The tiny human is now one, and he’s also now enamored of books.
He has recently become addicted to Goodnight, Gorilla, which is cute as all get-out.
The other day on Twitter, when I mentioned his newfound adoration of this book and many others (and also his abject disdain for Goodnight, Moon), many folks chimed in with suggestions, including this delightful parody, Goodnight, Dune. So, I figure this is a good time to poll you folks with kids —
Recommend for me some good books! Preferably board books, since that’s what the tot likes.
He just turned one.
We need books.
DELIVER UNTO ME YOUR TINY HUMAN BIBLIO-SENSATIONS.
Recommend away!
Jeff Xilon says:
When my great-aunt, an ex-librarian, gave my son Goodnight Gorilla she also gave him:
Sometimes I Like to Curl Up in a Ball, by Vicki Churchill and Charles Fuge.
It took him longer to warm up to than Goodnight Gorilla, but once he did he loved it – still does. Additional bonus: It’s about a wombat!
May 23, 2012 — 12:17 AM
Laramie says:
My library has the Leading to Reading (http://www.leading2reading.com/) program which gives you a post card every month from a newborn to a 5 year old (61 in total) which will give you books until Bdub is probably able to read on his own. (Full disclosure, it’ll cost you some money, but you’re a hot shot author, Wedingo, I bet you can scrounge up the money to dump into your spawn.)
Personally, I loved Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (involving the alphabet and falling out of coconut trees) and I’ll Love you Forever (which is just as sappy as it sounds). But, bear in mind, these suggestions are coming from a 23 year old female. But seriously, falling out of coconut trees. If that’s not the most awesome way to teach the alphabet, then I’m a buffalo.
May 23, 2012 — 12:42 AM
Mello says:
The Giving Tree was good. There’s also Little Drummer Boy. If he won’t go to sleep, you can read Go the Fuck to Sleep (my cousin loved that one). Where the Wild Things Are, any Sesame Street books, and my cousin has a Kermit the Frog one she loves.
May 23, 2012 — 12:52 AM
Peta says:
“Spot” and “Hairy Maclarey” were always a hit with my kids. At one, anything that had lots of photographs and pictures were well loved like “Baby and Toddler’s Big Book of Everything” by Roger Priddy. Oh, and not to forget “Elmo loves you”
May 23, 2012 — 1:05 AM
Jessica says:
I Took the Moon for a Walk
That’s Not My Monster/Train/Car/Kitten/Monkey/etc.
Chugga Chugga Choo Choo
My First Book of Sushi
Hola Jalapeño!
Little Blue Truck
The Color Kittens
Machines at Work
Roger Priddy books: http://www.amazon.com/Roger-Priddy/e/B001H6KPVK
Snuggle Puppy
Barnyard Dance
The Going to Bed Book
Hello Kitty Hello Color
Monkey’s Super Smoothie
Philly Joe Giraffe’s Jungle Jazz
Freight Train
May 23, 2012 — 1:13 AM
Maree Anderson says:
OMG, total nostalgia trip back to the fun we had reading to our littlies. Big awwwww!!!!!
So here’s a completely OTT list –some are board books, some are the next stage up but a treat for the adults who get to read them again and again. And again *g*
~Hairy Maclary and Slinky Malinki books by Lynley Dodd
~Peepo! and Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet Ahlberg
~The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
~Dear Zoo and pretty much anything else by Rod Campbell
~We’re Going On A Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
May 23, 2012 — 1:15 AM
Leslie says:
“Russell the Sheep” by Rob Scotton is a continuing favorite in our house. If you get the “Go to Sleep, Russell the Sheep” volume it has a bonus sound bite that snores every time you open the last page. Awesome. We still count sleepy sheep. My personal favorite was “Harold and Purple Crayon” by Crockett Johnson which may well explain my habit of writing inside books. Something to consider. When post-toddler years arrive “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak is timeless and “Skippyjon Jones” by Judy Schachner (and all his friends) are really fun.
May 23, 2012 — 1:29 AM
Linds says:
Mo Willems’s pigeon series is hilarious. The pigeon has attitude and is rather awesome.
