by Monica Selby

Created on: June 16, 2010

Children’s books are everywhere.  New ones, old ones, made-into-movie ones.  It seems as if the children’s publishing industry is booming.  With a growing emphasis on reading to our young children, toddler books are especially popular.  But, as a parent, how do you choose which books will be suitable and fun for your little one?  While there is a lot of room for experimenting, there are some staples every young child should have in their book diet.

Peter Rabbit books by Beatrix Potter

It’s best to have a copy of the original stories, with the original drawings done by Beatrix Potter herself.  These stories are the delightful tales of Peter Rabbit and the mischief he and his cousin get into.  Included in the series are also cute little stories about mice and dollhouses.  These books have sweet stories that teach lessons, and the older English will start growing your child’s vocabulary.

The Little Engine that Could

There are many versions of this old classic.  A favorite in our house is the re-write by Watty Piper and new illustrations by Loren Long.  The colors in this book are fantastic, and children can spend awhile just looking at the pictures.  Of course, everyone loves the story of an underdog, and Little Blue does not disappoint.

The Cat in the Hat (and others by Dr. Seuss)

Dr. Seuss is, of course, the master of children’s literature.  The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You are all full of wonderfully absurd nonsense.  Dr. Seuss teaches children to play with language and have a good time reading.  The pictures are unique and inspire lots of fun questions.  Big kids will like re-reading Dr. Seuss along with their younger siblings.  (Even if they won’t admit it.)

Corduroy by Don Freeman

Corduroy is a curious little bear in the toy department of a New York department store.  After discovering that he’s lost a button, he goes in search of it.  Corduroy and the sequel, A Pocket for Corduroy will delight children as Corduroy explores the world around him.  The pictures tell the story well, so that the children know what Corduroy doesn’t.  Each book ends with a delightful cuddle with Corduroy’s owner, Lisa.

 Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

The story of Mr. and Mrs. Mallard is illustrated by simple pencil drawings that help children use their imaginations.  The story explores the city of Boston as the Mallards look for a place to build a nest, then try to get their ducklings safely across the city.  Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack are good examples of obedience as they follow Mrs. Mallard through the city.

 The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other books by Eric Carle

 Eric Carle books have delightful pictures, full of bright colors and interesting detail.  In The Very Hungry Caterpillar, children see the life cycle of a butterfly through the eyes of a caterpillar that is—you guessed it!—hungry.  The children will laugh at all the food the caterpillar eats and be overjoyed by the beautiful butterfly at the end.  All the Eric Carle books are fun for kids and parents, with simple concepts and beautiful art.

 There are numerous children’s books available, and this list is only the beginning.  However, these are all essential to a good home children’s library.

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