"Old-Timey" Books

Goodnight Moon is a classic and even gets me sleepy if I read it at 2 pm or 9 pm.

Pat the Bunny has been around since 1940.  It's fun and amazing how fast a baby will start to interact with the book and start waving bye-bye at the end.

Richard Scarry Books

Richard Scarry Books are so fun, if you have never tried one - you must.  Find yourself a child 3, maybe 4 years or older and have fun looking a all the details.  Cars and Trucks... is one book I grew up, it's my favorite of his and I love sharing this book with my kids. Love that Goldbug!

 I also like the Please and Thank you - great to read when you feel your children need a little dose of manners.

And What Do People Do All Day is a fun exploring and beginning to understand the working world.  Great preschool book.

Skippyjon Jones

 I love those books that just beg to be read aloud - and this is one of them.  I love trying out my Spanish accent, which is terrible I would add, but fun to try out, and my kids don't know any different.  This character is truly a character - naughty, lovable, and brave.  This is perfect for little boys.

There's something about a Miniature Book that babies love...

 
Miniature Board Books just seem to beg for your baby or toddler to pick them up and flip through them.  I have this set and even the case is fun for my baby to open and close.  It has a magnetic closure that he loves to open, put books in, then close, then open, and repeat.  Lots of cute fun.

 

I love Max and Ruby - well the show can get annoying, especially if you grew up with older siblings like Ruby, but Max makes me laugh.  I love this book - what little toddler doesn't love to say "GO!!" Before you know it they'll be shouting "Go!" the minute you start to pick this book up.

This book is a great one to read, say until they are 3, then leave it alone for a while until they are ready to read - age 5 or so and this is a great one for them to read on their own.

Favorite Infant Baby Board books

When you are first reading books to a baby say at 4 months - keep it short - one book or even just 2 pages of one book.  These are some of my favorites: You've got to share books with babies - because as we all know, babies love seeing other babies:

Tom Arma's Zoo Crew

Tom Arma's Water Babies

You have to share books with animals and make the noises, that's half the fun of reading to a baby is making all the noises and seeing if they will copy you:

Usbourne Farmyard Tales Animal Noises

Good Night Gorilla

The first book I that I really get excited to share with my babies is Good Night Gorilla - so cute and tender and the perfect just before bed book.  It has layers if you look closely and can be read until a child is 5 or so.  There is the moon, the balloon, the people in the window - don't let out all the secrets of the book at once.  Start with just reading the text, then when they get to about 18 months-2 start pointing out the banana, or the balloon, and progress from there.

My favorite time of day...

My favorite time of day with my kids has always been reading time.  I love the closeness, the stories, and the interaction with my kids.  I was just thinking today that I may not read some of these stories for a while - my baby is 15 months old now, and already he is outgrowing some of the stories I love to read to him.  But, I hope to have many grandbabies to read to and I don't want to forget all these books I love, and at what age my kids love to hear them.

So, I thought, I'll write up a blog and add books as I go so I will never forget.  I am forgetful...there is a book about being forgetful that I love:  The Forgetful Bears, perfect for age 5-7.  This little chid of mine may be my last baby, but I hope to have many grandkids.