple text and beautiful double-page spreads. This is a good book to show that it is okay to be grumpy, but it is always better to have fun instead!

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This article was last reviewed on 15 Nov 2022

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