The first is Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus!:
http://www.pigeonpresents.com/book-info.aspx?bid=14
http://pigeonpresents.com/data/interiorspreadls/pigeon_bus_spread_lg.jpg
May 23, 2012 — 2:09 AM
James R. Tuck says:
I don’t know about being 1…it’s been 14 years since I had a 1 year old. That being said if you don’t buy your kid EVERYONE POOPS by Taro Gomi then the universe will stop making sense.
May 23, 2012 — 2:26 AM
Kristin Nador says:
This subject has been at the forefront of my thoughts as my almost 1-year old tiny grandhuman is discovering books. Some of my kids’ favorites were “Make Way For Ducklings’, ‘The Little Engine That Could’, ‘Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel’ and anything by Dr. Seuss. Old school classics.
I just bought a copy of Beatrix Potter’s ‘The Story of Peter Rabbit’ board book beautifully illustrated by Lisa McCue. My son really liked bad boy Peter back in the day, so I’m thinking grandhuman will, too.
May 23, 2012 — 2:30 AM
Kristin says:
Chris Haughton. Little Owl Lost (Not sure whether it’s available in a board book, but it’s awesome, kids love it.)
John Lawrence. This Little Chick (Awesome.)
Margaret Wise Brown. The Big Red Barn (Love it.)
Mem Fox. It’s Time for Bed
Byron Barton. Trains, and Machines at Work (Kids love it.)
Eric Carle. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See; The Very Hungry Caterpillar; and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? (There are a bunch of Carle books out there that involve matching split pages of colors and numbers, etc. My Very First Book of X–not so good.)
DK Books. My First Truck Board Book, and Baby Faces
Donald Crews. Truck (wordless, awesome), and Freight Train
Rod Campbell. Dear Zoo (unrealistic premise with a greedy narrator, but fun book.)
Sandra Boynton. Moo, Baa, La La La! (I didn’t love it, kids do.)
Alexandra Day. Good Dog Carl (It’s pretend, people.)
Dr. Seuss. Ten Apples Up on Top, and The Foot Book
Pat Hutchins. Rosie’s Walk
Wish I’d had: Star Wars ABC
May 23, 2012 — 3:16 AM
Penrefe says:
I bought my 18 month old sister “I Want My Hat Back” by Jon Klassen. My dad wasn’t impressed, but she seems to like it, might be your kind of thing. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11233988-i-want-my-hat-back
May 23, 2012 — 3:23 AM
Sigil says:
Get thee unto “The Gruffalo” & “The Gruffalo’s Child” right now!
Written in a brilliant rhythm that slips easily off the tongue and keeps kids entranced.
Has a big monster in it that’s outwitted by a clever mouse. Basically teaches you to use your imagination and your brain to stand up to bullies.
Comes in those board book versions for easy chewing – and the BBC did amazing animated versions of both over the last couple of years with oustanding voice talent (John Hurt and Tom Wilkinson among others).
Would also recommend ‘Room on the Broom’ by the same author.
Apart from that, anything by H.P Lovecraft.
May 23, 2012 — 4:10 AM
Natalie says:
The Very Hungry Caterpillar. (board book with holes in it!)
The Odd Egg. (A male duck defies all the other birds and hatches out a crocodile – great surprise SNAP at the end)
The Green Sheep.
anything you can sing along to like an incarnation of Old McDonald. our copy is very chewed.
May 23, 2012 — 4:38 AM
Ashley says:
We bought our son a copy of “Where’s My Cow?” when he was itty-bitty, and it was his favorite book for a long time. It’s also the first book he tore pages out of. We got so sick of reading it that we just sort of — well, stopped reading it.
Miles was in love with Sandra Boynton books when he was one. “Doggies” was his favorite. He would literally laugh his little fool head off so hard, he would fart. Which, granted — not difficult for a one-year-old. I like reading Boynton books. Because they have Hippopautimouses. (That has to be spelled wrong. Did I just spell that so wrong that my browser’s spellcheck gave up?) At three, he still enjoys them, but with disappointingly fewer giggle-farts.
Mo Willem’s Pigeon books are hilarious.
(Also: D’awwwww baby pictures! #BabyRabies)
May 23, 2012 — 4:50 AM
Sarah says:
I second the recommendation of all Sandra Boynton books, especially the Belly Button Book, and Dinosaur’s Binket. Richard Scarry’s What Do People Do All Day and his other detailed picture books were also huge hits with my toddlers.
