Like most parents, I will read to my child any book he brings to me, but as I suspect most parents do, I have my favorites---books that Spencer likes that I enjoy reading to him, ones that aren't dumbed-down or same old, same old. Some of our recent favorites:
My Lucky Day. Very cute story, one of my favorites.
Inside a Barn in the Country (the same author also does Inside a House That Is Haunted and Inside a Zoo in the City; all three are rebus-type books that preschoolers can memorize quickly and 'read' to themselves)
The Missing Piece; a Shel Silverstein book I didn't read as a child but have grown to love. We also like The Giving Tree, which Spencer refers to as "the sad book."
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! We met Mo Willems at a book signing over the summer. I was disappointed that he seemed to be rather arrogant, but the man does write a good children's book. Or several, really---we also like The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog and Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale.
I'm always looking for books that both Spencer and I will like; any parent favorites from other moms or dads?
I'm not a parent, but my role as Tia/Auntie/friend has allowed me to read quite a few children's books of late. My favorite is "Stand Back," Said the Elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze!" (http://tinyurl.com/8tq6g). It's beautifully illustrated, hilarious, and has a rhyming pattern that I find extremely pleasing. Oh, and the kids seem to like it, too!
Posted by: shannon | December 06, 2005 at 09:21 AM
I'm a doting Auntie and have many friends with little ones and I have never struck out yet with Scott Beck's PEPITO THE BRAVE about a little bird who is afraid to fly and his newer book LITTLE HOUSE, LITTLE TOWN. Both are just so, so sweet and, my nephews love them.
Posted by: TracyW | December 06, 2005 at 09:29 AM
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus is one of our favorites, too. I think you'd both love Click Clack Moo- Cows that Type, as well as Diary of a Worm, Duck for President, and Sheila Rae's Peppermint Stick.
:)
Posted by: april | December 06, 2005 at 09:41 AM
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus is one of our favorites, too. I think you'd both love Click Clack Moo- Cows that Type, as well as Diary of a Worm, Duck for President, and Sheila Rae's Peppermint Stick.
:)
Posted by: april | December 06, 2005 at 09:41 AM
Walter the Farting Dog and If You Give A Pig A Pancake!
Posted by: Alex | December 06, 2005 at 10:44 AM
Also, If you Give a Mouse a Cookie, If you Give a Moose a Muffin, and Heedley Pecked me in the Eye.
Posted by: April | December 06, 2005 at 03:25 PM
I love anything by Dr Seuss (especially Green Eggs and Ham), and I also enjoy Cinderella and The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Posted by: sherry | December 07, 2005 at 12:54 PM
I like Olivia (the pig), Frog and Toad series and Mouse Tales or Mouse Soup by Lobel (from my childhood!), and I also enjoy the variety of Highlights magazine - a new (and usually short!) story every month.
Posted by: Joanna | December 08, 2005 at 08:43 PM
I'd have to say that my husband and I love reading the Boynton board books. I know you have them too since you quoted them once. We also love the Very Hungry Catepiller, some of the Froggy books (Froggy Bakes a Cake, Froggy's Baby Sister), Princess Camomiles Garden is another favorite.
Posted by: Heidi (another one) | December 09, 2005 at 09:16 PM