Our collection of favourite Australian and international stories to read with every child.

Who Sank the Boat by Pamela Allen

Beside the sea, there once lived a cow, a donkey, a sheep, a pig, and a tiny little mouse. One warm, sunny morning – for no particular reason – they decided to go for a row in the bay. Do you know who sank the boat? This funny tale will have everybody guessing.

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy by Lynley Dodd

Hairy Maclary goes off for a walk in town, followed by canine friends of all shapes and sizes. One by one they join Hairy Maclary until they meet Scarface Claw, the toughest Tom in town. The gang is no match for Scarface Claw, and they all run for home. This hilarious tale with its rhyming text is the perfect read-aloud picture book.

Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

When Max puts on his wolf suit he makes so much mischief that his mother sends him to bed without dinner. But the night doesn’t end there – a forest begins to grow in Max’s room and an ocean rushes by with a boat to take him to the place where the wild things are. Max tames the wild things and crowns himself as their king, and then the wild rumpus begins. An absolute classic that belongs in every home.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

This is Eric Carle’s much-loved tale of a newly hatched caterpillar who eats his way through all kinds of food, getting bigger and bigger, until eventually he turns into a beautiful butterfly. One of the most popular picture books of all time, no nursery bookshelf is complete without a copy.

Magic Beach by Alison Lester

Imagine a beach where you can swim, surf, splash through the waves, make sandcastles, hunt for treasures, explore rock-pools, fish from the jetty, and build a bonfire under the stars. Imagine a beach where adventure begins…

A bestseller and a favourite with families for twenty years, Magic Beach is a true Australian classic.

The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

One tiny snail longs to see the world and hitches a lift on the tail of a whale. Together they go on an amazing journey, past icebergs and volcanoes, sharks and penguins, and the little snail feels so small in the vastness of the world. But when disaster strikes and the whale is beached in a bay, it’s the tiny snail who saves the day.

Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley by Aaron Blabey

Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley are the best of friends, but they are different in almost every way. Pearl likes solving mysteries and moves rather fast in the world. Charlie likes taking baths and watching his garden grow. So how can Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley be such goods friends?

Aaron Blabey’s unique and quirky picture books are quickly winning him a place as one of Australia’s most beloved picture book creators.

Olivia by Ian Falconer

Olivia is a gorgeous little pig who likes to dress up, sing songs, dance, think, snooze and is even quite good at building sandcastles. At the end of the day, when she snuggles up in bed and her mother reads her a story (or three), Olivia feels very full of love. The perfect picture book for little readers with big personalities.

Why I Love Australia by Bronwyn Bancroft

Gorges that plummet into serpentine shadows; cloaks of white that drape the rocky crags of snowy mountains. In this magnificent celebration of country, Bronwyn Bancroft uses both images and words to explore the awe-inspiring beauty of the Australian continent, and to express the depth of her feelings for it.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr

The doorbell rings just as Sophie and her mummy are sitting down to tea. Who could it possibly be? What they certainly don’t expect to see at the door is a big furry, stripy tiger! This modern classic picture book is perfect for reading aloud, or for small children to read to themselves time and again.

My Place by Nadia Wheatley and Donna Rawlins

My Place is a stunning exploration of Australia’s past. It depicts the history of one particular piece of land in Sydney from 1788 to 1988 through the stories of the various children who have lived there. This latest edition includes a new timeline, which traces the history of the characters in the book, as well as up-to-date references to the Australian government’s apology to Indigenous Australians.

The Rainbow Serpent by Dick Roughsey

One of the most wide-spread Dreamtime stories tells of Goorialla the Rainbow Serpent. It is said the Rainbow Serpent arrived in this land shortly after the creation period. This was when the land was flat so the great Serpent moved the earth, gouged out billabongs, rivers, mountains and valleys in the shape of his body. With its magnificent illustrations, this is the perfect introduction to Aboriginal mythology.

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers

Poor Duncan just wants to colour in. But when he opens his box of crayons, he only finds letters, all saying the same thing: We quit!

Beige is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown, Blue needs a break from colouring in all that water, while Pink just wants to be used. Green has no complaints, but Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking to each other. The battle lines have been drawn. What is Duncan to do?

Peepo! by Janet & Allan Ahlberg

Peepo! is the much-loved picture book classic by Janet and Allan Ahlberg that continues to delight generations of babies and toddlers and their parents. Follow a day in the life of a baby and look through the cut-out holes to spot all the details in the wonderful illustrations. A great bedtime book at the end of the day.

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury

Follow the family as they wade through the grass, splash through the river and squelch through the mud in search of a bear. What surprise awaits them in the cave on the other side of the dark forest? This book will get everybody joining in the hunt for the bear.

Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley

A delightful peek into the life of one very busy wombat. Monday Morning: Slept. Afternoon: Slept. Evening: Ate. Scratched. Night: Ate.

Don’t be fooled, this wombat leads a very busy life training her humans. She teaches them when she would like carrots, when she would like oats and when she would like both at the same time. But these humans are slow learners. Find out how one wombat – between scratching, sleeping and eating – manages to fit the difficult job of training humans into her busy schedule.

