Childrens Bookclub

Written in 1947, Margaret Wise Brown’s classic children’s bedtime story is a timeless starter for sweet dreams, perfect for children anywhere. It’s no wonder the book is a bestseller, having sold more than 4 million copies. As the little bunny says goodnight to all of the things in his or her room, the storyteller can softly reduce his or her speed, slowing to a whisper at the end, creating a feeling of peace in a child’s bedroom.

Since the story is told in poetry form, it’s very easy to read, with an almost singsong quality. Moving from illustration to illustration, each gentle, soft picture also provides a soothing effect to end the day smoothly. As the story continues, the room gets darker and darker, depicting a natural bedtime progression. Read more

hostaAll of Dar Hosta’s books are enchanting, but this one is perhaps my personal favorite. With its soothing nighttime story and stunning graphics, it’s no wonder the book was the winner of the Teacher’s Choice Award in 2004.

The story itself is gorgeous enough for older readers, with or without the images; but Hosta’s art is, as ever, enchanting enough for all ages to fall in love with.

Hosta gives a friendly face and a neighborly voice to animals like crickets, spiders and bats—animals that normally may seem strange and scary to little ones. Hosta gives them a calm sort of beauty, and a definite place in our world that we start to feel a reverence for creatures we may have once feared. Read more

Even if you only marginally like the song—and who doesn’t love “Puff the Magic Dragon”?—chances are you will love this book—and so will the children in your life. Here are ten reasons why this is an incredible book, both for the young and old.

10. There’s nothing overtly trippy. Sure, the dolphins in the book wear graduation caps and glasses, and the plants have faces, but there’s nothing to indicate the song’s supposed “ulterior” meaning that many claim it has. Read more

Absolute Zero

I recently bought the second installment in the Bagthrope series which happens to be Absolute Zero. These books bring back fond memories and I was always thought that the character and plot-lines just got better as you dig further into the series. And so it was with Absolute Zero. Read more

Jolly PostmanWho does not love getting mail in their mail box?  Children especially love getting surprise mail, letters and packages from family and friends, they even love to open up their parent’s junk mail.  This is what the Jolly Postman or Other People’s Letters by Read more

Both mysDuck in the Truckelf and the little boy I nanny for fell in love with the rhyming children’s book, Duck in the Truck by Jez Alborough.  This book has great cartoon graphics that really help to build up the story and make it even more hilarious than the words themselves. Read more

The Peace BookMy preschooler and I are huge fans of Todd Parr. I bought The Peace Book for her when she was just a newborn and we have read it over and over again since.

The pictures, like the pictures in all of Parr’s books, drew her in when she was a tiny thing. They are simple, but bright and colorful, and very child-friendly. From creatures to people, beings are always accepted no matter how they look—and each and every one looks every different. Brown, yellow, black, red—some of Parr’s people are even blue or green! Everyone you meet is a friend in Parr’s world. Read more

CoralineI don't often read children's books these days and when I do, it tends to be an old favorite. However, on occasion, when the mood strikes me and the moon is just so, I'll re-discover myself as a kid again and read a "newer" children's book afresh. "Coraline" by Neil Gaiman struck a chord in me for a few reasons, mostly due to the story and partially due to my own strange thoughts and observations of life. The book itself seems to be targeted for 6th or 7th graders, but like many other books for the same age, has elements that most anyone with a passion for good stories can enjoy. Read more

A Wrinkle in TimeI'm a little weird. I'm an adult, have no kids that can read in my life, but am fascinated by the children's books of my youth. I recently went into a great bookstore in Seattle- Inner Chapters -and was wowed not by their huge selection, but by their cozy section of children's books, complete with nothing less than a collection of Newbery Award Winning books. I was in heaven, especially when I saw, "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle. Read more

A perfect gift for both animal enthusiasts and little ones just starting to learn about creatures and critters, Actual Size, by Steve Jenkins, is such a unique children’s book because it does just what the title implies: it depicts each animal at its actual size.

Because each image is the actual size, many creatures do not fit on the page. Viewing an elephant’s foot taking up a whole spread, or seeing a moth that’s the size of a bird, can really change a child’s perspective and help him or her understand just how big—or, how small, in the case of the tiny dwarf goby fish, which measures less than an inch—an animal really is! Read more