Team Sassy Mama Picks Its Favourite Books For Kids Of All Ages

Adventures and tales that we can’t wait to share with our little ones!

In this office, we all love to read. When we were children, we have spent hours lost in the pages of a novel and that (possibly) shaped the people we have become and the careers we’ve chosen. This World Book Day, we have compiled our favourite children’s books. Some of these are those that we read ourselves as children, some are new and wonderful discoveries that we’ve come to love while reading out to our own children, godchildren, nieces and nephews. If you are in need of some inspiration of books to gift to your child, you can’t go wrong with this fabulous selection.

Read more: Teacher Recommendations: Books For Reluctant Readers

Maura Thompson, Co-founder

My aunt had this book at her house and would often read it to me. I have such strong memories of her saying “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can”. I bought this book when my daughter was born and have always loved when either of my kids pulls it off the bookshelf and asks me to read it. Other than the nostalgia, I love the message of believing in yourself and having determination.

Best for: Babies and toddlers

Available on Book Depository

Vicky Huffey, Managing Director

I didn’t read this myself, but I read it to my daughter and loved it because it has lovely quotes about being “real”. It teaches kids that you can be real through the love of another (even when your fur is rubbed off and you’re looking shabby!).

Best for: Babies and toddlers

Available on Book Depository

Alex Purcell Garcia, Sassy Mama Editor

It’s a very simple format but my daughter absolutely loves it! She listens really intently and takes in all the adjectives. The illustrations are fabulous as well and really help to enhance her understanding. The whole series is lovely – including another book, My Ocean Is Blue. The main protagonist in that has crutches to help her walk. My daughter never questions it and just sees the character for what she is, a regular little girl.

Best for: Babies and toddlers

Available on Book Depository

Read more: The Best Children’s Books That Celebrate Diversity

Nicole Moraleda, Sassy Editor

I’m a big fan of Oliver Jeffers’ stories and illustrations so when this book came out I had to check it out. I immediately fell in love with it and bought it for my goddaughter. She’s only two years old and a little young to understand it, but she loves the pictures!

While it’s not technically a children’s book, it’s beautifully illustrated and so it can be enjoyed by both kids and adults. It highlights all the wonderful things on this planet we live in and is a great introduction to life on Earth for little ones.

Best for: All ages

Available on Book Depository

Elle Noble, Partnerships Manager

My mum used to read it to me before bed, and I eventually knew the story word for word as I heard it so many times. The book is about three children who move to the country and discover an enchanted wood with a magical tree that takes them to different faraway lands. I was so captivated by the adventures and fun characters throughout the book, and as I first encountered the story at a time where I was also relocating and having to adapt to big changes in school, friends, etc. I think I also found comfort in the idea of it being a big adventure!

My friends know how much I love this book and actually themed my baby shower around this book, and created their own version of The Enchanted Wood – featuring everyone who attended the baby shower, as different characters in the story! This was made into a book for my baby girl and I’ve since read that to her!

Best for: Primary school children

Available on Book Depository

Read more: How To Plan A Baby Shower In Hong Kong

Jess Mizzi, Sassy Mama Editor

I was such a bookworm as a kid – I don’t know where to start! One series that sticks out though is Enid Blyton’s “The Wishing Chair”. We even named our family cat after the elf in the books!

My father is a bit of a hoarder and by the time he got to clearing out my childhood belongings I was close to having kids of my own so I carried my old books back with me to Hong Kong. My kids are a bit too young now, but I can’t wait to share these classic stories with them, made all the more special knowing that it is my own childhood books they are reading.

Best for: Primary school children

Available on Book Depository

Anita Balagopalan, Sassy Mama Editor

I have always been a crazy Sherlock Holmes fan. I remember writing a letter to 221B Baker Street as a kid, getting a prompt reply and going giddy with excitement (little did I know that it wasn’t really from the famous detective’s secretary!).

The Hound Of The Baskervilles is one of my all-time favourite books. To this day, I remember the chills I felt when I read about and imagined this demonic dog. If you haven’t introduced your children to Holmes and Watson yet, you could start with the short stories and let them graduate to this novel once they are sufficiently hooked.

Best for: Tweens and teens

Available on Book Depository

Lydia Ching, Editorial Assistant

I read this as a kid myself and I recommend it to the boys and girls I tutor quite often. The series has a great blend of humour, adventure and history (Greek mythology) along with fabulous character development. Apart from that, the book series also sends kids an important message — that one doesn’t have to be perfect to be a hero. The author originally wrote the first book, which features a protagonist with ADHD and dyslexia for his son (who has also been diagnosed with the same) because he wanted to let him know that one’s learning disabilities shouldn’t define the person.

My tip – the movies don’t do the book series justice at all, so please read it before watching it!

Best for: Tweens and teens

Available on Book Depository

Read more: 13 Children’s Books To Help Kids And Teens Deal With Anxiety And Stress

Daisy Costello, Art Director

I read this book when I was 11 years old and really loved it. It celebrates nonconformity and tackles subjects of peer pressure, popularity and the experience of first love beautifully!

Best for: Tweens and teens

Available on Book Depository

Team Sassy Mama’s Favourite Book For Kids

The first (to be published, though not in chronological order of the stories) of the Chronicle of Narnia series, this one got multiple votes from the team and for good reason! It’s been over seventy years since it was first published and this tale still hasn’t lost its powerful appeal.

Best for: Tweens and teens

Available on Book Depository

Sassy Mama tip: If your kids love this one as much as we do, consider getting them the whole series, The Complete Chronicles of Narnia. They are sure to escape to this magical world and thoroughy enjoy their adventures there! Happy reading!

Read more: Skills That Our Children Will Need In 10 Years’ Time