As an avid reader, one of my biggest goals as a parent was to raise a bookworm. Finn is a child who refuses to sit still so it took some time before he got into story time, but now he loves when we read to him. I enjoy watching him engage with a book and am in awe when he actually conveys his preferences. It started with a clear fondness for one book (at about 10 months) that he would laugh along with and re-open after we finished to request an immediate re-read. At 14 months, he started showing us what he wanted to read by grabbing a particular book from a pile and holding it out to us, going so far as to close and throw the unwanted books on the floor. And now? He loves going to bookstores, requires books in his crib each night, and tries to read the books himself.
Note: I tried to highlight those books that aren’t on alllll the lists so you could perhaps find something new. Also, I continue to buy books because I can’t help myself, but we’ve become big library fans because it’s so great for discovery, is an opportunity to engage within our own community, and lets us test out books without the full $18 commitment.
I try to surround Finn with books that are fun and have a meaningful message. He gets a lot of “learning” done at school so we don’t do a ton of books about colors or numbers. (He is also very disinterested in those books, particularly the ones with photographs that realistically depict body parts or food, and I like to play to his interests.) Instead, we fill the bookshelves with stories…including any I can get my hands on that feature an Albert character. I also keep diversity in mind when buying his books – diversity of authors, characters, and cultures. This is something I’m aware of in my own reading, and I firmly believe it should be a consideration from the begining. Here are the big winners in our household:
- Chu’s Day at the Beach: This is the one that got Finn into books. He loves the part with the big sneeze and gets himself amped up on the previous page. I’m also pretty sure this is where he learned to say “uh oh,” his first word…if you can call it a word.
- Gaston/Antoinette: Gaston was a gift and we loved it so much that we bought the sequel, Antoinette. I’m a fan of the illustrations and the idea of finding your personality and what makes you special.
- Albert’s Tree: This was the first book I purchased and the only one I bought before Finn was born. As a bear and an owl discover an unlikely pairing, we get a mini lesson in supporting our friends.
- The Pet Potato: I like watching little Albert learn about responsibility.
- Sylvie: I love the lyrical writing style of this one. It’s highly poetic with lots of assonance and consonance.
- Slug in Love: This one is fun, short, and lends itself to goofy voices.
- Octopus Shocktopus: Another one with a fun rhyming scheme and cute illustrations.
- Creature of Habit: A funny looking island monster who loves his routine learns to be a bit spontaneous.
- Little Blue Truck: We have three different Little Blue Truck books and Finn loves them all…what is it about this series?!
- Felix and the Monsters: Because it’s important not to be too judgy.
- The Ghost with the Smelly Old Underwear: A not-so-serious book about bravery with a consistent refrain kids enjoy.
- Little Taco Truck: This book is about making room for everyone and opening your eyes to new cuisines and cultures.
- Quiet: Solitude is nice, but the music of life is special.
- The Duck Who Didn’t Like Water: Unlikely friends find each other.
- Hot Dog: A good bedtime story with a slower pace. It’s a nice little nod to New Yorkers and Fire Island.
- Our Pool: This is a perfect celebration of summer and going to the city pool. I love that it reminds kids of the whole process (changing in the locker room, putting on sunscreen, etc.) and feels like an experience in itself – it gets me excited about summer.
- Don’t Worry Murray: It’s important to acknowledge that it takes a bit of bravery to try new things and kids should know when we’re proud of them.
- Jazz for Lunch: I picked this one up as a souvenir in New Orleans. The whole thing reads like a jazz tune and sets the stage for a fun history lesson of the greats.
- Dim Sum Palace: A little girl turns into a dumpling as she dreams of visiting the Dim Sum Palace. Finn loves the animated short, Bao, and this felt like a nice extension. It’s also a great way to introduce some new foods.
- Buffalo Fluffalo: Turns out you don’t need to act all tough – your friends will love you just as you are.
Peaches to Apples 