Language & laughter books for children

An award-winning collection of short, bouncy poems for very young children, about toys, animals, made-up creatures and big feelings. Made to be read aloud, with plenty of chances for children to join in.

Try asking: “Which poem made you laugh the most? Shall we read it again?”

Down in the jungle, the animals swing, sway, stomp and shake. A singalong picture book with an easy dance routine, perfect for little ones who learn best on the move.

Try asking: “Which animal move was your favourite?”

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, what do you see? Each animal sees the next one in this rhythmic classic, with Eric Carle's bright collage pictures. Simple, repeated words make it perfect for little ones to join in and learn their colours.

Try asking: “What did Brown Bear see?”

At first Tiny Cat has none. Then one, two, three, four balls of red wool... then lots more, and then too many! A very funny first counting book with a feline twist: will Tiny Cat ever have just enough?

Try asking: “How many balls of wool did Tiny Cat want?”

"I wrote to the zoo to send me a pet..." The zoo sends a lion, an elephant, a monkey... but none of them is quite right. Lift the flaps to find out what's inside each crate. A much-loved first book, with catchy repetition and the perfect pet at the end.

Try asking: “Which animal would you choose as a pet?”

Diggers, tractors, cranes, bulldozers and dumper trucks: they all work hard, and they all make a lot of noise. A bright, rhyming picture book that machine-mad little ones love to join in with, from the squelch of the tractor to the crash of the dumper truck.

Try asking: “Which machine was the noisiest?”

Diggers, dinosaurs and lots of dirt! The dinosaurs drive their machines to dig a big hole, counting as they go, and the splashy ending is a surprise. A noisy, energetic book with a bit of counting thrown in.

Try asking: “What were the dinosaurs digging for?”

Dinosaur roar, dinosaur squeak, dinosaur fierce, dinosaur meek... A cheerful rhyming book of dinosaur opposites, much loved by the very youngest dinosaur fans.

Try asking: “Which dinosaur was fierce? Which one was meek?”

Big dogs, small dogs, scruffy dogs, smart dogs: dogs of every shape, size and colour bound through this book. Can you choose one to love best of all? A playful book of opposites, with a twist in the tail.

Try asking: “Which dog would you choose?”

Down by the station, early in the morning... Engines, buses, taxis and more go puff-puff, toot-toot and off we go in this bouncy version of the favourite rhyme, with die-cut holes to peep through.

Try asking: “What did you see down by the station?”

A busy farmer drives his tractor round the farm, picking up animals as he goes, until the trailer hits a stone and chaos breaks out! A colourful singalong book with counting, repetition and plenty of farmyard humour.

Try asking: “What happened when the trailer hit a stone?”

Each peach pear plum, I spy Tom Thumb... Spot the Three Bears, Mother Hubbard, Cinderella and more hiding in each picture in this Kate Greenaway-winning classic. Its strong rhyme and its game of I spy make it perfect for reading aloud.

Try asking: “Who can you spy on this page?”

This is the way we wash our face, brush our teeth and get ready for school... Ten verses of the popular song, with bright pictures of children from around the world getting ready for the day.

Try asking: “What do you do to get ready in the morning?”

More than fifty short poems by well-known writers, including Wendy Cope, Roger McGough, John Agard and Grace Nichols, all about the everyday experiences of young children. A warm, imaginative first book of poetry to dip into together.

Try asking: “Which poem was about something you do too?”

Little Fish swims through the sea meeting all his fishy friends: spotty fish, stripy fish, happy and grumpy fish. But who is he looking for? A bright, rhyming riot of colour under the sea from the creator of Maisy.

Try asking: “Who was Little Fish looking for?”

Cat is hungry, but cat food is dry, dull and not at all yummy. Tortoise eats worms, but worms are too wiggly. Fox eats rabbits, but rabbits are too bouncy. Nothing appeals, until the thing Cat really wants appears right in front of him. A funny story about fussy eating.

Try asking: “What did Cat want to eat in the end?”

Trixie goes to the laundrette with her daddy and her favourite stuffed bunny. On the way home, she realises Knuffle Bunny is missing, but she can't talk yet, and Daddy doesn't understand. A Caldecott Honor book about what happens when things go terribly, hilariously wrong.

Try asking: “Why couldn't Trixie tell Daddy what was wrong?”

