Our Favorite Children's Books (So Far!) AND Giveaway!

As soon as I found out I was pregnant with my daughter (who is now almost 5!), I started to amass what would become our children's book library. My sister, who is a middle school librarian, had already given me some great ideas; and then for my baby shower, we asked people to bring their favorite kids' book, and my library grew even more. There are still some classics from my childhood on this list, but we seem to discover new favorites every day. 

Here is our (somewhat abbreviated) list of the books we love most in my house. Please comment with any books you think we should check out or add to our list! 

I Wish You More

 By Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld

Every page of this book should be a poster on my daughter's bedroom wall. Amy Krause Rosenthal knows how to tug at the heartstrings of parenthood (see also Dear Girl below.) 

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The Monster at the End of This Book

Another Monster at the End of This Book

Both by Jon Stone

Illustrated by Michael Smollin

I could never make a best children's book list without including this book which was my favorite of childhood. And the sequel "Another Monster at the End of This Book" is somehow just as clever and wonderful. 

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Rain Before Rainbows

By Smriti Prasadam-Halls

Illustrated by David Litchfield

The cover of this book grabbed me and the illustrations and story (poem, really) are just breathtaking.

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Welcome: A Mo Willems Guide for New Arrivals

I read this one to my daughter so many times when she was just a baby and it has now become one of my go-to baby shower gifts for any new parents. Mo Willems so brilliantly and humorously puts into this "welcome guide" what any new parent wants their kids to know:

"You are loved. Right here. Right now. While we read this book together." 

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Any and all of Sandra Boynton's board books

If I could only choose one author's books to recommend for early childhood, it would be Sandra Boynton. Clever and silly and such a joy to read (and sometimes sing!), we literally read them almost every day in our home. Her "Oops" book (AKA Blue Hat, Green Hat) was the first book both my nephew and daughter "read" on their own. We even have copies of a few of her books in Spanish! 

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Never Touch a Spider

(and entire "Never Touch a..." book series)

by Rosie Greening and Stuart Lynch

Babies loves the textures and kids love the fun rhymes! An added bonus is the (unintentional?) lesson about personal space. 

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If you think a children's book without pictures will be boring and unappealing, The Book With No Pictures by BJ Novak will prove you wrong. Reading this book results in more belly laughs than any other book we've read. Be prepared to feel a little foolish as you read this one aloud (because it HAS to be read out loud!) 

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The Elephant and Piggie Books by Mo Willems

I could fill a list of just Mo Willems books we love. Starting with the Welcome Guide and ending with Unlimited Squirrels books, he has something for every age. The Elephant and Piggie books (all 25 of them!) fall somewhere in the middle. Quick reads with typically just a few words per page, yet somehow still highlighting the value of childhood friendships, they are perfect for early readers.  

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Rosie Revere, Engineer 

By Andrea Beaty

Illustrated by David Roberts

I cannot speak highly enough of this book and all the others in the Questioneers series. Not only are they so much fun to read with their almost Seuss-like rhymes and whimsical illustrations, but they demonstrate such important ideas that you don't always see in children's literature: It's okay to fail, it's okay to be different, it's okay to be disagree or be disappointed in adults - it's more important about how you react to and learn from those situations.

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Dear Girl 

By Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Paris Rosenthal 
Illustrated by Holly Hatam

Heartwarming and empowering, every girl needs a copy of this book to remind her just how awesome it it is to be a girl. Any kind of girl. 

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Little Blue Truck 

by Alice Schertle

Illustrated by Jill McElmurry

A rhyming book that shows the importance of friendship and working together. Perfect! 

There's a Little Blue Truck book for almost every occasion now, too!

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The Rabbit Listened

By Cori Doerrfeld

This is one of those children's books that might teach more to adults than kids. When disaster strikes, we so often want to figure out how to fix the problem. But, that's not always what someone needs. Sometimes we just need a friend to be there and sit with us until we are ready to face the world again. 

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