The Gashlycrumb Tinies


Edward Gorey - 1963
    Gorey tells the tale of 26 children (each representing a letter of the alphabet) and their untimely deaths in rhyming dactylic couplets, accompanied by the author's distinctive black and white illustrations. It is one of Edward Gorey's best-known books, and is the most notorious amongst his roughly half-dozen mock alphabets.[2] It has been described as a "sarcastic rebellion against a view of childhood that is sunny, idyllic, and instructive". The morbid humor of the book comes in part from the mundane ways in which children die, such as falling down the stairs or choking on a peach. Far from illustrating the dramatic and fantastical childhood nightmares, these scenarios instead poke fun at the banal paranoias that come as a part of parenting.

The Wonderful Things You Will Be


Emily Winfield Martin - 2015
    . . now and forever!   From brave and bold to creative and clever, Emily Winfield Martin's rhythmic rhyme expresses all the loving things that parents think of when they look at their children. With beautiful, and sometimes humorous, illustrations, and a clever gatefold with kids in costumes, this is a book grown-ups will love reading over and over to kids—both young and old. A great gift for any occasion, but a special stand-out for baby showers, birthdays, and graduation. The Wonderful Things You Will Be has a loving and truthful message that will endure for lifetimes.

What Does the Fox Say?


Ylvis - 2013
    Cat goes meow. Bird goes tweet and mouse goes squeak. But what does the fox say?The lyrics of Ylvis's YouTube sensation 'The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)' meet Svein Nyhus's playful illustrations in this irresistibly entertaining read-aloud picture book.

The Big Tidy-Up


Norah Smaridge - 2008
    Free to let her room go, Jennifer turns a blind eye to the fustiness, the dustiness, and the spider’s webby empire up in the corner! Finally, one day, she can stand her own mess no longer, and gets to work— on the big tidy-up!

Paddington at St Paul's


Michael Bond - 2018
    Paddington is now a major movie star!For six decades, stories of Paddington Bear have delighted children all over the world.When Mr Gruber takes Paddington on a special outing to St Paul’s Cathedral, there is one surprise after another. But the biggest of all comes when Paddington is mistaken for a choir bear and suddenly finds himself joining the choir for a most unusual rehearsal!

The Snatchabook


Helen Docherty - 2013
    But books are mysteriously disappearing. Eliza Brown decides to stay awake and catch the book thief. It turns out to be a little creature called the Snatchabook who has no one to read him a bedtime story. All turns out well when the books are returned and the animals take turns reading bedtime stories to the Snatchabook.

The Gift


Carol Ann Duffy - 2010
    One summer day, she visits the woods with her mother and father. While her parents prepare the picnic, she seeks out buttercups and daisies for a flower necklace. As she does so, a wish forms in her mind--and to her surprise, a silver-haired woman appears, ready to grant it. Carol Ann Duffy's story of a girl's journey through life, and the desires that shape it, will speak to everyone who wonders about the mysteries that lie at the heart of human experience.

Chester


Ayano Imai - 2007
    But work and school are keeping the family extremely busy and Chester is taking a backseat. When the family forgets to take him for his walk, again, Chester decides he's had enough. It's time to find a new home. But when Chester is turned away by a flock of forest birds and taken in by a wealthy woman who treats him more like a toy than a dog, Chester soon discovers that old homes are not so easily replaced. Ayano Imai presents a quirky tale for anyone who ever thought the grass was greener on the other side.

Tyrannosaurus Drip


Julia Donaldson - 2007
    When the baby dinosaur hatches out, he's so out of place that his grisly big sisters call him Tyrannosaurus Drip.

The Bath Time Book


Michael Yu - 2012
    Alfie doesn't want a bath. He just wants to play.Read along as Alfie turns this nightly chore into a fun, imaginary adventure. From safari hunts to slaying dragons, bath time will never be the same.This is the perfect book to read before bed or bath!

I Wish You More


Amy Krouse Rosenthal - 2015
    Some books are about three wishes. The infallible team of Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld have combined their extraordinary talents to create this exuberant book of endless good wishes. Wishes for curiosity and wonder, for friendship and strength, laughter and peace. Whether celebrating life's joyous milestones, sharing words of encouragement, or observing the wonder of everyday moments, this sweet and uplifting book is perfect for wishers of every age.

Fairy Tales


E.E. Cummings - 1965
    In "The Old Man Who Said Why" a wise fairy's kind nature is taxed when one old man's questions throw the entire heavens into madness. In "The Elephant and the Butterfly" and "The House That Ate Mosquito Pie" shyness is overcome by the compelling love of new friends. "The Little Girl Named I" is a conversation between the author and a small girl, in the manner of A. A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh.Clever, insightful, and magical, peopled with vivid characters—a house that prefers one bird to any human inhabitants, an elephant paralyzed with delight, a fairy who "always breakfasted on light and silence"here are tales as only Cummings could write them. A delightful and surprising gift for anyone, young or old.

The Library


Sarah Stewart - 1995
    Elizabeth Brown doesn't like to play with dolls and she doesn't like to skate. What she does like to do is read books. And now that she's grown up, her collection has gotten so big all the shelves are collapsing. Her front door has disappeared entirely. What in the world will she do? The reclusive Elizabeth Brown surprises everyone wit her splendid solution. In charming verse and elegant watercolors Sarah Stewart and David Small celebrate one of America's grandest institutions. The Library is a 1995 New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of the Year and Outstanding Book of the Year.

Marvin the Very Tall Bear


T.A. Unwin - 2015
    It causes him all sorts of problems, such as not being able to sit at the dinner table or fit through doorways. So one night he makes a wish to not be so tall anymore - which, unfortunately, comes true... 'Marvin the Very Tall Bear' is a delightful story aimed at very young children, by the same author who brought to life 'The Hedgehog Who Wanted a Hug'. Filled with simple but colourful illustrations, this short book has all the makings of a firm bedtime favourite.

The Beatrice Letters


Lemony Snicket - 2006
    How I pity these readers. With all due respect, Lemony Snicket