Here are five of Nikola’s (current) favorite books. As a note, I’m using my amazon.com affiliate account, so if you click on a link and buy something I make an imperceptible amount of money.
- I Am a Bunny by Ole Risom and Richard Scarry
is the calm, gentle story of a bunny named Nicholas, who lives in a hollow tree. Niko loves the bunny, and loves the sweet story and pictures. When I feel like adding extra enrichment, we work on colors, numbers, animal names, and the difference between jonquils and daffodils.
- THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD-THE COMPLETE ORIGINAL EDITION by “Watty Piper”
is the retelling of a bit of Americana, a story that apparently originated in Church sermons and Sunday School lessons. “Watty Piper” was the name used by in-house writers for the original publisher. I don’t think Niko gives two figs for the book’s message, it’s got trains in it and that’s all he cares about.
- The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
is a timely story, as we have a total of about 26 inches of snow on the ground right now. Niko likes hearing about the little boy who gets bundled up and goes out into the snow.
- Bread and Jam for Frances (I Can Read Book 2)
Although this is an abridged version and I want to get the original, unabridged version, Niko still loves this book. All the Frances books have really charming, awesome little songs in them and Niko has recently started swaying along to the beat as I sing them. This is one of his comfort books, when he isn’t feeling well and needs extra reading snuggles.
- I Love You Stinky Face
is an awesome story about a mother and (gender not specified in the text) child winding down for the day and getting ready for sleep. It’s a great story about parental love that isn’t sappy or codependent.
What are some of your favorite books to read to kids? What are some of your favorite books from your childhood?
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brigid
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Date: 2011-02-11 04:23 pm (UTC)She read me Enid Blyton's Noddy books and the pre-television series Postman Pat stories by John Cunliffe (I was trying to find a link for that, but everything is about the show, which looks quite different).
But the very best books were by Janet and Allan Ahlberg and Shirley Hughes.
Janet and Allan Ahlberg were a husband-and-wife writing and illustrating team. Janet (now deceased; the link discusses John's grief among other things, just as a warning) was the illustrator and Allan writes. They did everything from rhymes for infants to The Bear Nobody Wanted, a chapter book that was probably my first introduction to the development of a character's personality.
The Ahlbergs grew up in 1940s Britain and many of Janet's illustrations show that world--the cramped houses, the miniscule greenhouse at the end of the back garden, the washtub and wringer, the rag-and-bone man. It was as good as fairyland to me in 1980s and 90s American suburbia.
Shirley Hughes writes and illustrates her own stories, usually from children Niko's age to perhaps 8, but as you can see in the Guardian article she also experiments with other genres. She is an amazing painter. Stories By Firelight didn't enthrall me as a small child the way her Alfie and Annie Rose characters did, but as an adult I'm completely blown away by her imagination and artistic skill.
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Date: 2011-02-12 12:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-11 11:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-12 12:28 am (UTC)