Welcome to Book.co.uk where we list some of what we think are the best books for children and babies. We and our children are avid book readers and over the years have built up a lot of opinions on what books we do like and what books would make our list of favourites. This site draws on that experience and is aimed at helping you find new ideas on the best books to buy for children of all ages. This guide is useful whether you are searching for books for your children or as a gift for someone else. The age groups are intended as a guide only. Not all children develop their reading skills at the same rate, some will be ahead of the average and some slightly behind the average. When you are looking for ideas, look at the books in the age groups just above and below your childs age for further ideas. We hope that by reading our posts you will find the best books for the children you know.
Best Pop-up Books for Children
Children of all ages love pop-up books and here we have listed what we think are some of the best pop-up books for children. They add an extra element of fun to the story and make reading with your children more interactive. Pop-up books are available for toddlers as well as older children. Below we have listed our 5 best pop-up books for toddlers as well as our 5 best pop-up books for older children.
5 Best Pop-up Books For Toddlers And Young Children
  |
The Rumble in the Jungle – Pop-up book- A pop-up version of the well know toddler book by Giles Andreae. The colourful jungle animals pop-up from the pages. There are also flaps to lift and flaps to pull. |
  |
The Very Busy Bee (Peek a boo pop-up books) - The pop-ups in this book are bright, very clever and appealing to young children. They include things like a pop-up bee, a dragonfly and a snail whose head can slide in and out of his shell. |
  |
The Rainbow Fish Pop-Up Book - A very nice pop-up books with very colourful fish and underwater scenes that pop out of the page. Open and shut to book to make the scenes move. The simple text and colourful pages are very appealing to young children. |
  |
The Very Hungary Caterpillar Pop-up Book - This is a classic story loved by children everywhere. In this pop-up version of the book, the caterpillar eats his way through seven beautifully engineered pop-up spreads. There are also tabs to pull, dials to turn and flaps to lift. |
  |
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallow A Fly – Pop-up Book - A modern and humerous take on this traditional rhyme with the old lady catching the fly while riding a motorbike. Illustrated with big and pretty robust pop-ups. |
5 Best Pop-up Books For Older Children
  |
Encyclopedia Prehistorica Dinosaurs - A fantastic book which is excellent for boys or any children who love reading about dinosaurs. When you first open this book you are confronted by a detailed pop-up T-Rex. The book contains lots of facts but is fun to read. The pop-up dinosaurs contain an incredible level of detail and are superb to look at. A must have ! The authors and illustrators, Sabuda and Reinhart have done lots of other amazing books – see more further down this page. |
  |
My Fairy Princess Palace- This is one of a whole series of pop up books which include a space station, fairground and Winter Wonderland among others. See the entire range of Pop-up books here. Each book opens up into a 360 degree pop up model with lots of cardboard figures and accessories to play with. The included story is very short but the amazing pop-up playset more than makes up for it. |
  |
The Gruffalo pop-up theatre Book- This book contains the story along with a pop-up stage and the characters from the story which you attach to ’sticks’ (cardboard) so you can enact the story. There is also a separate booklet containing the script for the play. Hours of fun! |
  |
Peter Pan Classic Pop-up Sound Book – This is a really nice pop-up book which plays different sounds when you open the pages. The pop-ups are very detailed, well designed and lovely to look at. Children love the story as well as the sound effects. |
  |
Danger Island: Perilous Pop-up World - This pop-up book is actually more of a game than a book but is great fun so we thought we’d include it. When you open the book up pops an incredibly detailed large island. The story goes that your plane has crashed, you are on your own on a dangerous island inhabited by creatures as diverse as aliens and dinousars, and you have to get off alive. You have to complete various tasks to escape such as setting up zip-wires and building rafts. Suitable for 7+. |
More Pop-up Books by Sabuda and Reinhart
Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart are famous for their pop-up books. Each book is a work or art with incredibly detailed and intricate pop-ups. The books make a perfect gift for any child and are the sort of books that are kept until adulthood. Here are some of our favourites.
