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Best Books for Kids » Family & Pets

Browse book recommendations:

Best Books for Kids

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We have a range of interviews recommending books for children on the themes of families and pets.  Children’s author Lauran Wood chooses her best coming of age novels about sisters and Jean Webb, professor of international children’s literature at the university of Worcester, chooses the best books about relationships.  Turning to intergenerational relationships, illustrator Paul Howard chooses his best books about Dads and the poet Joseph Coelho chooses his on grandparents and grandchildren.   The award winning children’s author, Catherine Rayner, chooses her best books on pets for kids.

    The Best Coming-of-Age Novels About Sisters, recommended by Laura Wood

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    The Best Coming-of-Age Novels About Sisters - Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

    1

    Little Women
    by Louisa May Alcott

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    The Best Coming-of-Age Novels About Sisters - I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith

    2

    I Capture The Castle
    by Dodie Smith

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    The Best Coming-of-Age Novels About Sisters - To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

    3

    To All The Boys I've Loved Before
    by Jenny Han

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    The Best Coming-of-Age Novels About Sisters - One Italian Summer by Keris Stanton

    4

    One Italian Summer
    by Keris Stanton

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    The Best Coming-of-Age Novels About Sisters - Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

    5

    Fangirl
    by Rainbow Rowell

The Best Coming-of-Age Novels About Sisters, recommended by Laura Wood

Coming-of-age stories unfold at the point at which a young person goes out into the world – full of potential and change. Siblings, at this important crossroad, also have to establish themselves outside of their relationship to each other. Author Laura Wood recommends five of her favourite novels that explore the intense, sometimes destructive, relationships that exist between sisters.

    The best books on Pets For Young Kids, recommended by Catherine Rayner

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    The best books on Pets For Young Kids - I Love Guinea Pigs by Dick King-Smith

    1

    I Love Guinea Pigs
    by Dick King-Smith

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    The best books on Pets For Young Kids - Ginger by Charlotte Voake

    2

    Ginger
    by Charlotte Voake

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    The best books on Pets For Young Kids - Blue Chameleon by Emily Gravett

    3

    Blue Chameleon
    by Emily Gravett

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    The best books on Pets For Young Kids - Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy by Lynley Dodd

    4

    Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy
    by Lynley Dodd

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    The best books on Pets For Young Kids - Borka: The Adventures of a Goose With No Feathers by John Burningham

    5

    Borka: The Adventures of a Goose With No Feathers
    by John Burningham

The best books on Pets For Young Kids, recommended by Catherine Rayner

Feathered, scaly or furry, children form powerful and enriching bonds with their pets. If you don’t have room in your house (or lifestyle) for a multitude of birds and beasts—you can always read about them in books! Catherine Rayner, one of the UK’s leading creators of children’s picture books and devoted animal lover, recommends her favourite illustrated picture books celebrating pets.

    The best books on Grandparents and Grandchildren, recommended by Joseph Coelho

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    The best books on Grandparents and Grandchildren - 15 Things Not To Do With A Granny by Margaret McAllister and illustrated by Holly Stirling

    1

    15 Things Not To Do With A Granny
    by Margaret McAllister and illustrated by Holly Stirling

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    The best books on Grandparents and Grandchildren - Joy by Corrinne Averiss and illustrated by Isabelle Follath

    2

    Joy
    by Corrinne Averiss and illustrated by Isabelle Follath

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    The best books on Grandparents and Grandchildren - Sun by Sam Usher

    3

    Sun
    by Sam Usher

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    The best books on Grandparents and Grandchildren - Into The Forest by Anthony Browne

    4

    Into The Forest
    by Anthony Browne

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    The best books on Grandparents and Grandchildren - Julian Is A Mermaid by Jessica Love

    5

    Julian Is A Mermaid
    by Jessica Love

The best books on Grandparents and Grandchildren, recommended by Joseph Coelho

Acclaimed poet, Joseph Coelho, recommends five of the best kids’ books that celebrate the magical bonds between grandparents and their grandchildren. Positive intergenerational relationships have very real health benefits for the whole family! So get yourself settled on a comfy chair with a grandchild and take some time to enjoy sharing these delightful stories.

    Jean Webb on Children’s Books About Relationships

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    Jean Webb on Children’s Books About Relationships - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

    1

    Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
    by Lewis Carroll

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    Jean Webb on Children’s Books About Relationships - Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

    2

    Little House on the Prairie
    by Laura Ingalls Wilder

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    Jean Webb on Children’s Books About Relationships - The Summer Book by Tove Jansson

    3

    The Summer Book
    by Tove Jansson

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    Jean Webb on Children’s Books About Relationships - Mattie and Grandpa by Roberto Piumini

    4

    Mattie and Grandpa
    by Roberto Piumini

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    Jean Webb on Children’s Books About Relationships - Sleeping Dogs by Sonya Hartnett

    5

    Sleeping Dogs
    by Sonya Hartnett

Jean Webb on Children’s Books About Relationships

Children’s literature research is one of the most dynamic fields of literary criticism today, says Jean Webb, professor of international children’s literature at the University of Worcester. She picks five books from around the world that shed light on ‘childhood and relationships.’

    Best Books About Dads (for younger kids), recommended by Paul Howard

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    Best Books About Dads (for younger kids) - Pete's A Pizza by William Steig

    1

    Pete's A Pizza
    by William Steig

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    Best Books About Dads (for younger kids) - Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Mo Willems

    2

    Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity
    by Mo Willems

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    Best Books About Dads (for younger kids) - My Dad Used To Be So Cool by Keith Negley

    3

    My Dad Used To Be So Cool
    by Keith Negley

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    Best Books About Dads (for younger kids) - Demolition Dad by Phil Earle & Sarah Oglivy

    4

    Demolition Dad
    by Phil Earle & Sarah Oglivy

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    Best Books About Dads (for younger kids) - My Dad's A Birdman by David Almond & Polly Dunbar

    5

    My Dad's A Birdman
    by David Almond & Polly Dunbar

Best Books About Dads (for younger kids), recommended by Paul Howard

Depictions of fathers in children’s books have leapt forward in recent years, says illustrator Paul Howard. He talks us through his favourite visions of modern dads in books, from the ultimate macho man to fathers at their most vulnerable.

About

We ask experts to recommend the five best books in their subject and explain their selection in an interview.

This site has an archive of more than one thousand interviews, or five thousand book recommendations. We publish at least two new interviews per week.

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