The Ten Best Picture Books for Kids, for Adults.

I have been reading bedtime stories now for thirteen years, every night, sometimes three or four times a night.  Yes, I have read a lot of picture books and I consider myself something of an authority in the genre. There was a time, many years ago, when I aspired to be an authority on Shakespeare or Dickens, but now I think I have to accept the fact that my expertise is in Dr Seuss and Julia Donaldson.

Anyway, I don't mind telling you, most picture books are awful.  Lots of them are just plain boring, some of them infuriate me by having rhymes that don't actually rhyme properly.

Not the books on this list though.  These books are all great fun.  I have selected ten books, in no particular order, from the authors that I like reading out loud.  They are the ten children's books that I think parents would most enjoy.


A Squash and a Squeeze - by Julia Donaldson

Most of Julia Donaldson's books are fun to read, and by far her biggest success was "The Gruffalo", but my favourite of hers is "A Squash and a Squeeze".  The story moves along at a great pace, and the rhythm and the rhymes are surprising and fun.

The Toy Story Chainsaw Massacre

Jamie loves Toy Story.  He loves all the characters too, although you might be forgiven for thinking he hates them all and wants to kill them in painful ways.

Poor Buzz