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
Make Your Own Pop-Up Books
If you have a creative child who wants to make their own pop-up book, there are a few excellent guides available. Obviously this will be easier for the older children, but with a little help, making a pop-up help is a great activity for younger children as well. Here are a selection of books you might like to consider.
  |
Pop-Up: Everything You Need to Create Your Own Pop-Up Book – This is an all in one guide and kit which provides you with the parts you need to make your own pop up pictures. Scenes included are a pop-up dragon, castle, jungle scenario, and Frankenstein scene. For those who want to learn more about making their own pop up pictures, there is also a guide to basic folds and techniques. No glue or scissors are needed since all the pop outs have sticky backed tape and are pre-scored with perforated edges. Would make a great gift for children approximately 8+. |
  |
Elements of Pop-Up, The: A Pop-up Book for Aspiring Paper Engineers- This book is much more about how to actually make your own pop-up book from scratch. It covers all the basics including different types of folds, wheels and pull tabs. The book is well layed out and the instructions are easy to follow. It is definitely a book for much older children and adults and is not suitable for young children. |
  |
Creativity for Kids – Create Your Own Pop-Up Books- These books are basically ready make but blank pop up books. The pop ups are already there but you have to add your own story and pictures. Great for children who like creating their own stories and love drawing. There are two blank pop up books in the set along with a box of extras which includes stickers, pens and wiggle eyes ! |
If you want some free ideas on how to make your own pop-ups then have a look at the Robert Sabuda pop ups website. He has more than 30 clear instructions on how to make a wide selection of simple pop-ups such as the pig on the left. Simple enough to be able to do easily at home with your children.
Pop-Up Books Based on Films
If you are buying a gift for a child then these pop up books are well worth looking at.
  |
Star Wars A Pop Up Guide to the Galaxy – Another pop-up books by Matthew Reinhart. Each double page spread contains different features including pop-up images such as Darth Vaders head, side flaps and lightsabers! This pop-up book is really a work of art and would make a fantastic gift for any Star Wars fan |
  |
Harry Potter Pop Up Book Based On The Film- This pop-up book is a must for any Harry Potter fan. It has dynamic pop-ups showing some of the most memorable moments and locations from the films such as the Triwizard Tournament, Diagon Alley, and Hogwarts Castle. This pop-up book delights with its dynamic pop-up ingenuity and also includes insights from the creative team who turned the books into films, fascinating facts about the magical universe seen in the movies, and Harry Potter memories and memorabilia packed into every page |
Best Cookery Books For Children
Children of all ages love cooking. When looking for cookery books for young children it is important to select books with clear and well laid out pages. The recipes should also be relatively simple and easy for a child to follow (with help for younger children !).
Below are what we think are some of the best cookery books available for children today.
  |
DK Childrens Cookbook- A simple, well laid out books with great recipes. Each step of the recipe is illustrated to make it easier to follow. This childrens cookery books has over 50 recipes covering breakfast, lunch, dinner and deserts ! |
  |
Baking with Tiny Tots- Over 50 easy recipes that you and your child can make together. This cookery books is aimed at younger children who want to help with the cooking rather than do it themselves. It contains over 50 easy recipes with both savoury and sweet dishes such as pizza faces, Mini quiches, Courgette and cheese muffins and a lot more. |
  |
I Can Cook! - This book is linked into the CBeebies programme of the same name and contains recipes from the show. It contains recipes that 3-5 year olds can make with just a little help from an adult. The instructions are clear and easy to follow and all the recipes use ingredients that should be readily available. |
  |
Cook with Kids - This cookery book contains recipes that both children and adults will enjoying cooking and eating. The book is beautifully illustrated with photographs and all royalties go to Great Ormond Street Hospital School. |
  |
Childrens Quick and Easy Cookbook - This book contains over 60 recipes that the whole family will want to eat but with easy, clear and concise instructions which can be followed by children too. Lots of colour photographs and lots of recipes to choose from. |
Cooking is a great activity for children and is perfect for spending some quality time with them. Cooking will help children learn about different foods and it is often the case that if a child has helped cook something, they are more likely to eat it ! Childrens cookery books make great gifts for children and adults alike.