May 23, 2012 — 5:16 AM
ian says:
is it horrible of me to pimp my own book? I wrote it for my daughter as a present for her 5th birthday, so its a bit older than B-dub’s level, but he would grow into it. Check it out if you like: http://www.ottotheotter.com
if somebody buys a copy, maybe I’ll have a position above the 2 million mark on Amazon! Ha!
I’ll also chime in on Mo Williams – his books are fantastic.
May 23, 2012 — 7:03 AM
Heather Marsten says:
I highly recommend getting your hands on a Chinaberry catalogue – they break down the books by age group (including good books for adults)- and board books. They give detailed descriptions and even ways to expand on the use of the books you do buy. One other thing you can do is visit your library – try out a book before you buy it :).
Have a blessed day.
Heather
May 23, 2012 — 7:31 AM
Madeleine says:
“Are You My Mother?” is a great one. So are the Barbapapa books.
And let’s not forget Calvin & Hobbes. It’s never too early to learn sarcasm.
May 23, 2012 — 7:35 AM
Christopher Gronlund says:
No kids, here, but a few friends’ kids love and loved:
The Fly, by Gusti
Bear Snores on, by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
Charley Harper ABCs
Bossy Bear, by David Horvath
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith
(They also did The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales)
Kid’s books worthy of adult collection:
Anything by David Wiesner (no words, so they might not connect with a 1-year-old)
The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, by Chris Van Allsburg
Couple of my faves as a kid (Maybe in a year or two):
The Story of Ferdinand
Andrew Henry’s Meadow
Dandelion, by Don Freeman
May 23, 2012 — 7:42 AM
KimD says:
No kids but I always get suckered into reading this one ten times for a friend’s spawn.
My Monster Mama Loves Me So by Laura Leuck
May 23, 2012 — 7:55 AM
Delia says:
Thirding Sandra Boynton. My kids particularly enjoyed Moo, Baa, La La La. Also, she’s hilarious on Twitter.
May 23, 2012 — 8:02 AM
DB Baldwin says:
My daughters loved Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See. Unfair warning: it’s baby crack. Fair warning: avoid it. It’s miserable reading it every night for two years.
May 23, 2012 — 8:36 AM
terribleminds says:
WOOO
Keep ’em coming.
I’ll also note that Baby B-Dub is digging on Little Blue Truck right now.
— c.
May 23, 2012 — 8:40 AM
Shai Norton says:
Fourthing Sandra Boynton. Monster still enjoys her “Blue Hat Green Hat”.
“Eating the Alphabet: Fruits and Vegetables from A to Z,” by Lois Ehlert. (Monster also liked the stock photo-o’rama Roger Priddy books, but he loved the Ehlert vegetable book. Not that it inspired him to grow up with a love of vegetables. Sigh.)
Also (non-board, but hard cover books):
“I’d Really Like to Eat a Child,” by Sylviane Donnio (assuming you can find it). Reading this with crocodile voices is absolutely required.
“Llama Llama Mad At Mama,” by Anna Dewdney
May 23, 2012 — 8:51 AM
Kate Haggard says:
No one’s suggested Seuss? Really? Chuck, get thee out and get thee Seuss. Also, his other pseudonym for when he didn’t do the illustrations too – LeSieg.
The parents I know always give one caution though: get the books that are fun for you to read. Otherwise you’re going to read them so much you’ll want to down a fifth of everclear and throw yourself out of a tree. Or so they say. *is the childless person in the room*
May 23, 2012 — 8:53 AM
Leigh Ann says:
Personal Favorites:
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type
The Doctor Suess Sleep Book
Where The Wild Things Are
That’s Not Your Mommy Anymore (Toddler Zombie Horror)
Monsters Eat Whiny Children
May 23, 2012 — 9:12 AM
Amanda says:
Definitely seconding the pigeon books. Bonus points if you give the pigeon a Brooklyn accent when you read it.
The Stinky Cheese Man by John Scieszka kept my 6 siblings and I entertained for years. It’s also a brilliant way to get kids used to the fact that sometimes characters break the fourth wall. It’s the gateway book to Deadpool.
May 23, 2012 — 9:14 AM
Delilah S. Dawson says:
My kids’ favorite board book is Peek-a-Who? by Nina Laden. They also loved Eric Carle. And Goodnight, Goon was a non-board favorite and far superior to Goodnight, Moon.
