Lauren Child’s 14 favourite children’s books

With over three million copies sold, a hugely successful television spin-off and countless musical adaptations, Lauren Child – creator of Charlie and Lola, Clarice Bean and Ruby Redfort – knows a thing or two about children’s books..

Whether it’s big cats spoiling your supper or adventurous schoolboys getting their own back on the teacher, everyone has their picks of the genre. Here are Lauren Child’s 14 favourite children’s books, including three picture books loved by her four-year-old daughter Tuesday.

Book summaries by Guy Kelly

Cockatoos, by Quentin Blake

(Red Fox Picture Books)

Written and illustrated by the man celebrated for his work with Roald Dahl, Cockatoos tells the story of Professor DuPont, a barmy yet staid old man who owns a group of ten mischievous parrots. One day, bored of watching the Professor go through his dreary daily routine, the birds decide to enliven the morning by hiding from their owner. Naturally, chaos ensues as readers follow the bumbling Professor’s search for his missing cockatoos – all of which are easy for readers to spot hiding in the background of Blake’s trademark illustrations.

The Shrinking of Treehorn, by Florence Parry Heide (Young Puffin Books)

The first part of a trilogy of Treehorn books – including Treehorn’s Treasure and Treehorn’s Wish – The Shrinking of Treehorn charts the adventures of its titular hero, a curious young man who wakes one morning to find himself a fraction of the size he went to bed. Treehorn can’t figure out why he is shrinking, and gets very little help from adults, none of whom seem to even notice his plight. Featuring a cast of hilarious characters, each brought to life by the classic black and white drawings of Edward Gorey, Parry Heide’s stories are captivating, bizarre and always brilliant.

Grimble, by Clement Freud (Jonathan Cape Ltd)

Published in 1968 and featuring illustrations by Frank Francis (though later re-released with drawings by Quentin Blake), Clement Freud’s account of a boy’s adventures whilst living alone - Grimble is left to fend for himself whilst his parents enjoy a spontaneous trip to Peru - has become a modern classic. It’s no surprise, given the offbeat humour and eccentricity of the story. The book is a favourite of J.K. Rowling, who has even professed to drawing inspiration from Grimble for her own brave, neglected hero.

Eloise at the Plaza, by Kay Thompson (Simon and Schuster Children’s)

Featuring another protagonist whose independent escapades are facilitated largely by parental abandonment, Eloise at the Plaza tells of a girl who lives on the top floor of the plush Plaza Hotel in New York City. With a dog, turtle and rambunctious nanny for company, Eloise enjoys all the carefree adventures expected of a young girl left to her own devices in a luxury hotel. The series, which was originally four books written by Kay Thompson (whose goddaughter, Liza Minnelli, has been claimed a possible inspiration for the character) and illustrated by Hilary Knight in the 1950s, has spawned countless modern spin-offs, including two Disney adaptations.

John Patrick Norman McHennessy: The Boy Who Was Always Late, John Burningham (Red Fox Picture Books)

The simple account of a boy who manages to get caught up in absurd and unpredictable happenings on his way to school each day, John Burningham’s delightfully illustrated book is excellent fodder for any young imagination. With so many unfortunate distractions keeping him from getting to school on time, John Patrick Norman McHennessy is perpetually late – a habit that always seems to land him in trouble. Understandably, his teacher becomes slowly infuriated by the boy’s ludicrous excuses, which range from being ambushed by a crocodile; to narrowly avoiding a tidal wave. When the tables turn, however, and it is the teacher who finds himself in a sticky situation, John ends up finding himself in an unusual position.

Pippi Longstocking, by Astrid Lindgren (Puffin Modern Classics)

One of the most famous children’s characters of all time, Pippi Longstocking was first created by Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren in the early 1940s. Since then, eleven full-length stories have been published and translated into 64 languages – as well as the production of numerous film and television adaptations. A recent reprint even exists with illustrations by Lauren Child. All the stories chart the adventures of Pippi, an unusual and impish girl with superhuman strength. Pippi is unpredictable and doesn’t want to grow up, preferring instead to regale the local children with tales from her adventures at sea (her father was a buccaneer), and using her remarkable strength to help others.

Marshall Armstrong Is New To Our School, by David Mackintosh (Harper Collins Childrens Books)

This first book from London-based writer and illustrator David Mackintosh is visually beautiful, and redraws the familiar tale of a misfit arriving at a new school in an original, witty and charming manner. It tells of Marshall Armstrong, a boy who is straight-laced, studious and often infirmed by mysterious illnesses. Marshall is immediately ostracised when he joins his new school, but manages to become the coolest boy in the class after one eventful birthday party. Mackintosh’s debut is smart and detailed, proving that differences are something to embrace rather than fear and that – in the end – we all have a cool side.

