Harry the Dirty Dog

This is an older series (written in the 1950’s!), but it’s so good!  Harry the Dirty Dog is the first book in the series by Gene Zion.  Harry doesn’t want a bath, so after burying his bath brush in the backyard, he runs away.  He gets so dirty, when he returns home his family doesn’t recognize him!  I have the entire series because my kids love these books so much.  This dog gets into all kinds of mischief! 

Harry the Dirty Dog

No Roses for Harry

Harry and the Lady Next Door

Harry by the Sea

Sandra Boynton

The best word to describe Sandra Boynton’s books is silly.  She’s such a fun author and illustrator; I have quite a collection of her books.  We’ve read them so much, I have them memorized and they are starting to wear out!  Her texts usually rhyme and have a catchy rhythm.   Here are some of my favs:

Moo, Baa, La La La!

Blue Hat Green Hat

Doggies

Opposites

Oh My, Oh My, Oh Dinosaurs!

Snoozers

Birthday Monsters!

Barnyard Dance!

Pajama Time!

Hey, Wake Up!

Rhinoceros Tap – A book of songs with a CD. 

Philadelphia Chickens - A book of songs with a CD.

Snuggle Puppy – This book is a sweet little song that a mother dog sings to her puppy and my kids LOVE it.  I recommend learning the song and singing it.

You can check her out at sandraboynton.com.  Even her website is silly!

Karen Katz

All the books by Karen Katz are great for babies and toddlers.  She’s written a lot of lift-the-flap board books and most her stories feature babies or toddlers.  Her illustrations are darling, the text is smiple, and my kids have loved her books.  Here are a few of my favorites:

Princess Baby and Princess Baby Night Night

Ten Tiny Babies

Where is Baby’s Mommy?

Grandma and Me

Grandpa and Me

Daddy and Me

Toes, Ears, and Nose Written by Marion Dane Bauer

Peek-a-Baby

Twinkle Toes

Beddy-Bye Baby

She has a bunch of others, including quite a few holiday books.  I haven’t even read them all!  You can check out all her books at www.karenkatz.com.

Books for Babies and Toddlers

When my oldest was a baby, I had a really hard time finding books for him.  Here are a few things I learned about babies and books:

1.  Babies like lift-the-flap books and touch-and-feel books.

2.  Pick books that only have a few words a page.

3.  Babies like books with songs.

4.  Babies LOVE books about babies!

5.  I always looked for books in the board book section at the library.  They seem to be more baby friendly.

6.  BE PATIENT!  It takes time for babies to gain an interest in books.  I started with 5-10 minutes and then built from there.  I found it helped if I read the same time and place every day.  Most babies like routine.

I get pretty bored with some baby books because you have to read them over and over (and over) again!  Here are a few I really like:

Peekaboo Morning by Rachel Isadora- Portrays a little toddler’s day with the peek-a-boo game.

Wake up, Me! by Marni McGee – All about a toddler waking up and getting ready for the day.

Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell– A lift-the-flap book about a child who writes to the zoo to send him a pet, but all of them seem wrong!

I Love You As Much by Laura Krauss Melmed. – A rhyming book with animal mothers telling their babies how much they love them.

I See by Rachel Isadora – About all the things a toddler sees throughout her day.

Five Little Ducks by Pamela Paparone – The classic Five Little Ducks song.

Most the books I read to my babies they enjoyed even as toddlers.  So these books are great for toddlers too! 

More baby/toddler books to come!

Fancy Nancy

I can’t get enough of Fancy Nancy!  It’s a series by Jane O’Connor about a little girl who loves being fancy!  The illustrations are adorable and I laugh over Nancy’s over the top personality.  She’s so…what’s the word?  Posh!  Plus, she uses “fancy” words and defines them, so it builds your child’s vocabulary.  This is an absolute must for any little girl!

There are many Fancy Nancy books.  I suggest starting with these:

Fancy Nancy

Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy

Fancy Nancy:  Bonjour, Butterfly!

Fancy Nancy and the Fabulous Fashion Boutique

Fancy Nancy:  Ooh La La!  It’s Beauty Spa Day!

Fancy Nancy’s Favorite Fancy Words From Accessory to Zany

Fancy Nancy:  Splendiferous Christmas

There is an “I Can Read” Series written by Jane O’Connor, but they are not illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser.  They are still worthwhile.  There are also some paperbacks that are not written by Jane O’Connor, but they stay true to the Fancy Nancy character and are great!  Most of these are holiday books.  Anything Fancy Nancy is fabulous!  For a complete list of books and even fun and games, visit the Fancy Nancy website at www.fancynancyworld.com

Karma Wilson

One of my favorite authors is Karma Wilson.  She is best known for her Bear Snores On series, but she has written other books that are just as fabulous.  She has a knack for rhyming and her stories are very imaginative and sometimes laugh out loud funny.  Here’s a list of my favorites by Karma Wilson:

Sakes Alive a Cattle Drive-A humorous story about two cows who steal the farmer’s keys and drive his pickup truck to town.  “Sakes Alive!  Their going on a cattle drive!”

Whopper Cake- This is a great birthday book about an elderly man who makes a humongous birthday cake for his wife.  He’s so crazy you can’t help but love him!

Mr. Murry and Mr. Thumpkin- A sweet story about two mice that are neighbors.  One is wise and a little high stung while the other is carefree and foolish.  They tolerate each other until one is in a bind and the other comes to his rescue.

Hilda Must Be Dancing-Hilda the hippo’s dancing causes quite a ruckus in the jungle to her friends’ dismay.  Hilda’s friends try to get her to find another hobby, but nothing is more fun than dancing!

Moose Tracks!-Salt Lake County Library Systems describes this book best: “A homeowner remembers visits from the animals whose tracks, feathers, and other traces are visible—except for the moose whose prints are everywhere.”

Mortimer’s Christmas Manger-This is one of my favorite Christmas books that focuses on the true meaning of Christmas.  A little Mouse named Mortimer wants a new home.  He finds one in a nativity scene and moves all the statues out to make room for himself.  Along the way he realizes whose home it really is and learns about the true meaning of Christmas.

Here are a few that are not as good, but are still worthwhile:

Dinos in the Snow

Dinos on the Go

Animal Strike at the Zoo, It’s True!

A Frog in the Bog

And of course you can’t forget her classic Bear Books:

Bear Snores On

Bear Wants More

Bear Stays Up For Christmas

Bear’s New Friend

Bear Feels Sick

Bear Feels Scared

For even more books by Karma Wilson and information about this wonderful author, check out her website at www.karmawilson.com