Our Favorite Kids’ Board Books

Last weekend, when the kids and I selected toys and books for donation, we put aside a pile of board books that we I could not get rid of; they had too much sentimental value. They were the books I had read to my kids when they were oh-so-small, and the books they gnawed on while teething. We read these books so often that I have most, if not all of them, memorized.

In an effort to stay ahead of the chaos of the kids’ burgeoning book collection, these books are heading into storage. For my grandchildren. Or when I am feeling especially mushy and need to re-read them. They are all too precious to donate. Do you know our favorites?

• Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? / Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?  / Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? By Eric Carle – We enjoyed many of Eric Carle’s books, but this trio was by far our favorite.

• Duck in the Truck By Jez Alborough – As with most kids’ books, it’s the rhyming that draws you in—and this book is a great example of that.

• Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed By Eileen Christelow – Who doesn’t love the story about the happy little monkeys who couldn’t lie still?

• Girl of Mine By Jabari Asim – Dear friends gave this sweet, sweet book to G, and she has always adored it.

• Goodnight Moon By Margaret Wise Brown – Truthfully, I loved this book more than the kids, but they put up with me reading it nightly.

• Hippos Go Berserk! / Moo Baa La La La / Are You a Cow? / Belly Button Book / Birthday Monsters! / Doggies / Birthday Monsters! By Sandra Boynton – We loved Sandra Boynton books in our house! All of them were hits with the kids, and it makes me sad they’ve outgrown them.

• In My Flower By Sara Gillingham – Another special book of G’s, this one came courtesy of my brother and sister-in-law.

• Is Your Mama a Llama? By Deborah Guarino – A present for R when he was little a baby, I used to carry it in my diaper bag to read while we traveled about town.

• Kiss Kiss! By Margaret Wild – I love reading this book about animal babies and their mothers—and the importance of the good-bye kiss.

• Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You? By Dr. Seuss – I’m convinced this book helped the kids learn to talk; after all, we read it daily when they were small. And, the first time R read it to us? Oh! It was wonderful. (I probably cried.)

• Ten in the Bed By Penny Dale – This cute book came to R and G from Nana, and it’s terrific example of the importance of rhythm in telling a story.

• Ten Little Rabbits By Virginia Grossman – This lovely, peaceful book is on my “to buy for new parents” list.

• The Giant Jam Sandwich By John Vernon Lord – Hands down, this is a favorite book of our entire family. In fact, it’s still in circulation, hiding away in one the kids’ room, waiting for another bedtime.

• The Itsy Bitsy Spider By Iza Trapani – Another children’s song as a storybook, this one lived in our car for several years so the kids could look it at while they sat in their car seats. It’s especially beat-up–from love, I’d like to think.

Are any of your favorites on our list? What board books would you add as a must-read for new parents?

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