We a good story
Quick delivery in the UK

Children’s

At Tales you find a wide variety of children’s books, because we all know that our children deserve the best. In our selection you will find all the classics with the most beloved children’s books characters, but you can also let your child take on an adventure with some new heroes. Either way the world of books is an enchanting place for a child experiencing the magic of a good children’s story for the first time, and what makes the world of children’s books even more magical is the many beautiful and thrilling childrens’ books illustrations. They make the characters come alive. So if you want to introduce your child to the magical world of books let the magic begin here.
Show more
Filter
Filter
Sort bySort Popular
  • Save 12%
    by Tove Jansson
    £11.49

    Essential reading for any lover of the Moomins. This is where it all began. Created in 1945, yet published in this country for the very first time, The Moomins and the Great Flood offers an extraordinary glimpse into the creativity and imagination that launched the Moomin books. Moominmamma and young Moomintroll search for the long lost Moominpappa through forest and flood, meeting a little creature (an early Sniff) and the elegantly strange Tulippa along the way. Tove Jansson illustrates her first ever Moomin adventure with stunning sepia watercolour and delightful pen and ink drawings. A revelation for Moomin fans.

  • by Irene Yates
    £6.49

    This title has been optimised for viewing on colour devices. "e;Who's that trip-trapping over my bridge?"e; Based on the traditional fairy tale 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff', this vibrantly illustrated story is sure to become a favourite in every home. Part of the Ladybird 'First Favourite Tales' series - a perfect introduction to fairy tales for preschoolers - this story contains lots of funny rhythm and rhyme to delight young children. Ideal for reading aloud and sharing with 2-4 year olds.

  • by Janet Ahlberg & Allan Ahlberg
    £6.49 - 7.99

    In this book with your little eye, take a look and play I spy - so starts the classic story from best-selling author/illustrator team, Janet and Allan Ahlberg. Each Peach Pear Plum introduces favourite fairy tale characters, such as Tom Thumb and The Three Bears and, with a poem on each page hinting as to what is hiding in the picture, children are encouraged to participate and follow the story themselves.Now available in digital format, this well-known favourite truly is a modern classic.

  • by Oliver Jeffers
    £7.99

    An exciting intergalactic adventure from shining star Oliver Jeffers, creator of Lost and Found. Now available in gorgeous miniature hardback edition.One day a boy finds an aeroplane in his cupboard. Up, up, up and away he flies, high into the sky. Whizzing past clouds, stars and planets until suddenly, he runs out of petrol!Miles from earth, the boy crashes into the moon and waits. Just as he is beginning to get cold and lonely, a friendly martian appears from the darkness, also with a broken aircraft.Together they come up with a super plan to float the boy back down to earth to collect his toolbox.Can the boy find his way back home safely and will he ever make it back up to the moon to rescue his friend?

  • by Oliver Jeffers
    £7.99 - 10.99

    The boy and the penguin still enjoy spending all their time together... That is, until the penguin starts to dream of flying, ignoring the boy's advice that it is impossible. Running away, the penguin visits place after place, searching for a chance to get his feet off the ground. But will flying be everything he had hoped? And is the boy missing him as much as he is missing the boy?

  • by Michael Bond
    £7.99

    A funny, festive picture book about Paddington, the beloved, classic bear from darkest Peru.When the Browns take Paddington to the Christmas grotto at the local department store, their journey through the Winter Wonderland is full of unexpected surprises. But the best surprise is a present from Santa. After all, who else would find the perfect present for a bear like Paddington?Join Paddington on his festive adventure as he discovers why Santa Claus makes everyone's Christmas so special.

  • by Michael Bond
    £6.99 - 11.99

    The classic story of Paddington, the bear from Darkest Peru, who was found lost on Paddington Station."e;A bear on Paddington Station?"e; said Mrs Brown in amazement. "e;Don't be silly - there can't be."e;The Browns first met Paddington on a railway station - Paddington station, in fact. He had travelled all the way from Darkest Peru with only a jar of marmalade, a suitcase and his hat.The Browns soon found that Paddington was a very unusual bear. Ordinary things - like having a bath, travelling underground or going to the seaside became quite extraordinary, if a bear called Paddington was involved.

  • Save 15%
    by Insight Editions
    £8.49

    Part of a series of miniature Harry Potter art books, allowing fans to dig deeper into the magic of the films through concept illustrations, unit photography and production notes on spells featured in the movies.

  • Save 20%
    by Ingela P. Arrhenius
    £11.99

  • by Joshua George
    £7.99

    Monkey is ready for bed, but first she wants to say good night to all her rainforest friends. Young children will love to help Monkey find her animal friends in this interactive novelty book. Insert the included 'magic torch' between the pages to find Monkey's friends in each nighttime scene and watch children glow with delight.

