Best Kids Books by Age (Australia Guide for Parents)
Looking for the best children's books for your child's age? Whether you're building a home library, encouraging a love of reading, or shopping secondhand to save money, this Australian guide will help you choose the right books for every stage — from babies to teens.
At Daisy Chain Clothing, we know that just like kids' clothes, books don't need to be brand new to be loved. Many of the most popular children's books in Australia are easy to find secondhand — making reading more affordable and sustainable for families.
👶 Best Books for Ages 0–2 (Babies & Toddlers)
At this age, babies and toddlers love bright colours, repetition, and interactive elements. Books support early language development and bonding time — and the simpler, the better.
Top picks in Australia:
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar — Eric Carle
- Where is the Green Sheep? — Mem Fox
- Possum Magic — Mem Fox
- Dear Zoo — Rod Campbell
- Goodnight Moon — Margaret Wise Brown
💡 Parent tip: Board books are durable and perfect for preloved buying — they're made to last through many little hands and are often in excellent condition secondhand. And once your little one has a favourite, pair it with one of our Next Chapter Corner Bookmarks — lovingly handmade from preloved children's clothing, ready to mark their place in every bedtime story.
🧒 Best Books for Ages 3–5 (Preschoolers)
Preschoolers thrive on rhyming stories, humour, and imagination — especially stories with familiar Australian themes and characters they can relate to.
Popular favourites:
- The Gruffalo — Julia Donaldson
- Wombat Stew — Marcia K. Vaughan
- Magic Beach — Alison Lester
- Pig the Pug — Aaron Blabey
- Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy — Lynley Dodd
💡 Why it matters: Reading at this stage builds vocabulary and prepares children for learning to read independently. Making storytime special — with a cosy routine and a favourite bookmark — helps build that love of reading early.
📖 Best Books for Ages 5–7 (Early Readers)
As children start reading on their own, they need simple, engaging stories that build confidence without feeling overwhelming. Short chapters, lots of illustrations, and relatable characters are key.
Top Australian-friendly picks:
- Hairy Maclary series — Lynley Dodd
- Grug series — Ted Prior
- Hey Jack! — Sally Rippin
- Billie B Brown — Sally Rippin
- Isadora Moon — Harriet Muncaster
💡 These books are commonly used in Australian classrooms and are fantastic for beginner readers. A Next Chapter Corner Bookmark makes a wonderful addition to a school reader — handmade from preloved children's clothing, it's a sustainable and meaningful gift for a new reader.
📚 Best Books for Ages 7–9 (Junior Fiction)
This is where reading really takes off — kids love funny, fast-paced books with illustrations that make them feel like they're flying through pages.
Most-loved series:
- The Bad Guys — Aaron Blabey
- The Treehouse Series — Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton
- WeirDo — Anh Do
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid — Jeff Kinney
💡 Great for reluctant readers: These books feel fun rather than “schoolwork” — and that's exactly the point. Once a child finds a series they love, reading becomes something they choose rather than something they're told to do.
📘 Best Books for Ages 9–12 (Middle Grade Readers)
Older kids enjoy longer stories, magical worlds, and deeper characters they can really invest in over time.
Popular in Australia:
- Harry Potter — J.K. Rowling
- Nevermoor — Jessica Townsend
- Alice-Miranda — Jacqueline Harvey
- Matilda — Roald Dahl
- Wings of Fire — Tui T. Sutherland
- Keeper of the Lost Cities — Shannon Messenger
💡 Many of these are long-running series — perfect for keeping kids engaged over time. Buying preloved is especially smart for series, as you can often find multiple books at once for a fraction of the retail price.
📗 Best Books for Ages 12+ (Young Teens)
Teen readers explore identity, friendships, and bigger life themes — often through fantasy, adventure, or stories set in worlds that feel both familiar and extraordinary.
Top recommendations:
- The Hunger Games — Suzanne Collins
- Tomorrow, When the War Began — John Marsden
- Percy Jackson — Rick Riordan
- The Book Thief — Markus Zusak
💡 These books are often studied in Australian schools and loved well beyond the classroom. Many are available preloved in excellent condition — a great way to build a teen's personal library affordably.
🌱 Why Buying Secondhand Children's Books Makes Sense
Just like preloved clothing, secondhand books offer:
- Huge cost savings — perfect for growing families who go through books quickly
- Sustainability benefits — reducing waste and keeping books out of landfill
- Access to popular titles at lower prices — including long series that would cost a fortune to buy new
Many children outgrow books quickly, so choosing preloved means giving great stories a second life. Browse our growing selection of secondhand children's books at Daisy Chain Clothing — quality checked and shipped Australia-wide.
📚 Ready to build your child's reading life?
Browse Daisy Chain Clothing's range of preloved children's books for every age — quality checked, fairly priced, and shipped Australia-wide. And pair any book with a Next Chapter Corner Bookmark — lovingly handmade from preloved children's clothing that has already lived a childhood full of adventures. Instead of heading to landfill, the fabric begins a new chapter. 🌿
There's no single perfect book for every child — but the right book at the right age can spark a lifelong love of reading. By choosing age-appropriate books and considering secondhand options, you can build a home library that's affordable, meaningful, and sustainable.
At Daisy Chain Clothing, we believe every story deserves a second chapter — from preloved baby and kids' clothing to children's books and handmade bookmarks that carry their own story. Happy reading! 📚🌿
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best children's books for babies in Australia?
Board books are ideal for babies — durable, easy to handle, and perfect for little hands. Top Australian picks include Where is the Green Sheep? and Possum Magic by Mem Fox, The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, and Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell. All are easy to find preloved in excellent condition.
What books are popular for 5–7 year olds in Australia?
The Hey Jack! and Billie B Brown series by Sally Rippin are widely used in Australian classrooms and loved by early readers. Hairy Maclary and Isadora Moon are also firm favourites at this age.
What are good books for reluctant readers aged 7–9?
The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey, The Treehouse Series by Andy Griffiths, and WeirDo by Anh Do are all brilliant for reluctant readers — funny, fast-paced, and full of illustrations that make reading feel like fun rather than work.
Where can I buy secondhand children's books in Australia?
Daisy Chain Clothing stocks a growing range of preloved children's books for all ages, quality checked and shipped Australia-wide. Op shops, Facebook Marketplace, and eBay Australia are also great options for secondhand book hunting.
What makes a good gift for a child who loves reading?
A preloved book paired with one of our Next Chapter Corner Bookmarks makes a beautiful, sustainable gift. The bookmarks are lovingly handmade from preloved children's clothing — fabric that has already lived a childhood full of adventures, now beginning a new chapter helping your child mark their place in bedtime stories, school readers, and library books.