The best children’s books for ages 4 to 5

A book about kindess and anti-bullying, Monty the Manatee is a beautiful story that explores bullying in an age-appropriate way. Written by Natalie Pritchard and illustrated by Natalie Merherb, Monty the Manatee is a firm favourite with parents and children across the globe. Written in catchy rhyming verse, the story tells the tale of a nervous Monty on his first day at Sea School but he soon finds himself struggling to make friends as they think he's a little slow and strange.
One parent buyer said: "Great little story, with a moral tale to it about kindness and friendships. Read it with my 5 year old. He particularly liked the happy ending, that was his favourite part. I feel this is best suited to preschoolers and perhaps reception children. It's well written and beautifully illustrated."

This beautifully illustrated book talks about the world we live in and all the different people and things little ones will come across. Written by Oliver Jeffers,  it's heartfelt, thought provoking and reassuring in the sense that the big world isn't scary but rather wonderful.
Loved by parents and children alike, it was a Sunday Times Bestseller and even won TIME Best Book of the Year for 2017. Parents also loved the illustrations, with one admitting that they buy this book for first-time parents. They commented: "I always like to give a gift of this book to any new parents. It’s very thought provoking and beautifully illustrated and written."

Does your little one love a rhyme. This Oi Cat! book will get them (and you) giggling all the way though. Imagine only being able to sit on something that rhymes with your name? There are loads of hilarious books in the Oi? series, including Oi Frog, Oi Dog, Oi Duck-billed Platypus, Oi Puppies. One grandparent buyer said: "The grandchildren (and I!) love all of the Oi books. Very witty and great fun to read together. The little ones are 3, 4 and 5 and they all love the book."

No matter your age, who doesn't love David Attenborough? If your family are obsessed with David's breathtaking nature documentaries, this book tells you all about his fascinating life. Part of the much loved Little People BIG Dreams series, this book helps to inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will help change the world and look after it. Plus, it looks so lovely in a nursery. Hannah Mellin, Digital Writer, loves this book: "I bought this book when I was expecting my little one as we love David Attenborough in our family and it has been sitting on his nursery bookshelves since. We recently started reading it together and he would point to the illustrations and shout 'DADDY' which made us laugh."

This book, written by McFly member and best-selling author Tom Fletcher, is a brilliant and addictive read-aloud story that is perfect for bedtime and beyond. The first book in the series, There's A Monster in Your Book, sees a Monster interrupt things in the cheekiest way possible. These books have grown into a collection, including There's An Alien In Your Book and There's A Dragon In Your Book - perfect for building a new collection. One parent even commented: "Best books ever for little ones, really interactive and so much fun!"

Written by Rachel Bright, The Worrysaurus is a great story for dealing with and processing worries, whether at home or at school. Worries are always there, but this book helps little ones learn how to process them with the help of loveable character The Worrysaurus, who worries about pretty much everything! The perfect book to help every anxious little dinosaur let go of their fears and feel happy in the moment.

 
The classic Meg and Mog books are perfect for children who are just learning how to read! The simple sentences and bold lettering makes it easy for them to follow too. So why not join Meg and Mog on their adventures? Digital Writer, Hannah Mellin, adores Meg & Mog and Helen Nicoll’s books and remember them from her own childhood. “I love Meg & Mog, it is such an old school, simple and timeless story. I also love that it is available in both paperback and a board book – great for the whole family. Plus, if you love Halloween, you can enjoy this witchy story all year long”.

This interactive animal ABC guessing game with peep-through pages and fold-out flaps, by author of The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson, and illustrated by Sharon King-Chai, is a lovely way to encourage your child with her ABCs.
With eye-catching artwork and an exotic array of animals to marvel over, this gorgeous books asks questions such as 'Can you guess who has more legs than a butterfly?' and 'Who is wrinklier than a hedgehog?' throughout, inviting your youngster to compare one animal to another and learn comparison words and adjectives from the natural world.
One review comments on the wonderful attention to detail: “Such attention to detail and wonderful illustrations.  It's fun to find the flaps, which fold out in different ways, making it a bit more interesting (though very little hands may need a bit of help here). Not all the usual suspects either: how many A-Z books feature iguanas, nightingales or voles? To be fair, the text is fairly simple - as I'm sure most A-Z books are - the real star here is the colourful artwork. A lot for young eyes to discover and enjoy!”

If you've got a little one who is showing interest in art, Small Stories of Great Artists features incredible illustrations, child-friendly biographies of the artists, and interactive questions for young readers.  Senior Digital Writer, Hannah Carroll, chose this book for her little ones: "I was blown away by how amazing this book was—from the stunning illustrations to the beautifully simple, easy-to-follow storytelling, it ticks all the boxes.
"I’ll admit, even as an adult, I didn’t know some of the stories behind the most iconic artists. But I loved learning about legends like Frida Kahlo and Vincent van Gogh alongside my children.
"What I appreciated most was how each story was easy to follow and always ended with a meaningful life lesson—something both the kids and I could take away. A truly magical book."

This book was chosen by HRH The Duchess of Cambridge on CBeebies Bedtime Stories and is a bedtime favourite for so many families. Lovable Plop, the baby barn owl, is like every Barn Owl there ever was, except for one thing – he is afraid of the dark. Can he find magic in the dark? You'll have to join him and see. One parent buyer said: "This story is fantastic. So relatable for anyone with young kids. The artwork is stunning. Definitely worth having in your child’s library."