by Carrie Hike
Books are big in our house. It's nearly an impossible task to choose favorites, but when I posed the question to the kids, these were the ones that they decided made the cut:
Pete the Cat
"The moral of Pete's story is: No matter what you step in, keep walking along and singing your song... because it's all good."
Sometimes, the kids bring me their chosen selection of bedtime books at night, and I inwardly groan. That is not the case with this one. It's fun to read, and it has a good message. Pete is one cool cat. His positive attitude and way of rolling with life's circumstances teach kids to not sweat the small stuff.
Sometimes, the kids bring me their chosen selection of bedtime books at night, and I inwardly groan. That is not the case with this one. It's fun to read, and it has a good message. Pete is one cool cat. His positive attitude and way of rolling with life's circumstances teach kids to not sweat the small stuff.
Beekle
How does an imaginary friend feel before he gets imagined? What if he never gets picked? This 2015 Caldecott award winner is the story of Beekle, an imaginary friend who goes off in search of his human child and his adventures along the way. The illustrations are gorgeous, and the story is heartwarming. Parent and kid approved.
Llama Llama Red Pajama
"Llama, Llama red pajama waiting, waiting for his mama. Mama isn’t coming yet... Baby Llama starts to fret."
All four of my children can recite the complete text of this book. It has been a favorite bedtime book in our household since my oldest daughter was a toddler, over 10 years ago. I will probably never be able to bring myself to toss it in the goodwill box, no matter how much KonMari simplifying I do.
Llama Llama Red Pajama has the perfect mix of rhyme and simplicity for a young child while addressing separation anxiety and bedtime fears. Baby Llama learns that "Mama Llama is always near, even when she's not right here."
All four of my children can recite the complete text of this book. It has been a favorite bedtime book in our household since my oldest daughter was a toddler, over 10 years ago. I will probably never be able to bring myself to toss it in the goodwill box, no matter how much KonMari simplifying I do.
Llama Llama Red Pajama has the perfect mix of rhyme and simplicity for a young child while addressing separation anxiety and bedtime fears. Baby Llama learns that "Mama Llama is always near, even when she's not right here."
Good Night Yoga
This beautifully illustrated pose-by-pose bedtime story takes children through gentle yoga poses and focuses their breathing while telling the story about the world getting ready for bed. The simple bedtime yoga sequence is geared towards kids, but parents can dig it, too.
Knuffle Bunny
“Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale” is a Caldecott Honor book from Mo Willems. I don't know what it is about Mo, but my kids love everything he writes. This book is about a toddler Trixie, and the loss of her favorite stuffed animal. The illustrations are awesome; simply rendered drawings superimposed on black and white photographs of Brooklyn, and the text is both child and parent relatable.
Where the Wild Things Are
"The night Max wore his wolf suit and made mischief of one kind..." This book is a classic. It's fun to read aloud, and brilliantly illustrated, allowing children to expand the story with their own imagination. Max has his adventures with the creatures, becomes King of the Wild Things, but realizes he is lonely for his loved ones, and returns home.
RSS Feed