Uno’s Garden by Graeme Base

Uno loves the forest and its amazing animals so much that he decides to live there. But, in time, a little village grows up around his house, then a town, then a city. Soon Uno realises that the animals and plants have begun to disappear.

Uno’s Garden is a blend of storybook, puzzle book and numbers book – a moving and timely tale about how we all unknowingly affect the environment around us, and how we can always learn from our mistakes and find ways of doing things better.

Possum Magic by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas

For 30 years Possum Magic has captivated and enchanted children and adults alike. Mem Fox’s lovable characters, little Hush and Grandma Poss, together with Julie Vivas’ exquisite illustrations, weave a story of pure magic. Continuously in print since it was first published in 1983, Possum Magic has been embraced as a timeless Australian tale.

The Worst Princess by Anna Kemp and Sarah Ogilvie

Once upon a time, in a tower near you,

Lived a sad princess; the Princess Sue.

Some day, she sighed, my prince will come,

But I wish he’d move his royal bum.

When Princess Sue’s prince finally does arrive, he’s not quite what she had in mind. Find out how the feisty princess escapes the clutches of her twit of a prince in this funny twist on the traditional princess tale.

Pip and Posy: The Super Scooter by Axel Scheffler

Pip and Posy are typical toddlers: they are best friends and they have fun. But sometimes, just like any other toddler, they get cross and sad, and sometimes it takes sharing and understanding to make things better. When Posy “borrows” Pip’s scooter, he’s cross – but that doesn’t stop him from helping when she falls off and hurts her knee. This is gentle tale by the illustrator of The Gruffalo offers an important message of friendship to young readers.

Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers

When a boy discovers a penguin on his doorstep, he figures it must be lost and tries to return it. No one seems to be missing a penguin, so the boy decides to take the penguin home himself, and they set out in his row boat on a journey to the South Pole. When they get there, though, the boy realises that maybe home wasn’t what the penguin was looking for after all. If you haven’t yet discovered the amazing Oliver Jeffers, this is a great place to start.

Roadworks by Sally Sutton and Brian Lovelock

Roadworks is made with machine-mad pre-schoolers in mind who will love the noisy words, rhythms and rhymes. This book differs from other car and machine tales in that it shows an actual project being completed from start to finish – follow along as a road is built from scratch.

Amy & Louis by Libby Gleeson and Freya Blackwood

Amy and Louis live next door to each other, and their lives are closely intertwined. Theirs is a life rich in imagination: they see dragons in the clouds and make castles out of cardboard. Disaster strikes when Amy’s family moves to another country and the children are separated, but things change for the better when Louis discovers how to rebuild their special bond. This is a moving tale of friendship that will make your heart smile.

The Bunyip of Berkeley’s Creek by Jenny Wagner and Ron Brooks

When the creature pulls himself out of Berkely’s Creek, he’s determined to find out what he is. He thinks he’s a bunyip but no one agrees because bunyips simply don’t exist…do they? This Australian classic was awarded Picture Book of the Year Award in 1974, and with its charming story and illustrations, it’s easy to see why.

Oh. the Places You’ll Go! by Dr Seuss

In this classic Seussian tale, the good doctor primes his readers against all the little mishaps and misadventures that can befall even the best of us – from bang-ups and hang-ups to lurches and slumps – encouraging us to take life in our stride. This title is perfect for reading with children and as a gift for any life-changing occasion.

April Underhill, Tooth Fairy by Bob Graham

April and Esme Underhill have never collected a tooth before. Mum and Dad usually do it, but tonight it’s their turn. So, equipped with a bag, a coin and a mobile phone, the sisters head for Daniel Dangerfield’s house, and a very unusual first tooth visit!

This is a charming story of a pair of young tooth-fairy sisters on their first adventure. As always, Bob Graham depicts an offbeat, loving family, and this title adds to the mystique of the tooth fairy for young readers who believe.

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

The bear’s hat is gone, and he wants it back. Patiently and politely, he asks the other animals whether they have seen it, but each animal says no. Just as the bear begins to lose hope, a deer comes by and asks a simple question that sparks the bear’s memory and renews his search with a vengeance. This is an irreverent tale that will have adults and children alike in stitches.

Where the Forest Meets the Sea by Jeannie Baker

When a young boy visits a tropical rain forest, he pretends it is a long time ago and that extinct and rare animals live in the forest, and Aboriginal children play there. But how much longer will the rainforest remain? Jeannie Baker’s striking collage style perfectly complements this story’s strong environmental message.

The Lost Thing by Shaun Tan

When a boy discovers a bizarre creature while collecting bottle-tops at a beach, he tries to find out who owns it or where it belongs. But most people barely notice its presence, and nobody seems to care about the Lost Thing…well, almost nobody. This is the stunning book that provided the inspiration for Shaun Tan’s Academy Award-winning film of the same name.

Mister Magnolia by Quentin Blake

Mr Magnolia has only one boot. He has an old trumpet that goes rooty-toot, and two lovely sisters who play on the flute, but Mr Magnolia has only one boot. In this wittily rhyming picture book, Mr Magnolia has a full and happy life except for one serious omission – a boot. But one day, he receives a mysterious parcel, and at last Mr Magnolia can splash in the puddles with everyone else!