Mommy Teach Me:: Kids' Books

Kids' Books

A picture says
a thousand words.

Barbara sitting in a huge chair

It certainly is my opinion that a book worth reading only in childhood is not worth reading even then. C. S. Lewis

Having been a teacher and a mommy of preschoolers for 38 years, I couldn ’t agree more! To come up with suggestions for your child ’s library, I had only to browse through our own now-very-crowded shelves to choose those I knew had stood the test of time.

Building a library for your children is a worthy investment. Check garage sales and second hand stores. Remind grandparents that books make long and lasting presents - and very special when signed and dated by them. Also, when you click the links below to Amazon, look for used copies in good condition. Many of these books are available for as little as one cent!

To view books in your child's age range please click on the link below

	0-2 Board Books
	Runaway Bunny Another must-have from the author of Goodnight Moon, the story of every bunny, who like every typical toddler wants to assert his independence from mother while being reminded she will always be there for him. Beautifully illustrated, a message with lasting value. Another must-have from the author of Goodnight Moon, the story of every bunny, who like every typical toddler wants to assert his independence from mother while being reminded she will always be there for him. Beautifully illustrated, a message with lasting value.
	Shoes - ditto, move from books to board books A rollicking rhyming tribute to a toddler's most-loved item of apparel. Just for fun!
	The Very Hungry Caterpillar A children's library with no books by Eric Carle would be like a chocolate chip cookie with no chips. This author understands how to captivate even the most easily -distracted child. Read this one with lots of finger drama and chomping noises and your child is sure to be delighted.

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	2-4 Picture Readers
	Best Word Book Ever My daughter Samantha was reading this 37 years ago and the kids at home still read it today!
	Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? A story built on rhythm and repetition, highlighting colors and animals – little ones love this first memory stretcher.
	Caps For Sale Be dramatic! Shake your fists! Stomp your feet! You and your toddler will have so much fun with this wonderful story, in which common sense prevails over temper tantrums!
	Chicken Soup with Rice Another R&R (rhythm and repetition) – this one filled with a feeling of humor, impossible to read without a smile.
	Good Dog, Carl A wonderful introduction to story sequence – plot, scenes, characters, emotion (Will they get the house in order before Mother comes home?) – all without a single word of text! Toddlers and parents can have a lot of fun with this engagingly illustrated tale.
	Good Night, Moon If you could do a survey of children ’s favorite books and ask adults and children, this gem of a book would surely top both lists. A bunny gets ready for sleep, saying goodnight to each special object he sees from his bed. A soft and soothing farewell at the end of any little one ’s busy day.
	Jamberry An energetic romp through the colorful world of berries with a rollicking rhyme- spouting bear and a straw-hatted boy. There ’s so much to celebrate!
	’More, More, More!’ Said the Baby A trio of love stories – three toddlers enjoying tender moments with father, grandmother and mother. Catchy toddler words, bright vivid pictures. Natural, wholesome, current, very appealing.
	Noisy Nora Poor Nora! The loveable mousette experiences all the pangs of the child-in-the- middle, caught between the demands of baby brother and bossiness of big sister. Catchy meter, playful illustrations make for a wonderfully satisfying mouse ’s tale.
	On Mother ’s Lap An Eskimo boy finds a lot of room on mother=s lap for all his favorite things, but thinks there=s none for baby sister. Mother shows him there=s room for all. A wonderful remedy for new-baby blues.
	Read Aloud Bible Stories This first of four large volumes with bold full-page illustrations on one side, simple text on the other - all with a lot of kid appeal. One unusual feature is that Jesus's face is never seen, thus avoiding some of the stereotypes and allowing room for children's imagination. Bible stories retold with rhythm, repetition, and loads of enthusiasm: e.g., when the apostles fish where Jesus tells them: "Big fish/ little fish/ wiggly fish/ Oh my!"
	Toddler's Bible Straight through the Bible, toddler-style. The author's ability to translate complex stories into a few simple sentences is sure to delight. Read this during the toddler years, and before you know it, your toddler will be reading it back to you.
	Where ’s Our Mama? Such a sweet story! Set in 1910 France, two children who have lost their mama have trouble finding her only because they see her as the best, the wisest, the most beautiful. The gendarme (French policeman) is astonished to find that finally she is just a mama like everyone else ’s. For fun, read it with your best French accent! Now out of print, you can click through this Amazon link to hardback editions and pick up used library copies for a song!

