* The Green Ship by Quentin Blake (Red Fox, 5.99) is a wonderful story for reading aloud. It tells the story of two children who find an abandoned 'green ship' in a garden, and have numerous adventures.
Inspirational for outdoor play.
* Mr Rabbit and the Lovely Present by Charlotte Zolotow and Maurice Sendak (Red Fox Classics, 4.99) is a gentle, lyrical story telling how a little girl solves the problem of what to get for her mother's birthday. A wonderful way to explore colour, with beautiful illustrations.
* The Colour of Home by Mary Hoffman and Karin Littlewood (Frances Lincoln, 5.99) is a deeply moving story of a young refugee child who uses painting and colour to communicate his feelings about his experiences before arriving in England. Impressively, the child is placed right at the heart of the story. An excellent reminder of how important it is to take time to discuss children's artwork with them.
* Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? by Bill Martin Junior and Eric Carle (Puffin, 5.99) is a perennial favourite. It is a memorable and strongly tuned story, with bold illustrations to invite lots of discussion and possibly inspire numerous art activities.
* Pink Lemon by Herve Tullet (Milet Publishing, 8.99) includes everything from a pink lemon to grey spaghetti. The book invites the children to ask three questions. Do they exist? Can they? Why not?! The bold illustrations would appeal to young children. A very thought-provoking book.
* Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh (Orchard Books, 4.99) is a charming little book that explores primary colours and colour-mixing through the antics of three white mice.
* Big Red Bath by Julia Jarman and Adrian Reynolds (Orchard Books, Pounds 5.99)
* Pass the Jam, Jim by Kaye Umansky and Margaret Chamberlain (Red Fox, Pounds 4.99)
* Little Red Riding Hood by Nick Sharratt and Stephen Tucker (Macmillan, Pounds 4.99)
* The Little Red Hen by Michael Foreman (Red Fox, 4.99)
* The Great Big Little Red Train by Benedict Blathwayt (Red Fox, Pounds 5.99)
* The Story of the Little Red Engine by Diana Ross (Andre Deutsch, Pounds 4.99)
* My Many Coloured Days by Dr Seuss et al (Hutchinson Children's Books, Pounds 6.99)
* The Mixed-Up Chameleon Eric Carle (Puffin Books, 5.99)
* Crafty Chameleon by Mwenye Hadithi (Hodder Children's Books, Pounds 5.99)
* Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood (Child's Play, 9.99)
* Bunny and Bee's Rainbow Colours by Sam Williams (Orchard Books, Pounds 4.99).
