mom and dad reading to baby
With hot, sticky summer upon us, the idea of curling up inside, with air-conditioning and a good book becomes quite appealing. Summer is a great time to check out new books, re-visit old favorites and enjoy reading with your child. To help inspire you, here is a list of some of the best childrens’ books, compiled with input from the children’s librarians and outreach specialists at the Collier County Public Library, local bookstore owner Mina Hemmingway and as many parents as I could ask. Enjoy!
BOARD BOOKS
1. Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
3. I Like It When by Mary Murphy
4. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See? By Bill Martin Jr. & Eric Carle
5. Counting Kisses: A Kiss & Read Book by Karen Katz
6. Good Night Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
7. Hug by Jez Alborough
8. Guess How Much I Love You? By Sam McBratney
9. The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton
10. Is Your Mama a Llama? By Deborah Guarino
PICTURE BOOKS
1. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
2. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
3. Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor
4. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
5. Toot & Puddle by Holly Hobbie
6. Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Jen Corace
7. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Williems
8. Quick as a Cricket by Audrey Wood
9. Corduroy by Don Freeman
10. Bark, George by Jules Feiffer
NOVELS
1. The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
2. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dalh
3. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
4. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
5. Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
6. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
7. Watership Down by Richard Adams
8. The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling
9. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
10. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
BEST READ ALOUD
1. Chicka Chicka ABC by Bill Martin Jr. and
John Archambault
2. Snuggle Puppy by Sandra Boynton
3. The Hound from the Pound by Jessica Swain
4. In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
5. Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
Other reading resources:
The Association for Library Service to Children publishes a monthly list of notable children’s books and archives their past lists online at: http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/childrensnotable/default.cfm
The National Education Associations has a list of the top 100 books as voted by kids and educators:
http://www.nea.org/readacross/resources/kidsbooks.html
http://www.nea.org/readacross/resources/catalist.html