Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown – An oldie but a goodie. I read this book to my kids nearly every night before bed. My son, nearly six, recites most of it with me by memory. The words are simple and so are the pictures, but it’s a lovely story that helps soothe restless kiddos and helps them drift off to sleep.
If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff – I don’t know if my kids like these books more or if I do. Very simple, they are delightful to read. You can read them in minutes and they make a great repeat book. Both my kids love them. I also enjoy If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by the same author.
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? By Jane Yolen – My son loves dinosaurs. And this book is filled with them! The book talks about a dinosaur going goodnight. It questions whether or not he behaves in a naughty manner. In the end the book teaches manners at bedtime. It’s a humorous yet sweet book that will help young children to stay put in their beds.
Corduroy by Dan Freeman – Who couldn’t love this classic? Little Corduroy is stuck at the department store. No one wants to buy him because he’s no longer perfect. Then a little girl befriends him and winds up taking him home. This book teaches kids to appreciate things for what they are. It’s a classic and I love it.
Today I Feel Silly by Jamie Lee Curtis – I usually don’t endorse celebrity books, but I think this one has merit. It portrays the emotions kids all face in a way that lets them laugh and identify with their feelings.
Other books I love include books by Sylvan Dell Publishing. A relatively new publisher, all of their books include a Creative Minds section at the back with activities and crafts for children. Wonderful titles include, Carolina’s Story, The Giraffe Who Was Afraid of Heights, Waterbeds, If You Were a Parrot, and many others. Check them out on Amazon.com.