Essential Children's Books
My eldest is a fanatical reader. Over the years, I've found some wonderful books. The list below represents many reading levels. The books are all worth reading; some more than others.
red: must read
blue: honorable mention
black: worth reading
+: best in the series
*: Age and motherhood has turned me into a sap. Some books give me a lump in my
throat because they are so sweet.
Amanda Pig, Schoolgirl +
by Jean Van Leeuwen. Ann Schweninger, illus.
Puffin Easy To Read
ISBN: 0141303573
Are You My Mother? *
by P.D. Eastman
Bright & Early Board Books
ISBN: 0679890475
Baker, Baker, Cookie Maker
by Linda Hayward. Tom Brannon, illus.
Step-Into-Reading: Step 2
ISBN: 0679883797
Biscuit Finds a Friend
by Alyssa Satin Capucilli. Pat Schories, illus.
My First I Can Read
ISBN: 0060274123
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type +
by Doreen Cronin. Betsy Lewin, illus.
ISBN: 0689866267
Dragon Gets By
by Dav Pilkey
ISBN: 1857072758
Dragon's Fat Cat +
by Dav Pilkey
ISBN: 0590205226
A Friend for Dragon
by Dav Pilkey
ISBN: 0531070549
Giggle, Giggle, Quack
by Doreen Cronin. Betsy Lewin, illus.
ISBN: 0743490096
Go Away, Dog
by Joan L. Nodset. Paul Meisel, illus.
My First I Can Read
ISBN: 0064442314
God Gave Us Two *
by Lisa Tawn Bergren. Laura J. Bryant, illus.
ISBN: 067144901X
God Loves You (Little Blessings)
by Kathleen Long Bostrom. Elena Kucharik, illus.
board book
ISBN: 0842353704
God Made You Special!
by Eric Metaxas
ISBN: 0310704618
Great Day for Up!
by Dr. Seuss. Quentin Blake, illus.
Bright and Early Books for Beginning Beginners
ISBN: 0394829131
Green Eggs and Ham
by Dr. Seuss
I Can Read It All by Myself Beginner Books
ISBN: 0394829131
Gus and Grandpa +
by Claudia Mills. Catherine Stock, illus.
ISBN: 0374428476
Gus and Grandpa and Show-and-Tell *
by Claudia Mills. Catherine Stock, illus.
ISBN: 0374428484
Gus and Grandpa and the Christmas Cookies
by Claudia Mills. Catherine Stock, illus.
ISBN: 0374428158
Gus and Grandpa and the Two-Wheeled Bike *
by Claudia Mills. Catherine Stock, illus.
ISBN: 0374428166
Gus and Grandpa Ride the Train *
by Claudia Mills. Catherine Stock, illus.
ISBN: 0374428131
Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs
by Ian Whybrow. Adrian Reynolds, illus.
ISBN: 037582542X
Henry and Mudge and Annie's Perfect Pet
by Cynthia Rylant. Sucie Stevenson, illus.
Ready-To-Read: Level 2
ISBN: 0689834438
Henry and Mudge and the Careful Cousin
by Cynthia Rylant. Sucie Stevenson, illus.
Ready-To-Read: Level 2
ISBN: 0689810075
Henry and Mudge and the Long Weekend +
by Cynthia Rylant. Sucie Stevenson, illus.
Ready-To-Read: Level 2
ISBN: 0689808852
Henry and Mudge and the Sneaky Crackers
by Cynthia Rylant. Sucie Stevenson, illus.
Ready-To-Read: Level 2
ISBN: 0689825250
Henry and Mudge and the Tall Tree House
by Cynthia Rylant. Sucie Stevenson, Carolyn Bracken, illus.
Ready-To-Read: Level 2
ISBN: 0689834454
Henry and Mudge in Puddle Trouble
by Cynthia Rylant. Sucie Stevenson, illus.
Ready-To-Read: Level 2
ISBN: 0689810032
Hoover's Bride
by David Small
ISBN: 0517597071
How To Speak Moo!
by Deborah Fajerman
board book
ISBN: 0764122851
Jesus Loves Me *
by Anna B. Warner
board book
Adorable pictures of kids, but best of all is the open picture frame
on the last page for you child's picture.
