bestbooks
Moms are passionate about children’s books. Once you discover a family favorite, it will forever hold a special place in your heart. The memories of reading to my children before bedtime are some of my favorite and I try to treasure those moments as much as possible. (However, sometimes bedtime is my favorite time, simply because my children are going to bed!)

Thank you to all my mommy and teacher friends for sharing your favorites with me!

Board Books: 

I love you Through and Through A rhyming story of unconditional love and adorable illustrations of a toddler and a teddy bear who declare “I love you through and through!”

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Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? A big happy frog, a plump purple cat, a handsome blue horse, and a soft yellow duck–all parade across the pages of this delightful book. Children will immediately respond to Eric Carle’s flat, boldly colored collages. Combined with Bill Martin’s singsong text, they create unforgettable images of these endearing animals.

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The Hungry Caterpillar “The very hungry caterpillar literally eats his way through the pages of the book—and right into your child’s heart…”caterpillar

That’s Not My Puppy.. (And other similar ones)  Invite babies and toddlers to touch and feel a variety of exciting textures, helping develop both sensory and language awareness– These sturdy board books contain bright and simple illustrations that add to the “hands-on” fun. pupy

 

Hand, Hand, Finger, Thumb!   A madcap band of dancing, prancing monkeys explain hands, fingers, and thumbs to beginning readers.  hand

Picture Books: 

Pete the Cat: I Love my White Shoes Pete the Cat goes walking down the street wearing his brand new white shoes. Along the way, his shoes change from white to red to blue to brown to WET as he steps in piles of strawberries, blueberries, and other big messes! But no matter what color his shoes are, Pete keeps movin’ and groovin’ and singing his song…because it’s all good. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes asks the reader questions about the colors of different foods and objects.

pete

The Pout-Pout Fish  Swim along with the pout-pout fish as he discovers that being glum and spreading “dreary wearies” isn’t really his destiny. Bright ocean colors and playful rhyme come together in Deborah Diesen’s fun fish story that’s sure to turn even the poutiest of frowns upside down.

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Hippos Go Berserk! One hippo, all alone, calls two hippos on the phone.
So begins Sandra Boynton’s classic counting story, Hippos Go Berserk! Exuberant hippopotamus guests show up in ever-increasing numbers, until an all-night party is inevitable.hippo

 

Goodnight Moon In this classic of modern children’s literature, beloved by generations of readers and listeners, the quiet poetry of the words and the gentle, lulling illustrations combine to make a perfect book for the end of the day.moon

Guess How Much I love You Shortlisted for the 1994 Kurt Maschler Award and the Children’s Illustrated Book of the Year Award, this is the story of Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare, who discover that love is not an easy thing to measure.loveyou

Blueberries for Sal What happens when Sal and her mother meet a mother bear and her cub? A beloved classic is born!

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Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! When a bus driver takes a break from his route, a very unlikely volunteer springs up to take his place-a pigeon! But you’ve never met one like this before. As he pleads, wheedles, and begs his way through the book, children will love being able to answer back and decide his fate. In his hilarious picture book debut, popular cartoonist Mo Willems perfectly captures a preschooler’s temper tantrum.

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Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale Trixie, Daddy, and Knuffle Bunny take a trip to the neighborhood Laundromat. But the exciting adventure takes a dramatic turn when Trixie realizes somebunny was left behind Using a combination of muted black-and-white photographs and expressive illustrations, this stunning book tells a brilliantly true-to-life tale about what happens when Daddy’s in charge and things go terribly, hilariously wrong.knuffle

Where the Wild Things Are Where the Wild Things Are is fifty years old! Let the wild rumpus with Max and all the wild things continue as this classic comes to life as never before with new reproductions of Maurice Sendak’s artwork. Astonishing state-of-the-art technology faithfully captures the color and detail of the original illustrations. Sendak himself enthusiastically endorsed this impressive new interpretation of his art before his death in May 2012. Winner of the 1964 Caldecott Medal for the Most Distinguished Picture Book of the Year, Where the Wild Things Are became an iconic book that has inspired a movie, an opera, and the imagination of generations. It continues to be one of the best loved books of all time the world over, by the one and only Maurice Sendak.wildthings

The Lorax Long before saving the earth became a global concern, Dr. Seuss, speaking through his character the Lorax, warned against mindless progress and the danger it posed to the earth’s natural beauty. lorax

Press Here Press the yellow dot on the cover of this book, follow the instructions within, and embark upon a magical journey! Each page of this surprising book instructs the reader to press the dots, shake the pages, tilt the book, and who knows what will happen next! Children and adults alike will giggle with delight as the dots multiply, change direction, and grow in size! Especially remarkable because the adventure occurs on the flat surface of the simple, printed page, this unique picture book about the power of imagination and interactivity will provide read-aloud fun for all ages!presshereChapter Books: 

Harry Potter Harry Potter has no idea how famous he is. That’s because he’s being raised by his miserable aunt and uncle who are terrified Harry will learn that he’s really a wizard, just as his parents were. But everything changes when Harry is summoned to attend an infamous school for wizards, and he begins to discover some clues about his illustrious birthright. From the surprising way he is greeted by a lovable giant, to the unique curriculum and colorful faculty at his unusual school, Harry finds himself drawn deep inside a mystical world he never knew existed and closer to his own noble destiny.

harrypotter

Island of the Blue Dolphins This is the story of Karana, the Indian girl who lived alone for years on the Island of the Blue Dolphins. Year after year, she watched one season pass into another and waited for a ship to take her away.bluedolphins

Maniac Magee Jeffrey Lionel “Maniac” Magee might have lived a normal life if a freak accident hadn’t made him an orphan. After living with his unhappy and uptight aunt and uncle for eight years, he decides to run–and not just run away, but run. This is where the myth of Maniac Magee begins, as he changes the lives of a racially divided small town with his amazing and legendary feats.maniac

Wonder August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. WONDER, now a #1 New York Times bestseller and included on the Texas Bluebonnet Award master list, begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance. wonder

James and the Giant Peach After James Henry Trotter’s parents are tragically eaten by a rhinoceros, he goes to live with his two horrible aunts, Spiker and Sponge. Life there is no fun, until James accidentally drops some magic crystals by the old peach tree and strange things start to happen. The peach at the top of the tree begins to grow, and before long it’s as big as a house. Inside, James meets a bunch of oversized friends—Grasshopper, Centipede, Ladybug, and more. With a snip of the stem, the peach starts rolling away, and the great adventure begins!peach

What’s your favorite children’s book?

 

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