We recently shared a list of our favorite adult books. So, we thought we would also share our favorite children’s books! Shelley buys her grandkids 26 books as an advent calendar every year. Each household gets their own set, and they open a book a day of December, each kid receiving a book on Christmas morning. That means many children’s books have been read in our family. We also believe that our reading habits started when we were children ourselves. Below are four of our favorite books. We chose each one for a reason and will share a little about the book and why we love them.
The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
This book makes us laugh out loud. Duncan pulls out his crayon box only to find letters from all the upset crayons. Each color has its complaints, and they are each unique and utterly hilarious, also entirely on point for how children use the crayon box. We love the creativity and the spark of imagination this book provides. It is also a blast to read out loud, especially if you are into voices. The dispute between Yellow and Orange crayon gets us every time. Is your kid a yellow sun or orange sun drawer?
A Girl Like You by Frank Murphy and Carla Murphy
This is the book we wish we had when we were kids. It encourages girls to be “strong, daring, brave, and bold.” It also encourages them to take care of themselves physically and emotionally and harbor good relationship practices. This book is empowering for children and adults alike. A reminder that there is only one YOU, and that’s what the world needs. This author also has a book called A Boy Like You if that is a better fit for your family. This book has the lessons we could all use, read it often and listen.
Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
Who doesn’t love dragons and tacos? This book has both! Do you need to charm over a group of dragons? You’ve come to the right place to learn how. Dragons Love Tacos is a fun book and a true joy to read. If you need a giggle and a good light-hearted read, start here. Have fun, be silly when you read this book, and remember to dragons don’t like spicy salsa.
Ruby Finds a Worry by Tom Percival
When we first read Ruby Finds a Worry, we knew it would be a good fit for our home. Ruby is a fun-loving kid when one day a worry starts to hang around. She doesn’t know how to handle it, and the more she ignores it, the larger it grows. One day Ruby realizes she isn’t the only one with a worry and confides in a boy with one too. She recognizes the best way to rid herself of the worry is to talk about it. Children’s books can provide a lesson that we all need to hear. This is a great way to discuss those big emotions and begin to develop healthy emotional practices. We all get worries, and it’s best if we know how to handle them, especially at a young age.
Those are our top four choices when it comes to children’s books. We also recommend any books from your childhood. It’s a special activity to share a book that brought you joy when you were their age. You can’t go wrong with reading. There are so many books to choose from, and we would read all of them if we could. We encourage you to take a trip to the library or your local book store and start reading the children’s books yourself. Many of these books have lessons we could all use a little more of. So, as you read with your children, don’t forget to listen to the lessons yourself. Books also create worlds. Let their little minds be transformed and travel to new places. Begin this love of reading now. It brings joy to the whole family.