Early childhood education trainers’ favourite stories

At Selmar Early Childhood Education Institute, all our trainers are experienced educators. We can’t even begin to calculate how many books they’ve each read in all their years on the floor!

We asked our trainers for their favourite books in child care centres, and have compiled a list of the top picks. The clear winner was The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, which popped up time and again. Dr Seuss stories were also a popular choice, and over the years many children must’ve enjoyed Spot the Dog’s adventures.

Here are some children’s favourite books in child care that hold a special place in our ECE trainer’s hearts:

A Dark, Dark Tale – Ruth Brown

Dear Zoo – Rod Campbell

Diary of a Wombat – Jackie French

Dirty Bertie – Alan MacDonald and David Roberts

From Head to Toe – Eric Carle

Goldilocks and the three bears

Green Eggs and Ham – Dr Suess

Handa’s Surpise – Eilieen Browne

How the Birds Got Their Colours – Pamela Lofts

My Daddy is a Pretzel – Baron Baptiste

Olga the Brolga – Rod Clement

Possum Magic – Mem Fox

Rainbow Fish – Marcus Pfister

Rattle Trap Car – Phyllis Root

Spot the Dog – Eric Hill

The Cat in the Hat – Dr Seuss

The Gruffalo – Axel Scheffler and Julia Donaldson

The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear – Audrey and Don Wood

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs – Jon Scieszka

The Very Hungry Caterpillar – Eric Carle

The Wrong Book – Nick Bland

There’s a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake – Hazel Edwards

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt – Helen Oxenbury and Michael Rosen

Where is the Green Sheep? – Mem Fox

Who Sank the boat? – Pamela Allen

Who’s in the Loo? – Jeanne Willis

Wombat Stew – Marcia Vaughan