Top 10 picture books for children, Ages 2 to 5.
My son will be a year older soon. Kids grow up in a blink of an eye, next I’ll be matching horoscopes and eating bhajji and sojji (stereotypical food as depicted in Tamil movies) when bride hunting. I don’t often go into this melodramatic-yesteryear-mom-mode but putting away some of the books we’ve read — a million times over, and making room for newer ones in the bookshelf is a heart-wrenching moment, for any Mom. And, if the Dad points fingers at you and asks if your hormones are acting up, you know they’re cringing inside for the same reasons. Without any further hyperbole here are our Top Ten Picks for Ages 2 to 5.
10. Library Lion
Library Lion, by Michelle Knudsen and illustrations by Kevin Hawkins.
This book is so beautiful I’m going to the plot directly.
Plot: A lion strolls into a Library one day. Mr. McBee isn’t pleased. He’s uptight, a stickler for library rules and always listens to Miss Merriweather, the head librarian.
After an initial warning to stay quiet and stick to the rules, the lion settles in, helps around, makes friends and becomes part of the library.
All goes well till Miss Merriweather has a fall. The lion roars loudly in an attempt to call for help. He knows he broke the rule and isn’t seen around the library again. Everyone, especially Miss Merriweather is upset. McBee then pulls a Severus Snape, goes looking for the lion and brings him back — “it’s ok to break the rules sometimes”.
To compliment the endearing story are enchanting illustrations of the library, the lion, the rain and the range of emotions.
9. The Gruffalo
The Gruffalo, by the Julia Donaldson and illustrations by Axel Scheffler.
This magnificent duo and their inimitable style, have made my tongue go numb reading their books. We love almost all of Julia Donaldson’s books but this is an all time favourite.
Plot: I’m not going to go into the plot details for this book. One, it’s way too popular for that and Two, I’ll come out looking really silly. The book’s charm lies in the mouse’s wit and the flow of words. It’s fun, runs like a rhyme, has enough suspense for your toddler and is packaged with illustrations that left my toddler at the edge of his seat. It truly makes for a nail biting reading experience — every time we read it!
8. A Silly Story of Bondapalli
A Silly Story of Bondapalli, by Shamim Padamsee and illustrated by Ashok Rajagopalan.
The plethora of Indian Children’s Picture books these days are exciting for children and parents alike. To read of stories and characters unabashedly Indic and relatable is refreshing. Also thanks to Tulika publishers my son realizes he’s Indian. Most other times he thinks he’s part of the Avengers.
Plot: Just like the Bondas in the story, my son was rolling in laughter on reading this book. Again going into the plot details would be a futile exercise. All I can say is that the story involves the chance invention of bondas, bucket-loads of bondas, nibbling/eating/savouring the bondas, funny characters becoming bondas — all encapsulated in a very silly story. This book is a laugh riot!
7. My Teacher is a Monster! (No, I Am Not)
My Teacher is a Monster! (No, I Am Not.) by Peter Brown.
There’s something about Peter Brown’s illustrations! They’re fuss free; his colour palette is minimalistic thus not jarring on the eye. Some books have so much happening — with highly digitized images and a crazy motley of colours that it gets quite nauseating.
As a Golden Rule children should be read this book by parents and the Teachers should read it too. My son had a hard time settling in with one of his teachers. Once I read this book to him he started seeing the same Teacher in a different light — so much so that he eventually had a blast at her sessions.
Plot: Bobby has trouble at school. He hates his teacher Ms. Kirby; she’s a monster in his eyes. She’s rude, she’s mean, she’s always yelling, unjustifiably so from Bobby’s perspective. One day at the park, as circumstances would have it; Bobby is forced to spend time with her. As they spend time together, Ms. Kirby becomes less of a monster. Soon, Bobby sees her as a completely different person and enjoys her company.
This book is witty, humorous and drives across a message with subtlety — Teachers are humans too. (Heck, I didn’t know that until I read the book.)
6. The Adventures of Toto the Auto
The Adventures of Toto the Auto series by Ruta Vyas.
This series by FunOkPlease publishers India, is nothing but fun. Children love autos. That feeling of pollution blowing through their hair, the loud noises of the auto honking and its engine whirring and the auto man yelling expletives at passers-by, I’m guessing, gives them an adrenaline rush (like we needed more of that).
Plot: Toto the Auto and his driver Pattu drive around solving problems. Its very simple and Pattu adds a touch of humour by always mishearing things. It’s ideal for 2 to 3 year olds and later, also works well as books for early-readers. This one is got to the list on my son’s recommendation. I found it a tad boring but who cares? If the toddler likes it, it’s on the top ten list!
5. Barnyard Dance
Banyard Dance by Sandra Boynton
There is no growing out of this board book! I’ve seen children sing to it, dance to it, flip through the pages and see the pictures and do it all over again even after turning a year older.
This book is a musical carnival with perfect pitches and notes sung in moos and baas and the whole farm grooving to it. I started reading this to my son when he was 7 months old and left to him he’d still sit with it. It’s not-so-unintentionally-stacked away — moms need a break too right?!
4. Elephants Never Forget!
Elephants Never Forget! by Anushka Ravishankar and Illustrations by Christiane Pieper.
Some books are like coffee; the wonderful flavour lingers on. This book is one such kind. Anushka Ravishanker is a magician with words. She takes children on a journey of emotions in this book. The illustrations are however what sets this book apart for me. There’s an old world charm to it with it’s simple dual-toned ink sketches.
Plot: An elephant calf gets separated from his Mommy (be ready for some tears) because of a storm. He then gets bullied by some monkeys (the rage ought to kick in now). A herd of buffaloes find the elephant calf and he fits in with them. Later a tiger is on the prowl. The buffaloes run away out of fear. The elephant oblivious to the tiger, wonders why they left him. As he freezes on seeing the tiger, the buffaloes rescue him (aah the joy). I don’t want to be a spoiler and give out the whole story here. At the end of the book you’re guaranteed a few hugs from your lil’ one.
3. Good Night Gorilla
Good Night Gorilla by Peggy Rathman
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown was our routine wind-down-before-bed book till my son turned One. This book took its place after that. The illustrations and storyline work harmoniously to make for a delightful bedtime read.
2. Junior Kumbhakarna
Junior Kumbhakarna by Arundhati Venkatesh and illustrations by Shreya Sen
This book breaks the norm of Indian Mythology being ever-so-serious. It’s a funny take on waking up Kumbhakarna (Ravana’s brother). The pictures are as hilarious as the story — picking this part of the Ramayana and turning it into a children’s picture book is ingenious.
1. The Enormous Crocodile
The Enormous Crocodile by Roald Dahl and pictures by Quentin Blake.
I was thrilled/excited/over-the-moon once my son reached the Roald Dahl stage. I grew up reading Roald Dahl and it’s just as enjoyable reading it out aloud to my son now, as it was then. Dahl’s books are timeless; they’re classics, masterpieces…I could go on…
This book is ideal for 4 to 5 year olds. The words flow like musical notes on an accordion and the illustrations are a perfect comical match.
The story is about an enormous crocodile, who is very hungry and decides to eat children to satiate his hunger. He machinates schemes to catch them and they all splendidly fail. Makes for a gripping read till the very end.
Make sure you’re stocked with plenty of supplies: green tea, coffee, juice, wine or vodka because you’re bound to get parched on reading this at one shot. There’s no way your kids will let you put the book down midway.
