3 books for reading aloud to children

I regularly receive books to review and this post includes some titles I’ve received

Pippi Longstocking Goes Aboard by Astrid Lindgren
With 2020 marking the 75th birthday of Astrid Lindgren’s lively and rebellious classic children’s book character Pippi Longstocking, Pippi Longstocking Goes Aboard (Oxford University Press, £20) has this month been published as a new gift edition with illustrations by Charlie and Lola creator Lauren Child. The funny and colourful illustrations make this edition wonderful for reading out aloud, and share laughs together with the children when the free-spirited and generous Pippi goes shopping for a hefty number of sweets, and effortlessly lifts a horse on a school outing.

The Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher
To start getting in the spirit of Christmas, The Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher (Puffin Books, £6.99) can make for a brilliant book to read aloud to children. Written by multi-talented Tom Fletcher, also known from the band Blue, The Christmasaurus tells the magical, festive and light-hearted story about a boy called William who makes a new friend – a dinosaur that has survived the ice age and later been looked after by Father Christmas. The imaginative book features comical illustrations by Shane Devries, and if you start now, you might also have time for the sequel The Christmasaurus and the Winter Witch before the festive season? The book also comes in a musical edition with a CD with soundtracks by Tom Fletcher to enjoy while reading.

Mary Poppins by PL Travers
For a classic children’s book, I adore Mary Poppins and reading about the magical world the Banks children get to experience on their remarkable adventures with their super nanny. I think the Mary Poppins: Illustrated Gift Edition (HarperCollins, £20) with illustrations by Lauren Child makes for a particularly good choice for reading aloud, as the colourful illustrations with use of geometric fabric patterns stand out. On a side note, Mary Poppins the Musical is my all-time favourite family musical, and seeing Mary Poppins come flying over the stalls in her perfect pose is one of those memories that make me truly miss the West End experiences that are currently unavailable. While we await news on the return of this production, there are plenty of Mary Poppins resources on the theatre’s homepage, including guides for making a kite and an overview of women in Mary Poppins’ Edwardian Britain.

Tags: HarperCollins, Mary Poppins, Oxford University Press, Pippi Longstocking, Puffin Books, Tom Fletcher