Kiddy Litter

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.

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. 

The Tale of Peter Rabbit By Beatrix Potter

Let us all just admit that Beatrix Potter was a genius when it came to writing whimsical children's stories.  This is probably the most popular of all of her classics.  The tale of a bunny who disobeys his mom and goes into Mr. McGregor's garden.  He loses all his nice clothes and nearly loses more than that!  The illustrations are intriguing to children.  My kids would sit and look through her books even at very young ages transfixed by the little animals all dressed up in clothes.  And her tales teach children the value of obeying their parents and listening to the wisdom of others.  Some of our other favorites are The Tale of Benjamin Bunny, The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies, and The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck.

Guess How Much I Love You By Sam McBratney

If you are looking for a sweet bedtime read reach for this story.  Little Nutbrown Hare is attempting to show how big his love is for Big Nutbrown Hare.  He stretches his arms out and says "I love you this much", but Big Nutbrown Hare does the same and his arms are much longer.  The game continues throughout the book...and, of course, this is a game in which everyone wins.  My kids adore this book and it inevitably prompts a love contest in our house.

Elmo's Big Lift-and-Look Book By Anna Ross

I must admit when I was given this book years ago with my first toddler, I resisted.  I didn't like Elmo and I was (I'll be honest) a bit of a snob about it.  However, after 4 toddlers in this house have lifted every flap in the book so many times I can almost hear it begging for mercy I am a fan.  This is a giant board book that teaches opposites, shapes, counting, ABC's, and more.  The kids love the Muppet characters and what toddler can resist lifting the flap to see what the opposite of dry is!  A great teaching tool and really fun for older siblings to read with the little ones.

Chicken Cheeks By Michael Ian Black

This picture book had me laughing aloud in the book store.  The illustrations are hilarious.  The subject matter is just as good.  Most of the book is spent describing different animal's backsides..."turkey tushy, duck-billed platypus gluteous maximus".  As you read through you see the animals seem to be standing on top of one another and when you reach the end you can see it is an elaborate animal tower built to retrieve honey from the bumble bee (who, by the way, has a bum).  Young kids get a good chuckle out of this one...especially boys! 

Moses By Carole Boston Weatherford

This is such a moving book.  The illustrations are works of art...I would hang them on my wall!  This is not the Biblical account of Moses.  This is the story of Harriet Tubman, the Moses of her people.  It is her story told in conversations with God.  Her struggle for her own freedom and then her decision to go back and help others find freedom. She expresses her concerns and fears to God and He directs her and comforts her.  It is an emotional and beautiful retelling of the story. 

Goodnight Opus By Berkeley Breathed

I love this book!  I love the illustrations...I love the pink bunny jammies...I love the message!!  In this tale Opus is being read his bedtime story by Granny and he does something he's never done before, "he departs from the text".  He dreams big dreams and does crazy things.  He flies up to space to kiss the cows up in the milky way, he passes by the tooth fairy, and converses with Abe Lincoln (the statue version).  It's a wild and wacky ride that encourages us to color outside the lines.