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	3-5 Picture Books
	Bedtime for Frances You’ll surely fall in love with Frances, the little badger who brings the problems of childhood to life in such a warm and whimsical way. Frances ’ mother and father are always there to help her through her latest crisis – with serenity and a sense of humor. If you can, get them all: A Baby Sister for Frances, Bread and Jam for Frances, A Bargain for Frances and A Birthday for Frances.
	Bible Illustrated for Little Children
	The Cat in the Hat
	Corduroy A stuffed bear wants a home, but waiting in the department store has taken its toll. Still, a little girl falls in love with him. A tale about security and unconditional love.
	The Carrot Seed A little boy plants a seed and though he receives a lot of discouragement, does all he can to help it grow. His efforts are rewarded. Through 60 years, this book has been showing children what perseverance looks like.
	Giant Steps for Little People The Sermon on the Mount and the Ten Commandments, broken into “bite-sized morsels a very young child can grasp and grow on.” Each page offers a spiritual truth, a practical application (with lots of opportunities for parent/child conversation), a prayer and a memory verse. A treasure.
	Go, Dog, Go! Don ’t let this book fool you. One of the silliest teaching books around, it ’s jam-packed with adjectives and prepositions – important for later skills – but still guaranteed to give your child a fun time. Another book that will double as an early reader eventually.
	Ira Sleeps Over How exciting to be invited to spend the night at a friend=s house – but how scary to face the prospect of sleeping without your teddy bear! A childhood dilemma depicted with empathy and humor.
	Just in Case You Ever Wonder
	The Little Engine That Could A wonderful message for children: with a humble heart and a little determination, even the smallest can save the day. A classic for generations.
	The Little Red Hen Hooray for a good work ethic! The little red hen asks but receives no help in her efforts to put bread on the table. Yet all who wouldn’t help would like to eat. In a refreshingly old-fashioned triumph of moral consequences, they don ’t get to.
	Madeline A classic told in charming rhyme, this book opens the window to a different world, where little French girls go to boarding school and one has her appendix removed. 3-8
	Make Way for Ducklings Such a family-values story! Mr. and Mrs. Mallard search for the perfect spot to raise their family, with some assistance from a friendly police officer. Told and illustrated with humor and warmth. 4-8
	Millions of Cats An enchanting tale of a man who comes home with “hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats.” Lots of rhythm, rhyme, and repetition make a strong point: humility can keep you from harm, and love can bring out beauty.
	Noah’s Ark This award-winning version is accompanied by sparkling, intricate and highly satisfying illustrations. Not much accompanying text, but recommended for stimulating imagination and discussion
	Peter’s Chair Peter faces life with a new sister – including all his furniture being painted pink. How will he learn to accept his new place in the family?
	Play with Me On my first read of this book, I found it a little too quiet – but that ’s the point. Children must get it, because they seem fascinated by this tale of a lonely girl who finds friends in the forest through cultivating patience and stillness. After reading, challenge your child to be still and quiet – a great lesson in self- control.
	The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy Petey the puppy wants a boy for Christmas, but his mother tells him he’ll have to find one on his own. Of course there’s a happy ending!
	Stone Soup The hilarious tale of an old woman and the clever vagabond who convinces her that she can make soup from a stone, while persuading her to add a little of this and a little of that. Children love this story – and then making soup afterward.
	Where the Wild Things Are The wildly imaginative tale of a boy sent to his room with no supper who finds his way through an emotional jungle filled with funny looking monsters – then back to his own room. While Chuck Colson once wrote that this was a celebration of rebellion, I see it rather as a tale that teaches the wisdom of parents, the possibility that children can control their own emotions, restabilize, and return to find their parents still love them. Be sure to make the most of the wild rumpus - lots of Indian-type noises!
	It ’s Time to Call 911 In April 2007, a little guy in Alaska - only four years old - was able to get help for his mom who ’d completely collapsed - thanks to his Grandma reading him this book Read Tony ’s story.

