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A message from Anthony Browne, one of the UK's most brilliant and respected Picture Book Illustrators who has recently been appointed as the new Children's Laureate, taking over from Michael Rosen:
"Picture books are special – they're not like anything else. Sometimes I hear parents encouraging their children to read what they call proper books, books without pictures, at an earlier and earlier age. This makes me sad, as picture books are perfect for sharing, and not just with the youngest children. As a father, I understand the importance of the bond that develops through reading picture books with your child. We have in Britain some of the best picture book makers in the world, and I want to see their books appreciated for what they are – works of art." Picture books, he said, are "perfect for any age".
The books in this genre will have more story than those books featured in the Baby and Toddler genre but still with lots of stunning imagery to share with your child and for them to enjoy alone.
As children begin to communicate more readily and are a little more dextrous then you’ll find they want to occupy their mind with books that are a little more challenging, perhaps even with more pages and more of a storyline.
The picture books in this section with a greater range of text to accompany some absolutely stunning imagery provide a terrific next stage.
Titles in this section will be refreshed each month with a range of new and older titles that we feel should not to be missed by any young child.

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Featured Books for 3+ readers
This Month's Featured Books
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Julia Donaldson
An original and witty version of a traditional tale which shows what happens when two stories get blended into one. The Troll lives under the bridge – which is where he is meant to live. And the pirates are out...
Format: Hardback - Released: 03/07/2009
Germano Zullo
An absolutely gorgeous large format board book. Each spread is crammed full of fun and humorous illustrations. You and your toddler can share in the excitement of finding one of the many characters in the book and follow that character...
Format: Board Book - Released: 01/05/2009
Annabel Bennetts and Mellany Robinson
This came into lovereading4kids unsolicited and has been recently self-published by two parents under the imprint of ‘By Parents for Children’. We think it has a wonderful original quality, both in terms of the text and the illustrations which complement...
Format: Paperback - Released: 01/04/2009
Debi Gliori
A cautionary tale for readers young and old about the use and misuse of the planet, featuring dragons. Accessible and fun it is both beautiful and timely and will teach the reader about caring and sharing and working together. Debi's new...
Format: Paperback - Released: 06/07/2009
Thomas Docherty
Shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Award 2009. Wonderfully detailed yet simple illustrations coupled with minimal text make this an absolutely fantastic picture book to enjoy with even the youngest toddler. Later this year, this title will be joined by an...
Format: Paperback - Released: 01/05/2009
Bob Graham
Shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Award 2009. A story of hope and compassion in a big city -- from Australian picture book master, Bob Graham. What the Kate Greenaway Award judges said: 'A beautifully understated book which makes fantastic use of perspective...
Format: Hardback - Released: 02/06/2008
Christopher Wormell
Shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Award 2009. Night fears are calmed in this beautiful picture book capturing moments familiar to many parents and children. In the middle of the night, Molly hears something on the stairs. She imagines all the...
Format: Hardback - Released: 07/02/2008
Catherine Rayner
Winner of the Kate Greenaway Award 2009. Touching and inspiring, this is a beautiful story of a youngster finding his feet and being encouraged to forge his own way in the world by his remarkable Grandfather. Harris is a very...
Format: Paperback - Released: 01/03/2009
Lauren Child
The irresistible Clarice Bean burst onto the world in a picture book. Through words and picture she introduces her wonderfully characterised family capturing their foibles and kindly recognising the different stresses and strains they are under. Favourites include her older...
Format: Paperback - Released: 02/07/2009
Julia Donaldson
Bestselling character The Gruffalo makes the perfect centre piece for a party. This pack contains everything needed to create a brilliant themed event filled with all the details of the fabulous Gruffalo world. There’s a party book with suggestions of...
Format: Mixed Media Product - Released: 05/06/2009
Jan Ormerod
Join in the happiness of this wonderfully cheering rhyme freshly retold in an animal version. Every animal can do something; the elephant can flap his ears, the toucan can clack his beak, the kangaroo can jump and bump and all...
Format: Mixed Media Product - Released: 02/07/2009
Melanie Watt
Scaredy Squirrel is back for a new adventure. This time, he tries to avoid a beach holiday. He knows the beach will be full of all sorts of undesirable things from packs of pirates to mobs of lobsters. But, when...