It's Tuesday, so Lulu and her mummy are going to the library! Lulu has her library card and her rucksack full of books. She enjoys storytime and rhyme time, chooses new books, and at bedtime they read a new story and an old favourite. A warm celebration of reading together.

Try asking: “What does Lulu do at the library?”

It's lunchtime, but one little girl just isn't hungry. A visiting crocodile, bear and wolf, however, are starving, and it's just as well that children taste revolting! A sweet, funny story about mealtimes and imagination.

Try asking: “Why didn't the animals eat the little girl?”

A little girl needs a birthday present for her mother, in her mother's favourite colours. Mr Rabbit helps her think of red, yellow, green and blue things, until they put together the perfect present. A gentle classic about colours and giving, illustrated by Maurice Sendak.

Try asking: “What present did they make in the end?”

More than sixty much-loved nursery rhymes, collected by Iona Opie and brightly illustrated by Rosemary Wells. A first rhyme book to share from babyhood, full of rhythm and repetition.

Try asking: “Which rhyme shall we say together?”

A little red London toy bus gets into all sorts of mischief around the house and garden, told through playful photographs. A funny, much-loved book that shows how ordinary toys can have extraordinary adventures.

Try asking: “What was the naughtiest thing the bus did?”

Oliver will only eat chips, until he plays a game with Grandpa: whatever vegetable he finds in the garden, he has to eat. On Monday it's carrots, on Tuesday spinach... A gentle classic for fussy eaters that also introduces the days of the week.

Try asking: “Which vegetables did Oliver find?”

Using just four words, orange, pear, apple and bear, Emily Gravett rearranges them into a series of playful pictures, from an apple bear to an orange pear. A beautifully simple, very funny first book about colour, shape and imagination.

Try asking: “What does an orange bear look like?”

Here's a little baby, one, two, three, standing in his cot. What does he see? Peep through the holes to see the baby's busy day with his family. A modern classic for babies and toddlers, full of rhythm and details to spot.

Try asking: “What can the baby see through the hole?”

Mr Panda has a tray of doughnuts. Patiently and politely, he asks his friends if they'd like one. Each animal says yes, but without the all-important please. Is anyone worthy of Mr Panda's doughnuts? A charmingly funny book about good manners.

Try asking: “Why didn't Mr Panda give the animals a doughnut?”

Shh! Listen. What can we hear when we're really, really quiet? A toddler enjoys the sounds of a busy day coming to an end, from the bustle of dinner time to the hush of their father's voice at bedtime. An inclusive picture book about listening.

Try asking: “What sounds could you hear in the house?”

Rosie the hen goes for a walk around the farmyard, across, around, over, past and through, completely unaware of the hungry fox following her, as one disaster after another befalls him. A near-wordless classic that children love for the jokes only they can see.

Try asking: “What happened to the fox each time?”

Timothy Pope has a brand-new telescope, and he's testing it out at the park. Is that really a shark? Peep through the die-cut holes and turn the page to find out! A funny, rhyming classic that's been loved for twenty years.

Try asking: “What did Timothy really see?”

This is the way we stomp our feet, stomp, stomp, stomp! This is the way we like to eat, chomp, chomp, chomp! A brilliant book of action rhymes for little dinosaur fans to join in with.

Try asking: “Can you stomp like a dinosaur?”

Meet Tanka the elephant and his friend Skunka. Say their names together and they sound like drums! Tanka, Skunka, Tanka, Skunka, Tanka Tanka Skunk! A roller-coaster of animal names and rhythms to drum along to.

Try asking: “Can you drum Tanka's name?”

All over the world, babies are different, yet in some ways they are very much the same: they all have ten little fingers and ten little toes. A glorious, rhythmic celebration of babies everywhere, and one of the best-loved books for the very young.

Try asking: “How are the babies the same?”

Mums and dads, breakfasts and bedtimes, toys and swings: a picture catalogue of a baby's day across five families, full of things to point at and name. A much-loved classic for babies and toddlers.

Try asking: “What can you find on this page?”

A little girl and her mother board the train and set off through the countryside. "What shall I see? What shall I see?" Sheep, cows, horses and more, and someone very special waiting at the end! A rhythmic read-aloud that sounds like a train.

Try asking: “Who was waiting at the end of the journey?”