New Baby Books For Children
Books are a great way to explain to a toddler or young child about the new baby brother or sister that they have or that will soon be arriving in their life. By reading young children stories and discussing what is happening in the pictures you can help them understand what life will be like with a new baby.
Here are some books which we would recommend to help introduce the concept of a new baby brother or sister to your child. We have also included books which cover life and sibling interactions after the new baby has arrived.
  |
Theres A House Inside My Mummy – This is a really nice book about a little boy whose Mummy is going to have a new baby. The story is told in rhyming text and illustrated with very bold colourful pictures. There are plenty of things to talk about as you read this book with your child. |
  |
My New Baby – This book has no words but has some lovely illustrations showing a little boy and his new baby brother in various situations such as having his nappy changed, having a bath, going for a walk etc. It is perfect for introducing your toddler to what life with a new baby will involve. Parents can tell the story in their own words while discussing the situations in the pictures. |
  |
Waiting For Baby – This book is part of the same series as ‘The New Baby’ and again has no text but lovely illustrations to help you explain the story in your own words. This book covers the period from pregnancy up until the birth of the new baby. |
  |
Topsy and Tim: The New Baby - The story of Topsy and Tims friend, Toby and his new baby brother. This book covers a lot of issues including getting the nursery ready, feeding the baby and a lot more. It even covers the issue of the elder sibling getting a bit jealous although he soon learns to be a helpful big brother. |
  |
Annie Rose Is My Little Sister – Shirley Hughes stories about Alfie and his little sister Annie Rose have been around for years but still haven’t lost their appeal. While this book isn’t actually about a new baby, it is about Alfie’s relationship with his little sister. It covers the ups and downs of having a little sister in a very positive but realistic manner and is a lovely way to introduce young children to what life with a younger sibling could be like. |
Best Poetry Books For Children
Best Poetry Books For Children - Children love rhymes and patterns of words with rhythm and an almost musical like quality. All babies and very young children should grow up hearing nursery rhymes and songs and then move onto poetry when they are a little older. You should introduce your children to poetry not just because they enjoy it but also because it helps with their language development and vocabulary. Above all though, reading poetry with your children should be fun. There are a lot of poetry books available for children but here we have listed some of our favourite poetry collections aimed at a range of ages. There is something here for both boys and girls.
  |
Silly Verse For Kids by Spike Milligan- Illustrated by Milligan himself, this book has lots of wacky, weird rhymes such as ‘On the Ning Nang Nong’. Very silly but should put a smile on your childs face. |
  |
100 Best Poems For Children- The poems in this book were chosen by children across the UK and include classics such as Kiplings ‘A smugglers song’ as well as more contemporary poems. This poetry books will probably appeal to children aged 6 and older. |
  |
Poems for Young Children - This Childrens Poetry book has some lovely illustrations and a range of poems with something for everyone. The publisher gives a recommended age of 6+ but we think that younger children will love this book too. |
  |
Twinkle Twinkle Chocolate Car – This books of poems is perfect for younger children and bridges the gap between nursery rhymes and poems for older children. It is full of lighthearted fun poems with plenty of laughs along the way. |
  |
The Puffin Book Of Fantastic First Poems – This is another poetry book which is aimed at very young children (aged 3-6) and which acts as a bridge between nursery rhymes and poems for older children. The poems cover a wide range for topis and and include classics by the likes of Robert Louis Stevenson and more modern poems by writers such as Michael Rosen. |
  |
Dragon Poems – This book is beautifully illustrated and contains 23 poems about dragons. Dragon poems is part of a series of 4 poetry books. The other three are dinosaur poems, monster poems and magic poems. All come highly recommended. |
We hope you like our selection of our best poetry books for children. One good thing about poetry is that it exposes your children to a large number of words through a variety of sounds and rhythms. As children grow older they will learn how just a few carefully chosen words can describe a much bigger scenario or situation. Children don’t need to understand the meanings of all the words in a poem to enjoy listening or reading poetry.