Mythological Monsters, by Sara Fanelli (Walker Books Ltd)

A modern picture book rooted in tradition, Sara Fanelli’s Mythological Monsters introduces young readers to the heroes and villains of ancient legends. From the Minotaur to Medusa, centaurs and sphinxes, all creatures great and small are brought to life by Fanelli’s distinctive designs and quirky layout, made predominantly from mixed media collage. These drawings are stunningly effective, and sit alongside a wealth of informative titbits for children to learn whilst reading. Mythological Monsters is the ninth published work from Fanelli, whose 1995 release My Map Book won the Phoenix Picture Book Award.

Whistle For Willie, by Ezra Jack Keats (Viking Juvenile)

Whistle For Willie is the story of a determined young boy named Peter, who decides one day that he must learn to whistle so that he can call his dog, Willie. Peter simply cannot get the hang of it, though, and tries everything he can think of: hiding in a box; spinning in circles; walking in the cracks of the pavement; eventually assuming that he must pretend to be grown up and wear a hat, like his father, if he is to succeed. Originally published in 1964, Ezra Jack Keats’ warm tale of hard work and practice has remained popular all these years, as generations of children are inspired by the book’s simplicity, detail and vivid composition.

What Pete Ate: From A-Z, by Maira Kalman (Puffin)

An award-winning and hugely successful alphabet learning book, What Pete Ate: From A-Z introduces us to Poppy Wise and her dog, Pete, who has a monstrous appetite. Pete will eat anything, and it is the reader’s task to join Poppy in her quest to find out what the dog has consumed, beginning at A with an accordion, and working her way through the alphabet to Z with the Zug Zug Dog Grub. Maira Kalman’s hilarious and creative work is perfect for young children, who can learn as Poppy does, while marvelling at the range of colourful items and silly details.

The Eighteenth Emergency, by Betsy Byars (Red Fox Picture Books)

A simple tale of David and Goliath, The Eighteenth Emergency delves into the rich imagination of Mouse Fawley, a schoolboy with a plan for every eventuality. Mouse is stumped, though, when he gets on the wrong side of Marv Hammerman, the giant school bully and everyone’s worst nightmare. Brilliantly perceptive, funny and poignant, Byars’ story is now over forty years old, yet still feels entirely contemporary.

And here's 3 selected by Lauren's four-year-old daughter, Tuesday

Emily Brown and the Thing, by Cressida Cowell (Orchard Books)

Fortunately unconnected to John Carpenter’s 1982 horror film The Thing, Cressida Cowell’s award-winning 2008 picture book (illustrated by Neil Layton) explores the night time adventures of Emily Brown and Stanley, her toy rabbit, as she tries to find out what is crying outside her window. It turns out to be a ‘Thing’ that simply won’t be quiet. It seems the only solution is for Emily and Stanley to roam about in the Dark and Scary Wood so they can find the solution to the Thing’s worries and help him get to sleep. Cowell, who also wrote the enormously successful How To Train Your Dragon series, shows readers that even if it seems frightening, there’s magic and beauty even in the darkest of places.

The Tiger Who Came To Tea, by Judith Kerr (Harper Collins Children’s Books)

A classic of children’s literature and still hugely popular forty-five years after original publication, Judith Kerr’s The Tiger Who Came To Tea has been translated into multiple foreign languages, and even spawned a still-running West End adaptation. The story sees a thoroughly rude tiger interrupt a young girl’s quiet teatime with her mother; he then proceeds to drink all the tea, eat all the food and even drain the taps of water. Once sated, the tiger leaves and doesn’t return, despite the girl buying a giant tin of cat food in case he comes again.

It has been suggested that Kerr, who was born in Berlin during World War Two and whose family lived in dread after her father criticised the Nazis, based the character of the tiger on her fear of the Gestapo arriving at her childhood home unannounced. Whether true or not, Kerr’s book has sold over four million copies, and continues to enrapture children all over the world.

Melrose and Croc, by Emma Chichester Clark (Harper Collins Children’s Books)

They may not appear the most compatible of creatures, but Melrose, a lonely golden Labrador, and Croc, an ambitious pygmy crocodile, are the best of friends in Emma Chichester Clark’s on-going adventure series. So far, the dynamic duo have visited the seaside, enjoyed a trip to town, taken a car for a country drive and spent Christmas together – to name but a few of their escapades. Brilliantly illustrated by the author and bursting with true friendship, Melrose and Croc are perfect companions for any young children.

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