Beginning to Read-Aloud--Gift Ideas!

It's never too early to read to your children…I mean, even as an infant you can read to them.  But it's really exciting when they actually begin to show interest in the books, pay attention (even for only a couple of minutes) and begin to develop favorite books.
For that reason, great board-books* are my favorite gifts to give for small children and even new babies. 
With the Christmas season upon us, this is a great resource list to choose gifts from!

 

Favorite Books for Beginning to Read-Aloud:

"Toes, Ears, & Nose!" Marion Dane Bauer
"The Going to Bed Book" Sandra Boynton
"Goodnight Moon" Margaret Wise Brown
"The Very Hungry Caterpillar" Eric Carle
"Freight Train" Donald Crews
"Touch and Feel Farm" DK (also any other books in this series)
"The Everything Book" Denise Fleming
"Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes" Mem Fox
"Where is Baby's Belly Button?" Karen Katz
"Where is  Baby's Mommy?" Karen Katz
"Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" Bill Martin Jr.
"Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?" Bill Martin Jr.
"B is for Bear" Roger Priddy
"First 100 Words" Roger Priddy (Bright Baby...also any other books in this series)
"Gallop" Rufus Butler Seder
"Swing" Rufus Butler Seder
"The Itsy Bitsy Spider" Iza Trapani

*We have most of these in board-book form simply because it makes them nearly (or at least kind of) indestructible, so the children can learn how to correctly handle books. I also like the portability of a board-book…they're perfect for taking along to church, restaurants, Dr. offices and even just in the car.

Christmas Book List

It's here!  My favorite time of year!  I think that there is something so magical and wonderful about the whole Christmas season, and I am so excited to be sharing that sense of wonder with my children.  I do like to browse through the Christmas books at the library or book store for new books that we have not read, but I have a real place in my heart for quality content and great illustrations (so they also make wonderful gifts for other families with children!).  That being said,  here's a list of some of our favorite Christmas books:

 

"The Christmas Sweater" Glenn Beck
"The Donkey's Dream" Barbara Helen Berger
"On Christmas Eve" Margaret Wise Brown
"The Little Fir Tree" Margaret Wise Brown
"Bright Christmas: An Angel Remembers" Andrew Clements
"Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" Barbara Shook Hazen  (a Little Golden Book)
"The Tale of Three Trees: a Traditional Folk Tale" Angela Elwell Hunt
"Silent Night" Susan Jeffers
"The Nutcracker" Susan Jeffers
"The Little Drummer Boy" Ezra Jack Keats
"One Small Lost Sheep" Claudia Mills
"The Night Before Christmas" Clement C. Moore (look for great illustrations…right now we are just using a Little Golden Book version, but I do like the classic illustration style)
"A Special Place for Santa" Jeanne Pieper
"How the Grinch Stole Christmas" Dr. Seuss
"The Donkey's Christmas Song" Nancy Tafuri
"The Polar Express" Chris Van Allsburg
"The Christmas Story" Jane Werner (a Little Golden Book)
"B is for Bethlehem: A Christmas Alphabet" Isabel Wilner