Format: Paperback - Released: 26/06/2009
Sue Hendra
Quirky and original, this will be a real joy for both toddler and parent. Full of kindness, Barry, a fish with the special attributes of fingers, uses his unusual feature to delight his friends. Fingers are good for all sorts...
Format: Paperback - Released: 06/07/2009
Giles Andreae
Fantastic adventures for Nat as his supercharged sneeze changes him into a superhero, ready to battle anyone, anywhere. Leaving the comfort of his bedtime story, Nat takes off to fight crocodiles and stop bank robbers. A vigorous story with ebullient pictures to match.
Format: Paperback - Released: 04/06/2009
Oliver Jeffers
Shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Award 2009. This is an absolutely delightful book that is sure to capture the imagination of toddlers. Jeffers’ illustrations are an absolute delight and together with the text tell an extraordinary and original story about...
Format: Paperback - Released: 06/05/2008
Jakki Wood
Bold images with great attention to detail tell the dramatic story of how a hole in the road gets fixed. There are tractors and diggers, tipper trucks and dumper trucks each doing its job and making sure the work gets...
Format: Paperback - Released: 18/06/2009
Floella Benjamin
Full of affection, this is also a useful guide to how to resolve possible tensions between two grannies! Alvina loves both her grannies and she loves the different things they like doing. But, when the two grannies are left to...
Format: Paperback - Released: 08/06/2009
Last Month's Featured Books
This Month's Featured Books
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ALL Featured Books in this genre
Jan Ormerod
Snuggly bears, tumbling tigers, hip-hopping kangaroos, all the baby animals in the jungle come to life in this active and ebullient counting book. Readers will soon be joining in themselves. A book and cd edition is also available here.
Format: Paperback - Released: 04/06/2009
Jan Ormerod
Snuggly bears, tumbling tigers, hip-hopping kangaroos, all the baby animals in the jungle come to life in this active and ebullient counting book. Readers will soon be joining in themselves and will especially enjoy the accompanying CD which makes the...
Format: Mixed Media Product - Released: 08/06/2009
Mick Inkpen
Good fun for all in this story about too much naughtiness! The children are endlessly on the naughty step, everyone is misbehaving and Mummy is nearing the end of her tether… In fact, she snaps! Even she ends up on the naughty step...
Format: Paperback - Released: 18/06/2009
Claire Freedman
The bestselling Aliens decked out in the finest underpants, are back for a new set of adventures. This time it’s nothing less than saving the universe – and all with the help of underpants! Easy to read aloud, this ebullient...
Format: Paperback - Released: 19/05/2009
Sebastien Braun
A tender story about coming home at the end of a wonderful day out, for fathers and their toddlers to share together. The shared delight of a baby bear and its father is celebrated in each of the bold pictures,...
Format: Hardback - Released: 07/05/2009
David Mckee
This book is a wonderful celebration not just of the fun that can be had when everyone “all joins in” but also of Elmer’s 20th birthday. It’s Elmer Day. In their excitement about getting ready for it, the elephants forget...
Format: Hardback - Released: 04/06/2009
David Mckee
Elmer the colourful patchwork elephant has been a nursery favourite since this first book was published in 1989. A modern classic, this picture book is known to millions, and continues to be one of the biggest selling picture books ever,...
Format: Paperback - Released: 06/09/2007
David Mckee
With Elmer’s typical sense of mischief and fun, as all his friends and family are complaining that winter time is cold he persuades them to take a walk, but it’s not as cold as living on a mountain top. Elmer’s powers of persuasion...
Format: Paperback - Released: 02/10/2008
David Mckee
The subtle message is that it is OK to be different, and combined with the vibrant colour and cheeky humour of the main character, this paperback and CD edition is a celebration of its continued popularity. To see other Elmer...
Format: Paperback - Released: 06/09/2007
David Mckee
Book and Audio CD. Baby Elephant has lost his teddy, but unsurprisingly Elmer comes to the rescue. But when he hears someone shouting ‘Help, I’m lost’, is it Cousin Wilbur up to one of his practical jokes again or is it really lost...
