Children's Lit

"Excuse me.  I'm reading here..."

So, I was thinking on Friday when I posted my "favorites" that I should post about a favorite children's book.  Then I thought I had written enough for a day....  Well, today, I may post a couple times if I get ambitious, but I will start this morning by making a couple favorite Children's book lists.  I am sure all of you are familiar with my favorites, but maybe there will be a couple you have not read, and want to try.  One of my favorite children's books was introduced to me by a friend in this same way.  So... here goes.

Favorite Picture Books

• Where the Wild Things Are - Maurice Sendak*
• Good Night Moon - Margaret Wise Brown
• So You Want To Be President - Judith St George & illus. by David Small*
• Joseph Had a Little Overcoat - Simms Taback*
• There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly - Also By Simms Taback-**
• Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs -  Judi Barrett & illus. by Ron Barrett 
• Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type - Doreen Cronin & illus. by Betsy Lewin**
• Giggle, Giggle, Quack and Duck for President - Also by Doreen Conin 
• No, David! - David Shannon**
• How I Became a Pirate - David Shannon
• Officer Buckle and Gloria - Peggy Rathman*
• The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales - Jon Scieszka & illus. by Lane Smith**
• The Polar Express - Chris Van Alsberg*  (Anything by Mr. Van Alsberg is worth reading)
• A Chair for My Mother - Vera B. Williams**
• Ox-Cart Man - Donald Hall & illus. by Barbara Cooney*
• Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears - illus. by Leo & Dianne Dillon*
• Arrow to the Sun - Gerald McDermott*
• Casey at the Bat - Ernest Thayer & illus. by Christopher Bing**
• Sylvester and the Magic Pebble - William Steig*
• Swimmy - Leo Lionni**
• Blueberries For Sal - Robert McCloskey**
• Make Way for Ducklings - Robert McCloskey*
• The Quilt Maker's Gift - Jeff Brumbeau & illus. by Gail de Marcken
• Guess How Much I Love You - Sam McBratney
• Love You Forever - Robert N. Munsch and Sheila McGraw
• A House for Hermit Crab - Eric Carle
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Eric Carle
• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom - Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault
• Frog and Toad are Friends - Arnold Lobel
• Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day - Judith Viorst & illus. by Ray Cruz
• Miss Nelson is Missing - Harry Allard & illus. by James Marshall
• Good Night, Gorilla - Peggy Rantham
• Stelleluna - Jane Cannon
• Verde - Jane Cannon
• Amelia Bedelia - Peggy Parish & illus. by Fritz Seibel
•  Harry the Dirty Dog - Gene Zion & illus. by Margaret Bloy Graham
• If You Give a Mouse a Cookie - Laura Numeroff & Felicia Bond
• The Wide Mouth Frog: a Pop - up Book - Keith Faulkner (Must use voices :))
• We're Going on a Bear Hunt - Michael Rosen & Helen Oxenbury
• My Little Book About God - Jane Werner Watson & Eloise Wilkin
• Oh the Places You'll Go - Dr. Seuss
• Green Eggs and Ham - Dr. Seuss 
• The Little House - Virginia May Burton*

*Caldecott Medal Winner

**Caldecott Honor 

I would have to say that right now my favorite on this list is The Quilt Maker's Gift.  This book is absolutely beautiful!  It was a Book Sense Book of the Year.  The illustrations are so amazing!  The story is about a King who is told he must give away all his possessions in order to receive the ultimate gift, a quilt from the mystical quilt maker.  It is an endearing story about giving and receiving, and what it is that will make us truly happy.  Read it!  I know you will LOVE it!