"Walking through the jungle, what do you see? Can you hear a noise? What could it be?" A small child walks, creeps, runs, leaps, swings and wades through the jungle, hearing animal noises as he goes, in this traditional join-in rhyme.

Try asking: “Which animal made that noise?”

Hen picks berries, Goose picks apples and Duck picks pears, and the three friends set off to find the perfect picnic spot. But they aren't the only ones who are hungry, and the basket gets lighter and lighter. A funny tale from the creator of Rosie's Walk.

Try asking: “What was happening to the picnic basket?”

Home time is fun time for Lenny, Mum, Dad and Wilbur the dog. Lenny plays hide and seek with Dad: is he in the cupboard? In the sitting room? Blobs of jam are a clue... A warm, everyday story for toddlers.

Try asking: “Where was Lenny hiding?”

It's dinner time, but Spot is missing! Lift the flaps to look behind the door, inside the clock and under the stairs: who's hiding there? One of the very first lift-the-flap books, loved by little ones for over forty years.

Try asking: “Where was Spot hiding?”

Alma is the curator of the Museum of Shapes, and she decides which shapes go where. Triangles have three sides; circles are her favourite. Help Alma put her exhibition together in this bold, playful first book of shapes.

Try asking: “What is Alma's favourite shape?”

Press the yellow dot on the cover and follow the instructions: press, shake, tilt, blow. Each page seems to respond to what you did! A playful, magical book that turns reading into a game.

Try asking: “What happened when you shook the book?”

"Who's in the loo? There's a very long queue. Is it an elephant having a poo?" A witty, rhyming book about the queue for the toilet in a busy house, full of animals and giggles.

Try asking: “Who was really in the loo?”

Goz the gosling has just hatched and goes looking for his mum. He sees parts of other animals, a long green leg or a wagging brown tail, and children lift the flap to see whether it's his mum. Then he finds her, and it's time for a swim.

Try asking: “Was the long green leg Goz's mum?”

Aliens love underpants, of every shape and size, but there are no underpants in space, so they come to Earth to find them! A zany, rhyming, hugely popular picture book that makes children laugh their pants off.

Try asking: “Why do the aliens come to Earth?”

Little Donkey LOVES eating grass. It's sweet and crunchy and juicy, and his pillow is even made of grass. "Why don't you try some other food?" says his mum. But Little Donkey only wants grass, until something surprising happens. A laugh-out-loud tale for picky eaters.

Try asking: “What happened to Little Donkey from eating only grass?”

Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Three Little Pigs, The Hare and the Hedgehog and more: classic, much-loved fairy tales brought to life by Axel Scheffler, illustrator of The Gruffalo and Zog.

Try asking: “Which fairy tale is your favourite?”

The sun is setting and everyone is getting sleepy, except Little Bear, who isn't sleepy at all. One by one, the animals of the forest yawn and settle down. A richly coloured, hypnotic bedtime book.

Try asking: “Who wasn't sleepy?”

Hairy Maclary goes for a walk in town, and he's joined by friends of all shapes and sizes: Bottomley Potts covered in spots, Schnitzel von Krumm with a very low tum... until they meet Scarface Claw! A rhyming classic for over 40 years.

Try asking: “Who scared all the dogs?”

The cats in this book want to have fun! Turn the pages and lift the flaps to play their favourite games with Tiny, Moonpie and André: wool to tangle, cardboard boxes, fish to catch and a bath to avoid. An interactive book where the reader joins in.

Try asking: “What games did the cats want to play?”

Meet Meg the witch and Mog, her very naughty cat. They're off to a Halloween party with their friends, but BANG! One of Meg's spells doesn't work as planned. A bold, bright classic for 50 years.

Try asking: “What went wrong with Meg's spell?”

A fire engine, a sports car, a tractor: which animal is driving each one? Children look at the clues and guess, then turn the page to find out. A bright, simple guessing book that gets little ones talking and explaining their reasons.

Try asking: “What clue helped you guess?”

Polar bear hears a lion roaring, the lion hears a hippo snorting, and so on through the zoo. The repeating words and Eric Carle's bright collage animals make it perfect for joining in, and for making all the animal noises.

Try asking: “Which animal made the loudest sound?”

