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Children's reading lists

9 must-read classic children’s books, as chosen by our readers

A selection of classic children's picture books on a bright yellow background

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The best classic children’s picture books

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Features

Remembering Shirley Hughes: children’s authors and illustrators choose their favourite illustrations

Alfie's Christmas

Brimming with nostalgic appeal, Alfie and Annie Rose are busy with advent calendars, Christmas trees and carols. Perfect for sharing in the build-up to the big day.

Hughes' loving observation reflects our better selves.

Childhood would be diminished without Hughes's simple, perfectly told tales of family life... Heartbreakingly beautiful illustrations... Hughes's wonderful London street scene is, for me, the perfect Christmas Day in a walnut shell.

With their gentle illustrations of family life Shirley Hughes' Alfie stories have been entertaining pre-school children for more than 30 years. In Alfie's Christmas the little boy is excitedly making decorations, writing cards and buying presents. An enchanting book that will get everyone in the Christmas spirit.

Alfie and Annie-Rose fans can catch a wonderful glimpse into their adventures in the run-up to Christmas. Shirley Hughes has captured excitement and expectation, as Alfie and his family prepare for the big day.  Our Mumsnet December book of the month.

Beautiful and heartwarming, the perfect modern Christmas tale

Alfie’s delight in Christmas preparations will please Hughes fans, young and old.

Metro - top 20 children's books of the year

Beautifully illustrated, this new Alfie story is sure to become a counting-down-to-Christmas favourite.

Shirley Hughes illustrated more than 200 children's books and is one of the best-loved writers for children, known for her beloved classics including the Alfie and Annie Rose stories, and Dogger. 
 
 
Shirley Hughes was born in West Kirby, near Liverpool, in 1927, and studied fashion and dress design at Liverpool Art School, before continuing her studies at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art in Oxford. She started her career as a freelance illustrator in London, illustrating other writers' work, including Noel Streatfeild, Alison Uttley, Ian Seraillier and notably Dorothy Edwards's My Naughty Little Sister series. 
 
 
Shirley began to write and draw her own picture books when her children were young. Her first book - Lucy and Tom's Day - was published in 1960, and she followed it with, among others, Dogger, and the Alfie series. Her books include the wordless picture book Up and Up, collection of rhymes and poems Out and About, and for the very young The Nursery Collection. 
 
She wrote two novels for older children, Hero on a Bicycle, about a 13-year-old Italian boy during the occupation of Florence, and Whistling in the Dark, set during the Liverpool Blitz. Her memoir, A Life Drawing, was published in 2002. 
 
She also collaborated with her daughter, Clara Vulliamy, on the Dixie O'Day series; which saw Shirley with an illustrator for the first time with Shirley writing the text and Clara creating the illustrations. 
 
In 2020 she returned to her much-loved character, Dogger, with a new story Dogger's Christmas. 
 
Shirley Hughes has won the Other Award, the Eleanor Farjeon Award, and the Kate Greenaway Medal for Illustration twice, for Dogger in 1977 and for Ella's Big Chance in 2003. In 2007 Dogger was voted the public's favourite Greenaway winner of all time. She was Highly Commended for the Greenaway Medal for The Lion and the Unicorn in 1998. Shirley received an OBE in 1999 for services to Children's Literature, and a CBE in 2017. She was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and was the first recipient of BookTrust's Lifetime Achievement Award. 
 
Shirley died in London in 2022.

Join Alfie and Annie Rose for Christmas! Alfie opens his advent calendar and makes cards and presents. He sings carols and decorates the tree. And he writes a special letter to Father Christmas... 
 
But what will Father Christmas bring on Christmas Day? It's going to be such an exciting day!

A classic seasonal sequel to the beloved Dogger

Dogger's Christmas

A seasonal sequel to one of our most beloved children's books, voted the public's favourite Kate Greenaway medal-winner

A seasonal sequel to one of our most beloved children's books, voted the public's favourite Kate Greenaway medal-winner. 
 
"There's always the promise of a happy ending with Shirley Hughes" Observer 
 
Over 40 years after Dogger was published, comes this magical follow-up: Dogger's Christmas. 
 
It's that special time of year: Christmas. 
 
The time of carol-singing, tree-decorating, and of course lots of presents. But in the excitement of new toys, will Dave forget about his old friend, Dogger? 
 
The very special story of one boy and his beloved toy - who always manages to be found... 
 