Things to skip: The Giving Tree, Rainbow Fish, and Everybody Poops, because you don’t give away your special sauce, and we all know some people flat out don’t poop.
May 23, 2012 — 9:15 AM
Lydia says:
Sandra Boynton YES. Seuss YES. At that age my son was addicted to “Ten Apples Up On Top” and “Dr. Seuss’s ABC.” If you can do voices and be a funny read-aloud-er, these are priceless.
Here’s another one that’s especially fun to read aloud: Sheep in a Jeep.
For when he’s a bit older, this is a poetry collection that sounds insipid but is actually hilarious and very sweet, and the illustrations are wonderful: Little Dog Poems by Kristine George.
I agree with Kate ^^ when she says get what YOU want to read… because when they latch onto something you hate, you’ll want to put your eyes out with forks. “So Many Bunnies” damn near killed me. Get him hooked on something you like so when you memorize it to the point you’re reciting it in your sleep, you won’t have to execute yourself.
May 23, 2012 — 9:17 AM
Keith Rawson says:
Jane Yolen’s Dinosaur books are awesome (How Does A Dinosaur Eat His Food, How Does A Dinosaur Say Goodnight.) and the Sleepy Little Alphabet are essential toddler reading.
May 23, 2012 — 9:18 AM
Carrie Clevenger says:
Just throwing a bone here, but hey Chuck! Write one! My kid is hungry for books too. 🙂
May 23, 2012 — 9:18 AM
Vanessa says:
My little monkeys adored “Go Dog Go” above and beyond everything else we brought into the house. They have had three different well-loved copies of it, and still at four and a half years old, when we pull up to a stoplight in the car they both shout “Stop, dogs, stop! The light is red!’ (I suppose telling them it’s rude to call their mama “dogs” is going to have to wait a few years) It’s so cute, I even forgive them for calling me “dogs.”
May 23, 2012 — 9:19 AM
Greymattersplat says:
I’m a big fan of stuff like:
Where the Deep Ones Are: http://www.amazon.com/Where-Deep-Ones-Mini-Mythos/dp/1589781031/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337779086&sr=1-3
and
Baby’s First Mythos: http://www.amazon.com/Call-Cthulhu-Novels-Babys-Mythos/dp/B002MGZY1U/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337779086&sr=1-2
May 23, 2012 — 9:21 AM
Angela says:
As a toddler, my boy loved “The Big Red Barn” which has a nice cadence when read aloud. I think it’s available in different formats, but we had it as a board book.
Also, anything by Sandra Boynton was a hit….”The Going to Bed Book” and “Barnyard Dance” and “Moo Bah La La La”. I think all of those titles are still in Board books.
When he was older, the favorites became “The Monster at the End of this Book” and “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs” (non-board books) and various Seuss titles.
May 23, 2012 — 9:23 AM
Jim Kiley says:
Obviously The Seuss is mandatory although some Seuss is downright freaky.
Wibbly Pig and other books by Mick Inkpen were very popular in our house.
There are a couple whose authors’ names I have forgotten. There was a dinosaurs-in-school dealing-with-bullies book called “Tyrone the Horrible” that was well-loved. And another one called “Lullabyhullaballoo” that was also quite lovely and fun.
May 23, 2012 — 9:24 AM
Margo says:
Suess for sure but beware the Big A, little a, stays in your head forever. Where the Wild Things Are, Boyton – the hippos dancing and others. And Meuh. (I’m sure there’s an English version of Meuh, Bzzz, etc.)
Cars, and Trucks and Things that Go – not a board book but really cool.
May 23, 2012 — 9:25 AM
Susan Jett says:
My 20-mos. old currently loves the Llama Llama books to the point of obsession, When he was a year old, I think his faves were Richard Scarry’s Best Word Book Ever, Go Maisy Go!, Jamberry, Mama (and Papa) do you love me?, Guess How Much I Love You, Seuss’s ABC book (NOT the abridged board book, but the full version), Boynton books–Barnyard Dance is still a favorite, ANYTHING with photos of babies in it!
May 23, 2012 — 9:26 AM
Alexis says:
Luckily, I already have a list from when my cousin had a baby. I’m a former children’s bookseller and a current part-time babysitter, so these are titles I’ve had great success with selling or reading aloud.
