I don't mention her very often on here in order to protect her and our privacy, but, nevertheless, she is a very real and huge part of my life. Let's call her Harper.
And, joy of joys, Harper loves to read.
No, seriously. LOVES it.
Harper loves books like fish love water. She loves books like peanut butter loves jelly. She loves books like Dobby loves socks.
You get the idea.
(She looks just like her dad, so I sometimes think that the parts of me that she inherited are more easily found in her personality rather than in her appearance. At least this reading-gene is something we apparently both share.)
To give you an example of her bookishness, here is what I packed to entertain Harper during a recent 10-hour road trip:
Anyway.
Between her natural love for books and my desire to encourage her ongoing and positive relationship with books, we read together a lot. Occasionally we find a book that she just loves. As in, more than usual. As in, wants to read it over and over and over. (Correction: wants ME to read it over and over and over. Let's be honest.)
As a result, we can both now recite her favorite books cover to cover. It's both embarrassing (when it's me) and adorable (when it's her).
Because I don't want to forget these books (With the number of re-readings I have done, I do not currently think that is possible, but I guess you never know) and because I know I'm not the only person with a toddler out there, I thought I'd share.
Here are Harper's favorite toddler-age books that she and I happily recommend:
10. That's Not My Panda by Fiona Watt
Short and cute, with repetitive sentences and a different tactile experience on every page, this book ignited my daughter's love for panda bears.
9. Goodnight, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
This is a classic for a reason. The first time I introduced this book to Harper, she demanded that we read it about thirty times in a row. Good thing she has another parent who is just as happy to read to her as I am.
8. Global Baby Girls by The Global Fund for Children
What is the one thing that all children universally love? Other children. Harper full on studies the pictures of other babies in this book. And I think it's adorable when she recites, "baby girls can grow up to change the world!"
7. Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
You may have guessed that my daughter likes animals from all the animal books listed. You would be right. This lift the flap book is straightforward and cute, and teaches about zoo animals and certain characteristics that they have. (Lion = fierce; giraffe = tall; etc.)
6. The entire Les Petits Fairytales collection by Trixie Belle and Melissa Caruso-Scott
This collection is brilliant. They reduce each fairy tale to a single word per page in order to tell the story. The result is that your child learns simple words (comb, girl, hair, tower, sleep, etc.) along with their first introduction to these classic tales. Plus, these illustrations are adorable. (These were among the first books that my daughter could recite from memory.)
5. The entire BabyLit Board Books collection
These are very similar to the above Les Petits Fairytales collection. Both print only one word per page. But instead of telling these classic stories (because what two-year-old really wants to hear that Romeo and Juliet actually die in the end??) they use the story as basis on which to teach simple lessons. For example, the Alice in Wonderland book teaches colors. (Red Hearts, Blue Caterpillar, etc.) The Jane Eyre book teaches about weather. (Stormy, Windy, etc.) Toddlers love the simplicity, and adults love the allusions to classic literature.
4. My First ABC Board Book by DK Publishing
This is one of the first books that could hold my daughter's attention for more than three seconds when we were first introducing her to books. She now knows every word in the book, and gets excited when she recognizes one of the objects from the book (blender, taxi, swimsuit, etc.) in everyday life.
3. Numbers at the Park by Charles Ghigna
I'm not sure if it's the numbers, the rhyming, the park setting, or the illustrations, but something about this book has Harper absolutely captivated. She brings it to me five times a day, asking, "Park? Read it?" Of course I oblige. (And, side note, these illustrations are some of my favorites from any board book I've come across. Especially the carousel page.)
2. Big Chomp! by Heather Brown
My sweet little girl has a special place in her heart for more fearsome animals. Particularly animals that roar. So this book, with its lions and sharks and bears and crocodiles, has been a steady staple for months now.
1. ABC Animal Orchestra by LeapFrog
We have several LeapFrog toys in our home, but this is the first LeapFrog book we've read. I will be rectifying that ASAP, since this book completely captured by daughter's heart, with it's combination of letters, animals, and musical instruments. Plus, the illustrations frequently make me laugh.
What other toddler-age book recommendations would you add?
I always love the Sandra Boynton books - they're classics around here. Also "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" - I credit that book (and Super Why) with teaching my kids their letters. Also, I just discovered "All My Friends Are Dead," and it looks hilarious. Methinks I need to get it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the Pantone Colors book! I think I got that one on your recommendation, and we all love it. Not a ton of words, but it's great for picking out our favorite colors and stuff.
Oh yes, we're big Sandra Boynton fans over here too. I haven't picked up chicka chicka boom boom yet. I'll have to read it soon! Sounds like it's right up my little girl's ally. I know nothing about All My Friends Are Dead, but that title is hilarious.
DeleteGlad you like that Pantone Colors book! I like that book, but Harper isn't quite old enough for it yet. We're still working on basic colors over here. I think she'll love it in a year or so though.
My kids have all been obsessed with the book "I Am A Bunny". Seriously, that book was like magic. Dorothy used to sit there and stare at the pictures forever, and the twins constantly fought over it. Great recommendations! Goodnight Gorilla is one of our favorites too. And the Baby Lit books totally kill it, I love them.
ReplyDeleteIf they entertain your kids for that long then I'm Definitely going to pick that one up ASAP. Thanks for the rec!
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