10 best kids' picture books: Keep under-fives entertained

The hilarious Oi Frog! books have fast become classics in their own right, selling millions of copies and winning a host of awards. Oi Frog! Is the first in the series (the sequels are Oi Dog!, Oi Cat! and Oi Duck-Billed Platypus!) and charts the escapades of a frog who discovers that all animals have special places to sit.

Cats sit on mats, hares sit on chairs, mules sit on stools and gophers sit on sofas – but the frog is adamant that he doesn’t want to sit on a log. It’s impossible to read this comical, rhyming story without a smile on your face, whether you’re two or 42.

Comedian Matt Lucas originally sang his Thank You, Baked Potato song on TV 20 years ago but rewrote it in March to raise money for Feed NHS, a charity providing hot meals for NHS staff working in critical care during the coronavirus outbreak. The song has raised thousands of pounds and has now been turned into a picture book with an important message.

Illustrated by Scott Coello and dedicated to NHS workers everywhere, it stars a smiley baked potato who encourages readers to wash their hands, stay indoors, keep their distance and not touch their faces. There’s also a range of fun indoor activities to try, such as making rain sticks, creating a thankful jar and playing musical statues. Entertaining and educational.

Written by Rachel Bright and illustrated by Jim Field, this is the tale of two greedy squirrels and their race to grab the very last nut of the season. The pair have very different personalities. Spontaneous Cyril has spent so much time partying that his cupboard is bare while Plan-Ahead Bruce has a stash of food already but wants to stockpile more.

With its rhyming text and witty storyline, this is a book that celebrates the pointlessness of squabbling and the joy of friendship. For young readers who’d like to read more by this duo, their other books include The Lion Inside and The Way Home for Wolf.

Harvey the hare reckons he’s “as brave as a bear” and isn’t scared of anything. He pleads with his brother Buster to play but Buster wants a quiet snooze and dares his younger sibling to snatch a peach from the local farm instead.

The dare takes a hair-raising turn when Harvey encounters some unexpected foes along the way, leaving Buster to scramble to the rescue. This sweet tale of brotherly devotion, published in paperback this year and told in rhyme, is just the ticket for under fives.