Apologies in advance if the links are old.
I Know a Rhino
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/I-Know-a-Rhino/Charles-Fuge/e/9781402708619/?itm=2&USRI=rhino
Big Red Barn
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Big-Red-Barn/Margaret-Wise-Brown/e/9780694006243/?itm=1&USRI=big+red+barn
Barnyard Dance
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Barnyard-Dance/Sandra-Boynton/e/9781563054426/?itm=4&USRI=sandra+boynton
Bright Baby 4 book set
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Bright-Baby/Roger-Priddy/e/9780312494476/?itm=9&USRI=priddy
Pets Touch & Feel
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Pets/Nicola-Deschamps/e/9780789479334/?pwb=1&
Silly Sally
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Silly-Sally/Audrey-Wood/e/9780152019907/?pwb=1&
More More More Said the Baby
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/More-More-More-Said-the-Baby/Vera-B-Williams/e/9780688156343/?itm=1&USRI=more+more+more+said+the+baby
First Book of Sushi
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/First-Book-of-Sushi/Amy-Wilson-Sanger/e/9781582460505/?itm=1
Hola! Jalapeno
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Hola-Jalapeno/Amy-Wilson-Sanger/e/9781582460727/?itm=3
Is Your Mama a Llama?
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Is-Your-Mama-a-Llama/Guarino/e/9780590259385/?pwb=1&
Yummy Yucky
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Yummy-Yucky/Leslie-Patricelli/e/9780763619503/?itm=1&USRI=yummy+yucky
May 23, 2012 — 9:27 AM
Susan Jett says:
Oh, and if you’ve got some free time (haha) Shutterfly photo books–done on an ABC theme, with all his family and favorite toys/things/foods has probably been the biggest hit with my kiddo, as well as being a nice gift for family. It takes a bit of time to make one/figure out what you’re going to use for Qs and Xs, etc, but he loves that photo book madly and deeply.
May 23, 2012 — 9:28 AM
MikeS75 says:
Sandra Boynton, also anything Kevin Henkes and Mo Willems. And “The Monster at the End of This Book”, but doing the Grover voice all the way to the end will fuck up your throat, fair warning.
May 23, 2012 — 9:29 AM
Alison says:
Seconding Mo Willems’ pigeon books. That pigeon is a master class in a character changing tactics to get what he wants.
Also, I really like The Story of the Little Mole Who Went In Search Of Whodunit — it’s a mystery about poop! http://www.amazon.com/Story-Little-Mole-Search-Whodunit/dp/081091641X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337780605&sr=1-1
May 23, 2012 — 9:45 AM
Curtis Edmonds says:
Boynton titles our girls enjoy include “Birthday Monsters” and “Pajama Time”. They have a good beat and you can dance to it.
“I am a Bunny,” Ole Risom, with Richard Scarry illustrations. Thank me later. Also “Little Gorilla” by Ruth Bornstein.
We have a lot of Karen Katz lift-the-flap books. WARNING: These get ripped up fast.
Someone recommended “Elmo Loves You,” which was VERY popular but is deadly in large doses.
Willems is a good recommend but I don’t know that a little boy would love “Knuffle Bunny” the way that my girls do. I did not buy them the “Pigeon” books because I don’t want them modeling that behavior any more than they already do. They do like Elephant and Piggie, very much, but they’re 3 – you will want to hold off on those.
My kids love the Clifford books, but I (deep breath) CANNOT STAND THEM. Aaargh. They’re just so poorly written, especially the ones that are based on the TV series. (Bridwell could draw, at least.) Worse, my kids KNOW that I hate them, and INSIST that I read them ALL.
Oh, and get some of Anna Dewdney’s Llama, Llama books. Top-notch.
The Curious George board books are very well done. The Sesame Street books are hit-and-miss but the potty ones are very well done.
May 23, 2012 — 9:45 AM
terribleminds says:
Pajama Time is a big winner here.
— c.
