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For ages, my toddler, Bo, was awful at reading books. He just couldn’t get into them and would try to grab the book and rip the pages. Then he got better with interactive book – lift the flaps and books with sounds. But during this last couple of months, he’s started to love story time and climbs onto my bed excitedly at bed time ready for the latest book. For me, whose next oldest child will be 6 this week, it’s a lovely way to revisit some of the young books I loved to read so much to his older brother and sister. Lovingly pulling out the old favourites and sharing them with him.
What I have also found is that despite the fact some of them are far too young for Logan and Aria now, they too like to climb up and join him. It’s such a lovely moment in the day and I think it’s because they bring back lovely memories for them too. Recently they have started pulling favourites off the shelves and bringing them to him, books that they have loved. So, here are ten books my older children and I am loving reading to my toddler right now.
Dear Zoo
This is probably the first book Logan my oldest son loved. By the end he knew it word for word. We got it around the time we brought home our dog Florence as a puppy so at the end we changed the words so it wasn’t a dog, but a Florence. The children still read it this way when they read it to Bo.
The Gruffalo
I think that ever child needs a copy of The Gruffalo in the library. Julia Donaldson’s infamous story of a very clever mouse and a creature with purple prickles all over his back. A much loved favourite.
Wow Said the Owl
I have a video of Logan when he was about two and a half looking through the pages of the book and loudly saying ‘wow said the owl’ every time he turned a page. It always makes me smile. This is a fun catchy book that is great for introducing colours too.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Another utter classic. This book was so loved we have just got another one as we have worn the first one out. Although let’s face it toddlers are not always kind on books. The tale of transformation from caterpillar to butterfly is a lovely one.
Room on the Broom
Oh wow do I love this book. Even more than The Gruffalo. I want to be the witch who has a broom with a shower on it for a frog. Just marvellous, so fun and imaginative.
Hairy Mclary
I first read Hairy Mclary and felt a bit miffed and didn’t get what all the fuss was about and why the books were so popular. But the more I read the books, the more the grew on me and I absolutely love them now. The cheeky antics of dogs and cats never fail to make the children giggle.
Oi Cat
This is perhaps a newer edition to our library, purchased because my children rather like cats. It’s ridiculously silly, my children giggle all the way through, even more so when I put on different voices for the animals.
Dinosaur Zoom, Dinosaur Dig and Rescue
Diggers and dinosaurs a much loved combination in our house. My parents bought the three books in this series – Dinosaur Dig, Dinosaur Zoom and Dinosaur Rescue for Logan when he was about 2/3 years old. There were times in my life when I felt like I could not read these books anymore. Even now at 8 he refuses to donate them even though they are far too young for him. But that’s ok as now his brother loves them too.
Potion Commotion
This is one of Aria’s favourites, we bought it at a school book fair on a whim. It’s the lovely story of a young girl who makes a potion that goes a bit crazy, but manages to save the town when she does. It also rhymes, I do love a good rhyming book.
Guess How Much I Love You
A much loved book by all of my children. We even play the game of how much we love each other when I put the children to bed. I love this story so much. You can read my review here.
I had all but one of these books on my bookshelf when I was child minding, Julia Donaldson is amazing #kltr@_karendennis
Oooo you’ve named lots of my favourites but also a couple I don’t know! Can’t wait for the library to reopen so we can enjoy them too!