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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Something wonderful
Caisley, Raewyn
Paper Book
Sam likes to pull things apart and put them back together, and think about how things work. But he is sometimes so busy doing this, he forgets his chores on the family farm. Then one day he creates something truly wonderful . . . An inspirational story about discovery,...
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...
Nashi wa mō takusan! = 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
It's time to get a pet! Will Mabel find the perfect one for her family? Hooray! Mabel and her family are getting a pet! There's no time to lose! But which kind of animal should they choose? Not the snake - it's too scary. The elephant's too big. The worms are too wriggly and the hyena too giggly....
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!
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...
Big love
Jacobson, Megan
Paper Book
How can you describe how big a parent's love is for their child? Is it as big as a house, as big as a city, as big as the world? This uplifting picture book helps young readers in finding an answer. This is the house. It's very big! But it's not as big as my love for you.<...
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...
Duck!
McKinlay, Meg
Paper Book
A delightfully duckish picture book of farmyard disaster. Duck can see that something is falling from the sky. He tries to warn the other farmyard animals by telling them to "Duck!" but they won't listen ... A hilarious picture book of farmyard disaster by...
When Billy was a dog
Murray, Kirsty
Paper Book
If you can't have a puppy, maybe the next best thing is to be a puppy.
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...
Crane Guy
Sutton, Sally.
Paper Book
Spend the day with Crane Guy and see how many things you can spy from up high in his crane. Crane Guy, up so high, Building towers in the sky, Tell me, tell me what you spy. Something beginning with . . . Join Crane Guy...
Wombat stew
Vaughan, Marcia K.
Paper Book
One day, on the banks of a billabong, a very clever dingo caught a wombat ... and decided to make... Wombat stew, Wombat stew, Gooey, brewy, Yummy, chewy, Wombat stew! In this classic Australian picture book, a dingo catches a wombat and wants to cook him in a stew. But all the other bush animals...
My friend Fred
Watts, Frances
Paper Book
This delightful CBCA award-winning picture book is about a friendship between an exuberant but loveable dachshund and his more retiring, tidy housemate.

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