For Australian children aged from birth to four

The world and I could argue forever about what’s left off this list. Hundreds of other great books exist. These fail-safe, tried-and-true suggestions are merely for parents who need a little guidance before they bravely choose books on their own.

1. I Went Walking by Sue Machin
2. Each Peach Pear Plum by Allan Ahlberg
3. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See? by Bill Martin Jr
4. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
5. Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
6. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
7. Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill
8. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
9. Owl Babies by Martin Waddell
10. Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy by Lynley Dodd
11. Rascal the Dragon by Paul Jennings
12. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
13. Wombat Stew by Marcia K. Vaughan
14. Who Sank the Boat? by Pamela Allen
15. Dr. Seuss’s ABC by Dr. Seuss
16. Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
17. Going on a Bear Hunt by Michel Rosen
18. Rosie’s Walk by Pat Hutchins
19. The Elephant and the Bad Baby by Elfrida Vipont
20. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst