Listography top five toddler books

The lovely Kate Takes 5 has a irresistable Listography this week.  It's about toddler books, and more to the point, the ones that adults love, because much as I adore books, and reading to my children, sometimes come bedtime I need a pick me up.  I think these are at the older end of the toddler spectrum, although they are never too young to look at the pictures.

1. The Tiger That Came to Tea

I just love the surrealness and the flashback to the fifties. On more monotonous days at home with my two I dream of a tiger knocking at our door.

2. Doing the Garden by Sarah Garland

Because it comes closest to representing me and my kids. Losing them in the garden centre; precarious balancing of kids, shopping and daft purchases on the old pushchair; cups of tea; over ambitious projects that we only just pull off and causing chaos in public places.

3. Fantastic Daisy Artichoke by Quentin Blake


One of a series of fantastical characters who have Blake's trademark quirkiness. When he is in the mood Mr G and I talk about the pictures lots, when he is climbing the walls the rhymes move along very fast towards bed.  Mr G may not say much but he can say artichoke.

4. The Night Pirates by Peter Harris and Deborah Allwright


‘Down, down,down, the dark dark street they came.’  Lines clearly written to rejuvenate a tired and uninspired parent at the end of the day.  I challenge you to deliver those lines without creating an air of expectation and mystery in your child’s bedroom.  They are like a mantra to me now,  delivering me away from the end of day chaos and into the magical world of the girl night pirates.  Yes, GIRL pirates, fab eh?

5. Take Turns Max and Mille by Felicity Brooks and Desideria Guicciardini



My new favourite.  It's a little didactic, but if I am going to have to spend the next couple of years modelling sharing to someone who is cognitively incapable of it, why not let a book help me?  Writer Felicity Brooks also cleverly recognised that the Little Tykes red car is possibly the most coveted and argued over object at playgroups and preschools across the land.  I like the simplicity and the child's view of the world of sharing.  Sharing occupies lots of parental time but doesn't crop up in books much.

Looking forward to picking up some good reads this week.