  • by Fiona Watt
    £7.99

    Sticker Dolly Dressing Mermaids by Fiona Watt is a delightful book published in 2020 by Usborne Publishing Ltd. This captivating book is a charming addition to the genre of children's literature. It invites readers into a magical world under the sea where they can dress up mermaids with over 200 enchanting stickers. The author, Fiona Watt, has done a remarkable job of creating an interactive and engaging experience for young readers. The book's vibrant illustrations and creative activities make it a perfect gift for children who love mermaids and stickers. Published by Usborne Publishing Ltd, known for their high-quality children's books, Sticker Dolly Dressing Mermaids is sure to be a treasured addition to any child's bookshelf.

  • by Megan Hess
    £6.99 - 8.99

  • Save 17%
    by Anna Milbourne
    £9.99

  • Save 10%
    by Felicity Brooks
    £8.99

    Why do we need friends? And what makes a good friend? This charmingly illustrated book explores the benefits of having friends, looking at different types of friendships, and what happens when friends fall out and make up. Includes helpful notes for grown-ups on talking to children about friendships, dealing with conflicts and imaginary friends.

  • by Kristie Pickersgill
    £6.49

    Explore the wonderful world of animals, from the jungles of South America to the plains of Africa. With over 160 stickers of kangaroos, koalas, walruses, whales and many more wild animals to bring the colourful scenes to life.

  • by Julia Donaldson
    £5.99

    Zog and the Flying Doctors Early Reader, Author: Julia Donaldson, Publication Year: 2019-11-07, Publisher: Scholastic, Language: eng

  • by Ian Livingstone
    £7.99

    After accepting a challenge to survive on Snake Island, a nightmare unfolds when a bounty is placed on your head. From being the hunter, you become the hunted. Now you must find the Assassins before they find you. But who are they? Where are they? Everybody you meet could be an assassin. Trust no-one...

  • by Richard Scarry
    £6.99

    A fun-filled farm-themed board book from Richard Scarry--just in time for his 100th birthday!Little farmers will love putting on their overalls and heading to work alongside rumbling tractors, giant plows, speedy cornhuskers, and more! Full of colorful vehicles and friendly faces from Cars and Trucks and Things That Go, What Do People Do All Day?, and Busiest People Ever!, farm life has never been so much fun!Also availableBusy Busy Cars and TrucksBusy Busy Construction SiteBusy Busy Farm

  • by Richard Scarry
    £7.99

    A fun-filled airport-themed board book from Richard Scarry--just in time for his 100th birthday!Little pilots will be eager to earn their wings as they spend an exciting day at the airport right alongside giant airplanes, cars, trucks, and more! Full of action-packed scenes and friendly faces from Cars and Trucks and Things That Go, What Do People Do All Day?, and Busiest People Ever!, the airport has never been so much fun!Also availableBusy Busy Cars and TrucksBusy Busy Construction SiteBusy Busy Farm

  • by Millie Marotta
    £6.49

    A wonderful portable edition of the bestselling Millie Marotta's Tropical Wonderland.

  • by Brenda Cole
    £6.99

    Bring the woodland to life as you brush water over the black and white illustrations in this beautiful book. Sixteen detailed pictures include harvest mice eating berries, brown bears climbing trees, a badger exploring at night and lots more. With a handy fold-out back cover to prevent colours running through to the page beneath.

  • Save 15%
     
    £10.99

    Introducing '100 First Words', a captivating book authored by a brilliant mind. This book was first published in 2019 by the renowned publisher, Nosy Crow Ltd. It is an engaging book that is designed to help young readers expand their vocabulary. The book is filled with beautifully illustrated pages, each showcasing a new word for children to learn and explore. The words are carefully chosen to be both fun and educational, making it a perfect tool for early learning. The book is also a great way to introduce children to the joy of reading. The genre of the book is educational, making it a must-have for every young reader's bookshelf. '100 First Words' is a truly wonderful book that is sure to captivate and educate young readers. It is written in English, making it accessible to a wide range of readers. Don't miss out on this amazing book from Nosy Crow Ltd.

  • Save 11%
    - shaped book with siren and flashing light!
    by Eric Hill
    £7.99

    Eric Hill (Author, Illustrator) Eric Hill (1927-2014) started his artistic career as an art studio messenger and from there went on to become a cartoonist and eventually an art director at a leading advertising agency. In 1978 Eric made up a story about a small puppy to read to his son at bedtime and Spot was born. The success of his first bestselling lift-the-flap classic Where's Spot? in 1980 convinced him to become a full-time author, and his Spot books have been enjoyed by children around the world ever since. In 2008 he was awarded an OBE for services to children's literacy.

  • by Alex Hunter
    £7.99

    Where's the Poo? A Pooptastic Search and Find Book is a delightful and humorous adventure penned by the talented Alex Hunter. Published in 2019 by Hachette Children's Group, this book is sure to bring laughter and fun to your home. The book falls under the genre of children's literature and is characterized by its engaging search-and-find format. Readers are invited to join in the hunt for the elusive poo, navigating through vibrant and whimsical illustrations. Alex Hunter's unique storytelling style and the book's interactive element make it a standout addition to any child's bookshelf. It's not just a book, but an experience that promises a great bonding time for parents and children. Published by the renowned Hachette Children's Group, the quality and creativity behind the book are assured. Dive into this pooptastic adventure and enjoy the endless fun it offers.