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	5-7 Picture Books
	Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day For any child who ’s had a rough day, this helps put it into perspective, while reinforcing the idea that it helps to put your feelings into words - rather than blindly being controlled by them. But let ’s face it - it ’s not just kids who have a day like Alexander ’s. So this book is therapeutic for parents too!
	A Chair for My Mother A remarkably beautiful story told by a young girl whose mother is a waitress. Since they lost all their furniture in a fire, they ’ve been saving mother=s tips in a jar – so they can buy a big comfortable chair for their whole family to enjoy – daughter, mother and grandmother. Life has its ups and downs, but there’s always lots of love.
	Children ’s Story Bible Highly recommended!
	Frog and Toad are Friends A pair of loveable best friends spend the summer watching out for and bringing out the best in each other. Doubles as an early reader.The first of a series - all are delightful.
	George Shrinks Nothing heavy, just a romp for the imagination when George dreams he is small and wakes up the size of a peanut. Your child will love the pictures, in which George flies for the mail in a toy airplane.
	Goops and How to Be Them: A Manual of Manners for Polite Children The Goops they lick their fingers, and the Goops they lick their knives; they spill their broth on tablecloth – Oh, they lead disgusting lives! This old-fashioned compendium of poems on manners is just plain hilarious – and one of the easiest ways to teach children manners.
	Harold and the Purple Crayon An ingenious tale: Harold goes out for a walk with a purple crayon in his hand – and draws himself all kinds of adventures, showing some common sense and good problem- solving skills along the way.
	The Hole in the Dike As the author states at the end of the book, this tale was spun a hundred years ago by a woman who had never been to Holland. And yet it so symbolized the struggle of the Dutch that they erected a statue to the boy who saved his country from floods. A tale which underscores sacrifice and loyalty to one ’s country.
	Least of All The youngest of six children – and the only girl – Raven Hannah is not big enough to help with any of the work on her family ’s farm. But when she teaches herself to read from the Bible she finds that as the first reader in the family, she has a unique gift to offer.
	The Lion and the Mouse Aesop ’s classic fable, beloved by readers throughout the ages, of a mighty lion who spares the life of a mouse and is amply repaid for his mercy. (Image not available)
	The Little House Once upon a time there was a little house way out in the country. She was a pretty Little House and she was strong and well built.The contrast between the Little House ’s peaceful existence with the beautiful seasons and her life when a big city grows around her makes for a touching tale. The deeper theme: progress has a price. Children will love the pictures, the happy ending, and the lesson learned by the Little House.
	Little People in Tough Spots This gem of a book shows children in an easy-to-understand way that the answers to life's problems are in the Bible. Pick A problem – "I'm scared," "I have too much to do," "Do I have to share?" – and you will find a vignette of a child here and now who faces the problem, then draws inspiration from a particular person in the Bible.
	The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge A little lighthouse on the Hudson River starts out with a little too much pride, suffers great humiliation when the George Washington Bridge is built, and finally gains a properly modest confidence when it finds that it is useful and has an important job to do.
	People An incredibly rich child-friendly resource of information about the diversity of people and cultures. Beautiful and absorbing illustrations, beginning with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, then covering all sorts of human complexities since. This is a book your child will spend hours with and learn much from.
	Pretzel My 30 year old daughter Jasmine’s favorite love story – the tale of a prize-winning dachshund who can ’ win the heart of the dog across the street. Unimpressed by the physical qualities that others admire, she finally finds something to admire herself. Marriage and family are the ultimate prize in this old-fashioned heartwarming story.
	Ox-Cart Man This lyrical journey through the seasons with a serene and productive nineteenth century rural New England family will give your child (and you) a feeling for our country ’s heritage. 4-7
	Read-N-Grow Picture Bible Two thousand pictures (six per page, with a sentence or two under each) will take your child through the Bible from start to finish. My children have loved this motivational format, which reinforced reading skills as well as the the historical continuity of the Bible.
	St. Jerome and the Lion Jerome, the medieval monk who lived in Bethlehem and translated the Bible into Latin, earns the devotion of a lion by removing a thorn from his paw. When the monastery ’s donkey is stolen, the other monks accuse the lion of having eaten it, but only Jerome refuses to condemn him, and is proven right. (No cover image available, but illustrations are superb.) 5-10
	The Story about Ping A lilting and funny story about a little duck who lives with his comically large family on a boat on the Yangtze River in China. One day while searching for food, he finds himself left behind. Bravely, he goes in search of his family, finding many adventures along the way.
	The Story of Babar This book – originally written in French – has delighted children and adults for decades. The story of an elephant who loses his mother to hunters, wanders to the city, buys a new wardrobe, becomes the hit of society, marries Celeste, and is crowned King of the Elephants.
	The Story of Ferdinand One of the best-selling children ’s books of all time, about a peaceful bull who would rather sit beneath a tree smelling flowers than fight in the bull ring.
	William Tell A story of courage and purpose: the fourteenth century Swiss folk hero is forced to shoot an apple from his son ’s head by the evil governor, then leads his countrymen into action against Austria ’s tyranny. Still a man who thinks of himself more as a husband and father than a hero.
	The Year at Maple Hill Farm A year in the country with all its seasonal changes – the work, play and rewards of life on a farm. 4-8

