{30} of My Favorite Children’s Books

by Mandi on March 29, 2012

children's books

source: Mandi Ehman

I am counting down the days to my 30th birthday, and I couldn’t be more excited! Truly! As I was brainstorming ways to celebrate here on the blog, I couldn’t help but think that 30 lists of {30} items would be just about perfect for my type-A, list-making self. Join me for the next month as I share the things I’ve learned in the past 30 years and my hopes for the future! See all 30 Days of {30} posts here.

I have a bit of a problem when it comes to children’s books: I really, really like them. Although we’ve started taking advantage more often of our “local” library (which is really about 30 minutes away), I usually end up adding new books to our personal wishlist after every trip. Truthfully, I dream of having a big home library of children’s books, not just for my girls, but for my grandchildren as well!

30-days-of-30

Here — in no particular order — are my 30 most favorite children’s books, for toddlers and preschoolers through early elementary school:

1. Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey

2. The Milly-Molly-Mandy Storybook by Joyce Lankester Brisley

3. Goodnight Moon Big Book by Margaret Wise Brown

4. All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor

5. Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? by Nancy White Carlstrom

6. Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? by Dr. Seuss

7. Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White

8. What’s Smaller Than a Pygmy Shrew? by Robert E. Wells

9. The Complete Tales of Winnie-The-Pooh by A. A. Milne

10. You’re All My Favorites by Sam McBratney

11. The Story of Doctor Dolittle by High Lofting

12. Read-Aloud Bible Stories by Ella K. Lindval

13. The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton

14. Make Way For Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

15. Dear Deer: A Book of Homophones by Gene Barretta

16. The Complete Little House Nine-Book Set by Laura Ingalls Wilder

17. Serendipity Series by Stephen Cosgrove

18. Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business by Esphyr Slobodkina

19. Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

20. Uncle Wiggily’s Story Book by Howard Garis

21. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

22. Stone Soup by Heather Forest

23. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

24. Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out by The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance

25. May B. by Caroline Starr Rose

26. Hind’s Feet on High Places: Children’s Edition by Hannah Hurnard

27. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

28. Mole in a Hole by Rita Golden Gelman

29. Snug House, Bug House (Bright & Early Books(R)) by Susan Schade

30. The Princess and the Kiss by Jennie Bishop

What books would you add to this list?

Mandi Ehman is the founder and publisher behind Life Your Way and the co-author of All in Good Time, as well as a wife and the homeschooling mom to four beautiful girls. She lives with her family on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia and loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.

  • http://melsfunnyfarm.wordpress.com/ Mel

    Hippos Go Berserk!  by Sandra Boynton

     

  • Buddybarks

    In a Cabin in a Wood   McNally & Koontz

  • Acl2545

    The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch
    Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
    Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
    anything by Jan Brett (great stories, great art, fun “side stories” to find in the boarder artwork or hidden in the pictures of the real story)

    Oh, don’t get me started!

  • popcornmom

    Alvin Ho…hilarious book.  It was the first chapter book that really captured my son’s attention enough to read it on his own.

  • Denise

    Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton – This was Mike’s favorite book as a child and mine was The Little House. 

    • http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life…Your Way

      I honestly had trouble not putting all of Virginia Lee Burton and Robert McCloskey’s books on this list — love them all! How fun that you and Mike shared a favorite author from childhood!!

  • Deborah

    Great List! We crave books. My 4 1/2 year old can’t get enough. Here are a few I would add.
    A Bell for Ursli by Selina ChönzThe Owl and the Pussycat by Edward LearIf I Ran the Circus by Dr. Seuss (and really just about everything by Dr. Seuss!)Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice SendakThe Goops and How to Be Them by Gelett Burgess

    so many more….

  • Stephanie Young

    Little Fur Family, Margaret Wise Brown

  • http://www.liverenewed.com/ Emily @ Live Renewed

    Great List! We love books too, but my biggest issue is keeping them in good shape. My kids seem to be destroyers of books – tearing pages, breaking bindings, and just generally really hard on our books. We have some books that both sets of grandparents have passed down to us, and I have no idea how any of our books will actually make it through to be given to my grandchildren! Any hints or advice you have would be appreciated!! 

    • momof5

      I often cover my new children’s paperback books in clear contact paper soon after I buy them. Really helps to save them in reasonable condition. My 5 children are 3-19 years old, and I still have a number of books that I read repeatedly to my oldest  two that look as good as months old newer books that I haven’t covered.

    • http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life…Your Way

      Our strategy is to keep a bookshelf of “twaddle” (books that aren’t great but are still books!) at toddler level. They start reading them early and we’re able to teach them how to handle the books without really worrying about torn pages, crumpled covers, broken spines, etc., all of which unfortunately happen.

      Then, as they get older, they’re able to read our second tier books with supervision (and then without) — things like the “I Can Read It!” series, the Dr. Seuss series, etc.

      Our nice, family heirloom and school books are kept upstairs and by 4yo, we don’t have too many issues with books getting beat up, etc., even though they grab a stack to read every night.

      Hope that helps!

  • Jdkimmet1

    How about Corduroy by Don Freeman?

  • Debbie

    The Knuffle Bunny series by Mo Willems (and practically all other Mo Willems books, for that matter) :)

  • Scrapbook56

    The Paperbag Princess by Robert Munsch

  • D Bender

    I’m so glad I’m not the only grown person to have an obsession with children’s books!  I have an embarassing amount for having no children… : )  Sandra Boynton is by far my favorite chilren’s author, I’m close to having her whole collection.  I’m loving your {30} lists!!

  • http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life…Your Way

    Oh, man, my wishlist is growing — thanks so much for all the great recommendations!

  • http://impressyourkids.com ohamanda {impress your kids}

    Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones!

    • http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life…Your Way

      Do you know we have this (a Christmas gift), and we haven’t read it?! I don’t know why not…!

Previous post:

Next post: