Favorite 8 Book Picks
Recently, I had the pleasure of chatting with Katie Storey on her podcast, For the Love of Literacy. If you want to hear more about me, why I share books, excellent books to check out, library tips and more, click here to listen to my episode with Katie!
Katie asked me to share my top eight kids books, which was super difficult to narrow down! There are so many amazing books out there and books that are amazing for a variety of reasons. After narrowing down many times, here are my current top eight favorite kids books, if I had to pick and why I choose them! From the first read to the 200th repeated reading, I love these books! Below are the eight books I shared with Katie, be sure to check them out! (If you scroll to the bottom, you’ll find my favorite accessory for visiting libraries!)
We Are Water Protectors
By Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade
This was one of the first environmental books that really moved and inspired me. Taking a stand to help protect our water and done with such gorgeous illustrations. Michaela Goade is definitely one of my favorite illustrators, such beautiful work!
After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again
By Dan Santat
Love this one for growth mindset, facing fears, and worry. Uplifting and one that stays with you. Definitely my favorite retelling of Humpty Dumpty to date!
More More More Said the Baby
By Vera B. Williams
Years ago, when I used to work with toddlers, this was one of my favorite classroom shares! (Yes, I’ve been gathering up, researching, and sharing books for a very long time now. It’s a passion of mine!) I’ve always loved the diversity present in this one and the connection littles are able to make with it. It features common scenarios littles experience that are happy and loving with special people in their lives. This one comes in a board book and picture book format.
The Jolly Postman or Other People’s Letters
By Janet & Allan Ahlberg
One of the first unique finds I ever came across. I loved fairy tales as a child and this one is such a unique twist on retelling. It features different letters addressed to different characters, like an apology from Goldilocks to the Three Bears.
Dreaming Up
By Christy Hale
I’ve loved this book since I first stumbled across it years ago! As an advocate for free play, I love the tie in from play kids are doing now to growing up to create amazing things. Love the photos, the different play mediums used, and the background on real architects. Makes a great one to share in a building area in the classroom or at home.
What Should Danny Do?
By Ganit & Adir Levy
The formatting with this one is so unique; not only does it draw kids in, but it also makes sometime challenging information to share with kids more manageable because kids enjoy it! This one is all about making choices and how you as an individual have the power to choose. Your choices influence your outcomes.
The Rabbit Listened
By Cori Doerrfeld
I love the sweet, gentle illustrations in this one. Taylor feels many emotions after blackbirds swoop down and destroy is tower out of nowhere! He just wants to be left alone after all the different animals come to tell him what he should do next. In the quiet of being alone the rabbit comes and just listens. Love this one for the emphasis on listening, empathy, and being a good friend!
We Don’t Eat Our Classmates
By Ryan T. Higgins
This one is just hysterical and makes such a fun read aloud with kids! Everyone wants to join story time when this one is read! A great one to share to approach the start of the school year with a lighthearted and fun book to connect with over. Penelope T. Rex starts school for the first time and is surprised to find out her classroom is full of delicious children, so she eats them! All the giggles with this one.
Bonus Audiobook Mention: Sing Me a Story
by Heather Forest
This was the audiobook shoutout I gave during the podcast. I do plan on having an audiobook list sometime on my blog, but in the meantime, here is one of my favorites to share with families of young children or in the early childhood classrooms. This is an older CD, so it might be trickier to find, but it’s so wonderful! Check out the link to see if you can find a used copy.
Bookish Bonus: Rolling Crate For Trips to the Library!
If you were listening along, you heard me talk about how we check out around a hundred books each week. How do we carry all those books? How do I save my back? Enter the rolling crate! I love our collapsible crate for trips to the library. Not only is it a back saver, but it also acts as a storage for our library books when we bring them home. I started using ours about three years ago and have been using one ever since!
Sophie Stands Out
By Katie Storey, illustrated by Kellie Colleen
If you listen to the podcast, you will hear Katie reference her first children’s book! Sharing it here in case you want to check it out. It’s a sweet story about a girl who stays true to herself, even when others cast doubt.
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