In my opinion one of the best side benefits of having children is that you get to

read your favorite children’s books again (and again). Then there are the really

good new ones that weren’t published when you were a child. Here’s a list of

favorites (compiled with help from Roan).

Picture books

Goodnight Gorilla

The Gray Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher (Molly Bang)

Goodnight Moon

Good Night Fred

Barn Dance

Good Dog Carl

On the Day you were Born (Debra Frasier)

All the places to love and My Mama had a Dancing Heart (Patricia Maclachlan

and others by her)

The Lorax

I’m in Charge of Celebrations (Byrd Baylor and anything else by her)

The Cuddlers (Stacy Towle Morgan – about snuggling with your family)

Early Readers

Mr Putter & Tabby by Cynthia Rylant

Henry & Mudge by Cynthia Rylant

Catwings (Ursula LeGuin)

Chapter Books

Narnia series (starting with the lion the witch and the wardrobe please)

The Book of Three and the rest of the Prydain books (Lloyd Alexander, actually

anything by him)

A Wrinkle in Time (Madeline L’Engle anything by her)

Watership Down (Richard Adams)

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings

Little House Books (I used to think I was Laura Ingalls Wilder reincarnated!)

Misty of Chincoteague

Inkheart (trilogy Cornelia Funke)

The Thief Lord (Cornelia Funke)

Not One Damsel in Distress

Heidi

The Witch of Blackbird Pond

Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)

The Moorchild

Sarah Plain and Tall

Swallows and Amazons (Arthur Ransome)