Hellobee

Charlie and Olive enjoy many of the same books, and I shared Olive’s current favorite books here. At 6 years of age Charlie definitely has a longer attention span, better comprehension, and broader tastes since he can read on his own, but reading books out loud are still an important part of each day for us. Many of these picture books are classics that you may remember from your own childhoods because I purchased them all from a used bookstore!

1) Stellaluna – Stellaluna is a bat that becomes separated from her mother when they are attacked by an owl. A mother bird adopts Stellaluna into her nest, as long as she stops acting like a bat and starts acting like a bird. Stellaluna eventually finds her way home but remains friends with her bird buddies. This book teaches kids about accepting others for who they are. With stunning, realistic but cute, detailed illustrations, this is a modern day classic.

2) The Little Match Girl – This is based on the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale, and it is a heartbreaking one that talks about abuse and poverty and death. But Charlie instantly gravitated toward it and while it definitely is not for every child, it is a beautiful story about important and difficult topics.

3) The Memory Tree – Foxes are Charlie’s favorite animal and I’m a fan of author/illustrator Britta Teckentrup, so I bought this book without opening it. It turned out this was another book about death as fox has lived a long, happy life, and dies in the forest. Soon all his friends gather to celebrate their memories of him and a memory tree grows in that spot. Death is a topic that is on both kids’ minds as Mr. Bee’s dad passed away recently. They don’t fully understand it, and I don’t know if they’ll even remember it when they’re older. My mom’s grandfather passed away when she was Charlie’s age, and she says she has no memory of it. But I’m glad to have books like these that have enabled us to have conversations about death.

4) Orange Peel’s Pocket – A little girl nicknamed Orange Peel doesn’t know much about the country she was born in (China) when her fellow kindergarten classmates start asking her questions, as she has grown up in America. Through visiting local Chinese shop vendors, Orange Peel is able to learn more about her ethnic heritage. A beautifully illustrated book about international adoption.

5) Doctor De Soto – William Steig has many wonderful books including Pete’s a Pizza (an all time favorite) and the original Shrek! Doctor De Soto is no exception, winning the Newberry Award as well as the National Book Award. This is a funny story about a clever mouse dentist and how he outsmarts his sneaky patient the fox.

6) Dairy of a Worm – Author Doreen Cronin of Click Clack Moo fame has another winner in this book. It’s a hilarious diary from the perspective of a worm!

7) Ira Sleeps Over – I remember reading this book when I was in elementary school, and I love rediscovering and sharing books from my childhood with Charlie and Olive. Ira is invited to his first sleepover, and he debates whether or not he should bring his teddy bear with him.

8) But Who Will Bell the Cats? – Based on a clever retelling of the Aesop fable, this stunningly illustrated book is the story of bat and mouse who live in the cellar while 8 cats live in luxury upstairs. They hatch a plan to bell the cats so they can hear them coming, and figure out a clever way to do it. Be sure to check out the awesome accompanying website! We also own the Newbery Honor winning version of this story, Belling the Tiger.

9) Cook-a-doodle-doo! – This is a modern update of the classic The Little Red Hen. Rooster and his friends decide to make strawberry shortcake and hi-jinx ensue. This is a funny story that teaches kids a lot about baking, and a strawberry shortcake recipe you can make with your kids is even included.

10) Town Mouse Country Mouse – I love Jan Brett and her retelling of this classic Aesop fable is wonderful. We were town mice in New York but are now living country lives in El Nido. As always with Jan’s books, this one is beautifully illustrated.

11) Lyle Lyle Crocodile – Like Ira Sleeps Over by the same author, I remember Lyle Lyle Crocodile from my own childhood. This classic tale takes place in New York City, and Charlie is particularly fond of books that take place in his hometown! Lovable Lyle will win over you and your kids!

12) One Morning in Maine – Robert McCloskey has won many awards for his books, which include Blueberries for Sal and Make Way for Ducklings. One Morning in Maine is a Caldecott Honor book that tells the story of an older Sal, who has a loose tooth. If you have a 5 or 6 year old, you know the excitement that comes with that first loose tooth! Sal ends up losing her tooth in the mud while digging for clams by the shore. The story does a great job of dealing with Sal’s disappointment at losing the tooth because she won’t be able to make a wish. It’s simple, beautiful, and timeless.

13) Bad Kitty School Daze – Charlie and Olive love graphic novels. They’re great for early readers because there are so many illustrations and not that much text. This hilarious story about kitty and puppy going to obedience school is on constant rotation at our house!

14) Can’t You Sleep Little Bear? – A charming tale of a little bear who can’t sleep because he’s afraid of the dark. Beautifully illustrated, this is a perfect bedtime book.

15) The Seven Silly Eaters – A hilarious and heartwarming book about picky eaters, their patient mother, and a perfect ending for all. The rhyming story is so much fun to read, and there are charming detailed illustrations on every page.

16) Bread and Jam for Frances – Published in 1964, this still remains a classic. Frances is a picky eater that only likes bread and jam. Eventually she discovers the wonders of eating a large variety of food. We have the original unabridged version which can be harder to find as the abridged version is more readily available online.

17) Fox and His Friends – The Fox series by Edward Marshall is in the same vein as his popular George and Martha series. In three funny short stories, Fox reluctantly has to take care of his younger sister Louise. This is a great early reader book perfect for first graders, especially ones with a younger sibling!

18) Nosey Mrs. Rat – This is a hilarious book about how Nosey Mrs. Rat has the tables turned on her. Your little one will laugh out loud at this book!

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What books are your early readers loving lately?