May 23, 2012 — 9:56 AM
Alison says:
Also, Margaret Atwood’s children’s books, which are very very fun to read out loud:
Rude Ramsay and the Roaring Radishes
http://www.amazon.com/Ramsay-Roaring-Radishes-Margaret-Atwood/dp/1582349509/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337780565&sr=1-3
Bashful Bob and Doleful Dorinda
http://www.amazon.com/Bashful-Doleful-Dorinda-Margaret-Atwood/dp/1599900041/ref=pd_sim_b_3
Princess Prunella and the Purple Peanut
http://www.amazon.com/Princess-Prunella-Purple-Peanut-Margaret/dp/0761101667/ref=pd_sim_b_1
May 23, 2012 — 9:48 AM
Rebecca says:
Ditto anything by Mo Willems and M. Sendak of course
Also,
My Truck is Stuck by Kevin Lewis – my daughters were both obsessed with it. I must have read it a billion times to them.
The Runaway Bunny – still makes me tear up
The Napping House by Audrey Wood
The Tin Forest – by Helen Ward for when he’s a little older (not a board book)
May 23, 2012 — 9:52 AM
San says:
The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss was always a hit. My daughter also LOVED The Mitten, but Goodnight Gorilla is the best. You’ll never top it.
May 23, 2012 — 9:57 AM
Damian Trasler says:
I’d add in “Stuck” by Oliver Jeffers, since I had to stop reading it to cry with laughter. All three of my weasels came to hear it, and they’re eight, eleven and fourteen….
May 23, 2012 — 9:59 AM
Epheros says:
Didn’t read through all the comments but when my boy was tiny (he’s 14 now) he loved the shit out of the Little Critter series. They were colorful, funny, and he had a great time trying to find the little spider or grasshopper that follow the main character around in each of the painted scenes. It might be for a little bit older but certainly close enough and definitely something to look into. I still have all the books (probably around 25 or so) that I’d read to my son, and hopefully I’ll read them to his child when he’s older (or he to his child).
Of course, one cannot go wrong with Dr. Seuss for the little ones, the Lovecraftian dementia associated with those spell-like verses will prepare the boy for some of the people he’ll have to deal with later on, such as dickhead bosses, idiot highschoolers, etc…
I’ll have to check my son’s bookshelf for other great books he loved, tho in a year or two yours may also get a kick out of Scooby-Doo adventures; my boy did and he would love to watch the cartoons too.
May 23, 2012 — 10:03 AM
Shanyn says:
Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo by Kevin Lewis (if he’s interested in trains). Also any of the Byron Barton series on vehicles. Two *huge* favorites along this theme are “I Stink” by Kate & Jim McMullan and “Trashy Town” by Andrea Zimmerman, both about garbage trucks (an obsession of youngest son – who’s now in kindergarten – for a while).
“I’m as Quick as a Cricket” and pretty much anything else by Audrey Wood. “Rolie Polie Olie” by William Joyce. “Cars and Trucks and Things That Go” by Richard Scarry (hunt for the tiny goldbug on every page). My boys love the illustrations in these books as much as the stories.
“I Love You” by Remy Charlip, “The Monster at the End of This Book” by Jon Stone, “Animals Should Definitely Not Act Like People” by Judi Barrett are all oldies but goodies (like from when I was a kid) with a healthy dose of smart-ass silliness. Never met a boy who didn’t giggle at all three of these.
May 23, 2012 — 10:06 AM
l.s. johnson says:
frederick, by leo leonni (relevant to writers)
the story of ferdinand, by munro leaf (also relevant to writers)
mccloskey’s blueberries for sal is just lovely (can you tell i was a child of the 70s?)
might be better understood in a year or two, but i think it might appeal: don’t call me little bunny, about a little bunny who goes fabulously bad and even goes to jail and stuff! read the reviews first, some parents were very upset about this one.
the seuss stuff, natch
and–> one for the parents:
a child’s guide to freud, by louise armstrong. witty and fabulous.
May 23, 2012 — 10:14 AM
Dave Versace says:
I would have to break into the sleeping 4YO’s room to check some names, but from memory:
– All the Seuss. But make him learn to read goddamn Fox in Socks for himself so you don’t have to.
– Lynley Dodd’s Hairy McLary and Slinki Malinki books are sheer joy to read to kids. Fun rhymes, unusual words and mischievous animals. Slinki Malinki is a dead-set crime thriller and one of my favourites.
– Anyone who doesn’t read ‘The Monster at the End of This Book’ to their kids (over 2, probably) is guilty of parental neglect and should be jailed.
There, I said it.
May 23, 2012 — 10:14 AM