Praise for Dogger: 
"This is Hughes' most heartwarming picture book . . . Hughes has a kindly, inexhaustible eye - she misses nothing" Observer

Shirley Hughes's classic Dogger is here touchingly revisited with all the warmth and charm of the original ... A nostalgic comfort blanket for us all

Hughes's storytelling and pictures are as captivatingly timeless as ever

There's always the promise of a happy ending with Shirley Hughes

Calm, classic and atmospheric, this new story about Dave and his beloved toy Dogger is perfect for sharing in the days leading up to Christmas

An enchanting tale, full of nostalgia and warmth, bringing a classic character to a new generation of readers

A seasonal sequel to one of our most beloved children's books, voted the public's favourite Kate Greenaway medal-winner. 
 
"There's always the promise of a happy ending with Shirley Hughes" Observer 
 
Over 40 years after Dogger was published, comes this magical follow-up: Dogger's Christmas. 
 
It's that special time of year: Christmas. 
 
The time of carol-singing, tree-decorating, and of course lots of presents. But in the excitement of new toys, will Dave forget about his old friend, Dogger? 
 
The very special story of one boy and his beloved toy - who always manages to be found... 
 
Praise for Dogger: 
"This is Hughes' most heartwarming picture book . . . Hughes has a kindly, inexhaustible eye - she misses nothing" Observer

The Adventures of Dogger

A heart-warming audio bundle of Dogger and Dogger's Christmas by Shirley Hughes, bringing together one of our most beloved children's audiobooks with a magical, festive follow-up story. 
 
Read by Olivia Colman. 
 
 Dogger 
 
When Dave loses his favourite toy, Dogger, he is very sad. But when Dogger turns up on a stall at the garden fete, everything seems all right - until someone else buys him before Dave can get the money! 
 
 Voted the public's favourite CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal winner, this is a tale to which all children and their parents can relate. 
 
Dogger's Christmas 
 
 It's that special time of year: Christmas. 
 
 The time of carol-singing, tree-decorating, and of course lots of presents. But in the excitement of new toys, will Dave forget about his old friend, Dogger? 
 
 The very special story of one boy and his beloved toy - who always manages to be found...

A heart-warming audio bundle of Dogger and Dogger's Christmas by Shirley Hughes, bringing together one of our most beloved children's audiobooks with a magical, festive follow-up story. 
 
Read by Olivia Colman. 
 
 Dogger 
 
When Dave loses his favourite toy, Dogger, he is very sad. But when Dogger turns up on a stall at the garden fete, everything seems all right - until someone else buys him before Dave can get the money! 
 
 Voted the public's favourite CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal winner, this is a tale to which all children and their parents can relate. 
 
Dogger's Christmas 
 
 It's that special time of year: Christmas. 
 
 The time of carol-singing, tree-decorating, and of course lots of presents. But in the excitement of new toys, will Dave forget about his old friend, Dogger? 
 
 The very special story of one boy and his beloved toy - who always manages to be found...

The Lion And The Unicorn

This powerful story, from classic creator Shirley Hughes, is an uplifting tale of bravery and friendship. This special edition includes stories from real-life evacuees, uncovered from the Imperial War Museums.

This special edition includes stories from real-life evacuees, uncovered from the Imperial War Museums. 
 
When Lenny's father goes to fight in the Second World War, he gives his son a brass badge with two animals engraved on it: a lion for bravery and a unicorn for courage. 
 
Then, Lenny himself must go away, as he is evacuated from his home and family to escape the bombing. Staying in a strange new place, Lenny gathers all his lion bravery, all his unicorn courage, and discovers that magic can happen, even in the most desperate of times. 
 
Packed with incredible illustrations, this heart-warming story is accessible for readers of all ages. 
 
No one can match Shirley Hughes in the simple mastery of both words and pictures - Times Educational Supplement

No one can match Shirley Hughes in the simple mastery of both words and pictures

This special edition includes stories from real-life evacuees, uncovered from the Imperial War Museums. 
 
When Lenny’s father goes to fight in the Second World War he gives his son a brass badge with two animals engraved on it: a lion for bravery and a unicorn for courage. 
 
Then, Lenny himself must go away, evacuated from his home and family to escape the bombing. Staying in a strange new place, Lenny gathers all his lion bravery, all his unicorn courage, and discovers that magic can happen, even in the most desperate of times.

