New Book Gifts for 0-5 Year Olds this Christmas
Can you believe that it is time to turn our minds to Christmas gifts? As you can imagine, I am a very loud advocate for buying book gifts for young and old alike. The books may be cast aside in favour of toy gifts at the actual time of unwrapping but they will be loved far longer and parents and carers will thank you – both for the brain development of their child and the fact that a book is easier to store than a large toy and does not require batteries.
The books on this list are my favourite new titles for the very young, and as they are mostly all *brand new* you can be quite confident that families will not yet have them in their hot little hands. You might also like to check out my list of perennial favourites for babies and for toddlers. I have included a synopsis of a few titles, you can read more about all titles by clicking on the ‘buy’ button which will take you to Booktopia, where you will find all the information you need and sometimes even some sample pages.
Click on ‘buy from Booktopia’ when shopping online in Australia to #supportaustralian. Amazon and Book Depository options for overseas purchases. Purchase in store from your local independent bookstore where possible #supportlocal.
‘The Fate of Fausto’
by Oliver Jeffers
‘Australian Baby Animals’
by Frané Lessac
‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Sound Book’
by Michael Rosen & Helen Oxenbury
‘Jon Klassen’s Hat Box’ (box set)
by Jon Klassen
‘Guess How Much I Love You’ Anniversary Slip Case Edition
by Sam McBratney. Illustrated by Anita Jeram.
‘Baby Business’
by Jasmine Seymour. Full review here.
‘Birthday Baby’
by Jane Godwin and Davina Bell, illustrated by Freya Blackwood
‘Pea and Nut!’
by Matt Stanton
‘A Quiet Girl’
by Peter Carnavas. Full review here.
‘Liarbird’
by Laura Bunting, illustrated by Phil Bunting
‘All of the Factors of Why I Love Tractors’
by Davina Bell, illustrated by Jenny Lovlie
‘The Tiny Star’
by Mem Fox, illustrated by Freya Blackwood
‘Cooee Mittigar: A Story on Darug Songlines’
by Jasmine Seymour & Leanne Mulgo Watson
Cooee Mittigar, meaning Come Here Friend, is an invitation to yana (walk), on Darug Country. In this stunning picture book, Darug creators Jasmine Seymour and Leanne Mulgo Watson tell a story on Darug Songlines, introducing children and adults-alike to Darug Nura (Country) and language. With Darug language interspersed with English and an extensive glossary throughout, Cooee Mittigar presents an important tool for learning, told as a tender story with exquisite illustrations.
Cooee mittigar. Tread softly on our
lands.
Know that this dreaming was here. Is still here.
Will be forever.
‘The Return of Thelma the Unicorn’
by Aaron Blabey
‘Argh! There’s a Skeleton Inside You!’
by Idan Ben-Barak, illustrated by Julian Frost
‘Another Book About Bears’
by Laura Bunting, illustrated by Phil Bunting
‘No Place for an Octopus’
by Claire Zorn
A sweet and sensory journey about an unusual friendship between a boy and an octopus. After discovering an octopus in the rock pools at the beach, the boy imagines all of the adventures they could share if he took the octopus home. His realisation that the octopus may be happier where he currently is – in the rock pools – uncovers a deeper conservation message about how animals are best left in their natural environment.
‘My Folks Grew Up in the 80s’
by Beck & Robin Feiner
‘Young Engineers’
by Andrew King, illustrated by Benjamin Johnston
‘You Might Find Yourself’
by Tai Snaith
‘Nop’
by Caroline Magerl
‘Leonard Doesn’t Dance’
by Frances Watts, illustrated by Judy Watson
‘Sleep Tight, Playpup’
by Renee Treml
‘Welcome’
by Mo Willems
‘Cocoon’
by Aura Parker
‘Horatio Squeak’
by Karen Foxlee, illustrated by Evie Barrow
‘Goodnight, Little Tough Guy’
by Michael Wagner, illustrated by Tom Jellett
The superheroes are settling down.
The firefighters are fitting in forty fabulous winks.
And the cowboys and cowgirls are completely cactus!
After a long, hard day of being very strong and powerful, it’s time for the all the tough guys in the world to settle down for a peaceful night’s sleep . . .
From the bestselling creators of Why I Love Footy comes a bedtime story that’ll help sweet little toughies head off to the land of Nod.
‘Goodbye House, Hello House’
by Margaret Wild, illustrated by Ann James
‘The Very Super Bear’
by Nick Bland
‘Life is Like the Wind’
by Shona Innes, illustrated by Irisz Agocs
‘The Playground is Like a Jungle’
by Shona Innes, illustrated by Irisz Agocs
‘Friendship is Like a Seesaw’
by Shona Innes, illustrated by Irisz Agocs
‘Girls are Pretty…’
by Susann Hoffman
‘Boys Will Be…’
by Susann Hoffman
‘Can You Guess’
by Emma Middleton, illustrated by Connah Brecon
‘Dumanzi and the Big Yellow Lion’
by Valanga Khoza, illustrated by Matt Ottley
‘The Underhills: A Tooth Fairy Story’
by Bob Graham
‘Dr Suess’s Horse Museum’
by Dr Suess, illustrated by Andrew Joyner
Based on a newly-discovered manuscript and sketches from Dr. Seuss, and brought to life by acclaimed illustrator Andrew Joyner, this is a thoroughly Seussian exploration of ‘art’. With reproductions of over thirty iconic pieces of artwork – from Pablo Picasso to Edouard Manet, Rene Magritte, Lucian Freud, Susan Rothenberg, Jackson Pollock, Raphael, and even the Lascaux cave. This is an exhibition you won’t want to miss!
‘Snoozette’
by Valentine Paradis, illustrated by Caterina Metti
‘Wandering Star’
by Natalie Jane Prior and Stephen Michael King
‘Beast Feast’
by Emma Yarlett
‘Dig Dump Roll Gift Set’
by Sally Sutton, illustrated by Brian Lovelock
‘Madame Badobedah’
by Sophie Dahl, illustrated by Lauren O’Hara
‘Sarah’s Two Nativities’
by Janine M Fraser, illustrated by Helene Magisson
‘Animology’
by Maree Coote
‘Where’s Wally? Double Trouble at the Museum: The Ultimate Spot-the-Difference Book!’
by Martin Handford
‘Nose Knows’
by Emmanuelle Figueras, illustrated by Claire De Gastold
Are you new here? Welcome to Children's Books Daily! I’m Megan Daley and you can find out more about me here and more about my offers here.
Check out my freebie eBook, 'What to Read Next' or sign up for my FREE webinar, '3 Tips to Start the Best Book Club Ever'.
You might also like:
About Me
Very excited about the new Cranky Bear book. We love Nick Bland! I bought Another Book About Bears last Christmas and it’s a favourite at our house.
Oh I just love ‘Another Book About Bears’! What’s not to love about bear books!