Here's what I've been reading with my sons lately....everything from chapter books to classic picture books...and even the Berenstain Bears!
Picture Books:
At the Waterworks by Joanna Cole - The Magic School Bus series is perfect for kids who love non-fiction topics, but don't necessarily want to read a science book all the time. This particular book goes over the water purification process and even I learned something!
*Peek Inside The Zoo by Anna Milbourne - My little guy is obsessed with the zoo and animals, so this picture book is right up his alley. The flaps are so much fun and we love "exploring" the zoo. There are leaves to look under, doors to open, and much more!
We Are Growing! by Laurie Keller - Although the Elephant and Piggie Like Reading series isn't as good as the original Elephant and Piggie, it's still very entertaining for young ones. This book is a fun read aloud. Walt and his friends are blades of grass and all have something special about them. Walt finds out his special characterstic in this story.
The Leprechaun Under the Bed by Teresa Bateman - Around St. Patrick's Day, we read this tale about a lephrechaun that is tries to discourage this guy from building a cottage right on top of his home, but he fails. They end up friends though and helpful to each other!
That's What Leprechauns Do by Eve Bunting - This was such a cute and playful story for St. Patrick's Day. I enjoyed going on a fun adventure with the leprechauns as they hide the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I preferred this picture book for St. Patrick's Day out of all the ones we read.
The Berenstain Bears and the Missing Honey by Stan and Jan Berenstain - Papa Bear's special honey goes missing and the bears become detectives trying to figure out who stole it. This one wasn't my favorite of the Berenstain Bears stories, but it's a great introduction to the mystery genre for little ones.
Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato by Tomie dePaola - Jamie is back at it in this story except his wife has hurt her back, so it's up to him to get all the work done on the farm. This is a problem as he is extremely lazy. Thankfully a leprechaun intervenes and chaos ensues once again! This would also be a good read aloud for St. Patrick's Day.
Jamie O'Rourke and the Pooka by Tomie dePaola - This is such a fun Irish tale for St. Patrick's Day. Jamie, the laziest man in Ireland, has to clean up the house while his wife is away. A pooka visits and chaos ensues!
Pirate Nap: A Book of Colors by Danna Smith - Both of my sons enjoyed this pirate adventure that also covers basic colors. The boys in the book are avoiding nap time and use their imagination to turn everyday objects into pirate accessories. It was such a fun story, but if you are looking for a book that teaches colors, I think there are better ones out there.
Chapter Books:
Dinosaur Detectives (Magic School Bus Chapter Books) by Judith Bauer Stamper - My son has been really enjoyed the Magic School Bus series so we decided to try the chapter books. While this book was very compelling for dinosaur lovers, I think the original picture books do a better job and really have that something extra that make it more memorable.
My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett - So many people have recommended this book to me and I somehow have never read it despite it winning the Newbery. I read it to my son as a read aloud and he loved it! It's all about a young boy who goes on an adventure to save a dragon that is being mistreated. He encounters many dangerous situations as well as scary animals.
Rise of the Balloon Goons (The Notebook of Doom #1) by Troy Cummings - I read this to my son as a read aloud and while I did not enjoy this book in the least, he seemed to really like it. A young boy encounters a notebook that says monsters live in his neighborhood. Strange things have been happening, so he tries to get to the bottom of it. If you have a monster lover at home, he/she will appreciate this book the most. I liked the fast pace of the plot, but did not enjoy the story and/or writing style.
Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown - Stanley Lambchop wakes up one morning and his bulletin board fell on his causing him to be as flat as a pancake. Adventure and funny times ensue for the Lambchop family. I liked Stanley's relationship with his brother, but this book ended up being just ok for me as well as the rest of the series, which we read. My son liked all of Stanley's adventures, but I think it was a truly strange.
*Hey Jack: The Worry Monsters by Sally Rippin - The Hey Jack! series continues with Jack worrying about his spelling test at school. He isn't prepared! It's a good read for children who worry about things at school and also a good reminder to be prepared for tests and not to procrastinate! My preschooler is a little young to directly relate to the book's message, but I know it will be appreciated in the years to come.
*Billy and the Mini Monsters: Monsters in the Dark by Zanna Davidson - This series is perfect for kids who like books with a graphic novel/comic book vibe. The full page color illustrations are great and the story had us laughing out loud. It's about a young boy who has monsters that live in his sock drawer. The monsters are pretty funny though and not scary in the least. We will definitely continue with the series!
*If you want to buy these books or learn more about these particular titles, you can buy them through Usborne Books and More. Contact me for more information!
Are you familiar with any of these children's books? Do you have any recommendations for me? Let me know in the comments below.
