Children at Heart: The Better Reading Team’s Favourite Kids’ Books

Here at Better Reading, our love for books and reading stemmed from our childhood. We each have pivotal memories of our first books, our first independent books, and the books that shaped and molded us at specific points in our youth.

Get to know us through this list of the books we enjoyed most while growing up.

Picture books

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak – Cheryl Akle, Better Reading Director

One night Max puts on his wolf suit and makes mischief of one kind and another, so his mother calls him ‘Wild Thing’ and sends him to bed without his supper. That night a forest begins to grow in Max’s room and an ocean rushes by with a boat to take Max to the place where the wild things are. Originally published in1963, this book has become a much-loved favourite, as we can see from Better Reading’s director, Cheryl Akle. Maurice Sendak’s book has been acknowledged as a classic of twentieth-century picture books.

4+ years

The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister – Dexx Halme, Better Reading Marketing Assistant 

This award-winning book is a childhood favourite for all of us at the Better Reading team, and especially for Dexx. The award-winning book about a beautiful fish who finds friendship and happiness when he learns to share is now available in a board book edition for the youngest child. Award-winning author-illustrator Marcus Pfister got his big breakthrough with this book.

2+ years

My Place by Nadia Wheatley and Donna Rawlins – Rose Levy, Better Reading Market Coordinator

My Place’ depicts the history of one particular piece of land in Sydney from 1788 to 1988 through the stories of the various children who have lived there. A new timeline traces the history of the characters in the book as well as the history of Australia, and is right up to date with reference to Australia’s apology to Indigenous Australians. It’s raw and real and a surefire favourite for Better Reading’s Rose.

7+ years

Chapter books

The Jewel Kingdom: The Emerald Princess Plays a Trick by Jahnna N Malcolm – Natalie Mourad, Better Reading Marketing Manager – Children’s Books

In the Jewel Kingdom, four girls rule: Roxanne is the Ruby Princess, Emily is the Emerald Princess, Sabrina is the Sapphire Princess, and Demetra is the Diamond Princess. Princess Emily has always loved a good prank. But when one of her subjects is seriously hurt, everyone suspects her. Although she had nothing to do with it, Emily has lost the trust of her people and must find a way to earn it back.

7+ years

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett – Jane Tara, Better Reading Marketing Manager – Adults Books

After tragedy leaves Mary Lennox orphaned, the bratty ten-year-old British girl is sent from her home in India to Yorkshire, to live with Archibald Craven, a distant uncle whom she has never met. The secrets and lack of life at Misselthwaite Manor piques Mary’s curiosity and inspires her to find the Manor’s secret garden. Originally published in 1911, Frances Hodgson Burnett’s poignant story has captured Jane and worldwide readers’ hearts for more than a century, with its lessons and themes of hardship, friendship, happiness, and restoration.

6+ years

Peter Pan by JM Barrie – Jasmine Aird, Better Reading Marketing Coordinator

Peter Pan and Tinkerbell lead the three Darling children over the rooftops of London and away to Neverland – the island where the lost boys play. Magic and mischief are in the air but if villainous Captain Hook has his way, before long someone will be swimming with the crocodiles. While the Disney movie adaptation is much loved, imaging the story in your own way through words transforms JM Barrie’s classic story in a whole new light.

8+ years