Rose Ayling-Ellis picks her favourite children's books
By DK Books
Rose Ayling-Ellis picks her favourite children's books
By DK Books
'Hello, I’m Rose Ayling-Ellis. I’m an actress and a deaf campaigner, as well as the author of Marvellous Messages. Reading books was a huge part of my childhood. Some of my earliest memories are of my grandmother reading to me at bedtime. As I got a bit older, I remember staying up past my bedtime, reading under the duvet with a torch, hiding the fact that I was up late. I truly value books, but when I was younger, I never encountered any deaf characters in them. I am so glad to see changes happening in terms of disability representation, but we still have a long way to go. Here are some of my favourite books, a mixture of childhood favourites, exciting new reads, and personal stories behind each one.'
Alone on a Wide Wide Sea
Michael Morpurgo
£7.99 £7.59To this day, it remains my favorite book of all time. It was the first book that made me cry. I've read it so many times, and it still makes me feel deeply emotional. The story follows a young boy who is transported to Australia, and many years later, he builds a boat. It is such a heartfelt and moving tale.
Sleepovers
Jacqueline Wilson and Nick Sharratt
£7.99 £7.59Jacqueline Wilson's "Sleepover" features the first disabled character I saw in a book. It tells the story of a girl worrying about bringing her friends over because of her disabled older sister. The themes include acceptance, openness, and understanding.
Villainous Victorians
Terry Deary and Martin Brown
£6.99 £6.64I absolutely loved the Horrible Histories series, and as a fellow history enthusiast, I appreciate how they made learning history fun and entertaining. My favorite period is the Victorian era because they were incredibly inventive, yet such horrible people. No pun intended!
Mog in the Dark
Judith Kerr
£7.99 £7.59I always had cats while growing up, so I loved Mog. However, this particular book was my favourite. In it, Mog couldn’t understand why she was left outside in the dark instead of being indoors with people, so she went exploring to find her tribe.
Esio Trot
Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake
£7.99 £7.59My favourite of the Roald Dahl books. I was upset that my mum wouldn't let me have a pet tortoise because I really wanted the Esio Trot life.
Where's Spot?
Eric Hill
£7.99 £7.59It was my very first sign language adaptation of a children's book. I remember seeing it and practicing by myself. It was a charity book that was kept for many years, so you can't find the BSL version nowadays. I’m excited to create books. It is long overdue, and I wish I had more while growing up.
Can Bears Ski?
Raymond Antrobus and Polly Dunbar
£7.99 £7.59This book I had the privilege to read on Cbeebies' bedtime story in BSL. It was written by Raymond, who is deaf himself. The story follows a young bear navigating his world while not quite hearing what is around him and coming to acceptance.
Rockstar Detectives: Murder at the Movies
Adam Hills and Luna Valentine
£7.99 £7.59Two friends who are rockstars find themselves entangled in a crime and decide to take on the role of detectives. They have a lot on their plates! While one of the characters uses a wheelchair, this aspect is not the main focus of the story. Adam Hill shows how it's done!
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls (2025 New Edition): 100+ Tales of Extraordinary Women
Rebel Girls
£25.00 £23.75Each page is beautifully illustrated by a different artist and is written about powerful women around the world throughout history. I was gifted the book as an adult by my mum, and I learned so much from it!
Stolen History: The truth about the British Empire and how it shaped us
Sathnam Sanghera
£8.99 £8.54I recently received this book and read it in one sitting on the tube. It’s an excellent book that teaches children about the truth of the British Empire and how it shaped the UK. It’s definitely a book I wish I had when I was a child but I'm so glad it is available today.
Peter Pan
Sir James Matthew Barrie
£7.99 £7.59I've always known the story of Peter Pan, but I never read the original until I did a theater show about it. It's beautifully haunting to read as an adult, especially knowing that Peter Pan was based on the writer's brother who passed away at such a young age.
Classic Fairy Tales: The Illustrated Collection
Berlie Doherty and Jane Ray
£9.99 £9.49One of my favourite illustrations by Jane Ray holds a special place in my memory. I remember spending hours just admiring each image and trying to replicate the drawings. The use of gold print in her work was something I rarely encountered at the time. Art has always had a significant influence on me.
Bad Girls
Jacqueline Wilson and Nick Sharratt
£7.99 £7.59I simply cannot have a list without including Jacqueline Wilson. I read all of her books from the '90s and ‘00s. I place "Bad Girls" at the top because it addresses issues like bullying and being the odd one out. In fact, the story teaches that the very things that make you different are what make you who you are.