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Children's reading lists

16 of the best children’s books about love

Charlie and Lola: I Absolutely Love Animals

Two especially good stories about animals including I Completely Know About Guinea Pigs and a brand new story, the poignant and heartwarming I Will Not Ever Never Forget You Nibbles, published in this collection for the very first time.

Lauren Child is one of today's most talented and innovative children's author/illustrators. Winner of the Nestle Smarties Book Prize and the Kate Greenaway Medal, she is best known for creating the characters Clarice Bean and the BAFTA-award-winning Charlie and Lola. She is also co-creator of The Princess and the Pea and Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Charlie and Lola is now a top-rated BBC children's television show and a huge international hit produced by Tiger Aspect Productions, one of the UK's most successful and prolific independent television producers.

Lola loves guinea pigs, and wishes more than anything that she can take home the classroom guinea pig, Bert. With a little help from her friends and Charlie, she learns all there is to learn about guinea pigs. But caring for a pet is a big responsibility... Is Lola up to the challenge? 
 
Charlie and Lola's love of animals continues in the second story, in which they care for their new pet mouse, Nibbles. As they discover, mice are extremely clever and seriously brave; Nibbles, an expert tightrope-walker, is no exception. Join Charlie, Lola and Nibbles as they embark on a heartwarming journey of adventure and friendship.

Charlie and Lola: I Completely Love Winter

Charlie has this little sister Lola. She is small and very funny... 
This really very good Charlie and Lola book includes two wintery stories: Snow is My Favourite and My Best and I Really Need Actual Ice Skates. This wonderful book is perfect for fans of Charlie and Lola, and for cold winter bedtimes.

This really very good Charlie and Lola book combines two snowy stories, perfect for cold winter bedtimes: Snow is My Favourite and My Best and I Really Need Actual Ice Skates. 
 
In the first story, Lola is extremely excited because it's going to snow. Lola says, 'Snow is my FAVOURITE and my best. Why can't it snow every day?' 
 
In the second story, Lola can't wait to go ice skating. Lola says, 'I will be the best ice-skaterer in the WHOLE school!'

Charlie and Lola: But Excuse Me That is My Book

Beetles, Bugs and Butterflies is Lola's absolute favourite book ever in the whole wide world. So naturally she is distraught when it's not at the library. Someone else has borrowed it! Charlie tries everything he can think of to placate her but nothing is ever going to beat Beetles, Bugs and Butterflies. That is, until Charlie finds Chimps and Chimpanzees and then Lola has a new best book ever!

The Princess and the Pea

The tale of a prince, a princess, perfect politeness, pages of love and a peculiarly hard pea. This utterly original interpretation of the classic tale has dazzling illustrations from multi-talented collaborators, award-winning Lauren Child and widely acclaimed photographer Polly Borland. This beautifully presented picture book explores the tale of the down-to-earth princess through a stunning mix of artwork and photography to create a fairy tale to be treasured. 
This new reduced format hardback is perfect for lovers of all things miniature.

The New Small Person

Elmore Green started life as an only child, as many children do. He had a room all to himself, and everything in it was his. But one day, everything changed. 
This brand new picture book from the hugely talented Lauren Child about the arrival of a new sibling is bound to be a hit with parents and children. Told with humour and with wonderfully stylish artwork, this is Lauren Child at her absolute best.

Level 3

Charlie and Lola: You Won't Like This Present as Much as I Do - Read it yourself with Ladybird

An enhanced read-along audio ebook from Ladybird. 
Charlie's little sister Lola wants to buy a good present for her friend Lotta's birthday. But when Lola sees something she REALLY wants for herself, will Lotta's present be forgotten? 
 
Read it yourself with Ladybird is one of Ladybird's best-selling series. For over thirty five years it has helped young children who are learning to read develop and improve their reading skills. Now, for the first time, each title is also available as an ebook with synched audio. 
 
Each Read it yourself book is very carefully written to include many key, high-frequency words that are vital for learning to read, as well as a limited number of story words that are introduced and practised throughout. Simple sentences and frequently repeated words help to build the confidence of beginner readers and the four different levels of books support children all the way from very first reading practice through to independent, fluent reading. 
 
