I have a two-and-a-half year old daughter with another baby girl on the way (March 2023) and I am always scouring the local library for new reads. We decided to take part in the ‘1k books before Kindergarten’ reading program here locally and at this point in time, we are at just about the halfway point. I typically read about a book a day and that is normally just before bedtime, and there are cases where we plow through our entire library haul in a couple of days but it is pretty rare.
Over the course of the past couple of years, I have been making additions to our home library with books I remember reading/being read to me as a child. I never really realized the amount of nostalgia that would hit after having a kid but it is almost overwhelming at times. At the same time, I have been Googling/Searching on Amazon/Checking out publisher’s lists for upcoming releases, just to see if there is anything that catches my eye.
Now, I feel like I have a pretty decent handle on what my kid likes to listen to, and well, what I am more than happy to crack open and read to her.
Having said all of that, I want to try to make it easier for parents with tiny humans or expecting parents to fill their library with enjoyable books. Ones that you won’t sigh at every single time your kid asks for it.
*Click the cover art for links to purchase/find out more information*
Preface this by saying – this series isn’t for your super young kiddos. I actually REALLY enjoyed it but I haven’t read it to my daughter yet. Probably a few years away, but this is up there with Captain Underpants. It has the word ‘butt’ which is a no-no in the house, so that is the main reason it has been shelved.
I stumbled on Dragons Love Tacos as it is absolutely ridiculous, but it has dragons and my kid loves dragons. But it doesn’t really stop there. Rubin has some fantastic books – though these don’t rhyme and might be a more for the “older” bunch than most of the other recs on this list – but I found them hilarious which got my kiddo laughing. The ‘Those Darn Squirrels’ series is pretty great, and I’d rec Secret Pizza Party, Big Bad Bubble, Gladys the Magic Chicken and High Five (which this one is interactive)
I’ve only read the Wallace series (which contains 13 books) but there is a series by Alice Walstead that is meant for a “younger audience”. TBH, I thought the Wallace books were just fine and ended buying a few. They cover most holidays and several fantasy creatures. They are fun, easy reads.
Hilarious stories told by a grumpy goblin. I’ve grabbed these at the library a few times and need to get copies of my own.
Nine (9) books in the series, featuring back to school, Christmas, Halloween, Springtime and Valentine’s Day. Honestly, just super cute books and I would recommend the lot of them. FYI, the Christmas one includes a battery as the tree at the end has working lights. The kiddo will love it.
While there is a plethora of books in this series, there are only thirteen (13) that I would recommend.
Red Pajama / Mad at Mama / Misses Mama / Holiday Drama / Home with Mama / Time to Share / and the Bully Goat / Gram and Grandpa / Loves to Read / Mess Mess Mess / Loose Tooth Drama / Meets the Babysitter / Back to School
The reason being is that these are the “main” books in the series that Dewdney started. The others, outside of the Netflix series readers (which do not rhyme, btw), are way shorter and IMO not worth the money – unless you want to do lift-the-flap books which help with dexterity.
Anna Dewdney also has a book called ‘Little Excavator’ that I thought was fantastic (see below).
So there are actually two (2) books in this series, but I have only read the first one. My daughter absolutely adores this book (I actually don’t know WHY she loves it so much, but it is cute).
Fantastic, especially if you are into fantasy.
TBH, I’d really only grab Book 1 (maybe The Grinny Granny Donkey if you want some laughs with grandparents). I also enjoyed Smith’s Willbee the Bumblebee.
TBH, this is probably one of my favorites to read and one that gets requested alot (alongside Llama llama). There are ten (10) books in the original series and it is really fun, and funny, set of books to read.
This series is pretty good. Quirky, hilarious farmyard tales. Currently eleven (11) books in the series.
So, as you are all aware, there have been some older Seuss books that have been banned due to different circumstances, but that doesn’t mean there are LOADS of other books that are perfect reads. TBH, you can’t really go wrong with any Seuss book but it also depends on what you enjoy reading. Use the link embedded in the cover art above for a pretty decent list including The Lorax, Horton Hears a Who!, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories, etc. Tons of classics that I read over and over – one of my favorites being Fox in Socks because I try to read it faster and faster each time. If you want specific recs, give me a shout.
I really can only recommend the Falconer novels. They don’t rhyme, but Olivia herself is a friggin mess which is perfect for me (or others with daughters) because I can just see my kiddo acting just like her in a few years.
This series has like sixty (60) books, but you have to be careful as several are like reiterations of songs like Wheels on the Bus, Old MacDonald Had a Farm, etc. I’d grab the 5 minute story bundles as they have a majority of the original series – but grabbing individual hardcovers isn’t too expensive if you buy them second hand.
Nostalgia nostalgia nostalgia
I’ve only read a handful of these, but they are quick and cute.
This series was my introduction to John but he has other novels that were published prior that I plan to check out. This is a fantastic set of six (6) books – at least so far – that have some very redeeming messages.
You have probably AT LEAST read The Gruffalo before, but Donaldson has a pretty fantastic library including Superworm!, Room on the Broom, The Snail and the Whale, Charlie Cook’s Favorite Book, and The Smartest Giant in Town just to name a few.
We own The X-Files, Home Alone 1 & 2, Back to the Future, and Elf. Read Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Can’t really go wrong here. Can’t really speak to the Ferris Bueller’s Day Off or Who’s on First books.
Hits me right in the childhood. Can’t go wrong with any book in this series.
I know. I know. Such a boy book, right? Wrong. My kid, much like dragons, loves dinosaurs. What can I say, she is a kid after my own heart. Love the first two (2), have not read Book 3 but have added it to the wishlist (literally just realized there was a 3rd…). This one was actually recommend by a friend of mine who said his son asked it to be read every single night for almost a year. He literally memorized it.
This series is probably the only one by Willems I’ll read (and honestly, the only one my kid is interested in). There is also the Elephant & Piggie series, but it just doesn’t quite do it for us. The Pigeon is a goober and just a funny read.
Fun. Funny. Yep.
Six (6) book series – so far – and isn’t just for boys. Love this series, especially when I get to make the noises of the different machinery 😀
I’ve only read the first four (4) novels of this six (6) novel series – though I own/have read the Level 2 Step into Reading novels and the Little Book of Grumpiness (don’t recommend this one, FYI). These books don’t rhyme but they are enjoyable, and of course, a helpful tool to “get the grumps out”.
Below are some single novels by authors that I have tried and really enjoyed, or are just those classics you need on your kiddo’s shelf. Feel free to click on the covers to find out more info!
This is such a great list! My little loved most of these!