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	Early Readers
	Bob Books Set These books will build confidence in children who are transitioning from reading single words to books - and at this stage building confidence can make the difference between a reluctant reader and an avid one. The first set starts with one short extremely simple sentence per page so the child feels like he is reading. Linked here is the first set in a series of six. You can see them all at Amazon.
	The Fox on the Box Good solid first readers based on the phonetic approach. Text on one side and picture on the other - another strategy in confidence-building. This is the first in the Start to Read series (you can see many choices here). At Amazon, many used copies are available for as little as one cent. To keep postage costs down, buy items from the same vendor and ask that vendor to refund your extra postage.
	The Lion and the Mouse Step Into Reading Series This series is not purely phonetic but uses the approach of ultra-short sentences and word repetition to bridge into "real" reading - "Big Lion. Big net. Big, big trouble." Many more in the series here.
	Ready. . .Set. . .Read! The Beginning Reader's Treasury A collection of early readers in one hardcover book (used copies for as little as $3.28 the day I checked). Includes well-loved characters like Frog and Toad and Little Bear. A book to snuggle with.
	The Chronicles of Narnia You might want to start by reading these aloud to your children when they are little. No better time than now - then seeing the movie will be a doubly rich experience!

	Audio Learners
	Chronicles of Narnia CD set Focus on the Family has assembled some of the best talent around for their Radio Theater series. My daughter Maddy, who is an audio-learner (meaning she learns best when she hears the information) adores this series and listens to it to fall asleep every night!
	The Secret Garden One of the best-loved stories of all time, The Secret Garden is presented in high-quality and entertaining Radio Theatre drama. This classic tale, enriched with Biblical values, reflects themes such as helping others and believing in people. Mary, a young orphaned girl, meets her bedridden cousin, Colin. She discovers an enchanting secret place, separate from the outside world. It is in this place that Colin and Mary learn lessons about overcoming obstacles. By putting their faith in God and others, their lives are forever altered. This story will captivate audiences of all ages.