Shows that communication is still full and meaningful when it doesn't happen through spoken words. The child in the story uses a tablet to communicate.

Try asking: “How is this child telling other people what they want to say?”

A child gradually understands he experiences sound differently, and begins using hearing aids.

Try asking: “What might help when someone can't hear everything that was said?”

Focuses on understanding a child's experience of stammering, rather than on trying to fix how he speaks.

Try asking: “What could a good listener do when someone needs more time to speak?”

Helps children talk about differences without turning them into something frightening or shameful.

Try asking: “What is a kind way to ask someone about something you're curious about?”

Bernard tries to tell his busy parents there's a monster in the garden, but all they say is 'Not now, Bernard'. A darkly funny British classic that starts conversations about feeling unheard, and makes grown-ups think too.

Try asking: “How do you think Bernard felt when his parents said 'not now'?”

Duncan opens his crayon box to find letters from his crayons: Red is overworked, Beige feels ignored and Yellow and Orange aren't speaking. A very funny book about listening to how others feel, and finding a fair solution.

Try asking: “Which crayon do you think had the best reason to be cross?”

Cat insists that every animal sits on something that rhymes: cats on mats, hares on chairs, mules on stools. Frog really doesn't want to sit on a log. A very funny rhyming book that also opens up talk about rules, fairness and saying when you disagree.

Try asking: “Frog didn't want to sit on a log. Was the rule fair?”

A rumbustious collection of seven noisy poems by Quentin Blake, made for chanting aloud. Whether it's baking a cake or sorting out the kitchen pans, it's always more fun when we all join in.

Try asking: “Which poem was the noisiest? Shall we do it again?”

For his birthday, Billy wants only one thing: a bucket. Inside it he can see all kinds of magnificent sea creatures, but Mum and Dad aren't so sure. Then Dad borrows the bucket to clean the car... A funny story about imagination and being listened to.

Try asking: “Did Mum and Dad believe Billy? Why not?”

Dad has lost his car keys, and the family is short of money. Little Mary suggests looking down the back of the chair, and out come all sorts of surprises: pirates, dragons, lions and treasure. A rollicking rhyming poem full of fun and imagination.

Try asking: “What did they find down the back of the chair?”

Lola will not eat peas, carrots, potatoes, mushrooms or baked beans, and she will absolutely not ever never eat a tomato. But when big brother Charlie explains that carrots are orange twiglets from Jupiter and peas are green drops from Greenland, even Lola is tempted. A warm, funny Charlie and Lola classic for difficult dinner times.

Try asking: “What did Charlie say carrots really were?”

Mr Magnolia has an old trumpet that goes rooty-toot, two lovely sisters who play on the flute, and a full and happy life. But he has only one boot. A classic, exuberant rhyming book that won the Kate Greenaway Medal.

Try asking: “What did Mr Magnolia get in the parcel?”

Daisy's mum and dad are always too busy to listen, so when she tells them a big purple rhino has walked into the house and eaten her pancake, nobody pays attention. But then they hear that a big purple rhino has gone missing from the zoo... A very funny story about listening.

Try asking: “Why didn't Daisy's mum and dad listen?”

Stanley's stick is not just a stick. With it in his hand he flies to the moon, writes in the sand, goes fishing, plays a whistle and rides a dinosaur. A playful, poetic story about the magic of imagination.

Try asking: “What did Stanley do with his stick?”

The Hueys love numbers: 0, 1, 2, 3... wait! Is none a number? The Hueys set out to solve a counting conundrum in this witty, lively counting book.

Try asking: “Is none a number?”

A little girl goes to market with a pocketful of change and no idea what to buy, just "something funny, nice or even strange". Among the colourful wonders of an Indian market, she finds the real fun isn't in the buying at all. Lively nonsense verse and photographs of everyday India.

Try asking: “What did the girl find was the real fun?”

Hank the goose has never met a balloon he didn't pop, or a conversation he didn't HONK! through. He even honks in the library. But being like this isn't always fun, for Hank or anyone else. A hilarious story about being considerate.

Try asking: “How did Hank's honking make others feel?”

Jack has a rather grizzly visitor for lunch, but the bear doesn't want any of Jack's egg sandwiches. So what do bears eat for lunch? A funny rhyming story with a surprising answer.

Try asking: “What did the bear want to eat?”

