[preciousbaby]

Hello Everyone,

I am going to be a first time parent, and would like some insight from some of you experts.

What are some children's books that every child should have in their collection?

I want to start gathering some books, but not sure where to start. I have received some from friends, but I want to make sure I get some good classics, and some new ones, too.

Our son will be about 18 months old when he comes home.

Any great adoption books out there too?? I have "Tell me about the night I was born" by Jamie Lee Curtis.

Thanks for all you expertise.

Beth

[Bebe2007]

*All About Corduroy - Don Freeman
*Where the Wild Things Are - Maurice Sendak
*A Mother for Choco - Keiko Kasza
*Jigsaw Jungle - 2 piece jigsaw so cute. They had other than jungle theme.

I also have a few books in Spanish.

Anything Dr. Suess

[mayaprincess]

As a teacher, I recommend the David Shannon books (David), Dr. Suess, Eric Carle (Brown Bear..), and lots of nursery rhymes. Baby Einstein puts out quite a few for much younger children.

Go to Unique Adoption Gifts and Books at AdoptShoppe and check out their Life Books that they customize for the country and you can write your own info and stories for the baby.

[dhoneybunny]

I haven't read it yet, but DUCK by Randy Cecil looks like a good choice.
It features "oil-painted" illustrations and is the story of a wooden duck who adopts a lost real duckling. The wood duck realizes that she is unable to teach the duckling how to fly and decides that the duckling is better off with other real ducks.
It's for ages 3-7, but it could be a nice bed-time story to read with your children.

[KarynB]

This book is not adoption related but our 18 month old LOVES "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?" We read it about 10 times a day!

also "On the Day you were born"

and "B is for Bear" - has touch and feel things he loves to feel while we read.


he also likes the Cheerios book - terrible I know but he gets so excited to see those little "o's"!!!!

[DPline]

Goodnight Moon and The Very Hungary Caterpiller are two of my all time favorties. My daughter was obsessed with Baby Beluga also.

[WAmomx3]

anything by Sandra Boynton. All of her books are available in Spanish, too - on Amazon.

[IzzysMommy]

"Love You Forever" is a must have for any parent... especially for a little boy!

Denise

[zanjen05]

One of my two year olds favorites is "The Big Red Barn" by Margaret Wise Brown. He LOVES it so much that we have had to buy it twice already because it just wore out! lol! We have a shelf full of books and this is the one he pulls out the most. Also, he really likes "Sometimes I Like To Curl Up In A Ball" by Vicki Churchill. One of my personal favorites, and my little girls love it, is "Snuggle Bunnies" I think it is by Lisa McCue (could be wrong). And last but not least would be "I Love Daddy" by Jillian Harker. There are lots of books out there that are "touch and feel" and my smaller children like these as well. Ok! lol! I guess it is hard for me to pick my favorites! I have to leave you with one more, I almost forgot this one! It is another one that we have had two copies of. It's called "Who Do You Love" and has lots of different bears with different fur to touch. Happy book collecting!

[xxsurroundedbyxy]

Guess How Much I Love You, If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, Leo the LateBloomer, The Runaway Bunny, The Velveteen Rabbit, Rainbow Fish, Owen, ....I could go on forever. Look for Newberry Authors and Caldecott Winners for quality literature.

ALSO---at that age, THEY will pick their own favorites. You can't really do it. Buy LOTS of board books so they can be rough and "read" to themselves. My 22 mo. old truly thinks he is reading. He loves his books and takes one to bed with him every night. They ARE his loveys. They will bring the one to you that they want you to read....over and over and over. Their favorite may very well become your most hated book. LOL. But you will have instilled a love of reading so who cares?!?!

Also, look on Amazon.com and EBay for any books that have your child's name in it. They love that!

I taught first, second, and third grade for six years and now work one day a week at the public library singing and dancing with 1-5 year old preschoolers. LOVE IT! But I love books and kids so this job is awesome.

I work two hours on Wed. mornings and they pay me $150 and supply all I need (books, puppets, stickers, candy, prizes, music CDs) . Can't beat it!!

[SKL]

A lot of wonderful books are mentioned above - I agree with them.

Here are some other books I consider indespensible, ranging from toddler to middle school level: "I Love You Sun, I Love You Moon" (I have a bilingual version); P.D.Eastman books (a little better than Dr. Seuss in my opinion - but I think people think they are Dr. Seuss because they are in the same series); The Tale of Peter Rabbit; A Visit from St. Nicholas; The Little House by Burton; Harold and the Purple Crayon; A Child's Garden of Verses (R.L.Stevenson); Curious George; Little Bear series by Minarik; Frog and Toad series by Lobel; Grimm's and Andersen's Fairy Tales; Pinocchio; the Laura Ingalls Wilder series; Charlotte's Web; The Wizard of Oz; Heidi; Aesop's Fables; Where the Sidewalk Ends by Silverstein; Tom Sawyer; Helen Keller's Teacher; A Christmas Carol; Sherlock Holmes stories; probably lots more that I am not remembering right now.

[bbull]

I'm posting some here, but you can also check out my blog for my book recommendations. I am a huge read-aloud advocate and we read every single day. We have two bookcases full of children's books. There were some surprises for me - books I didn't expect us to love so much. Here are some of our faves:

Little Blessings Books like "Thank You God" and "Blessings Come in Colors."

"Good Night Moon" and "The Big Red Barn"

"Rainbow Fish"

Eric Carle books

Sandra Boynton books (possibly our most favorite author - we have tons of hers and can't get enough of them - I also have her mommy calendar!) Rosie loves "The Belly Button Book" and has become obsessed with her "Bee-Bo" and everyone else's! So cute!

Sesame Street, "We're Different, We're the Same" - the best buy so far!

"On the Night You Were Born"

"If Kisses Were Colors"

"Nathaniel Willy, Scared Silly" - I have to plug this one and say it's fairly hard to find - but by far the best read-aloud book on the planet!

"Mama Always Comes Home"

"I Udderly Love You"

Obviously the Shel Silverstein books - just great to have on hand and good for your library.

Again - I try to update the blog as well....

[Chloe5763]

Hi Beth!

I have to give another enthusiastic plug for "A Mother for Choco" which is an adoption book. This has been Mariah's favorite bedtime book for months now, she always asks for it and pats little Choco's head on the page where he's sad. At 21 months she is also loving "Moo Baa LaLaLa" and "Goodnight Moon" which BOTH of us know by heart now.....

Enjoy the fun of picking out books for your little one!!

[jeck]

One of our favorites right now is I love you through and through....

[busterleroy]

Goodnight Moon
Toot and Puddle series
Clack Clack Moo, Cows that Type
Duck for President
Guess How Much I Love You
Dr. Seuss Treasury - Green Eggs and Ham, Thing One Thing Two
Rainbow Fish
Tuesday
You Are Special, Max Lucado
The Going to Bed Book, Sandra Boynton