Seven brilliant books for young children

Louise Bourgeois Made Giant Spiders and Wasn’t Sorry

by Fausto Gilberti

Phaidon’s children’s books, which introduce incredible art to kids and take glorious pleasure in turning the expected upside down, are some of my favourites. I love the idea of introducing an artist whose work I adore – and I love Louise Bourgeois – to my kids. This one tackles overcoming fears with beauty, grace and humour. A present for adults as much as kids. £12.95, phaidon.com

The Night Before Christmas

by Clement C Moore

The Folio Society is my absolute go to for editions that are really special. This year’s releases include New York clergyman Clement C Moore’s festive poem, which celebrates its 200th anniversary. Illustrated by Ella Beach in full colour, this edition also has a very cool glow in the dark binding. A classic keeper, no doubt about it. £39.95, foliosociety.com

Madame Badobedah and the Old Bones

by Sophie Dahl and Lauren O’Hara

Sophie, granddaughter of Roald, made her children’s book debut with Madame Badobedah back in 2019. It’s a tale of an unlikely friendship between a young girl living in a seaside guesthouse and an eccentric older woman with an exotic, tragic past. Touching and fantastical, the illustrations are divine. My daughter wants to be the girl, Mabel – but Madame B steals the show for me. This iteration takes the adventure into the land of dinosaurs. £10.99 (Walker Books), blackwells.co.uk

The Little Prince

by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, translated by Katherine Woods

This is a gorgeous slip-cased gift edition of a treasured classic. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s story of a young prince who visits numerous planets and contends with big themes such as love, loss, loneliness and friendship would make an equally gorgeous book for an adult. £20, waterstones.com

The Little Thing is Sad

by Nick Cave

The second in Nick Cave’s sweetly touching children’s book series sees The Little Thing (who asked “What am I?” in the first book) wonder why it is sad, and set off in search of help and happiness. Printed by the monks at Denmark’s Narayana Press, this is a mini existential crisis to treasure. “The Little Thing is a story I wrote for my three-year-old neighbour, Esme,” writes Cave. “I drew the pictures too, in case you’re wondering.” £20, cavethings.com

The Story Orchestra: The Planets

by Jessica Courtney Tickle

Jessica Courtney Tickle helps bring Holst’s orchestral suite, Planets, to life with the story of a brother and sister who journey into space, and where each page features a button that plays music. My children are crazy about the books that have come before this – they sing Mozart’s Queen of the Night aria with gusto – so I have high hopes of highfalutin intergenerational intergalactic adventures. £16.99 (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books), blackwells.co.uk

The Oak Tree

by Julia Donaldson and Victoria Sandøy

The grande dame of contemporary children’s books has a new release. Who knows if it will inspire such mania as The Gruffalo, Zog, Stick Man and Room On The Broom (among the gazillions of her titles), but I’m willing to take the chance. Victoria Sandøy’s cute illustrations take the story of a thousand-year-old oak tree that falls in a storm and inject it with colourful vitality. £10.99 (Alison Green Books), blackwells.co.uk