Monday, July 16, 2007

What's your favorite childhood book?


So Mike and I really enjoy reading to Kate, and she seems to like it, too. But we have one small problem... We only have 2 books! We bought "Are You My Mother?" and "I Love You, Stinky Face" the last time we were at BabiesRUs, and then Mike just ordered "Harold and the Purple Crayon" and "Where the Wild Things Are" from Amazon, but I wanted to hear from all of you as to what your favorite (or your kids favorites) childhood books are, so that we can get all of the classics in our library. Thanks!

13 comments:

Mindy said...

So many favorites! Here are a few:

"While You Were Sleeping" by John Butler
"Tumble Bumble" by Felicia Bond
"Time for Bed" by Mem Fox
"Guess How Much I Love You" by Sam McBratney
"I Spy.." little books by Jean Marzollo
"I Touch" by Rachel Isadora
"I Love You Through and Through" (a new favorite of Emily's)

My kids also loved "Goodnight, Moon", "The Kissing Hand", "Busy Bee", all the little Sandra Boynton books, and anything that had rhyming, counting, or lift-the-flaps.

Cute pictures!!

Natalie said...

I personally loved all of the Dr. Seuss books, and the Shel Silverstien poetry collection (too advanced for babies? Nah.) And one of the sweetest I've read and still remember from my childhood is "Love you forever" by Robert Munsch.

PS Mike did you get a new haircut?
Looks nice, even if you didn't.

Emily and Clay said...

"Guess How Much I Love You"
is my FAVORITE. I own it for myself!!!! I also have a couple of other children's books at home that i will write down the names for you. Anywho--love your blog and I promise we will come see more of that cute Katie-Kate.

Jenny said...

At 6 months-12 months, my kids loved any book with pictures of baby animals. "Texture" books were always popular, too. (The kind with fur on a bear, or leather on an elephant). A newborn book that always made me teary was "Time for Bed" by Mem Fox. Maybe it was post-partum hormones, I don't know, but the last page always got me.

"Lift the flap" books at 12+ months are good. Any kind. Gives busy hands something to do, and they will actually sit through story-time. My kids liked the "Maisy" books by Lucy Cousins.

For future reference-I highly recommend anything by Jan Brett. A must for any children's library. They are the most beautifully illustrated children's books I have ever seen. (Art lover, here) We have all of her books and my kids choose them over any other books we have. Some titles are:
"The Mitten", "Trouble with Trolls", "Daisy Comes Home", "Comet's Nine Lives". Check 'em out some time.
Hope that helps. :)
Kate looks like she loves her Daddy reading to her. Good habit to get into....bravo.

Mindy said...

"I Love You As Much" (I think that's the title)

When Jenny mentioned getting teary over "Time for Bed", I remembered this one that was also a favorite. It's about different mothers in nature who are telling their babies how much they love them. Ex: Said the mother sheep to her child, "I love you as much as the grass on the hill." Said the mother mouse to her child, "I love you as much as the grain in the mill." Said the mother camel to her child, "I love you as much as the desert is dry." Said the mother goose to her child, "I love you as much as the endless blue sky." You get the picture! It ends with a human mother talking to her tiny newborn (when Steve reads the story, he switches out all the "mother"s for "father."

Beautiful illustrations, too. One of our favorites!

Jenny said...

Yes! THAT was the one...(brain is foggy today) "I Love You As Much".
I read those two (Time for Bed & I Love You As Much) so often, I think I got them mixed up. Thanks Mindy!

Mindy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
lydia said...

Jenny--

Thanks so much for your visit today! And thank you so so much for bringing those two books for Kate to enjoy now. That was very sweet of you.

EVERYONE-- Thanks for the feedback! I think we have a great place to start, and I am excited to see which books will become Kate's favorites!

Shanna said...

Wow! I seriously got teary-eyed reading that little blip Mindy put down. I just love that all of you are such amazing mothers! Again, teary-eyed and I don't even have post-partum hormones! I love you girls and admire you so much!

P.S. I love you too daddy Mike! I agree with Nat, nice hair.

mikemetcalf said...

This is turning into a very sentimental post. :) Good job honey! (I'm always happy when I can make Lydia cry... tears of happiness at least. I have made her cry for other reasons too. Again, sorry for scaring you last year, that was just mean... but so funny.)

Thanks for the haircut compliments Shanna and Natalie. I got it cut special to optimize my story-telling abilities.

Lou said...

Lydia,

Hey it’s Lori Lessig….now Lori Tanner, I married a Mike too. How the heck are you? Things are good here. Mike and I are still in LA. Shanna told me about your blog space so I could see Kate, she is so cute. Any who, I saw your question about favorite children’s books and guess what I collect children’s picture books and considered myself an expert in the subject. The secret with children’s books is good illustrations and little prose as possible. In my research of this study I have come across a wonderful website that was posted from the New York children’s public library. Here is the link: http://kids.nypl.org/reading/recommended2.cfm?ListID=61. I have most of these books and LOVE THEM. The whole Olivia series is darling.

As for me, no kids yet, though Mike’s really baby hungry, I am trying to hold out a little longer. I am back in school working towards a masters in Speech therapy. I know I am crazy, sometimes I don’t know why I am doing it.

Well I hope all is well.

I’ll be home in three weeks so we should get together.

Lori

PS

Ask Shanna for my address and email me.

Jer and Jealin said...

Hey Lyd,

I am so glad to see you have posted this question! We are starting a library for Beckham as well. One of my fav's growing up was 'the very hungry catapillar' along with the classic 'green eggs and ham'. Kate is beautiful like her mommy! Call me soon.

Love, Jealin

Anonymous said...

Lydia...

I finally am checking out your blog! So, favorite children's books...well, I have a whole collection. Carter really likes the Sandra Boynton books and his favorite nighttime book is Goodnight Moon. The very hungry caterpillar is very colorful and most kids enjoy it. Also, I love the book called The Paper Bag Princess...so cute and it is by Robert Munsch. Good call Natalie on Love You Forever...always makes me cry!

Anyway, Kate is a doll. Hope life is good! :) Call me soon!