We do a lot of reading at our house. I think it really began in earnest when I was pregnant with Nathan and would spend my day on the couch. What else is a mom and toddler going to do but look at children’s books?
Now we have set times for reading (scriptures at breakfast, a story before rest and read time, a chapter book read at lunch or snack time, scriptures with Dad before bed, bedtime stories) as well as spontaneous times during the day. We all get cozy on the couch (I’m dreaming of a couch with a chaise) or floor and read “a whole stack of books” as Emily says.
I love having a variety of books on hand. We usually go to the library and fill a huge bag with books to last us for a few weeks. I’ve learned where the award winning children’s books section is in our library and make a few picks of my own from there in addition to whatever the kids find.
We haven’t bought very many books ourselves. Andrew’s parents and siblings usually give the kids amazing books for gifts (yes yes yes!!!) so we do have a decent collection. However there are a few gems that we have come across from our library readings that we have checked out again and again and are now (or will soon be) part of our family library.
I included only our absolute favorites and will continue to slowly add to the list as we find more deserving books:
Building Our House by Jonathan Bean
Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey
Pup and Bear by Kate Banks, Naoko Stop
My Grandfather’s Coat by Jim Aylesworth
The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crocket Johnson
Pig Pig Gets a Job by David McPhail
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Miline
The Bearstein Bears New Baby by Stan and Jan Bearstein
King Jack and the Dragon by Peter Bently
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