Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
It's hard to believe this was American author Mo Willems' first children's book. Just as the title suggests, it centres on a cheeky pigeon who tries to finagle readers into letting it drive the bus, with excuse after excuse – making a fun read for young kids. The book was so successful it bred a whole series of follow-ups, including The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! (2004), Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! (2006) and The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! (2008).
Hairy Maclary by Lynley Dodd
We can't go past this Kiwi classic, the success of which saw author Lynley Dodd designated a Dame Companion. The series has sold over five million copies worldwide, with 12 books centering around the inimitable Hairy Maclary (from Donaldson's Dairy) and another nine telling the stories of his friends, including Schnitzel von Krumm the Dachshund, Bottomley Potts the Dalmatian, and Muffin McClay the Old English sheepdog.
Animalia by Graeme Base
Another classic title. Originally published in 1986, Animalia has remained popular through the ages, selling over three million copies to date. An alliterative alphabet book with 26 intricate illustrations, Animalia gives kids plenty to look at and identify on each page. As an additional challenge, the author has hidden a picture of himself as a child on every page.
Mōtītī Blue and the Oil Spill by Debbie McCauley
This bilingual picture book tells the story of a little blue penguin who was rescued and treated at the Te Maunga Oiled Wildlife Response Centre, before being released back into the wild. Published in 2014, and a recent winner of a NZ Book Award for Children and Young Adults, we think this book will fast become a classic.