On a dark dark hill there was a dark dark town. In a dark dark cellar lived a big skeleton, a little skeleton and a dog skeleton. One night they go out to frighten somebody... A much-loved classic that's funny rather than scary, with easy-to-read repeated text.

Try asking: “Who did the skeletons try to frighten?”

Mika's dad works from home and he's very busy, too busy for the swimming trip he promised. So Dad lets Mika choose a quiet pet from the shop while he finishes work, like a mouse. But Mika has other ideas... A high-spirited story about a busy dad and a child who wants his attention.

Try asking: “What pets did Mika bring home?”

The Wimbledons are sleeping when they hear a spooky sound. "It's only Stanley," says Walter, "he's howling at the moon." But Stanley the dog is busy all night with banging, clanging and mending, and he's up to something much bigger than anyone realises.

Try asking: “What was Stanley really doing?”

A picture book poem written to be performed: children join in with the actions, sounds and the big SSSSNAP! An introduction to performance poetry for young children.

Try asking: “When did Mister Shark go SSSSNAP?”

Bella is taking her dog for a walk across the page when he disappears, into the gutter of the book! Then the helpers vanish too. Bella needs the reader's help. A brilliantly inventive, interactive and funny picture book.

Try asking: “How did you help Bella?”

Travel in a rocket, search for a grumpy dragon, make your own monster, visit a higgledy-piggledy farm! A collection of zappy poems about colours, animals, space and music, written especially to be performed.

Try asking: “Which poem was your favourite to say?”

Have you ever noticed that fish spend all their time underwater? What are they plotting down there? A laugh-out-loud picture book that gives children every reason not to trust fish, illustrated by Caldecott winner Dan Santat.

Try asking: “Why should we not trust fish?”

Splish, splosh, splash! It's Splash Day and everyone is ready for a water fight, with trunks, wetsuits, wellies and rubber rings, and Mrs Rose has a great big hose! A colourful rhyming story for children starting to read on their own.

Try asking: “Who got the wettest on Splash Day?”

In a hot, hot country lives a princess called Cinnamon, who will not speak. Her parents offer a reward to anyone who can teach her to talk, and a tiger arrives. A strange, beautiful fairy tale about finding your voice.

Try asking: “Who helped Cinnamon find her voice?”

The robbers of London town plan a desperate crime one Christmas Eve: to steal all the toys they can lay their hands on! But brave Officer Pugh leaps into action. A rhyming classic from Janet and Allan Ahlberg.

Try asking: “How did Officer Pugh stop the robbers?”

Welcome to Absurdia, where trees are birds, umbrellas are trees and the sky is thick with snoring fish. Join a small emperor on a wild adventure in this rich, beautiful picture book from Chris Riddell.

Try asking: “What was strange about Absurdia?”

Everyone loves a story, but when the words start wiggling out of the book, it takes clever thinking to discover the animals, build a castle and sail a boat. Step inside the creative mind of a neurodivergent reader. Winner of the Carnegie Medal for Illustration.

Try asking: “What happened when the words wiggled?”

A bear has lost his hat. He asks every animal he meets if they've seen it, very politely. Nobody has. Or have they? A deadpan, darkly funny picture book that rewards close looking.

Try asking: “Who had the bear's hat?”

You can't take an elephant on the bus, or a cheetah in a car! Follow animals as they try to ride all sorts of thoroughly unsuitable vehicles in this hilarious rhyming bestseller.

Try asking: “Which animal had the funniest ride?”

At number 2 Upalongdownalong Avenue, there's a hole in the garden wall that leads into the Zoo, and things have started coming through! An energetic rhyming adventure packed with mischievous animals, from the team behind Kipper.

Try asking: “Which animals came through the hole?”

Does your woolly mammoth need a wash? It's not easy! Find out exactly how in this hilarious instruction manual, just don't get soap in its eyes, or it might escape up a tree!

Try asking: “What went wrong when washing the mammoth?”

Welcome to the Café at the Edge of the Woods: an unusual, intricate, delightfully grotesque rhyming picture book that won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize. Gothic, gourmet and full of giggles.

Try asking: “What was on the menu?”

Going to the supermarket can be SO boring. But do you know what makes it fun? DINOSAURS! A T. rex gobbling sausages, a Stegosaurus spilling beans... but if dinosaurs make the mess, who gets the blame? A roaringly fun rhyming picture book.

