10 great books for kids - Part 1

Trouble finding good books that will hold the attention of your five-year old? Does your six-year old drag you to Borders or Kino, only to be unable to decide on a book after walking down the aisles? Well here are some children's books that are appropriate for kids 4 years old and above.

1. Jumanji (1981) by Chris Van Allsburg

Does this name sound familiar to you? Of course it is! It is the story book from which the movie "Jumanji" originates from. In fact, this book is a 1982 Caldecott Medal winner. It is a story of two kids who are left alone at home by their parents. Because they are so bored, they go to the park and find a board game which they bring home. Much to their surprise when they play the games, things come to life such as a lion, monkeys, rhinoceros, a volcano and more. It is a thrilling and exciting book to read to your kids and one they would love to read again and again. Aside from the story line, the pencil drawing illustrations look very real. Your kids will think they are inside the story book.

2. The Polar Express (1985) by Chris Van Allsburg

Here is another award-winning book from Van Allsburg. This timeless story book which earned the Caldecott Medal in 1986 is about a young boy who believes that Santa is real and who is given the chance to ride on the Polar Express, a train which brings children to the North Pole to see Santa Claus. It is a book that you and your child can read during the Holiday Season and even throughout the year. This will make anyone believe in the spirit of Christmas.

3. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (1987) by Judith Viorst, illustrated by Ray Cruz

When you or your child seems to be having a bad day, this book will definitely make you smile. This is a story of Alexander who wakes up with gum sticking on his hair and unpleasant events follow after that. It can lead you and your child to learn a lesson that, bad days and events usually start with a wrong attitude.

4. The Very Busy Spider (1989) by Eric Carle

The short, simple and repetitive story line, the colourful illustrations, and the embossed spider’s web make this children’s book a classic. It is about a spider who is blown by the wind to a farmyard fence and starts to create a web. Farm animals such as the cow, the goat, and the dog try to dissuade her from finishing her web by asking her to play with them. But she perseveres and at the end of the day, she catches a fly through her web. Your little reader will know about perseverance after this book!

5. Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China (1996) by Ed Young

This story is a Chinese folktale version of the Little Red Riding Hood. Unlike in the fairytale, the bad wolf is unable to harm anyone except that he is killed at the end. Instead of only Little Red Riding, there are three girls in the story and the eldest outsmarts the wolf who pretends to be their grandmother. The mixture of abstract and realistic images as well as the three-picture sequences that often bears resemblance to Chinese decorations make this story book a 1990 Caldecott Medal winner.

Don\'t miss the continuation of this list next week with the next 5!