The wide range of classic fairy tales, favourite characters and exciting modern stories in the Read it yourself series appeal to all children, whatever their interests, and have bright, detailed pictures to help support the text. Each book has been carefully checked by educational consultants and can be read independently at home or used in a guided reading session at school. 
 
Charlie and Lola: You Won't Like This Present as Much as I Do is a Level 3 Read it yourself title, suitable for children who are developing reading confidence and stamina, and are eager to start reading longer stories with a wider vocabulary.

Lauren Child (Author) Lauren Child is one of today's most talented and innovative children's author/illustrators. Winner of the Nestle Smarties Book Prize and the Kate Greenaway Medal, she is best known for creating the characters Clarice Bean and the BAFTA-award-winning Charlie and Lola. She is also co-creator of The Princess and the Pea and Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Charlie and Lola is now a top-rated BBC children's television show and a huge international hit produced by Tiger Aspect Productions, one of the UK's most successful and prolific independent television producers. Ladybird (Author) We make growing up the best story ever! Here at Ladybird, we publish books to inspire curious minds. From first words to fluency, we're here for young readers at every step. As the home of Read it yourself, Ladybird Readers and First Words with Peppa, we guide learners from one story to the next - sparking plenty of smiles along the way.

Charlie's little sister Lola wants to buy a good present for her friend Lotta's birthday. But when Lola sees something she REALLY wants for herself, will Lotta's present be forgotten? 
 
Read it yourself with Ladybird is one of Ladybird's best-selling series. For over thirty five years it has helped young children who are learning to read develop and improve their reading skills. Now, for the first time, each title is also available as an ebook with synched audio. 
 
Each Read it yourself book is very carefully written to include many key, high-frequency words that are vital for learning to read, as well as a limited number of story words that are introduced and practised throughout. Simple sentences and frequently repeated words help to build the confidence of beginner readers and the four different levels of books support children all the way from very first reading practice through to independent, fluent reading. 
 
Each book has been carefully checked by educational consultants and can be read independently at home or used in a guided reading session at school. 
 
Charlie and Lola: You Won't Like This Present as Much as I Do is a Level 3 Read it yourself title, suitable for children who are developing reading confidence and stamina, and are eager to start reading longer stories with a wider vocabulary.

John Wilson

Bill Morris

Marcus du Sautoy

Tasmin Little

Lauren Child

Gary Rhodes

Digby Jones

Rachel Portman

Michael Portillo

Andrea Levy

Various

The complete BBC Radio 4 series

Major public figures go back to their beginnings and uncover where they really started 
 
John Wilson (acclaimed arts and culture reporter and journalist, and presenter of Front Row, Newsnight Review and Pick of the Week) meets up with a variety of public figures from such diverse fields as food, mathematics, politics, writing and music, and takes them back to the influential schools, teachers, and early workplaces they may have forgotten, but which have not forgotten them. 
 
His guests include the first Black trade union leader, Lord Bill Morris; classical violinist Tasmin Little; the late restaurateur and television chef, Gary Rhodes; Lord Digby Jones, former Minister of State for Trade and Investment; the late Women's Prize and Costa Book Award winning author, Andrea Levy; veteran journalist, broadcaster and former politician Michael Portillo, and many more. The locations too are widely varied and richly formative - from car component manufacturers and specialist vocational institutions to grammar and private schools. 
 
Top of the Class is a fascinating look beneath the usual façade of a public figure, perfect for anyone wanting to see the human face behind a successful life story, as well as the teachers, mentors, best friends and rivals who helped them grow into the person they became. 
 
Episode guide 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates: 
Bill Morris 28 July 2008 
Tasmin Little 4 August 2008 
Lauren Child 11 August 2008 
Gary Rhodes 18 August 2008 
Marcus du Sautoy 28 December 2010 
Rachel Portman 18 January 2011 
Lord Digby Jones 25 January 2011 
Michael Portillo 19 July 2011 
Andrea Levy 26 July 2011 
 
Production credits 
Presented by John Wilson 
Produced by Sarah Taylor 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Top of the Class

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16 of the best children’s books about love

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