Try asking: “Who did the shoppers blame for the mess?”

A book with no pictures sounds boring and serious. Except here's how it works: everything written on the page has to be said, no matter what. Even if it's BLORK. Or BLUURF. A hilariously silly read-aloud that kids love to hear grown-ups read.

Try asking: “What silly words did the book make you say?”

In a garden, insects talk in their own mysterious language. Du iz tak? What is that? A sprout grows, and the bugs build, argue and celebrate around it through the seasons. A gorgeous book written entirely in "Bug".

Try asking: “What do you think 'Du iz tak?' means?”

Mabel doesn't like books. She uses them for juggling and sledging, but never looks at the stories inside. Until one night the books decide they've had ENOUGH, and toss her into their pages, where she hops between adventures. A funny story for reluctant readers.

Try asking: “What changed Mabel's mind about books?”

Bob is the man on the moon. Every day he keeps it clean, entertains space tourists and leads guided tours. He knows everything about the moon, and he's certain there's no such thing as aliens... but readers can spot them on every page.

Try asking: “Did Bob ever see the aliens?”

What if Goldilocks had two horrid stepsisters and fell asleep for a hundred years? A split-page book that lets readers mix and match different fairy tales with hilarious results.

Try asking: “What was your silliest mixed-up story?”

Stroll around eight magnificently silly museums, full of fold-out pages and ridiculous exhibits to spot and giggle at. A picture-book giggle-fest from Nick Sharratt.

Try asking: “Which museum was the silliest?”

Four-year-old Kya guides readers through her likes, dislikes and all the parts of her character, in this sensitive portrayal of life as a child with autism. Inspired by the author's experience raising his own autistic daughter.

Try asking: “What does Kya love?”

Ice Cream Cone Worm. Monkeyface Prickleback. Pink Fairy Armadillo. Welcome to the Ministry of Silly Animal Names, where every creature wants to change its name! A rip-roaringly funny, tongue-twisting story about real animals with silly names.

Try asking: “Which animal name was silliest?”

A child of books sails across a sea of words to a boy, inviting him on an adventure through mountains of make-believe and forests of fairy tales. A lyrical, award-winning tribute to the power of reading and sharing stories.

Try asking: “Where did the child of books take the boy?”

Count from one to more than seven billion, and follow the people you meet along the way. Every page is packed with lives to spot: who's lonely, who's in love, who's lost something. An award-winning counting book about how every person counts.

Try asking: “Who did you follow through the book?”

From armadillos and flamingos to quokkas and iguanas, a playful collection of poems about pets that are just a little bit peculiar. Rhythmic, gigglishly silly and perfect for reading aloud.

Try asking: “Which peculiar pet would you choose?”

Imagine a world where everyone has their own dragon: tiny ones, enormous ones, fierce ones and gentle ones. Jackie Morris explores all their variety through lyrical text and beautiful illustrations. A children's classic.

Try asking: “What would your dragon be like?”

With an outfit for every occasion, Traction Man patrols the house: rescuing toys, searching the sink for the lost wreck of the sieve, saving damsels in distress. Until Granny knits him a new green romper suit... A very funny picture book about imaginative play.

Try asking: “What did Traction Man think of his new outfit?”

A lonely girl draws a magic door on her bedroom wall with a red crayon, and steps through into a world of castles, flying ships and danger. A stunning, wordless, Caldecott Honor picture book.

Try asking: “What did the girl draw to escape?”

On a normal Tuesday night, frogs in a pond lift off on their lily pads and float through the town. An almost-wordless, Caldecott Medal-winning picture book full of humour and detail.

Try asking: “What happened on Tuesday night?”

Why did the dinosaurs really die out? According to this book, it was all because of underpants. The first cavemen invented them, and the dinosaurs went wild fighting over them. A very silly rhyming book from the Aliens Love Underpants team, made for reading aloud.

Try asking: “What happened when they fought over them?”

Go on a family camping trip, find a message in a bottle, sail the storyteller sea or travel to the centre of the earth. A collection of poems from Children's Laureate Joseph Coelho to fire the imagination and help children find their own special place.

Try asking: “Which poem took you somewhere new?”

