Reading With Little Ones

I started this blog because I love reading and I want to spark the same interest in my kids. So I started to list books we've recently read together and enjoyed.

My older kids are in 3rd and 4th grade this year. They earn points at school for reading books and taking tests on them.
Some kids struggle finding books they like (my 4th grader does) and parents don't know what books they can get for their child because the public library and book stores aren't labeled for accelerated reading, but mine is!

For those with preschool age and younger, I've included our favorite picture books, which I would recommend for any home library.

At the end of each post I have recommended books to add to your home library, just rent from the library, and whether or not the audio book is good (if we have listened to the book on tape.)

Happy Reading!
Showing posts with label preschool. Show all posts
Showing posts with label preschool. Show all posts

Goodnight Moon


The classic picture book for your baby or young child. The little bunny sees all the things in the great big room, like the ballon and picture of the cow jumping over the moon, then says goodnight to them all.

Good Thing You're Not an Octopus!


Do you have a stubborn preschooler who doesn't want to get dressed, take a nap or bath, eat lunch or brush teeth? This book reminds them to look on the bright side, if you were an octopus, you would have to put pants on eight legs. If you were a shark, you would have to brush 200 teeth.
AR level 2.2
pts 0.5

I Just Forgot by Mercer Mayer


These "Little Critters" books are cute and funny. In this one he just can't remember to do his chores. He says things like "I remembered to put my dishes in the sink, but I forgot to put the milk away... I took a bath and I remembered to wash behind my ears. I didn't use soap but I didn't forget to, I just don't like soap." He has a little spider friend that is somewhere in each illustration, which was another bonus for my kids- trying to find him.
AR level 2.0
pts 0.5

Blackboard Bear


This is a cute one of a younger boy who wants to play with the big kids but is always getting left out. Then he creates Blackboard Bear and everyone wants to be his friend now. Luckily, Black board Bear is loyal and is not fooled by them.

Hush Little Baby by Sylvia Long


A must for your baby. Mommy's not promising to buy mocking birds and diamond rings. Instead, she'll show you a humming bird and the evening sky. She'll read you stories and get you a warm blanket when it's cold. Very sweet.

Everyone Poops


I swear by this book in aiding potty training. It's very funny and explains to your child that everyone poops because everyone eats. Most people can get through teaching their child to pee in the toilet. The problem I had with my three oldest were that they were afraid to poop in the toilet. They'd often hide behind the curtain or somewhere in the house and did their business in their diaper- until I used this book. I would say, "An elephant has a BIG poop, a mouse has a tiny poop, and YOU have a big kid poop- in the potty..." They even like to read it after the potty training phase because there is a picture of poop on every page!

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak


Excellent illustrations in this one. Max was acting like a wild thing, so his mother sends him off to bed with no supper. His room magically takes him to Where the Wild Things Are for a great adventure.
AR level 3.4
pts 0.5

Dr. Seuss











There are so many to choose from, but some are better than others. I feel like some just rhyme for the sake of rhyming but overall aren't as entertaining.
My favorite is The Sneetches. In this story the Sneetches who have stars on their bellies are not very nice to the ones with no stars. They are never invited to beach parties and hot dog roasts. Clever Sylvester McMonkey McBean sees a great business opportunity in offering those poor, left out Sneetches a walk through his machine that will put stars on THEIR bellies.
AR level 3.4
pts 0.5
Cat in the Hat is probably the most well known of all of his books. Two siblings are home while mom runs errands. It's a rainy day and they're bored, until the Cat in the Hat visits!
AR level 3.0
pts 0.5
How the Grinch Stole Christmas is probably a close second to the Cat in the Hat's popularity. The Grinch can't stand all those Whos in Whoville and overwhelming Christmas spirit. But this year he has a plan to put an end to it all.
AR level 3.0
pts 0.5
Worth mentioning are There's a Wocket in my Pocket and The First of Octember. I thought they were cuter than some of the other more generic Dr. Seuss books. In There's a Wocket in My Pocket, a boy finds lots of strange little creatures that live all over his house.
Do any of your kids ask for toys, video games, and treats on a regular basis? We'll now you can tell them that everything will be theirs on the First of Octember!
AR level 2.1
pts 0.5

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie


This is a series of picture boooks by Laura Numeroff starting with If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Giving him a cookie will prompt him to ask for a glass of milk, then he'll need to look in the mirror to make sure he doesn't have a milk mustache... Each page is a new consequence for giving him the cookie. These books are great fun, we have many of the series.
AR 2.7
pts 0.5
If You Give a Moose a Muffin
AR 2.1
pts 0.5
If You Give a Pig a Party
AR 2.2
pts o.5
If Take a Mouse to the Movies (Christmas Story)
AR 2.1
pts 0.5
If You Take a Mouse to School
AR 2.4
pts 0.5

The Frances Collection


"Bedtime for Frances"- It's bedtime, so Frances needs one more kiss, one more hug, etc. But, oh no!, there are quite a few noises and shadows that are so scary Frances can't sleep.
AR level 2.7
pts 0.5
"Baby Sister for Frances"- Baby sister Gloria is born and Frances is feeling neglected- her mom didn't have time to iron Frances' favorite dress for school or buy raisins for the oatmeal. Things are not so good with the new baby taking up mom's time- Frances decides to run away!
AR level 3.4
pts 0.5
"A Birthday for Frances"- It's Gloria's birthday, and Frances feels a little jealous. Frances' birthday is ALWAYS the birthday that is not now. Should she get Gloria a present even though Gloria hid her pail and shovel last year?
AR level 3.6
pts 0.5

These books are great fun to read and to listen to on tape. We have the books but also rented the audios. The narrator for the tape is the mom in the Mary Poppins movie and she does a good job with all Frances' made up songs.