Better Beginnings Books for 4s & 5s!

Books on this list have been selected by the Better Beginnings team of children's literature specialists.

Updated November 8, 2024
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The gruffalo
Donaldson, Julia
Paper Book
The nation's favourite bedtime story!"A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood. A fox saw the mouse and the mouse looked good." Walk further into the deep dark wood, and discover what happens when a quick-witted mouse comes face to face with an owl, a snake ... and a...
Too many pears!
French, Jackie.
Paper Book
Pamela the cow loves pears, and will do just about anything to get them. But will anyone else ever get to eat a pear again? Certainly not until Pamela has had her fill . . . and chooses something else to eat!
Not that pet!
Prasadam-Halls, Smriti
Paper Book
Some are too scary, some are too smelly, some are too wiggly, and some are too giggly. Can Mabel find the perfect pet for her family? Not noisy or scary or covered in spikes. She'd choose something friendly that EVERYONE likes. Mabel's family is...
No! Never! : a cautionary tale
Hathorn, Libby; Hathorn-Jarman, Lisa; Pearce, Mel
Paper Book
There was a child, The sweetest ever, Until she learned these words: 'NO! NEVER!' Georgie is a sweet little girl who always makes her parents happy... until she discovers one powerful phrase: No! Never! It suddenly becomes her answer to...
Oh no, george!: 10th anniversary edition
Haughton, Chris.
Paper Book
Bold, hilarious artwork captures the innocent charm of affable George, a dog who is trying to be good -- with disastrous results. George is a dog with all the best intentions. And his owner, Harry, has all the best hopes that George will be a well-behaved dog when he leaves him...
Pete the cat : I love my white shoes
Litwin, Eric.
Paper Book
Don't miss the first and bestselling book in the beloved Pete the Cat series! Pete the Cat goes walking down the street wearing his brand-new white shoes. Along the way, his shoes change from white to red to blue to brown to WET as he steps in piles of strawberries, blueberries, and other...
Facts vs. opinions vs. robots
Rex, Michael
Paper Book
A hilarious, timely conversation about the differences between facts and opinions, by the creator of the #1 New York Times bestseller Goodnight Goon Do you know the difference between a fact and an opinion? It can be a hard thing to understand. Some things are facts...

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