When Mr and Mrs Shinyshoes go to work, Claude the dog and Sir Bobblysock head into the city for the first time. Tea in a café, shopping, a museum... all very normal until Claude accidentally foils a robbery. A funny early chapter book with pictures on every page.

Try asking: “What did Claude do at the museum?”

Twenty poems designed to be read OUT LOUD, each with techniques for lifting poetry off the page and performing it with confidence. A witty, illustrated anthology from Children's Laureate Joseph Coelho.

Try asking: “Which poem was best performed loudly?”

Can you see him? My kitten? Close your eyes tight... Ava's invisible cat, Squishy McFluff, gets up to all sorts of mischief, and Ava's not to blame! Or is she? A rhyming early chapter book about imaginary friends.

Try asking: “What mischief did Squishy McFluff get up to?”

When Alex is given a sappy picture book called Birthday Bunny, he picks up a pencil and turns it into something he'd actually like to read: Battle Bunny. A hilarious book that shows how readers can rewrite stories.

Try asking: “How did Alex change Birthday Bunny?”

As a rule, magic carpets don't turn up in schools, but Class Three's new teacher flies in through the window on one. Mr Majeika can behave like an ordinary teacher, but sometimes he just can't resist a little magic. A classic chapter book.

Try asking: “What magic did Mr Majeika do?”

"Okay, okay. So hang me. I killed the bird. For pity's sake, I'm a cat." Ellie is horrified when Tuffy drags in a dead bird, then a mouse, then something much worse. A wickedly funny chapter book told in Tuffy's own diary.

Try asking: “How did Tuffy explain himself?”

When a police officer and his dog are injured on the job, a surgery saves them both, and Dog Man is born: half dog, half cop, all hero. The first in the hugely popular full-colour graphic novel series from the creator of Captain Underpants.

Try asking: “How was Dog Man born?”

Stanley Lambchop was an ordinary boy, until a noticeboard fell on him and squashed him flat! Now he can slide under doors, be posted in an envelope and even catch thieves. A classic chapter book with new illustrations by Rob Biddulph.

Try asking: “What could Stanley do once he was flat?”

Lift the flaps to see the tricks inside each villain's head, what's beneath their disguise and who they last ate! Meet the wolf, the giant and the witch, with personality cards showing their strengths, weaknesses and favourite pastimes.

Try asking: “What did you find inside the wolf?”

You think you know the story of the Three Little Pigs, but only one person knows the real story: A. Wolf. His tale starts with a birthday cake for his granny, a bad cold and a bad reputation. A hilarious retelling from the wolf's point of view.

Try asking: “What was the wolf's excuse?”

Andy and Terry live in a 13-storey treehouse with a bowling alley, a see-through swimming pool, a tank of man-eating sharks and a marshmallow machine. But they have a book to finish, and distractions keep arriving. The first in the wildly popular, comic-style series.

Try asking: “What room would you add to the treehouse?”

George and Harold have created the greatest superhero in the history of their school, and now they're about to bring him to life! Two Captain Underpants adventures in full colour, fighting for truth, justice and all things pre-shrunk and cottony.

Try asking: “How did Captain Underpants come to life?”

A full alphabet of animals, birds and insects, each brought to life in a shape poem where the words are arranged on the page to look like the creature. Poetry and art combined.

Try asking: “Which shape poem was your favourite?”

A boy decides to build a clone of himself to do his chores, and starts to wonder what makes him HIM. The scar on his knee? His love of acorns? The way he winks? A hilarious, inventive picture book about identity.

Try asking: “What makes the boy who he is?”

From forgotten jellybeans to sparkling daydreams, a collection of poems for primary school children that are both funny and thoughtful, many about the natural world. Illustrated by Katy Riddell.

Try asking: “Which poem made you think most?”

"Dear Uncle Morton. You'd better get on a plane right now and come back here. Your dragon has eaten Jemima." Edward is looking after his uncle's dragon for a week, and it's a disaster. A funny story told in emails.

Try asking: “What went wrong with the dragon?”

From A Necklace of Raindrops to The Patchwork Quilt, eight classic magical stories beginning and ending with a birthday, in a world where wishes come true. Illustrated by Jan Pieńkowski.

Try asking: “Which story would you read again?”

