Reception Teachers’ Favourite Books (for 4 and 5 year olds)
In Reception our children learn to read. Hooray! What magic awaits! But as we spend more time listening to them read, we mustn’t forget to read to them too. While our kids struggle to decode the antics of Biff and Chip, we need to encourage a life-long love of books by reading them plenty of varied, engaging and interesting stories.
But which books to choose??
My fourth child started Reception this month, and though I’m an old hand at sharing stories with my kids I’m not that great at picking classics for our book shelf. At least two thirds of the picture books I’ve ever read, I never want to read again. Which is unfortunate, because my kids aren’t nearly as fussy as I am when it comes to ‘a good story’. They’ll listen to anything and they want everything at least six times on the trot. I need some recommendations!
So I asked our Reception Teachers and TAs for their favourite books. I thought they might take a while to mull it over, but in fact they all knew immediately and were very enthusiastic about their choices.
The best part – for me – is that none of these books are currently on my bookshelf, so that’s Christmas sorted (follow the links, and checkout straight away to help fund the pta – thanks).
Please add your favourite books in the comments so we can all find some new favourites. Much more efficient than the random lucky dip at the library!
Favourite of Mrs Beg, Pink class teacher.
Oliver Jeffers is a prolific children’s author. Lost and Found,
and How To Catch A Star are firm favourites in our house, but there are many more. (I expect Mrs Beg will be pleased to know that the crayons did come home.)
Mrs Monaghan, TA in Pink class‘s favourite.
I bought this on Mrs Monaghan’s recommendation and I wasn’t disappointed. It reads a bit like a Monty Python sketch, which is no bad thing. If you already like Daisy, there are loads of other Daisy books that get great reviews from parents. It seems Daisy has trouble with many things other than peas, including maggots, zoos, school trips, giants, piggy banks, vampires, Christmas, burglars, chocolate and life!
Miss Roberts, our Yellow class teacher, loves Percy the Park Keeper.
There are heaps of other Percy books so if you’re a fan too, maybe there’s one you’re missing?
Pery The Park Keeper had his own animated series in the late nineties and there’s even an audio cd (read by Richard Briers) for car journeys.
Chosen by Mrs Casey, TA in Yellow Class.
Laura has an entire series to herself, and a movie, so plenty to keep you going if this becomes one of your favourites too.
Winner of the 1977 Kate Greenaway Medal and Mrs Hebron, our Orange class teacher‘s, favourite book.
Shirley Hughes has written so many books in the last 40 years it’s hard to whittle down the ‘others you might know’ list. The Alfie stories are very popular, or you could try The Shirley Hughes Collection for a bit of everything.
Mrs Smyth, TA in Orange class, is a big fan of Eddy’s Teddy.
Jez Alborough has lots of beautifully illustrated books for younger children, and another about Eddy and The Bear.
And because she’s Head of Year for Reception, we’ll let Mrs Hebron have her second favourite book too: The Tiger Who Came to Tea.
Judith Kerr‘s books have been children’s favourites for over 50 years. You might remember a few from your own childhood…
Over To You…
What’s your favourite book for Reception children? Please add it below. I’ll start us off with mine – though I found choosing just one far more difficult than our teachers did! (Don’t worry about finding a link, I’ll add in links to the PTA Amazon fundraising account when I get the chance.)
Happy Reading!
Jenn Philpott (Rosie’s Mum)