ISBN: 0784711356
Leo and Emily and the Dragon
by Franz Brandenberg. Aliki, illus.
ISBN: 0688025315
Little Bear +
by Else Holmelund Minarik. Maurice Sendak, illus.
An I Can Read Book (The first I Can Read Book actually.)
ISBN: 0064440044
Little Quack
by Lauren Thompson. Derek Anderson, illus.
ISBN: 0689847238
Little Quack
by Ruth Woods
Modern Curriculum Press Beginning to Read Series
ISBN: 0813655447
A Little Bit of Winter
by Paul Stewart. Chris Riddell, illus.
ISBN: 0064437493
Little Quack's Hide and Seek
by Lauren Thompson. Derek Anderson, illus.
ISBN: 0689857225
Mama Rex and T: The Reading Champion
by Rachel Vail. Steve Björkman, illus.
ISBN: 0439578221
Micawber
by John Lithgow. C.F. Payne, illus.
The last illustration is brilliant. I don't want to ruin it,
but if you are a fan of Norman Rockwell, you'll love it.
ISBN: 0689874421
Minnie and Moo Go to the Moon +
by Denys Cazet
I've read several Minnie and Moo books. None of them hold a candle to this
one. It is zany barnyard fun.
ISBN: 0439081890
Mitchell Is Moving
by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat. Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey, illus.
ISBN: 0689808763
The Monster at the End of this Book
by Jon Stone. Mike Smollin, illus.
ISBN: 0307010856
Moo, Baa, La La La!
by Sandra Boynton
board book
I've never read a Sandra Boynton book I didn't like; I haven't seen them all yet though.
ISBN: 067144901X
Moon Mouse
by Adelaide Holl. Cyndy Szekeres, illus.
ISBN: 0394907442
My Brother and I *
by P.K. Hallinan
board book
ISBN: 0824954556
Poppleton +
by Cynthia Rylant. Mark Teague, illus.
ISBN: 059084783X
Poppleton and Friends
by Cynthia Rylant. Mark Teague, illus.
ISBN: 0590847880
A Porcupine Named Fluffy
by Helen Lester. Lynn Munsinger, illus.
Fluffy is charming. Would that there were more Fluffy books.
ISBN: 0590136941
Shake a Leg!
by Constance Allen. Tom Cooke, illus.
Great interactive book with your favorite Sesame Street monsters.
ISBN: 0307101843
The Silly Gooses
by Dav Pilkey
ISBN: 059095735X
Tacky and the Emperor
by Helen Lester. Lynn Munsinger, illus.
ISBN: 0618260099
Tacky in Trouble
by Helen Lester. Lynn Munsinger, illus.
ISBN: 0439164257
Tacky the Penguin
by Helen Lester. Lynn Munsinger, illus.
ISBN: 0440848962
Tackylocks and the Three Bears
by Helen Lester. Lynn Munsinger, illus.
ISBN: 0439627540
There's a Wocket in my Pocket!
by Dr. Seuss
Bright and Early Books for Beginning Beginners
ISBN: 0394829204
Three Cheers for Tacky +
by Helen Lester. Lynn Munsinger, illus.
ISBN: 0395668417
Tiger Is a Scaredy Cat
by Joan Phillips. Norman Gorbaty, illus.
Step into Reading: Step 1
ISBN: 0394880560
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by A. Wolf
by Jon Scieszka. Lane Smith, illus.
A funny fractured fairy tale parody.
ISBN: 0670827592
Wake Up, Sun!
by David L. Harrison. Hans Wilhelm, illus.
Step into Reading: Step 1
ISBN: 0394882563
Wow! Babies!
by Penny Gentieu
board book
Babies love this book because it has tons of pictures of babies.
ISBN: 0517800802
You Are Special
by Max Lucado. Sergio Martinez, illus.
board book
ISBN: 1581342195
I'd be happy to hear your comments about the above list or tell me about some great books you love.
This site is wonderful. You can get paperbacks as well as hardbacks and audiobooks. If you like the Amazon used circuit, you'll really dig PaperBackSwap. Tell 'em "flashbeagle" sent you. ;)
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Happy reading,
Edie
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