Kiddy Litter

Bark, George By Jules Feiffer

We all know what a dog is supposed to say, but George seems a little confused.  His mom tries repeatedly to get her pup to bark, but instead he moos or quacks or even meows.  A trip to the vet seems to sort things out as he pulls animal after animal out of George.  The illustrations are really cute and you can watch "mom" get more and more frustrated with George.  This is a silly tale that little ones just learning their animal sounds will especially enjoy!

We're Going on a Bear Hunt By Michael Rosen

This is such a fun book to read as a family.  It's got a great rhyming rhythm.  When we read it, I read one line and then the kids repeat it.  They also love to get up and act it out as we read.  The story tells of a family going on an adventurous bear hunt.  As the obstacles appear they discuss ways to get around them.  For instance when they come to the mud, they can't go over it and can't go under it, they have to go through it.  The kids love pretended to tromp through the mud.  We have the pop-up version of this book and it adds a whole other element to the book, but even without any bells and whistles this is a great story that stands on it's own.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz By L. Frank Baum

Most of us are familiar with at least parts of this story thanks to Judy Garland and MGM studios.  I grew up on the movie and didn't lay hands on the book until my first child was in kindergarten.  Then I decided I would read it aloud to her.  We had so much fun and she was enchanted by the story.  It is quite different than the movie and has so much more to it, including more characters (very entertaining ones).  A great tale of fantasy that children will eat up and adults will enjoy feeding them. 

Tails By Matthew Van Fleet

If your little one loves the touch and feel books, this is a great choice!  Your child will be introduced to all different sorts of animals and, of course, their tails.  There are flaps to lift, different textures to feel, and tabs to move.  It quickly becomes a favorite because of how interactive it is.  The illustrations are cute and full of personality and it's written in rhyme (which means you, as the parent, will be quoting it in your sleep). 

What to Read When By Pam Allyn

I am changing things up a little today to recommend a great resource.  This book is something every reading parent should have on their shelf.  It gives great tips on how to read aloud to kids and how to help your child become a lifelong reader.  It also has a section that lists different ages and suggests books for each age as well as giving insight into what type of books are best for that age group.  And to add to all that yummy-goodness...it has a list of fifty themes and book lists to go along with all of them, such as, adoption, courage, making a mistake, sleepovers, loving history...to name a few.  It's almost as necessary as kiddylitter :).

Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys, and Their Monkey Business By Esphyr Slobodkina

"Caps, caps for sale," is the cry of the peddler walking through the town with a huge pile of caps on his head.  On this particular very slow day the peddler decides to take a nap under a tree.  When he wakes up he discovers his caps are missing and after a moment he realizes that they've been stolen by the monkeys in the tree.  The monkeys mimic his moves as stomps in anger and shakes his fists at them.  Kids are very amused by this simple tale.  It's a fun one to let them "read" back to you after you've read it to them once or twice. 

The Baby Beebee Bird By Diane Redfield Massie

This is a beautifully illustrated picture book about a new addition to the zoo.  A new baby Beebee bird arrives and keeps all the animals up all night with "beebeebobbi...beebeebobbi".  The animals are exhausted the next day and decide they must keep the Beebee bird awake so that it will sleep at night.  Most parents will relate to how the animals feel.  Kids love to hear this one read as there are lots of funny sounds to be made.

The Hobbit By J.R.R. Tolkien

J.R.R. Tolkien is a brilliant story teller.  His tales are full of adventure, mystery, and magic.  Lord of the Rings is a great read, but may be a bit difficult for younger readers to plough through.  The Hobbit is a great start for 9-12 year olds.  It is the story of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who enjoys staying home and doesn't care much for adventure.  He is persuaded to join a band of dwarves on a journey by the wizard, Gandalf.  It turns out to be a very exciting journey with giant spiders, dragons, goblins, trolls, a magic ring (which, of course, features more prominately in The Lord of the Rings series), and a strange creature called Gollum.  This is a classic for a reason.  I have loved reading this book myself, but it's also a good one to read aloud as a family. 

Bats at the Beach Brian Lies

Have your kids ever asked you questions about how a bat lives and what they eat?  This might be a good book for you to check out.  It's a fun account of what a bat family outing might be like.  Their evening includes a night at the beach, boat races, and even a trip to the snack bar.  While there is a lot of silliness, it will give kids a basic understanding of some of their habits.  The illustrations are fantastic and the use of color is brilliant.  A really enjoyable book and a good prompt to learn more about these really interesting creatures. 

Zoo Poo: A First Toilet Training Book By Richard Morgan

If you are in that frame of mind in which you think you might venture into the exciting world of potty training this book is a must.  Even the tiny tot crowd, that aren't quite ready for the toilet, enjoy this one.  The illustrations are bright and simple starring a nearly bald baby visiting a zoo.  The book starts with an intriguing question.  "How do you doo-doo at the zoo?"  Your kids will then get a tour of all different sorts of animal poop.  With easy phrasing and rhymes this will quickly become a favorite.  What kid wouldn't want a book all about animals and their poo!