Finding books that your little ones truly love can be a huge undertaking. There are tons of childrens' books out there. It can help to know some titles that are already loved by another child so that you have a good place to start when looking for new reading material for your wee one. So I thought I would share Baby E's five favorite books right now, maybe you haven't heard of even one of them before and your little one will love them, too!
#1. "The Red Lemon" by Bob Staake
This book was actually a gift to Baby E by a family friend when he was a newborn. At first glance, I wasn't impressed. Being raised by a graphic designer, I'll admit I can be a bit of a picky snob when it comes to design. The design came across to me as too simple and easy. I read the book through out loud to my son, and by the end, it had won me over. The story is adorable. I don't want to give the story away, but let's just say it's about a farmer who is very successful selling lemons, and he gets very concerned when he spots a red lemon growing on one of his trees. The designs might actually be more easily appreciated by little ones because of its simplicity, and they are certainly drawn to the bright, bold colors (something I wish more childrens' books had more of). We've had this book for over a year now, and I still read it to him every day (sometimes several times a day). He recognizes it by the spine on the bookshelf, and he goes and pulls it off the shelf and bring it to me all by himself! The sentences throughout the book flow and rhyme very well, and these days Baby E will actually sway side to side as I read it! To purchase this book, click here.
#2. "Llama Llama Red Pajama" by Anna Dewdney
I took Baby E to the Edmonton Public Library for one of their programs, about six months ago on a Saturday, after I finished up at the Farmer's Market. He often gets squirmy and bored during their weekday program, since the book chosen for the day is always a board book, and he has never been a fan of them (I think he enjoys the bigger pictures in regular hardcover books for 3-5 year olds). But when the librarian read "Llama Llama Red Pajama" he was captivated, start to finish. It is an adorable story, and something I think so many parents and children alike can relate to. A week later, we bought it. For months, this was actually his favorite book, but it has lost out to "The Red Lemon." The story of this book follows a little llama who's imagination gets him a bit too carried away when his mama leaves him to go to sleep. To purchase this book, click here.
#3. "Wild About Books" by Judy Sierra
Years ago, I remember seeing this book cover everywhere. It was insanely popular, but I had far outgrown childrens' books. The cover did stick with me though, and I never forgot it! When I was perusing the selection of kids' books at the Old Strathcona Books, our favorite used bookstore, I happened to see this title on display, sitting on a shelf way up on the top. It was in perfect condition, so even though it wasn't very steeply discounted off the retail price, I couldn't resist. "Wild About Books" is a cute story of a zoo full of animals that end up introduced to books by a librarian with a bookmobile (there are references to books such as "Harry Potter" and "Goodnight Moon" in this book), and the story follows the results. The illustrations are unique, and it is written very sweetly. Baby E enjoys it, and it's definitely one of my favorite books of his, too! To purchase this book, click here.
#4. "Little Blue Truck" by Alice Schertle
We happened upon these at Costco, and I hadn't heard of them before. But, Baby E didn't yet have any books about cars. So we took a chance, and bought it without even looking inside the book (it was packaged in plastic along with its companion book, "Little Blue Truck Leads the Way." I read it to Baby E that night before bed, and he listened intently. This is one of the few board books he likes. It follows a---you guessed it!---little blue truck that is driving through the country, taking his time to enjoy it, and making friends with all the animals that pass. A rude truck in a hurry passes him, and what transpires is reminiscent of the classic tale of the tortoise and the hare. Baby E doesn't get super excited about this book, but he does enjoy it. So it lives on my nightstand with a modest collection of other books that are "bedtime books." We read them to him in bed before we go to sleep, and at no other time. Although not about sleep or anything close to it, my son prefers having this read to him before sleeping more than any other book, even "Goodnight Moon"! To purchase this book, click here.
#5. "If All the Animals Came Inside" by Eric Pinder
This silly book follows the events that transpire after a group of wild animals enter a family's home and wreck havoc on it. The entire thing is enjoyed by one of the children, of course! My son enjoys this, although not as much as the others mentioned above. It doesn't rhyme quite as smoothly, but what child doesn't love a story that's all about having a great deal of fun making a huge mess? The style in which the book is illustrated is interesting, as it blends animation with real objects added in here and there. Any Green Toys owners will probably recognize the Dump Truck on one of the pages! I'll leave you to look for it on your own. To purchase this book, click here.
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