Monday, September 6, 2010

Reading List

First of all, here's a few MUST reads.  The ol' tried and true are mixed in with the new in no specific order, just as they've come to mind.  It's certainly not an exhaustive list; we'll add to it as we go along.
  • Blueberries for Sal -- Robert McCloskey
  • Make way for Ducklings -- Robert Mc Closkey
  • One Morning in Maine -- Robert McCloskey
  • Dandelion -- Don Freeman (this is our personal favorite over Corduroy)
  • Happy Birthday Moon -- Frank Asch
  • Popcorn -- Frank Asch
  • The Relatives Came -- Cynthia Rylant (great children's author)
  • When I Was Young in the Mountains -- Cynthia Rylant, illus. Diane Goode
  • Harry the Dirty Dog -- Gene Zion
  • Miss Rumphius -- Barbara Cooney
  • The Little Engine that Could -- Watty Piper (a classic; be sure to get the original edition, as they've "updated" the illustrations, which I personally don't like as much)
  • Apples and Pumpkins -- Anne Rockwell
  • Thanksgiving is Here! -- Diane Goode (great illus.)
  • The Most Perfect Spot -- Diane Goode
  • Owl Moon -- Jane Yolen (famous children's author)
  • Honey Bear's Snowy Adventure -- Gillian Lobel, illus. Tim Warnes
  • The Elves and the Shoemaker -- retold by Jim LaMarche
  • Ox-Cart Man -- Barbara Cooney
  • Snowflake Bentley -- Mary Azarian
  • Kitten's First Full Moon -- Kevin Henkes
  • Freight Train -- Donald Crews
  • The Pokey Little Puppy -- Janette Sebring Lowrey
  • In the Small, Small Pond -- Denise Fleming
  • Jamberry -- Bruce Degen
  • Toot and Puddle books -- Holly Hobbie
  • Berenstain Bears books -- Stan & Jan Berenstain
  • Franklin books -- Paulette Bourgeois
  • Madeline books -- Ludwig Bemelmans
  • Fancy Nancy books -- Jane O'connor, illus. Robin Preiss Glasser
  • Angelina Ballerina books -- Katharine Holabaird, illus. Helen Craig
  • Curious George books -- H. A. Rey

Books that my kids want read over and over and over again.  A GREAT activity for them to do with these books: as you are reading the book for the second or third time, leave out a rhyming word or a repetitve phrase for them to say (my Mom taught me that this is good preliteracy activity).
  • We're Going on a Bear Hunt -- retold by Michael Rosen, illus. Helen Oxenbury
  • Owl Babies -- Martin Waddell
  • Great Day for UP -- Dr. Seuss
  • Ask Mr. Bear -- Marjorie Flack
  • Better Not Get Wet, Jesse Bear -- Nancy Carlstron
  • The Napping House -- Audrey and Don Wood
  • Mr. Gumpy's Outing -- John Burningham
  • The Wind Blew -- Pat Hutchins
  • Caps for Sale --Esphyr Slobodkina
  • The Rain Came Down -- David Shannon
  • Duck on a Bike -- David Shannon
  • Tikki Tikki Tembo -- retold by Arlene Mosel, illus. Blair Lent
  • Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb -- Al Perkins
  • Bear books by Karma Wilson: Bear Feels Sick, Bear Stays Up, Bear Wants More, etc.

Authors and/or illustrators that you need to check out MANY of their books:
  • Beatrix Potter 
  • A. A. Milne (Winnie-the-Pooh books)
  • Jan Brett (our favorites are The Mitten, Hedgie's Surprise, Daisy Comes Home, Annie and the Wild Animals; however, I don't at all care for her interpretation of Noah's Ark.)
  • Virginia Lee Burton (especially The Little House)
  • Tasha Tudor (Pumpkin Moonshine is one of our all time favorites)
  • Ezra Jack Keats (check out Snowy Day and Little Drummer Boy first)
  • Leo Lionni (we like Inch By Inch best)
  • Jerry Pinkney (especially Noah's Ark, Aesop's Fables, and God Bless the Child)
  • Paul Galdone (especially The Little Red Hen, Gingerbread Man, and Three Billy Goats Gruff)
  • Richard Scarry
  • Patricia Polacco
  • Margaret Wise Brown
  • Kevin Henkes
  • Shirley Hughes
  • Eloise Wilkin
  • Eric Carle
  • Tomie de Paola
  • Charlotte Zolotow
  • Dr. Seuss (aka Theodor Geisel)

"I Can Read" series books that the kids love:
  • Frog and Toad -- Arnold Lobel (quite a hit in our home)
  • Little Bear -- Else Minarik
  • Amelia Bedelia -- Peggy Parish
  • Clifford -- Norman Bridwell
  • Arthur -- Marc Brown

3 comments:

  1. Em, you make me want to haul my boys' books out and read to them again. Such wonderful books on your lists!

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  2. Have you read any of the Bill Peet books? He was an artist for Disney years ago. We loved all of his children's books, and I still also love reading his autobiography.

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  3. Meg, Please recommend your favorite Bill Peet books, as I am not very familiar with him. Thanks!

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