SALWAH CHOWDHURY

In a world where smart TVs, touchscreen tablets, and mobiles are always within reach, I feel grateful that my daughter, who is almost five and a half, often brings me books and asks me to read them to her for a quick, fun storytime. Here, I have taken on the (almost impossible!) task of selecting her top five favourite titles—the ones she insists on listening to and watching again and again, while still learning to read and write her ABCs.

Children of Foreign Lands

Elizabeth F. McCrady

The Platt & Munk Co., Inc., 1936

This hardcover brings together an illustrated collection of stories of children from different parts of the world—Southeast Asia, Europe, and North and South America. This book is a foundational gateway to the wider world which encourages young minds to think beyond borders while embracing the universal joys of childhood. What struck me most was how many questions the book sparked in my five-year-old. She was curious, puzzled, and at times even a little surprised. Why do they wear those clothes? What are they doing? These unfamiliar details opened up opportunities for rich conversations about culture, difference, and acceptance.

Esho Rongdhonu Banai

Tariq Manzoor (writer) and Sarah Toufika (illustrator)

Sesame Workshop Bangladesh, 2019

Esho Rongdhonu Banai is not only a colourful book about rainbows, but also features favourite Sisimpur characters demonstrating a fun scientific experiment to help children understand how the spectrum of colours blooms in a rainbow.

One Last Try

Shamim Ahmed

Mayurpankhi, 2025

Inspired by Sri Lankan oral folk tales, Ahmed weaves a story about a hat seller and a troop of monkeys. The narrative strings together various elements into a unique interpretation, offering a fun, imaginative, and inspirational read.

Jack and the Beanstalk

Iona Treahy (writer) and Ruth Rivers (illustrator)

Ladybird, 1999

This classic retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk offers more than just adventure. While my five-year-old was enchanted by the towering beanstalk and the magical golden harp, she also had questions—about stealing, about giants, and about fairness. These moments opened up conversations about right and wrong, bravery, and making choices.

Tumi Jodi Akashe Takao

Eylu Şeyrek Altass (writer), Abul Khair Mohammad Atiqur Rahman (translator), and Alexandra Fabia (illustrator)

Mayurpankhi 2024

Saving the best (and my favourite) for last, Tumi Jodi Akashe Takao takes young readers across a celestial canvas. Each page of this book is a visual feast, with soft hues and pencil strokes bringing the night sky to life in detail. Reading this book with my daughter evoked a sense of tranquillity within us both. Not only did I fall in love with the artwork, but I fell head over heels in love with the prose. Kudos to Turkish authors and their creative inspiration!

Salwah Chowdhury , a mother and a voracious reader, loves the rush of thinking, reading and writing. Follow her on Instagram @salwah_chowdhury and share your book recommendations and thoughts on the article.