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Topic: Storytime Favourites EYFS

Storytime Favourite Books EYFS (Ages 3-5)

Best Storytime Books for the Early Years

We have selected a list of favourite storytime books for EYFS (ages 3-5), which includes books that are particularly well suited for being read out loud to younger children. From the best classroom read-alouds to favourite bedtime stories, browse our list of brilliant books for capturing the magic of storytelling in the Early Years.

Our curated collection of stories for the Early Years helps to immerse young minds in the enchanting world of storytelling, featuring beloved tales such as What the Ladybird Heard – perfect for introducing children to the wonders of animal characters and rhyming narratives. We also recommend whimsical and humorous adventures with titles like Aliens Love Underpants, adding a delightful touch of laughter to story sessions. Our selection includes timeless classics like The Tiger Who Came to Tea and Elmer, featuring favourite characters that have been entertaining little ones for generations.

Explore these and other carefully chosen stories picked by BooksForTopics, especially for young readers. These stories promote language development and fire up imaginations as well as making for special storytimes together that create lasting memories and foster the joy of shared reading experiences.

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt

Helen Oxenbury & Michael Rosen

Picturebook

Gorgeous gift edition of the classic join in story by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. Shake up a snowstorm with this perfect gift for brave hunters and bear-lovers everywhere!

We’re going on a bear hunt. We’re going to catch a big one. Will you come too? For over a quarter of a century, readers have been swishy-swashying and splash-sploshing through this award-winning favourite. This new gift hardback edition includes a superb snow scene on the cover to add fun and festive flurries to your favourite family adventure story. Follow and join in the family’s excitement as they wade through the grass, splash through the river, squelch through the mud and brave their way through the swirling, whirling snowstorm in search of a bear. What a surprise awaits them in the cave on the other side of the dark forest!

The Wonky Donkey

Craig Smith & Katz Cowley

Picturebook

The Wonky Donkey picture book has sold over two million copies worldwide – this book and CD edition is the perfect gift!

Who ever heard of a spunky hanky-panky cranky stinky-dinky lanky honky-tonky winky wonky donkey?

This hilarious book and CD will have children – and adults – braying with laughter!

Lyrical, laugh-out-loud story and beautiful illustrations.

Bright colours, a shiny, glossy cover, and a CD.

A fantastic gift for anyone who loves to laugh.

The Squirrels Who Squabbled

Jim Field & Rachel Bright

Picturebook

Two greedy squirrels learn to share, in this hilarious rhyming adventure from the bestselling creators of The Lion Inside.

Greedy squirrels Cyril and Bruce both have their sights on a very special prize: the very last nut of the season. As the nut bounces crazily through the forest, the squirrels race after it, between the trees, over boulders, down the river and right to the edge of a waterfall! Working together might be the only way to save themselves.

A laugh-out-loud tale about friendship and sharing. Perfect for competitive friends and sibling rivals!

I Love You Blue Kangaroo

Emma Chichester Clark

Picturebook

A treasured toy-themed story about a child’s love for their favourite teddy. Lily has always loved her blue kangaroo toy best of all. When she acquires a set of new toys, Lily’s loyalty to Blue Kangaroo is put to the test.

This is a gentle and reassuring story that has been a favourite with Early Years children for decades.

The Mega Magic Hair Swap

Rochelle Humes

Picturebook

Two friends. One wish.

Mai and Rose are best friends but they’re not two peas in a pod.

Mai has dark hair that is curly and whirly and never stays put. Why couldn’t she have perfect hair just like her best friend Rose?

Rose has blonde hair, as straight as a ruler, which slips and slides whenever she tries to put it in a pony tail. Why couldn’t she have perfect hair just like her best friend Mai?

When a magical coconut grants each girl their wish, and they get the hair they’ve always dreamt of, the friends are overjoyed. However, they soon learn that perfect hair is not everything it’s cracked up to be.

In fact, their hair was pretty magical and perfect the way it was before…

A joyful and fun story about celebrating differences and loving yourself from head to toe!

The Princess and the Shoe

Caryl Hart & Sarah Warburton

Picturebook

This sporty re-imagining of Cinderella is the perfect picture book for any princess (or prince) who prefers muddy trainers to glass slippers.

Princess Jasmine is not like her stepsisters. She hates long dresses and sitting still and would much rather take part in the big cross-country race. So, when a fairy godmother appears with a new pair of speedy magic trainers, well, it looks like her dream has come true! That is, until she loses one of her trainers . . . how will she even finish the race? But when she goes on to WIN, was it the magic trainers or was it Jasmine’s determination and belief in herself?

This feminist rhyming story by award-winning author Caryl Hart is perfect for princesses and princes who don’t need rescuing.

And there’s more! If you like Caryl Hart’s and Sarah Warburton’s witty and warm stories, there’s a whole series of books to discover about princesses who are definitely NOT princessy. Try The Princess and the Christmas Rescue, The Princess and the Giant, The Princess and the Presents and The Princess and the Pea.

Every Nosy Crow paperback picture book comes with a free ‘Stories Aloud’ audio recording – just scan the QR code and listen along!

Six Dinner Sid

Inga Moore

Picturebook

Sid is a cat who is addicted to having six meals a day and glories in this lifestyle. Manipulative, persuasive and a charmer he has wrapped everybody round his little paw – each owner believes that Sid belongs to them only . . . until the day he is found out!

When a Dragon Meets a Baby

Caryl Hart & Rosalind Beardshaw

Picturebook

A delightful, rhyming picture book that’s perfect for any little dragon who is about to become a big sister or brother.

This charming follow-up to When a Dragon Comes to Stay and When a Dragon Goes to School is full of recognisable pre-school behaviour, and deals with all those tricky emotions that bubble up when a new baby arrives. Created by the award-winning Caryl Hart and Rosalind Beardshaw.

When a new baby comes home with Mummy and Daddy one day, will a dragon share her squishiest toy, fetch the changing mat and help to tidy the house while Mummy has a nap? Or will she refuse to say hello, and bash and crash her toys at bedtime? It’s going to be hard to behave herself . . . she is a DRAGON after all!

The Whales on the Bus

Katrina Charman & Nick Sharratt

Picturebook

Cranes on trains? Goats on boats? Dragons on wagons?

Join in the fun with a host of colourful animals as they ride, soar, whizz and zoom on a whole range of exciting vehicles … from tigers on gliders to ducks on trucks. Add to that a text to read aloud to the tune of ‘The Wheels on the Bus’ and … What a combination!

The whales on the bus ride round the town, Round the town, round the town. The whales on the bus ride round the town, All day long!

Jam-packed with things on wheels and a whole lot of crazy creatures, this zany adventure provides endless fun for fans of planes, trains, cars, buses and animals of all kinds! Little ones will love singing along to the tune of a favourite nursery rhyme, with bold, colourful illustrations by the instantly recognisable Nick Sharratt and text by the talented Katrina Charman.

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