Alfie on Holiday

A heartwarming summer seaside tale as Alfie navigates the treacherous waters of friendship

The story is classic Hughes, and a beautiful depiction of those fleeting childhood holiday experiences that can’t be matched by the safety and comfort of home

Alfie is heading off to the seaside with his grandma, and makes a new friend on the beach! 
 
But unfortunately all's not fair in love and friendship, and Alfie - with a little help from Grandma and Bernard - has to discover what a true friend looks like. 
 
A summer adventure which speaks to our experiences making friends from national treasure, Shirley Hughes

Alfie at Nursery School

Alfie is off to Nursery School; he has lots to discover and learn as he experiences new things in this new book from master storyteller, Shirley Hughes.

Alfie loves Nursery School - and so does Annie Rose! She can't wait to go with him - in fact she's so desperate to join in that she gets Alfie into a very sticky situation in this collection of nursery school tales. 
 
Join Alfie as he navigates playground games and special concerts in this beautifully illustrated story. Perfect for preparing children for their first day at nursery, Alfie at Nursery School is a simple story packed with warmth and heart. 
 
Loved Alfie at Nursery School? Discover: 
Dogger 
Alfie's Feet 
Alfie Gives a Hand 
Alfie's Christmas

Shirley Hughes (Author, Illustrator) Shirley Hughes illustrated more than 200 children's books and is one of the best-loved writers for children, known for her beloved classics including the Alfie and Annie Rose stories, and Dogger. 
 
 
Shirley Hughes was born in West Kirby, near Liverpool, in 1927, and studied fashion and dress design at Liverpool Art School, before continuing her studies at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art in Oxford. She started her career as a freelance illustrator in London, illustrating other writers' work, including Noel Streatfeild, Alison Uttley, Ian Seraillier and notably Dorothy Edwards's My Naughty Little Sister series. 
 
 
Shirley began to write and draw her own picture books when her children were young. Her first book - Lucy and Tom's Day - was published in 1960, and she followed it with, among others, Dogger, and the Alfie series. Her books include the wordless picture book Up and Up, collection of rhymes and poems Out and About, and for the very young The Nursery Collection. 
 
She wrote two novels for older children, Hero on a Bicycle, about a 13-year-old Italian boy during the occupation of Florence, and Whistling in the Dark, set during the Liverpool Blitz. Her memoir, A Life Drawing, was published in 2002. 
 
She also collaborated with her daughter, Clara Vulliamy, on the Dixie O'Day series; which saw Shirley with an illustrator for the first time with Shirley writing the text and Clara creating the illustrations. 
 
In 2020 she returned to her much-loved character, Dogger, with a new story Dogger's Christmas. 
 
Shirley Hughes has won the Other Award, the Eleanor Farjeon Award, and the Kate Greenaway Medal for Illustration twice, for Dogger in 1977 and for Ella's Big Chance in 2003. In 2007 Dogger was voted the public's favourite Greenaway winner of all time. She was Highly Commended for the Greenaway Medal for The Lion and the Unicorn in 1998. Shirley received an OBE in 1999 for services to Children's Literature, and a CBE in 2017. She was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and was the first recipient of BookTrust's Lifetime Achievement Award. 
 
Shirley died in London in 2022.

Alfie loves Nursery School – and so does Annie Rose! She can’t wait to go there with him – in fact she’s so desperate to join in that she gets Alfie into a very sticky situation in this collection of nursery school tales. 
 
Join Alfie as he navigates playground games and special concerts in this heartwarming book from Shirley Hughes, creator of Dogger.

Shirley Hughes

A festive treasury of three favourite stories

"There's always the promise of a happy ending with Shirley Hughes" - Observer 
 
It's nearly Christmas, and it's time for everyone's favourite Shirley Hughes characters to get ready for the most magical time of the year. 
 
There are presents to be hidden, Christmas trees to be decorated and carols to be sung. And when Christmas Eve finally arrives, will Father Christmas come for Lucy and Tom, Alfie and Dave? 
 
This very special treasury contains three best-loved festive stories: 
 
Lucy and Tom at Christmas 
Alfie's Christmas 
Dogger's Christmas 
 
Packed full of festive excitement and joy, this is the perfect gift to share with all the family this Christmas.

Shirley Hughes

Books by Shirley Hughes

Series by Shirley Hughes

Alfie13 Books

Dixie O'Day4 Books

Lucy and Tom3 Books

Articles featuring Shirley Hughes

9 must-read classic children’s books, as chosen by our readers

The best classic children’s picture books

Remembering Shirley Hughes: children’s authors and illustrators choose their favourite illustrations

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