Favorite Children's Books

I'm linking up with Kelly today at Kelly's Korner for Show Us Your Life.  Since I am a children's school librarian...or was up until a few months ago, I've got all kinds of opinions about children's books.  I'm going to share a few of my favorites with you today.

Olivia 

by Ian Falconer

 

Hands down, my most favorite book of all time is Olivia by Ian Falconer.   It is about a precocious little pig who, I am quite certain, was based off of me as a child rather than the author's niece Olivia.  Olivia is imaginative, helpful, bossy, creative, and even a little bit sweet.  I highly recommend this book.  It has several companion books that go with, so if your child falls in love with Olivia, you have many more books to share with them.

Chester's Way
by Kevin Henkes



Chester's Way is one of Kevin Henkes best mouse books in my opinion, although they are all quite spectacular.  Chester and Wilson are BFFs who do EVERYTHING the same.  They are absolutely inseparable and to the adult reader seem to be old soul soulmates.  Their friendship is perfectly precious and the two are quite content...until Lilly (of Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse) comes along.  In addition to Chester's Way, I also highly recommend Julius, the Baby of the World; Chrysanthemum; and Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse amongst others.


Officer Buckle and Gloria
by Peggy Rathmann



Officer Buckle is a policeman that goes out to schools and gives safety tips to the kids. Officer Buckle, bless his heart, is actually quite boring and the kids never seem to pay much attention until Gloria, the department's new police dog, begins to accompany him on his visits. While the story never talks much about what Gloria does on those visits, the pictures show us without even needing words.  This story is just plain fun!


The Hallo-Wiener
by Dav Pilkey


 Aptly named Oscar has a hard time fitting in with the other dogs at school. Oscar is a sweet and svelte dachshund and his classmates are just a bunch of mutts. Regardless of that fact, they feel the need to poke fun at Oscar any chance they get for his "unusual shape and size." Things just get worse when Oscar's mother makes him a hot dog costume for Halloween. Kind dog that Oscar is, he saves the day when they find themselves in trouble on Halloween night.


The Rhyme Bible Storybook
by Linda Sattgast



This is an absolutely wonderful children's Bible, set as a book of rhyming stories rather than the traditional book, chapter, and verse Bible.  We found this to be an awesome Bible to read to our young daughter at bedtime.  Not only are the stories told succinctly and interestingly to children, but the pictures are beautiful as well. 

I have so many more books that I would love to recommend, but simply don't have the time!  Here are a few more titles/authors listed below.  All of these books are for pre-school/early elementary children.  

Old Bear/Kevin Henkes

The Very Hungry Caterpillar/Eric Carle

Brown Bear, Brown Bear/Bill Martin Jr.

Mr. Brown Can Moo/Dr. Seuss

Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site/Sherri Duskey Rinker

I Want My Hat Back/Jon Klassen (Funny!  Probably more for elementary aged kids.)

Knuffle Bunny/Mo Willems

Scaredy Squirrel/Melanie Watt

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type/Doreen Cronin

A Bad Case of Stripes/David Shannon

Skippyjon Jones/Judy Schachner

George and Martha/James Marshall

The Complete Adventures of Big Dog and Little Dog/Dav Pilkey
Llama Llama Red Pajama/Anna Dewdney

If you are the parent of a young child, consider checking out the list of Texas 2x2 books.  These are the best books selected each year by Texas librarians for children ages two through second grade.