Format: Paperback - Released: 05/06/2008
David Mckee
Baby Elephant has lost his teddy, but unsurprisingly Elmer comes to the rescue. But when he hears someone shouting ‘Help, I’m lost’, is it Cousin Wilbur up to one of his practical jokes again or is it really lost teddy? Share it with...
Format: Paperback - Released: 05/06/2008
David Mckee
How strangers can become friends is the theme of this entertaining story about Elmer, everyone’s favourite patchwork elephant. This time, Elmer and his friends in the jungle help Kangaroo find out that he can jump after all. At first the...
Format: Paperback - Released: 05/02/2009
David Mckee
With Elmer’s typical sense of mischief and fun, as all his friends and family are complaining that winter time is cold he persuades them to take a walk, but it’s not as cold as living on a mountain top. Elmer’s...
Format: Paperback - Released: 02/10/2008
David Mckee
Cousins Elmer and Wilbur have never seen a pink elephant until they meet Rose, who is lost and is looking for her herd. So Elmer and Wilbur set out to find Rose’s herd and when they do they get a...
Format: Paperback - Released: 10/01/2008
David Mckee
Although not yet out in paperback, this is well worth having for the nursery bookshelf. Touching on bullying in a very positive way, this wonderful story shows the colourful elephant, Elmer at her very best, cajoling and persuading all the...
Format: Hardback - Released: 05/06/2008
Charles Perrault
One of a range of marvellous comic books created in the '50s and '60s now with artwork re-coloured and covers digitally enhanced for a new generation. Perfect Bound at a terrifically good value price. A message from the publisher: Classics Illustrated...
Format: Paperback - Released: 01/06/2009
William Godwin
This is one of a range of marvellous comic books created in the '50s and '60s now with artwork re-coloured and covers digitally enhanced for a new generation. Perfect Bound at a terrifically good value price. A message from the publisher:
Format: Paperback - Released: 01/04/2009
Joseph Jacobs
One of a range of marvellous comic books created in the '50s and '60s now with artwork re-coloured and covers digitally enhanced for a new generation. Perfect Bound at a terrifically good value price. A message from the publisher: Classics...
Format: Paperback - Released: 01/03/2009
Robert Southey
One of a range of marvellous comic books created in the '50s and '60s now with artwork re-coloured and covers digitally enhanced for a new generation. Perfect Bound at a terrifically good value price. A message from the publisher: Classics Illustrated...
Format: Paperback - Released: 01/05/2009
Charles Perrault
One of a range of marvellous comic books created in the '50s and '60s now with artwork re-coloured and covers digitally enhanced for a new generation. Perfect Bound at a terrifically good value price. A message from the publisher: Classics...
Format: Paperback - Released: 25/11/2008
Hans Christian Andersen
Traditional fairy tales such as this one provide a wonderfully warm feeling to any child reading it or being read to. This edition of the Ugly Duckling is one of a range of marvellous comic books created in the '50s and...
Format: Paperback - Released: 25/10/2008
The most famous of the Brothers Grimm titles comes brilliantly to life in this retelling in comic strip format and recoloured for a new generation some 50 years on from its first publication. A message from the publisher: Classics Illustrated...
Format: Paperback - Released: 01/09/2008
David Mckee
How strangers can become friends is the theme of this entertaining story about Elmer, everyone’s favourite patchwork elephant and this edition comes complete with audio CD. This time, Elmer and his friends in the jungle help Kangaroo find out that...
Format: Paperback - Released: 05/02/2009
David Mckee
Elmer and Wilbur are cousins and they get along just fine, both of them playing tricks on each other all the time. What fun they have even when Elmer feels Wilbur is getting a bit too big for his boots...
Format: Paperback - Released: 04/06/2009
Thomas Docherty
Docherty's Little Boat has recently been shortlisted for the prestigious Greenaway Medal so we thought we'd introduce to you an earlier title of his that is equally captivating. Join a delightful little boy when he decides he wants to go...
Format: Paperback - Released: 01/05/2008
Julia Donaldson
Book and CD. Best-selling author/ illustrator of The Gruffalo have created a fantastic new character with Tiddler, the little fish who tells some big stories! Showcasing their remarkable talent at the top of their game, they tell the story of tiddler with humour,...