"Please Mrs Butler, this boy Derek Drew keeps copying my work, Miss. What shall I do?" A timeless, hilarious collection of school poems about reading tests, never-ending projects and the playground.

Try asking: “Which school poem is most like your school?”

"When de July sun hot like fire, den I have jus' one desire..." Valerie Bloom's poetry is beautifully crafted and full of energy and fun, mixing standard English and Jamaican patois. Two collections in one volume.

Try asking: “Which poem was most fun to say aloud?”

Andy and Terry have added thirteen new storeys to their treehouse, including a dodgem rink, a skate ramp and an ice-cream parlour with seventy-eight flavours. But when they tell the story of how they met, things get even sillier. A fast, funny comic-style chapter book that hooks reluctant readers.

Try asking: “What was the silliest part of the story?”

Join the Poetry Olympics, question a snake, talk to a toad and learn 20 ways to avoid monsters. A poetry collection that travels across the savannah, into fairy-tale realms and back into the playground.

Try asking: “Which poem took you furthest away?”

Ten-year-old Leo dreams of dancing in the West End, but his selective mutism is putting his place in the summer dance show at risk. When chatty Richa moves in next door, he finds it easy to bond with her. A sensitive novel about finding your voice.

Try asking: “How did Richa help Leo?”

What is a bumbershoot? Or a moonbow? What does it mean when someone absquatulates? Over 400 difficult, delightful words to amaze, confuse and inspire budding wordsmiths, beautifully illustrated.

Try asking: “What's a bumbershoot?”

Kit can't stand reading. She'd much rather be outside getting muddy. But when her friends drag her to the library, she makes an incredible discovery, and it's up to Kit and her friends to save the library. A funny, magical adventure.

Try asking: “What did Kit discover in the library?”

Mr and Mrs Grunt, who are neither clean nor clever, live in a donkey-drawn caravan with their adopted (in fact, abducted) son, Sunny. When they find themselves in trouble, chaos follows. A hilarious series illustrated by Axel Scheffler.

Try asking: “What trouble did the Grunts get into?”

Trevor has to walk Streaker, the fastest dog in the world, for the whole Easter holiday, and he bets his rival he can train her. Trouble is, Streaker is a hundred-mile-an-hour dog. A funny children's classic.

Try asking: “Could Trevor train Streaker?”

Mango and Brash are alligators who investigate! They travel through the sewers to solve crimes, armed with gadgets and terrible puns. A laugh-out-loud, full-colour comic book for fans of Dog Man and Bunny vs Monkey.

Try asking: “What case did the InvestiGators solve?”

"I've worked so hard for years and I deserve a rest!" says Mum, as she scribbles with crayons and pours custard on everything. A larger-than-life collection of funny poems about one wild, hilarious mum.

Try asking: “What silly things did Mum do?”

The man who ate a bike, a girl called Lorna Mower and a sofa that can do 101mph. Lists, facts, jokes and funny true stories about silly people, silly animals and silly inventions.

Try asking: “Which silly fact was the silliest?”

Do not talk about Werewolf Club! You can howl about it, but never talk. Joseph Coelho's thrilling first poetry collection, full of mystery, humour and wordplay.

Try asking: “What are the rules of Werewolf Club?”

Mr Gum is a horrible old man who hates children, animals, fun and food. But when he's mean to a dog called Jake, he meets his match in Polly, a little girl from Lamonic Bibber. A bestselling, wildly silly classic.

Try asking: “How did Polly stop Mr Gum?”

A hilarious anthology of the most giggle-worthy children's poems, chosen by celebrated children's poet Brian Moses. Perfect for reading aloud.

Try asking: “Which poem made you laugh most?”

Tom Gates is the master of excuses, doodles and avoiding homework. He has a band called Dogzombies, an annoying sister and a plan to get tickets for his favourite band. The first in the bestselling doodle-filled series.

Try asking: “What excuses did Tom make?”

Packed full of stupendously silly, fantastically funny poems, this award-winning anthology is edited by poet Joshua Seigal, with poems from a diverse range of contributors.

Try asking: “Did the book make you laugh?”

Tom has two whole weeks off school and big plans: annoying his sister Delia, band practice with Derek and eating caramel wafers. But the dentist and Delia keep getting in the way. Told through Tom's diary and doodles, it's a funny chapter book that gets children reading.

Try asking: “What got in the way?”