What children love

Children's favourite themes

Sometimes it isn't a difficult topic at home, just a child who loves dinosaurs. For each theme: when it takes hold, books from other publishers that we could check, and what you rarely learn anywhere else.

• AnimalsWhy so many picture books have an animal as the hero, six books checked from age 2 to 7, and a research finding that goes against habit.6 checked books · 3 sources
• AutumnWhy autumn is the season children grasp first, what school and Halloween add to it, and what to know before buying a seasonal book.3 sources
• DinosaursWhy so many children fall for dinosaurs between four and six, what such an intense interest brings, and why many dinosaur books are out of date.3 sources
• RabbitsThree rabbit and hare books checked, the difference between a hare and a rabbit that children notice, and where the Easter Bunny comes from.3 checked books · 6 sources
• MolesWhy an animal children never see fascinates them, and four myths about moles that picture books keep repeating.4 sources
• ElephantsElmer, the patchwork elephant, why the herd is almost always missing from picture books, and what's true about an elephant's memory.1 checked book · 2 sources
• WitchesWhen a child knows the witch isn't real, why they like a little fright anyway, and two witch books from age three to seven.2 checked books · 4 sources
• UnicornsWhat is really known about the love of unicorns, why the theme is so new in picture books, and how to choose a story that lasts.1 source
• Fire enginesWhat is known about role play, what isn't, and why fire engines often fascinate children earlier than any other theme.1 source

Read also: growing up, topic by topic, children's books by age and the illustration styles.