Best Kids’ Books for Babies to 4 Year Olds

In celebration of World Book Day we have created a simple and inspiring roundup of the best books for kids in 2022. Adventures outdoors can be just as fun indoors with a great book to let your child’s imagination run wild. In our list we have included the most popular books for children across ages. We spoke with one of our most beloved retailers, Ottie & the Bea, who have curated a magical list to get your children excited about reading. They are an independent children’s shop, based in Blackheath in South East London. Full of handpicked children’s toys, books and clothing.

1 Year Old

Listen to the Birds by Marion Billet published by Nosy Crow Aimed at babies and toddlers, this ground-breaking series of interactive board books has a button on every spread, which plays one of six different exceptional quality sound effects. Children of every age will be captivated as they bring the artwork to life with six amazing real-life sounds.

Slow Down on Your Doorstep illustrated by Freya Hartas published by Magic Cat Discover a magical world of nature right on your doorstep. Charming rhyming verse introduces 6 magical moments – including a chick hatching from an egg, and dew collecting on a leaf – to the youngest readers. A fabulous introduction for first readers, from the team that created international bestseller Slow Down.

2 Year Old

Tree Seasons Come and Go by Patricia Hegarty & illustrated by Britta Teckentrupp published by Little Tiger Press Explore the beauty of the changing seasons in this beautiful timeless peek-through book with rhyming text. Following the life-cycle of a tree through spring, summer, autumn and winter, children will easily learn to recognise the signs of the seasons.

Mini Rabbit Not Lost by John Bond published by Harper Collins A wonderfully funny series of books. In the first book Mini Rabbit is making a cake with his mother. Cake, cake, cake! But he’s run out of berries. No berries, no cake. So he heads off on an adventure to find some. A book you’ll enjoy reading over and over.

3 Year Old

The Extraordinary Gardener written and illustrated by Sam Boughton published by Tate Publishing A lovely story about the importance of nature . Joe’s huge adventure starts with something very tiny, an apple pip, it takes a while, but it grows – and grows. Inspired, Joe fills his balcony with plants and flowers grown from seeds, and thrilled with the effect it has on neighbours, decides to share them with people throughout his city. In an explosion of colour, a spectacular fold-out page reveals the extraordinary transformation he effects.

4 Year Old

Everything You Need for a Treehouse by Carter Higgins and lllustrated by Emily Hughes published by Chronicle Books A joyful celebration of the outside world and the imagination Wonderful things can start when we look up and imagine- that’s how tree houses start according to the wonderful book.On each page we explore a different treehouse in the company of groups of little children, who are excited, happy, and working together. There’s one shaped like a pirate ship, one with the huge built-in bookcase, ones high up amidst the stars in the sky, all extraordinary spaces in which to dream and explore.

If You Go Down To The Woods Today by Rachel Piercey , illustrated by Freya Hartas and published by Magic Cat Publishing Experience the everyday wonder of nature in this book of poetry, exploring a magical woodland year. Each spread is dedicated to key events or rites of passage in a child’s day. Join Bear on his journey from spring through to winter with lots of friends to meet, places to explore and things to spot along the way. If you enjoy this treasure keep a look out for The Great Egg Hunt – the same characters appear and it will make a perfect present this Spring or how about for Easter.