My daughter is very much a two year old. Complete with tantrums, mood swings, unbelievable energy, and a super crazy imagination. About the only time she will actually sit still for any length of time is when she wants to read a book, which happens randomly throughout the day. For as long as I can remember she has been a book baby and we always, always, always read several books as part of our bedtime routine each night (this is also the only snuggle time I get with her these days).
I thought I’d take a moment to share with you some of our favorite books. I could probably supply a list of books a mile long, but that’s not really very helpful for anyone, so I chose nine to start with. Some of these books we read repeatedly in the past, and some we are currently reading now.
Dear Zoo
By Rod Campbell
Available at most book retailers
I actually bought this book at one of the Iowa City Public Library’s sales so I paid about twenty-five cents for it! I think it was the best money I ever spent! Animals, flaps, what more can I say?!
Summary: “Dear Zoo is twenty-five years old — and still as popular as ever! And with an updated look, this children’s classic is sure to delight a new generation of readers! Each animal arriving from the zoo as a possible pet fails to suit its prospective owner, until just the right one is found. Movable flaps reveal the contents of each package.”
A Hockey Story
By Richard Torrey
Available through Usborne Books & More
I think my daughter likes this one because she sees Mom and Dad watching hockey on TV and we took her to a college hockey game last winter. The book is technically geared towards 4-8 year olds, but my two year old loves it!
Summary: “This day-in-the-life-of-a-young-player sports book addresses the fears, worries and concerns a young player may have about joining a new team or playing a new sport. Bright, friendly and matter-of-fact, author/illustrator (and long-time hockey dad) Richard Torrey gently takes budding sports stars through every step.”
The Little Dump Truck
By Margery Cuyler, Bob Kolar (Illustrator)
Available at most book retailers
Each page begins with “I’m a little dump truck…” so the fun repetition that kids love is not missing from this book! It’s great for kids who are obsessed with trucks/construction. And after reading it about 100 times in a row, I still enjoy it myself! Hard Hat Pete is one of my favorite children’s book characters!
Summary: “Meet Hard Hat Pete and his little dump truck as they haul stones and rocks, carry debris, and unload at the landfill. It’s hard work, but the Little Dump Truck is always ready for action! Preschool children will revel in the day-to-day activities of this happy dump truck. The lyrical text and bright pictures are just right for budding truck enthusiasts.”
Little Blue Truck
By Alice Schertle, Jill McElmurry (Illustrator)
Available at most book retailers
I think my daughter really likes the noises all the animals make in addition to the “Beep, Beep, Beep” that Little Blue says repeatedly.
Summary: “Beep! Beep! Beep! Meet Blue. A muddy country road is no match for this little pick up–that is, until he gets stuck while pushing a dump truck out of the muck. Luckily, Blue has made a pack of farm animal friends along his route. And they’re willing to whatever it takes to get their pal back on the road. Filled with truck sounds and animals noises, here is a rollicking homage to the power of friendship and the rewards of helping others.”
Little Engine That Could
By Watty Piper, George Hauman (Illustrator), Doris Hauman (Illustrator)
Available at most book retailers
Do you notice a theme here? My little girl is totally into trucks, trains, and all things that go! Little Engine that Could is a classic, although I must admit, it has never been one of my favorites to read to my daughter!
Summary: “What do you get when you combine an all-time classic and a tiny format? The perfect gift for giving. Share the story of the little blue engine with your pint-sized reader. Although he is not very big, the Little Blue Engine agrees to try to pull a stranded train full of toys over the mountain.”
Animal Hide and Seek
Illustrated by Stephen Cartwright
Available from Usborne Books & More
This is a touchy-feely and lift-a-flap book that my daughter couldn’t get enough for about 2 weeks! There is also a little yellow duck hidden on each page that is fun to find.
Summary: Young children will love this very special Farmyard Tales book. There’s a game of hide-and-seek to play by lifting the flaps, lots of furry and textured patches to feel and some simple counting opportunities too. This is a really delightful book for adults and children to share.
Belly Button Book
By Sandra Boynton
Available at most book retailers
What’s more fun than learning about belly buttons (aka bee bos) with hippos? Short and sweet, Sandra Boynton books are easy for Mom and Dad to read over and over and over!
But Not the Hippopotamus
By Sandra Boynton
Available at most book retailers
Fun little rhyming book about a hippo that never joins in the fun, until the end when “the animal pack comes scurry back, saying, ‘hey, come join the lot of us…’” This is one of many Sandra Boynton books I have memorized (in fact, I typed that quote from memory) which comes in handy when your kid wants you to read the book but you don’t actually have the book in front of you!
What are some your favorite books to read with your kiddos?
My 8 month old LOVES all the Sandra Boynton books! I think we have at least 15 of them. I have at least 5 of them memorized also. 🙂 He also loves both of the Little Blue Truck books, the Dr. Seuss books, the baby lit books as well as “The Bear Snores On.” He also likes “The Monster at the end of this book” which is a sesame street book with Elmo and Grover. I make the voices and he laughs every time! We read a lot! We only use board books for now b/c anything with a flap is going to be torn apart! I will have to look into the Dump Truck book and some of the others. Thanks for the ideas!
Little Blue Truck, Good Night Construction Site, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Are you my mother, duck & goose books… to name a few faves at my house!
Those are all great books! There are SOOO many books we love reading I wish I could have included them all, but then the post would have become a little unruly!! And since writing up the post, we have some new favorites – I’m a Dirty Dinosaur and Gobble, Gobble, Moo (both Usborne books) are very popular right now!