In getting ready to be a mother, I’ve been finding books that I just can’t wait to read to my son (or for him to discover). The problem is he will have to be older before he can sit sill long enough for some of these books. Some of them aren’t really “children’s” books. In fact, in rereading them, I’m a bit surprised at some things I don’t remember. All the same, I’m excited to continually rediscover these children’s books. Which classics am I missing? I know there are a lot of favorites not on this list. … I think I’ll always be adding to it.
- Curious George by Margaret and H.A. Rey
- Dr. Seuss and P.D. Eastman books (just about any of them…)
- Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
- Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
- The Adventures of Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel
- Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne (I don’t remember reading these as a child, but I sure do like them now!)
- The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
- Peter Pan and Wendy by J.M. Barrie (I read this at least five times in the sixth grade, but in rereading it this week, I found that it’s much more “adult” in some of it’s language and descriptions than I remember…)
Other books I haven’t reread recently but I think I like:
- Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
- The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
- Charlotte’s Web, Stuart Little, and The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White
- James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Goodnight Moon
Love you Forever (Robert Munsch)
Richard Scarry stories (including Good Night Little Bear, my personal fav)
Chris’s favorite is Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (of course!)
Eric Carle books (Very Hungry Caterpillar–Leah’s personal fav)
Joseph had a little overcoat
Clifford
Courduroy
…I’m sure I’ll think of more!
Go ahead and read him good stories that seem above his head. That is how language is learned. This week I took 4 yr old Caden to buy school shoes. He loved the Diego shoes and as soon as I put one on him he said, “Yes, this definitely fits!” He uses adult words in their proper context, reading I sure helps with that. My favorite example came from a Stake meeting: This woman’s son, daughter-in-law and newborn grandson were visiting. She got up in the middle of the night and heard voices in the kitchen. She walked closer and listened and heard her son reading the scriptures to the baby. He then said, “I know you don’t understand what I’m reading to you, but I want you to learn to know the language of the scriptures.” When you are rereading your favoites now, do it aloud…you never know!
Speaking of amazing things children say, Joshua told me several months ago that he was going to have a new brother named Samuel, and he talks about Sam. Today he came and told me that, “Mommy has a baby in her tummy, and its a baby brother.” I asked him the baby’s name and he said Samuel. Well, he kept telling Emily that Samuel was ready in her tummy. She decided she’d better check it out and what do you know, the pregnancy test was positive! She didn’t want to tell anyone until the unltrasound so she knew how far along she was, (she doesn’t have monthly periods so she never knows) but Joshua has been telling every one in Nursery for 2 weeks, so the surprise is out. So far my children are right on track in giving me a grandchild each year! Keep it up everyone!!!