Books for 3-5 year olds

Louella lives on the edge of a forest. But not just any forest – this one has unicorns! Louella's unicorn is called Norrie, and they love collecting shells together from the stream and spending all day together. Norrie’s special power is being able to cast a bright beam of light – so although Louella’s biggest fear is the dark, she never has to worry with Norrie around! Until, one day, when Louella’s school has a class trip into the forest and Norrie doesn’t appear. Where could Norrie have got to? Can Louella overcome her biggest fear to help her friend out?

Meet Penguin: he's thoughtful, kind and loyal. He can be a bit cautious with new things, and he’s very sensible. Pup, on the other hand, is a fun-loving whirlwind! She always thinks big and sometimes gets a bit carried away. . . All Penguin wants is a perfectly sized chocolate egg to enjoy in the garden. Pup, on the other hand, is thinking: why stop there? What about a ROCKET EGG, or an EGGSHELL PIRATE SHIP? It's a recipe for disaster, and LOTS of laughter.

Verbs, also known as action words, can be hard to get the hang of, and nobody understands the struggle better than the young child in Wiggling Words. Skip, trip, fumble and fall with them as they discover that even though words can be tricky, they can be fun too! This is a great book to share with children with dyslexia and other neurodivergence to encourage problem-solving and build confidence.

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.

When Pete and his friends find their peaceful space interrupted by buzzing bugs, they decide to do something about it. Eradicating the forest of flies seems like a great idea – until they realise that nothing is growing anymore, and it’s up to them to bring the bugs (and nature) back to normal. A story about the importance of every creature in our ecosystem, this book is perfect for reading aloud with children of all ages.

Join Moomintroll as they follow Snufkin’s letters around Moominvalley and discover the surprise waiting for them at the end of Moomin Mail. See where Moominpapa has been on his travels, make Mooninmamma’s pancake recipe, and read a story written by Little My. With illustrations inspired by Tove Jansson’s classic tales and letters to read from all of your favourite Moomin characters, this beautiful interactive picture book would make a wonderful gift for a young reader in your life.

Join a fearless little bunny on a very big adventure in this heartwarming and boldly illustrated picture book by award-winning author-illustrator Ross Collins. From fellow climbers who disappear without a trace to signs warning of peril ahead, little ones will giggle as the brave rabbit climbs higher and higher, ignoring all the warnings of danger further up the mountain. With each page showcasing vibrant illustrations and a fun cast of characters, No Climbing will become a firm favourite to read aloud at storytime.

Join ten adorable hounds on a number adventure in 10 Dogs, a fun counting picture book from award-winning illustrator Emily Gravett. As the dogs go in hunt of ten delicious sausages they have lots of counting fun along the way. Supporting early number skills through its beautifully detailed illustrations, this book would make a brilliant addition to any toddler’s bookshelf. 

Take a trip to the barbershop with Tyrone in Tyrone's Cool Crown, the second picture book adventure from national treasure and comedy legend Lenny Henry and illustrator Salomey Doku. Tyrone doesn’t want an inch of his hair cut off, but with the help of barber Dalisa and Grandad Cleveland, he learns that getting your hair done can be loads of fun. 

Ruth Mary is used to collecting teeth from under the pillows of sleeping children, not animals. But when the Fairy Queen sends her off to the jungle, Ruth Mary doesn't mind. That is until she collects the tooth of a crocodile, who wakes up and decides Ruth Mary looks like a tasty snack! And with her wings not working, how will the tooth fairy escape? Full of fun and packed with adventure The Tooth Fairy and the Crocodile is perfect for any child with a wobbly tooth!

Victor is a wolf with a head full of worries. He worries about almost everything, from whether he’s brave enough, to what he’s going to have for dinner. One day, Victor shares how he feels with his friend Pablo, who helps him learn how to make his worries feel a little smaller. Giving children the tools they need to talk about and understand their worries, this book is a wonderful tool for carers and educators to help young children talk about how they are feeling.

People don’t always understand the boy with long hair. But he knows that his hair is a part of who he is and who he can be ­- soft and strong, wild and still, fierce and gentle. My Hair is as Long as a River is a joyful celebration of being proud of who you are, from debut picture book creators Charlie Castle and Emma Farrarons.

Ellis and Charlie are the best of friends. They live on an island, they share everything, and they do everything together. Until one day, things start to go missing, and the friends don’t know who is to blame. A fabulously funny story about the highs and lows of friendship, It Wasn’t Me! will help to teach young children that sometimes friends fall out, but how easy it can be to forgive and make up.

It's springtime. Bear has woken up hungry and finds a lost egg outside his cave. Breakfast? No! Out hatches Gozzle, a very sweet little gosling who is convinced that Bear must be her daddy – and that she should be able to climb, dig and eat honey just like him. Follow Bear on his journey from reluctant carer to parent in this heartwarming and joyous picture book about what home and family truly mean.

Wolf and Bear are the best of friends. Every day they play together, exploring the world around them and learning new things. Until one day, Bear doesn’t want to play anymore and Wolf has no idea why. This heartwarming and hopeful story of two best friends offers a sensitive and age-appropriate way to talk to early years children about the often difficult-to-discuss topic of depression.

Meet a cat, in need of a nap. But it’s hard to find time for sleep when you’re busy playing! Will he ever close his eyes? Style, simplicity and humour combine to make this original and engaging look at naptime a must-read for all young children and their grown-ups. Fresh, funny and utterly relatable, with a playful, pitch-perfect text, Cat Nap marks the launch of a new character-led picture book series.

Sammy Striker eats, sleeps and breathes football, so when she’s spotted at the park by a scout who wants her to play for the National Under 8s team, she can’t believe her luck. But as her debut in the Football Cup gets closer, Sammy’s shots start to miss the target. Can she hold her nerve and follow her dreams? Sammy Striker and the Football Cup is an empowering story for young football fans.

Little Evie loves the great outdoors. Every spare moment she can find, she’s outside searching under logs to find new critters to add to her secret bug collection, much to the distaste of her mums and brother. On the day that Evie’s scary Great Gran is meant to arrive, she discovers her bugs have escaped, and are scuttling all over the house! The Girl Who Loves Bugs is a fun story of family love and the power of curiosity.

When Tyrone starts to build a rocket ship to shoot him to the moon, everything seems to go wrong and he’s ready to give up. Luckily, his Grandad Cleveland steps in to teach him that sometimes, all you need to succeed is your imagination and the belief that you can do anything, no matter how tricky it seems. Celebrate the power of positivity in this illustrated story, written by national treasure, Lenny Henry.

Lewis doesn’t find it easy to fit in with other children. So when he meets The Gardening Dog, who has all but given up on being adopted from the rescue centre where she lives, the two strike up an unlikely friendship and work together to create a community garden for everyone to enjoy. A touching story about friendship and togetherness, The Gardening Dog encourages us to celebrate our uniqueness and be ourselves.