For a full explanation of our 5-a-day book challenge, please click here.

I was so thrilled by the response to the launch of this scheme last week and further still to know that lots of people are planning to keep going with the challenge at home or school/ nursery this week too! I’ve had many people share their book lists and some even linked back to their own posts about the challenge. If you want some inspiration for your next 5 titles then browse the comments and links from Week 1.
Here are our 5 for the week ahead!
Another FANTASTIC book from the Sharratt and Heap double act. This is all set out in rhyme and works its way through the alphabet. Simple, bright and funny!
An absolute FAVOURITE of mine to read aloud from my teaching days. A rhyming book that also has repetitive segments which are easy for a child to begin predicting and then joining in with. The two cheeky chimps in this story are very captivating and I don’t think I’ve met one child who hasn’t loved this book!
An absolute classic from Janet and Allan Ahlberg. Again, written completely in rhyme and based on nursery rhyme characters, it has a fun element of hiding them on each page and links each idea neatly to the next. Cakie can usually finish the sentences in this because she has learnt all of the rhyming words. Great listening and deciphering skills!
Oh how I love Mick Inkpen! This is one of his more simple stories, yet most small children I have met really take to it. The story counts up to 10 through all of the pesky animals that are getting in the way of the little boy going to bed, but one bear is all he needs. It has a repeated line in it which children quickly memorise and repeat independently.
And last, but by no means least. the WONDERFUL, million copy bestseller from Rosen and Oxenbury! This is one of those classics that just has to be part of every pre-schooler’s library and is loved by all. It has a repeated refrain and wonderful noises (and actions if you want to add them like we do!) and is so easy to begin to retell by memory. If you don’t own it yet, own it now!
And just a little tip for keeping your 5-a-day away from the plethora of other books in your home/ early years setting…. We have put ours into a specific basket for the purpose, and I also have a cotton bag in the hall that I sling them straight into if we are heading out.
What books are you choosing this week? Please link up below to share your wonderful ideas, or leave a comment for others to read! There’s a button in the sidebar if you want to add it. Thank you!
Some here that we haven’t read. Will have to write a list for the next libary trip.
We are going to try this out with my 5 year old boy & our 3 year old daycare boy. This week we’ve picked:
Pigeon Wants a Puppy by Mo Willems
DC Super Friends Flying High (easy reader)
Animal Strike at the Zoo by Karma Wilson
I Stink! by Kate & Jim McMullan
and one or two poems from Truckery Rhymes by David Shannon, Loren Long & David Gordon
Each Peach Pear Plum is one of our favorites! I am reserving some of those others at our library this week.
This last week at the library I found a Mo Willems book I hadn’t seen yet. It was Knuffle Bunny Free. Since my kids love the two Knuffle Bunny books we already own, they were thrilled to read this book throught the week. It is a cute one too about growing up a little.
we love mick inkpen kipper books are so fun we haven’t read this one.
I linked up our earth day books we are reading this week.
I love this idea. Sadly I dont get quite enough time for 5 a day.. but we have ‘weekly favourites’ instead – stealing your principles!
This week we’re reading Alfie Gets In First, Each Peach Pear Plum and Peppa Goes Swimming! A nice little mix. You’ve given me some wonderful suggestions for books and an excellent idea of what I should be looking for, thank you!
Also… I loved your papiermache egg and we had a go too.
I haven’t heard of Mo Willems but have seen lots of people linking up to those books so MUST check them out! Thanks for the recommendations.
Alice it’s great that you are doing it in a way that suits you! I think C would LOVE Peppa goes Swimming!
I am awarding you The Versatile Blogger Award!
Check it out on my site:
http://thechocolatemuffintree.blogspot.com/2011/04/versatile-blogger-award.html