I love hearing about new kids' books. As you may remember, we have quite a collection at home, but we also visit the library every couple of weeks, so I'm always looking for new recommendations. We often borrow at least one book that we really love and read over and over until it is time to return it. I thought I would start sharing some of the gems we come across (+ some from our own collection) every couple of weeks. I hope you find some you can enjoy too!
1) Hug (Jez Alborough)
I was first introduced to this book through play-group. It doesn't have many words (If I recall correctly, the only words are "Hug", "Mummy" and "Bobo"), but the story is beautifully told through pictures. It is such a great book for talking, describing and asking questions - especially the "higher-level" questions such as "how does he feel?", "Why do you think he is sad...?" etc.
2) Anything Dr Seuss.
We have a 5-book "treasury" which includes The Cat in the Hat, The Cat in the Hat Comes Back, Green Eggs and Ham, Fox in Socks and, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Each story is really quite long, and the pictures are mostly line drawings with just a little bit of colour, so Miss 1 and Mr 2 lose interest, but Miss 3 is just captivated by the rhyme and rhythm. They are fun stories to read aloud.
3) Wombat Stew (by Marcia K Vaughan, Illustrated by Pamela Lofts)
I am sure this book was around when I was in late primary school (though I'm not entirely sure of the publication date). I was re-introduced to this at library story-time late last year. The kids loved it so much that we had to borrow it. The rhythm and rhyme is so lovely to read, and the kids love to join in with the "ooey, gooey, yummy, stewy... wombat stew!" (this is a recurring refrain on most pages).
4) What the ladybug heard (Julia Donaldson, Illustrated by Lydia Monks)
Another one we recently borrowed from the library - don't think this one was around when I was a child though! Again, lovely rhythm and rhyme, lovely illustrations and a cute story line all about how the ladybug who "never says a word" saved the farm's prized cow from thieves.
5) God Gave me... (by Catherine Mackenzie, illustrated by Angie Sage)
This book is part of a series. We have 2 of the books (God Gave me Hearing and God Gave me Feelings). I think each book is only about $3 - bargain! Both the hearing and the feeling books are fun to read aloud because you can get quite expressive (e.g. Thank you God for loud sounds. I like trumpets and drums and great big hurrahs... vs. Thank you God for quiet sounds. Like a breeze in the trees and a little bird singing...) There is a Bible verse at the bottom of each page to accompany the text. Sometimes we read these, sometimes not. They don't really detract or add to the 'story'. (Probably there to assure us that the assertions in the text come from the Bible).
Have you come across any great kids' books lately? What do you recommend?
