2015 has been a vintage year for children’s books – I could literally have listed 100 here, but I’ve limited myself to 20. From big books on history to little books about friends, via repackaged classics, poems, alphabets, numbers and beautiful illustrations, there really is something for everyone. I’m investing in the epic Timeline for Alfie as he’s currently obsessed with history and fan of The High Street (Alice Melvin’s first book) Kitty, will love Grandma’s House.
How Things Work by OKIDO (Thames & Hudson, RRP £12.95). Aw, we just love all things OKIDO. In this new book, Koko introduces us to scientific concepts and tries to answer tricky questions.
Grandma’s House by Alice Melvin (Tate Kids, RRP £12.99). There’s just something about grandparents’ houses – a little girl has an indoor adventure in this fold out tale.
L is for London by Paul Thurlby (Hodder, RRP £14.99), Goldsboro Books. A quirky alphabetical celebration of the capital.
Welcome to the Museum: Historium by Richard Wilkinson and Jo Nelson (Big Picture Press, RRP £20), Scout & Co. Open this gigantic book to discover a collection of objects from ancient civilisations.
Tree by Patricia Hegarty, illustrated by Britta Teckentrup (Little Tiger Press, RRP £6.99). With the help of forest fauna, find out what happens to one tree through the seasons.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by JK Rowling, illustrated by Jim Ray (Bloomsbury, RRP £30). The inimitable young wizard gets a makeover in this sumptuously illustrated gift edition.
The Great Journey by Agathe Demois and Vincent Godeau (Tate Kids, RRP £12.99). A special red viewfinder helps readers follow the migration of Red Beak.
Little Honey Bee by Jane Ormes (Big Picture Press, RRP £10.99), Guardian Bookshop. Stunning pictures belie the important environmental message of this story.
My Wild Family by Laurent Moreau (Chronicle, RRP £11.99). Large format look at a rather unusual family.
Animal Alphabet by Kay Vincent (Button Books, RRP £9.99), Small Print. A colourful and quirky ABC from the Ketchup on Everything illustrator.
Mr Men Deluxe Treasury: The Complete Collection by Roger Hargreaves (Egmont, RRP £40). Who remembers being read the Mr Men as children? Me! This is an essential for any bookshelf.
How Many Legs? by Katja Spitzer (No Brow, RRP £5.99). Help your little one learn to count through the medium of legs in this retro tome.
Busy Baby: Friends by Sara Gillingham (Chronicle, RRP £5.99), Cissy Wears. Sweet little board book with a changeable happy/sad faced baby.
Goodnight Songs: A Celebration of the Seasons by Margaret Wise Brown (Sterling, RRP £14.99). Wise Brown’s evocative poems and songs brought to life by twelve award-winning illustrators.
The Travel Book (Lonely Planet Kids, RRP £14.99). Fact fans ahoy – thousands of interesting snippets about the culture, food, animals and people from countries across the globe.
New Homes for our Little Friends by Marie Fordaqc and Peggy Nille (Twirl, RRP £12.99). Magnetised pieces enable mini interior designers to create homes for woodland animals in this play and learn book.
Littleland: All Year Round by Marion Billet (Nosy Crow, RRP £9.99). Billet’s gorgeous illustrations encourage children to spot and say as they explore the world month by month.
A Great Big Cuddle: Poems for the Very Young by Michael Rosen (Walker, RRP £14.99). Rosen at his silliest and sing songiest in this wonderful introduction to poetry for small children.
Timeline by Peter Goes (Gecko Press, RRP £16.99), Foyles. Got a budding Mary Beard at home? This exquisitely illustrated book covers everything from the Big Bang to now.
Dreamer by Julie Farrell and Becky Kemp (Sketch Inc, RRP £15). One for all the monochrome mamas, this tells the tale of feisty little girl Birdie and her nighttime adventures.
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