Expert-curated books for nurseries, childminders, EYFS settings and Reception classrooms - chosen to support reading for pleasure, language development and a love of stories from the earliest years.
Early Years & Reception: 40 books, including I Am Bat, Hello, Friend! and I heard a Bird.
Last updated 6 May 2026
Our guides by age: 4 year olds, 5 year olds. To read aloud to the whole class, see great books to read aloud to Reception.
If your child is a competent reader or has read all these titles then try the books from the Year 1 list. Our overall mission is to promote reading for pleasure with quality texts that are perfectly pitched for the age group and the curriculum. We have particularly avoided blockbusters, classic or set texts, known to everyone, so that we can include poetry, stunning information texts and inspirational books in which all children and young people can find themselves reflected.