  • Save 10%
    by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
    £8.99

    New in the critically acclaimed Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the incredible life of Zaha Hadid, the Queen of Architecture.

  • Save 10%
    - Your Unofficial Fill-In Fan Book
    by Becca Wright
    £8.99

    BTS and Me is full of fun fill-in activities and beautiful illustrations; it's the perfect way to record all of your favourite things about your favourite Korean boyband, BTS.

  • Save 15%
    - Write. Craft. Play. Share.
    by Astrid van der Hulst
    £14.49

    Announcing Flow for kids - and the perfect launch to share its mission of creativity, paper love, and unplugged fun (not to mention mindfulness) with younger readers. Modelled on Flow's Annual Book for Paper Lovers magazine special, which sells 100,000 copies annually, here is a joyful celebration of something kids love to do: make things with their hands!

  • by Felicity James
    £7.99

    Great for developing colouring skills

  • Save 15%
     
    £10.99

    Read to Your Baby Every Day is a remarkable book that was published by Frances Lincoln Publishers Ltd on March 14, 2019. This book, despite its simple title, is a treasure trove of stories and lessons that are perfect for introducing your little one to the joy of reading. The author has meticulously crafted each tale to be both engaging and educational, making it a perfect choice for parents looking to bond with their children over a good book. As a work of literature, it fits neatly into the genre of children's books, but its appeal is universal. It's a book that promises to make reading to your baby a daily habit, and it delivers on that promise in spades. So why wait? Start this beautiful journey with your baby today with Read to Your Baby Every Day, courtesy of Frances Lincoln Publishers Ltd.

  • Save 11%
    by Anna Milbourne
    £7.99

    Come on a bug hunt in this book and discover ants building their nest underground, bees making honey in their hive and a bug hotel where lots of creepy crawlies have found a home. With colourful illustrations, flaps to lift and holes to peep through, there's so much to discover in this fascinating introduction to insects and where they live.

What defines a children’s book you may ask? The first and the most obvious characteristic of a children’s book is the fact that it is written it to children. Secondly is the importance of how the story is told. In children’s books the story is often told from a children's perspective, or the story has a child or an adult addressing a child as the storyteller. Thereby the child reading or hearing the story can identify with the main character or characters in the children’s story making the child more engaged in the plot. 
Another significant characteristic of children’s books is the use of pictures or illustrations. A children’s story is often told through a combination of written words and children’s books illustrations. It can also be in the form of a picture book, where the child creates the story from the pictures he or she sees. In the newest books we also see a frequent use of sound as an extra level of engagement. You can both find sound books and picture books in our selection of children’s books. 

Genres
Children’s books can cover a wide range of genres, but there are two main categories. Either we have the lyric kind that covers both children’s songs, rhymes or nonsense poetry, which often have a fun or silly theme that makes the children laugh while singing or rhyming along. The other kind of children’s books is the narrative story. This is the category of the fairytales, the children’s novels and the classical novels told for children. Here we see a frequent use of figurative language, which speaks to the children’s imagination. The plot in these narrative stories can both be set in a fictional or realistic world. 


The Classics 
The world of children’s books contain a lot of beloved classics by all the great children’s authors. Classics that never lose their magic. Classics that make you reflect. Classics that move you, because of all the lovely memories you have with the stories and all the wonderful children’s books characters. You probably remember yourself when your mom or dad read them to you before bedtime and you couldn’t sleep because of the fascination of all the amazing places, characters and action in the books. Then when you fell asleep you would dream the most wonderful dreams where your imagination would build on to the story and you could be the hero of your favorite fairy tale. You could give that same wonderful experience to your children when you read the timeless classics to them and in doing so sharing the magical world with them and thereby creating a unique bond between you and your children.
You can for example choose to travel back to Neverland with your children following the second star to the right with Peter Pan and Tinkerbell, or you could take a trip through the mysterious rabbit hole and experience the curious world of Wonderland with Alice and the Mad Hatter.  

Colouring and learning books
If your child is in a creative mood, we also have a selection of children’s colouring books for both toddlers and tweens. Your child can colour everything from famous artworks by Frida Kahlo to all their favorite children’s books characters and magical creatures like unicorns. The colouring books are beautifully illustrated and just waits to be introduced to the world of colour making them even more beautiful. By letting your children colour figures in a children’s colouring book of their own choice you stimulate their creative side and fine motor skills. Colouring also works relaxing on your children given them a break from the busy everyday. 
You can also stimulate your child with the use of learning books. You will find a wide range of children’s learning books in our store. Your child can both learn about animals of all kinds including dinosaurs, but they can also learn how the body works, or get an introduction to the universe. No matter the topic the books are specially developed for children’s minds and are told in a language they can understand. 

Join thousands of book lovers

Sign up to our newsletter and receive discounts and inspiration for your next reading experience.