Format: Mixed Media Product - Released: 01/06/2009
Kristina Stephenson
Book and CD. Charlie is big, bold and daring but is he brave enough to rescue a damsel in distress? Find out by joining him on a really big and frightening adventure. Vibrant illustrations and fold-out flaps give the story an additional dimension...
Format: Mixed Media Product - Released: 01/06/2009
Shibani Mohindra
Mr Smith Invents a Robot is a beautifully illustrated 'smell and tell' book, containing smells to encourage young and reluctant readers to enjoy the reading experience. Big, bold, colourful imagery fills every page and coupled with the great storyline and...
Format: Paperback - Released: 20/03/2009
Charles Perrault, Brothers Grimm
One of a range of marvellous comic books created in the '50s and '60s now with artwork re-coloured and covers digitally enhanced for a new generation. Perfect Bound at a terrifically good value price. A message from the publisher: Classics...
Format: Paperback - Released: 01/02/2009
Robert Browning
One of a range of marvellous comic books created in the '50s and '60s now with artwork re-coloured and covers digitally enhanced for a new generation. Perfect Bound at a terrifically good value price. A message from the publisher: Classics...
Format: Paperback - Released: 25/12/2008
More Featured Books
This Month's Featured Books
Last Month's Featured Books
ALL Featured Books in this genre
Oliver Jeffers
Shortlisted for the Bisto Irish Children's Book Award. Touching and funny, this is also a visually sophisticated picture book which lightly carries an important message about the use – and misuse - of resources. All is not well in the...
Format: Paperback - Released: 30/04/2009
Michael Foreman
A touching story about being different and not fitting in. The littlest dinosaur and the long necked dinosaur both find it hard to fit in because of their size. But when the littlest dinosaur needs help he turns to the...
Format: Paperback - Released: 02/03/2009
Allan Ahlberg
Winner of the Younger Children category - Red House Book Award 2009. This book is an hilarious and unmissable treat! One day there is just a lonely pencil…It begins to draw – a boy, a dog, a cat and then...
Format: Hardback - Released: 01/09/2008
M P Robertson
An exuberantly illustrated book perfect to help children see that even the 'seemingly' bravest people in the world have things they are afraid of.
Format: Paperback - Released: 14/05/2009
Camilla Reid
Clothes loving toddlers everywhere will revel in Lulu’s gorgeous wardrobe in this highly interactive book. Start by unzipping Lulu’s stripy top – the pink zip is irresistible, stroke Lulu’s shiny armbands, feel the hard surface of her smart cycling hat...
Format: Hardback - Released: 04/05/2009
Michael Foreman
This is a wonderful celebration of optimism and a thoughtful and touching book about the importance of growth, green shoots and new life in a war torn world. Growing up amidst rubble a small boy tends a green shoot which...
Format: Hardback - Released: 04/05/2009
Tony Bradman
A wonderfully quirky story by Tony Bradman about a little girl who is not happy with the arrival of a little brother into the world is complemented brilliantly by some illustrations that are sure to get the smallest little child giggling away!
Format: Paperback - Released: 04/05/2008
Michael Foreman
An awfully big adventure for the Littlest Dinosaur when a little walk turns into a night time drama. Alone in the middle of a big, dark forest the Littlest Dinosaur needs to be as brave as he can be. The...
Format: Hardback - Released: 04/05/2009
Here is a collection of more than 80 poems and rhymes from a glittering galaxy of more than 50 poets. It is a delectable assortment of light, melt-in-the-mouth poems for the very young to dip into again and again. They are the...
Format: Paperback - Released: 05/02/2009
Jan Ormerod
Who is dad? Molly’s dad is far away and she can only dream of him. When he does come to see her Molly has to rethink her mental picture of him. Adapting to the real Dad takes time but it...
Format: Paperback - Released: 01/04/2008
This is a first words book to support early learning. In an exciting and colourful way it introduces the early learning concepts of numbers, colours, patterns, size, matching and shapes through the world around us. Interactive questions throughout help link spoken and written words.
Format: Paperback - Released: 01/01/2008
Catherine Bruzzone
This is the ideal way to enjoy reading in a foreign language. Presents a bilingual French/English strip cartoon story for the young learner. The books have simple text in speech bubbles and captions, humorous pictures, motivating stories, as well as...
Format: Paperback - Released: 01/05/2006







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