I think a better title for this post would be What books are all over your living room and your kids' bedroom? When we find books that Haiden and Piper like (especially if they both like the same one) I've found that we're reading them so often it hardly makes sense to put them away!
We're at an interesting stage right now in both Haiden and Piper's book preferences. Haiden just turned two. While he still loves board books, he's slowly moving into longer books, and I've found that he's very careful when he looks at books with “real” pages on his own. At the same time, if I choose the wrong book that's too long, he doesn't want anything to do with it. Piper is a different reader than Haiden was at her age of 12 months. She's super-calm, and she likes almost any book we read to her. She loves to look at board books on her own, but she'll sit through some of our longest stories without squirming or getting distracted. Haiden was nothing like that last year!
These are some of our current favorite children's books:
Cowboy and His Friend :: I picked this one up at the library since I was completely enamored by the simple, classic illustrations. I had no idea Haiden would love it so much! He has comments for every single page and wants to read it several times every night!
Where is Baby's Belly Button :: This was one of Haiden's favorites, and now Piper thinks it's the best book ever! It's a fabulous lift-the-flap number that makes her smile each time the hidden picture is revealed.
Sleepy Kittens :: Piper just received this for her birthday, but both of my little ones are thoroughly entertained by the story and the attached finger puppets! It's cute, and I like to make up extra songs to have the puppets dance to after we finished the story.
Snuggle Puppy :: I couldn't compile a list of favorite books without including something by Sandra Boynton. This one requires the reader to sing, but it also prompts for kisses, which is super-adorable! I have to add that my mother-in-law loves this book so much she's bought it twice for Haiden!
The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry and The Big Hungry Bear :: It took Haiden a little bit to warm up to this one, but now he can't get enough of it! My husband likes to act out all the sound effects and create funny voices as the narrator, which Haiden finds hysterical.
Tails :: I saved our best for last! This is a nicely interactive book that has entertained both Haiden and Piper pretty much since birth. It engages the senses and grows with your child. The bright colors are stimulating for baby, and there's a counting game at the very end for toddlers.
I love sharing our favorites, but my real intentions for posting this are to hear from you. What are your favorite books to read to your kids? What books do your little ones love?
I would absolutely love to get enough responses to put together a little list of the popular books, so please leave a comment with your favorites!
Mollysays
We LOVE books! Our favorite books are Dick and Jane, Hand Hand Fingers Thumb, and all of the Frances books….they are so funny (even for me).
sabrinasays
Our family LOVES Snuggle Puppy and Hand Hand Fingers Thumb! We also love Sandra Boynton’s Barnyard Dance. My son likes Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson as well as her other Bear books. My daughter’s favorite titles are Brown Bear, Brown Bear what do you see, The Very Hungry Little Catepillar, Ducks don’t wear socks, and any If You Give a …. books. My list can go on and on.
ShorterMamasays
I love, love, love Punk Farm and Punk Farm on Tour as well as Barnyard Dance. You may notice a theme there, but they’re hilarious and you can sing with them.
Marybeth Hamiltonsays
I’ve never heard of Punk Farm…I’ll have to take a look! Since you like farm books (who doesn’t?) you should check out Open the Barn Door http://amzn.to/ceSLBt It’s very cute for little readers.
jennifersays
We love the Boynton books as well, and recently added Snuggle Puppy and Your Personal Penuin to our collection. My son loves Snuggle Puppy! Since we added it to our bedtime rotation about 3 weeks ago, he has started offering kisses randomly throughout the book while I’m reading it, and snuggles up with me, putting his head on my shoulder. He loves the story, points out items he knows (like the ball, which shows up twice) and smiles and laughs through the whole story. It has become one of his favourites!
We have most of the Boynton books already and love them all. They offer a really nice change from Goodnight Moon!
Marybeth Hamiltonsays
Jennifer, that’s so cute! My husband wants to get Your Personal Penguin, so that’s likely next on my list.
Hillarysays
My 16-month old has SO many books, mostly because I worked at a used bookstore! My mom saved all my old Berenstain Bears books for me, which were great when she was really little since she took forever to settle down. She also loved all the Beatrix Potter books. I put those up when she got to the page ripping stage, and now she loves all her board books. She’ll sit quietly for ages and turn the pages, and especially likes anything with flaps or sounds. The faves are – Jez Alborough’s teddy bear books, especially “It’s the Bear!,” the Tacky the Penguin books, “Busy Dog”, and “The Adventures of Cow.” She also loves the Baby Einstein book “See How I Feel” because of the mirrors – she gives herself kisses in them. And my husband sometimes reads her Encyclopedia Brown stories, but that’s mostly because he likes them!
MaryPsays
favorites (birth-1yo): Tumble Bumble, I love you Stinky Face, There’s a wocket in my pocket (Dr. Seuss board book), and Goodnight Moon. My little one also likes Pat the Bunny.
Andreasays
I LOVE the book “All the Places to Love” by Patricia Maclachlan. Gorgeous and special.
Also, the Jan Brett books are very sweet. Hmm. “Owl Moon” is pretty neat. I would just look around for Caldecott winners. I usually am very impessed by them. 🙂