The world of children's books is as wildly varied as any other genre. There are good books, bad books, middling books. There are books you’ll happily read again and again, and ones that you discard after a single go. Books that you love and your kids hate, books that make you cry (raise your hand if you’re a parent who’s sobbed over Love You Forever) and books that make your heart soar from the first page. There are classics and modern classics that every kid should read; books that appear on shelves all over the world; forgotten gems that really ought to have found a wider audience.
Disregarding the incredible-yet-obvious titles that are often intended for older readers, here are ten books - both new and old - to get (and keep!) younger kids reading over the summer holidays and beyond.
1. The Dog Man series by Dav Pilkey
The graphic novel market is saturated with all sorts of weird and wonderful characters, from Jamie Smart’s Bunny vs. Monkey to Aaron Blabey’s Bad Guys and Dav Pilkey’s Captain Underpants and Cat Kid series. Pilkey has proven himself a trailblazer of the genre, largely thanks to his joyful Dog Man books (recently turned into a film), which began life as a spin-off of Captain Underpants. They follow the crime-fighting escapades of a police officer who’s half-dog, half-man, and his arch-nemesis Petey the Cat. The 14th installment, Dog Man: Big Jim Believes is released in November.
2. Squid Squad by Aoife Dooley
Sadly, there isn’t a huge amount of choice (yet!) of Irish titles within the kids’ graphic novel world - which makes gems like Aoife Dooley’s Squid Squad all the more pertinent. The Irish illustrator and author’s latest tome is a striking, colourful exploration of friendship and what makes us unique, following BFFs Ollie (a squid) and Zing (a sea monkey). Aptly described as 'Spongebob Squarepants meets Bunny vs. Monkey’, kids from 5-8 will lap it up.
3. Anything by Julia Donaldson
It sounds like an obvious one, but it needs to be pointed out nevertheless. From The Gruffalo to Tiddler, Room on the Broom to Superworm and Zog to Stick Man, there is a story (usually with a big lesson at its heart) for all ages to be found within Julia Donaldson’s canon. When paired, as her stories often are, with Axel Scheffler’s marvellous illustrations, both the pictures and rhyming narrative are easy for kids to follow, too. Her latest book, Gozzle, was published in March.
4. The Lonely Beast by Chris Judge
This book has been a huge hit in our house since the day it landed on our bookshelf - so much so that I can almost recite it word for word without looking at the pages. Just as well that it’s so damned beautiful to look at. Chris Judge’s vibrant illustrations leap off each page, as we follow the tale of the Lonely Beast, who embarks on a long journey to the city in order to make some friends. A gorgeous book for younger readers that’s a real visual treat, too.
5. The Pigeon books by Mo Willems
If you have young kids, you may already be familiar with this brilliant series by American author Mo Willems, packed with zany humour and minimalist illustrations. The Pigeon Needs a Bath! is a firm favourite that many smallies can relate to, as our stinky feathered friend is reluctantly cajoled into bathing; other jewels in the series include The Pigeon Wants a Puppy, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! and The Pigeon HAS to Go to School (which also comes in handy on those tricky Monday mornings.)
6. The Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer
There are any number of fantasy novels for kids out there - it’s become a booming business since J.K. Rowling’s boy wizard unleashed his magic upon the world. One of the best (and perhaps most undersung), however, is Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl series. The Irish author’s story about a precocious 12-year-old criminal mastermind and his nefarious dealings with fairy and elf kin as he attempts to regain his family fortune evolves and develops beautifully across eleven books. Colfer deals with his readers in an intelligent and empathetic manner - these are smart books for curious kids. Or, as they were once described, ‘Die Hard with fairies’.
7. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Even if you’ve never picked up one of these books, you’ll have undoubtedly heard of them - they have sold over 250 million copies worldwide. The first book in Jeff Kinney’s hugely successful series was published in 2007 (after first becoming an online sensation) and the most recent landed last year. Its protagonist Greg Heffley, the titular Wimpy Kid, is an anti-hero of sorts: a kid with plenty of flaws, but also some redeeming qualities. And he is certainly an entertaining (if unreliable) narrator.
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8. These books by Roald Dahl
It’s no exaggeration to call Roald Dahl the GOAT of children’s literature - this is a hill we’re willing to die on. However, obviously not all of the late, great British author’s books are suitable for younger readers, and some bits in certain books are even downright scary. The Witches? The Trunchbull in Matilda? The bad giants in The BFG? Let’s be honest, even the Oompa Loompas are a little creepy. However, there are plenty of books to soft-launch your kid into the world of Dahl without mentally scarring them forever. George’s Marvellous Medicine is a great starting point and a lot of fun; The Twits is super-silly, while Fantastic Mr. Fox is a fabulous tale of cunning and perseverance. Shorter books like Esio Trot and the picture book The Enormous Crocodile are also ideal starting points that don’t require huge attention spans.
9. I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
Who says that kids’ books can’t entertain adults, too? You’ll find it hard not to laugh at anything by the brilliant Jon Klassen, whose trilogy of picture books about hats (I Want My Hat Back, This is Not My Hat and We Found a Hat) are both beautifully illustrated and darkly humorous. The ending of I Want My Hat Back, which sees a disgruntled bear on the search for his missing hat, will make both you and your child laugh out loud.
10. Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers
The Australian-born, Northern Irish-raised Oliver Jeffers has become one of the biggest names in children’s publishing in the last couple of decades - and 2005’s Lost and Found was arguably the book that put him on the map. An incredibly engaging story, this story will spark interest in pre-school readers, thanks to both Jeffers’ gorgeous illustrations, and the heartwarming, simple story. When a penguin lands on a young boy’s doorstep with no apparent owner, he decides to return it to the North Pole himself. They embark on a fantastic adventure, but messages of friendship, belonging and the importance of helping others are subtly interwoven into their exciting journey.
And there's more - enjoy a selection of Irish childrens' books here, and take a deep dive into the RTÉjr Book Club here.
