Suggested Picturebook List

Dr Mary Roche

Dr Mary Roche (St. Patrick’s College, Thurles) compiled this book list
based on her work with children over the past 20 years. The list includes
suggestions; hopefully some of these will interest the children you work
with and provoke deep discussions.

The age groupings are a guide. The same book can be used to explore
different concepts with younger and older children. For example, a
discussion on why the Little Red Hen’s friends did not help her might
take place at age 3, with the concept of friendship as depicted in the
story being explored with children aged 4, 5 and 6.

Have a look at the podcasts on Critical Thinking and Book Talk in the
Supporting interactions section of the Aistear Toolkit
(www.ncca.ie/aisteartoolkit) to find out how you can use picture
books to support children’s thinking and discussion.

www.ncca.ie/aisteartoolkit
NCCA, 24 Merrion Square, Dublin 2, Telephone: +353 1 661 7177 - Fax: +353 1 661 7180 Email: info@ncca.ie
 Toddlers Young children
2-3 years 3-4 4+ years
1. A Bit Lost (2011, Walker), Chris 1. A Squash and a Squeeze (2003, 1. Crusher is Coming (1999, Picture
Houghton Macmillan Children’s Books), Julia Lions), Bob Graham
2. Are you my Mother? (1960, Random Donaldson & Axel Scheffler 2. Dear Greenpeace (1991, Walker),
House Books), P.D. Eastman 2. Egg Drop (2003, Red Fox), Mini Grey Simon James
3. Elephant and Piggy series/Pigeon 3. Fish is Fish (1987, Demco Media), 3. Feathers and Fools (2000, First
series (Walker Books, Mo Willems) Leo Leonni Voyager Books), Mem Fox
4. Elmer (1990, Red Fox), David McKee 4. Frog and the Birdsong (1991, 4. Frog and Toad are Friends (1971,
5. First the Egg (2009, Frances Lincoln Anderson Press, London), Max Harper Collins ), Arnold Lobel
Children’s Books), Laura V Seeger Velthuijs 5. It’s a Book (2010, Roaring Book
6. Goldilocks and the Three Bears 5. Give a Dog a Name (1995, Press), Lane Smith
(2009 Puffin), Lauren Child Scholastic Hippo), Barrie Wade 6. Look what I’ve got (1996, Walker
7. Good Little Wolf (2011, Jonathan 6. I Want my Hat Back (2011, Books Ltd), Anthony Browne
Cape), Nadia Shireen Candlewick), Jon Klessen 7. Oi! Get off our Train (1989, Red Fox
8. Have You Ever, Ever, Ever? (2012, 7. Let’s Get a Pup (2003, Candlewick Books), John Burningham
Walker), Colin McNaughton & Emma Press), Bob Graham 8. Prince Cinders (1997, Picture Puffin),
Chichester Clark 8. Little Blue and Little Yellow (1995, Babette Cole
9. I Want my Hat Back (2011, Candle William Morrow), Leo Leonni 9. Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend
wick), Jon Klessen 9. Penguin (2007, Walker), Polly (2008 Happy Cat Books), Melanie
10. Little Red Hen (2001, Houghton Dunbar Watt
Miffin), Paul Galdone 10. Room on the Broom (2004, Puffin), 10. Something Else (1995, Puffin Books),
11. Night Monkey, Day Monkey (2002), Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler Kathryn Cave & Chris Riddell
Egmont Books Ltd), Julia Donaldson 11. Slow Loris (2003, Red Fox), Alexis 11. The Conquerors (2004, Andersen
& Axel Scheffler Deacon Press Ltd), David McKee
12. Not Last Night But The Night Before 12. Ten, Nine, Eight (1991, Harcourt 12. The Hueys (2012, HarperCollins
(2010, Walker), Colin McNaughton & School Publishers), Molly Bang Children’s Books), Oliver Jeffers
Emma Chichester Clark 13. The Avocado Baby (1999, Red Fox), 13. This Moose Belongs to Me (2012,
13. Not Now Bernard (1990, Red Fox), John Burningham HarperCollins Children’s Books),
David McKee 14. The Fish who Could Wish (1993), Oliver Jeffers
14. Penguin (2007, Walker), Polly Dun Oxford University Press), John Bush 14. The Paper Bag Princess (1980,
bar
& Korky Paul Scholastic), Robert Munsch
15. Room on the Broom (2004, Puffin),
15. The Lonely Beast (2011, Andersen), 15. The Sneetches (1961, Random
Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler
Chris Judge House), Dr Seuss
16. Rosie’s Walk (2009, Simon&Schuster),
16. The Princess and the Pea (2005, 16. The Three Little Wolves and the Big
Pat Hutchins
Penguin), Lauren Child Bad Pig (1993, Simon & Schuster),
17. The Gruffalo (1999, Macmillan
17. The Rainbow Fish (2000, North Eugene Trivizas and Helen Oxenbury
Children’s Books), Julia Donaldson &
South Books), Marcus Pfister 17. The Three Robbers (1987,
Axel Scheffler
18. The Smartest Giant in Town Atheneum), Tomi Ungerer
18. The Gruffalo’s Child (2005, Macmil lan
(2002, Macmillan Children’s Books), 18. The Tooth (2009, Kane Miller), Avi
Children’s Books), Julia Donaldson &
Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler Slodovnick & Manon Gauthier
Axel Scheffler
19. The Sneetches (1961, Random 19. The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs
19. The Magic Bed (2004, Red Fox), John
Burningham House), Dr Seuss (1997, Puffin), Jon Scieszka
20. The Rainbow Fish (2000, North South 20. The Teddy Robber (1991, Corgi 20. Tusk Tusk (1990, Red Fox), David
Books), Marcus Pfister Children’s), Ian Beck McKee
21. The Tickle Ghost (2011, Andersen 21. This is not my Hat (2012, 21. Two Monsters (1987, Red Fox), David
Press), David and Brett McKee Candlewick), Jon Klessen McKee
22. This is not my Hat (2012, Candlewick), 22. Three Monsters (2004, Andersen 22. Voices in the Park (1999, Corgi
Jon Klessen Press Ltd), David McKee Children’s), Anthony Browne
23. Where is the Green Sheep? (2004, 23. Where the Wild Things are (2000, 23. Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge
Harcourt Books), Mem Fox Red Fox), Maurice Sendak (1992, Picture Puffins), Mem Fox
24. William’s Doll (1991, Picture Lions),
Charlotte Zolotow and William Pene
du Bois
25. Willy the Wimp (1995, Walker Books
Ltd), Anthony Brown
26. Yellow Bird, Black Spider (2004,
Bloomsbury), Dosh and Mike Archer

www.ncca.ie/aisteartoolkit
NCCA, 24 Merrion Square, Dublin 2, Telephone: +353 1 661 7177 - Fax: +353 1 661 7180 Email: info@ncca.ie