Having over thirty years teaching behind me there are many children's books that have become favourites of mine and of the children I taught. I taught children between the ages of 4 and 9 mainly so the books I put here will be a reflection of that!
The Little Soul and the Sun by Neale Donald Walsch.
I actually ordered "Conversations with God book 3" from my local library and instead of getting that book they got me the Parable of the Little Soul and the Sun, a children's book. I read it and enjoyed it very much and wished I had come across this book when I had a class or whole school to read a book to! It puts the reason we are here in simple terms. Also it portrays why we each lead a different path. I would recommend this book to parents wishing to read a meaningful story to their child.
Peace at Last by Jill Murphy
This is a great book to read with the younger child. A lot of discussions about TIME can come from this book in a very informal way.
I found there were many many books about BEARS that the children loved and related to different aspects of their lives. Whatever Next by Jill Murphy; The Teddy Robber by Ian Beck, a story of the giant who stole teddy bears because he had lost his own; the classic Goldilocks and the three bears; a Bear called Paddington by Michael Bond;The Berenstain Bears Books a variety of books dealing with different issues like going to the doctors, table manners, strangers etc; Bear in a Balloon (I can't seem to find the author of this book. It is a story of a bear floating over the earth in his balloon basket and looking down on the world below him; has some lovely geographical themes, so good for discussions on places etc);Ruby and Ruby to the rescue by Maggie Glen; Old Bear by Jane Hissey;
My nineteen month old grandson loves books and has done since an early age. His mother used to read to him when he was still in the womb and continued to do so once he had been born. He particularly likes flap books so that he can lift the flap and see what is hidden.