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.

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!

How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? By Jane Yolen

After reading this book you will be convinced that dinosaurs go to bed much easier than most children.  Dinosaurs don't roar, don't pout, don't throw their teddy bear about...no, they give their mommies and daddies kisses and whisper "goodnight".  The illustrations are brilliant and if you have a dinosaur lover in your house it is helpful to know that every page has the name of the type of dinosaur spelled out somewhere in the picture.  You can show off and act like you too are a dinosaur expert and your kids will be amazed at your superior knowledge (at least until they can read for themselves). 

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.

The Cricket in Times Square By George Selden

This is a fun friendship tale of a country cricket who hops into a picnic basket for a treat and ends up riding from Connecticut to Manhattan where he hops off the train at Times Square.  He becomes the pet of a little boy whose family owns a news stand in the subway and is befriended by a mouse and a cat (who happen to be best friends).  He is an extremely talented cricket and uses his talent to help the family that has adopted him, but soon discovers he longs to be back in the country.  This a quick read and a fun and imaginative story. 

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.