Saturday, January 28, 2012

Saturday Seven-Books

StinkBug woke up with a sore throat on Thursday and wanted lots of cuddles and laziness. I was quick to indulge him and who couldn't use a day lazying around in bed watching tv and reading?

He dug through the various book baskets (3 in the living room) and 2 bookshelves in the bedrooms to find his personal favorites.

**It should be noted that I am a BOOK SNOB. Especially when it comes to children's books. As a pre-k teacher I amassed quite a collection of books (in the 400s) before I even got knocked up. I'll admit I  may definitely had some issues sharing MY books with my own children. But I got over that. As long as I am doing the reading I get to control the quality of books that cross the portal. I have NO TOLERANCE for Disney Princess books or Winnie the Pooh or other long wordy books that aren't fun to read or have sucky illustrations.


This has the MOST AMAZING illustrations. Turns out Brad (the illustrator) is from around these parts. Go Kansas! I LOVE LOVE the animals. They looks so soft and sweet and their EYES are swoon worthy. I love the story about a "new one" coming to the farm. It's a fantastic book to read when there's a baby on the way or a new one in the house. The rhyming and repetition is fun to read and easy for little ones to remember. StinkBug loves to pretend that he is the baby at the end of the book.



StinkBug loves farms. He likes to reminisce about our days of living on the coyote farm. NEVER HAPPENED! He shares very animated tales of our adventures on the farm where we never lived. He even NEVER got bit by the baby coyote that Daddy put him on for a ride.  This is an entertaining story about a farmer (go girl power!) who oversleeps and how the animals react and pass the news around the barnyard. We love the illustrations in this one too..especially the owl in her pocket.


It's no surprise StinkBug chose ANOTHER farm book! This one has amazing photographs of animals as they are waking up and not too thrilled about it. Kids can relate to NOT wanting to get out of bed. This one  is out of print but worth searching for. I love rhyming books and this one is no exception. It begs to be acted out with galloping and animal noises.



StinkBug's classroom has a Chicka Chicka Boom Boom tree where the kid's take turn hanging the letter of the week. Since his first visit there he has been OBSESSED with this book. It's a classic and probably one of the best alphabet books on the market. By now you know I love the rhyme. I can't help but read in a sing song voice..."skit skat skoodle doot flip flop flee I'll meet you at the top of the coconut tree." If you can find the audio CD BUT IT NOW! Ray Charles reading this? You better believe it.


A very simple book about starting school. There are only a few words on each page and StinkBug had this memorized by the time he was 2 1/2 and yet he is still drawn to it. When I asked why he likes it he said "Because the mouse is so cute." 


Construction rules and so does this book. What kid doesn't love a book about playing in the dirt and digging up nasty things? The friendly backhoe does a countdown of what he cleans up. We have to re-read these pages several times. Torn up truck tires and tossed-out toiler seats are particularly amusing at our house. This book was memorized in it's entirety after the first reading. It is chock-full of fantastic vocabulary words and extremely descriptive words. Kate McMullan writes the books and her husband, Jim illustrates.



I puffy heart with glitter LOVE the llama llama books. I could sit around and read them ALL DAY. I did read llama llama red pajama every stinking night when we first bought it until the kids hid it from me. They still loved it but apparently reading it 21 nights in a row is a bit excessive. Whatever! I love this because it totally captures the insecurities and nervousness of going to school (or daycare) for the first time. And it rhymes.


What are some of the favorites at your house?



Linking up with Stasha for another Monday Listicles!

19 comments:

Sherri said...

Oh, I love LOVE children's books! Mine are too old ow, but luckily I have lots of little nephews...and I still work at the elementary school and hang out in the library!

Jen/jlweinberg said...

I love, love, LOVE children's books! Very excited about this post. I love the Sound of Colors, A Sick Day for Amos McGee, The Great Escape (find a used copy), I could go on. Oh! And books by Shana Corey. And if you have a girl who likes Disney books, let me know!

Robbie K said...

I fantasize about being a children's librarian...but I would never make them be quiet. One of the things I miss most about teaching is circle time and reading to those kiddos who are lucky if they have a book @ home.

Robbie K said...

My daughter was just talking about Sound of Colors last week and while she remembered the story she didn't know the title.

Leigh Ann said...

Llama llama is a HUGE hit around here. Right up there with the Gerald and Piggie books by Mo Willems.

Leigh Ann said...
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Leigh Ann said...

Llama llama is a HUGE hit around here. Right up there with the Gerald and Piggie books by Mo Willems.

Leigh Ann said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Stasha said...

I am a kid's books snob too. Shhh don't tell okay? Anything Disney or such gives me hives. Lucky for us there are many great books out there. I am ordering I'm dirty at the local library right now! Love our library, we can do everything online.

Robbie K said...

happy to find another book snob! I'm Dirty is adorable & the authors wrote a few other similiar books that my 5 yr old loves.

Robbie K said...

i fell in love with LLama llama books the minute I opened it and started reading. Glad ya'll love them too!

Stacey said...

I love the llama llama series! I haven't seen the I'm Dirty book. After all these lists, I think we are due for a trip to the library!

paul said...

Love the coyote farm story. Kids are great that way. I too have book control issues, I hate sharing my books. Mainly because so many just disappear.

Jackie said...

Oh Chicka, Chicka- How much fun is that book?
I agree, I really cannot stand the Princess crap that Disney mass produces, but I tolerate it, because a book is still better than a video game, right?

Robbie K said...

i love the library!

Robbie K said...

Glad we could entertain & amuse with the coyote story that never happened. I don't mind sharing grown up books but I have control issues with kid books...

Robbie K said...

Yes I will take books over video games any day.

Cookie’s Mom said...

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is one of our favourites. We have the audio recording with Ray Charles and all of the versions of the story in song. One of the best purchases we have made! Too fun!!!

Kristen said...

Love the list!!! Thank you so much!!! Believe it or not... we don't have any of those books. You ask me about high school books - and I'm your girl. ... but - these? I'm so clueless... Thanks!