Bean Baby Books
I stumbled upon Margaret Wise Brown’s Big Red Barn quite by accident. We already owned and loved Good Night Moon for which she is famous, but this book is even more lyrical.
“Stomp your feet! Clap your hands! Everybody ready for a Barnyard dance!” I recite Sandra Boynton’s Barnyard Dance in my sleep. The illustrations are inspired and the prose is plain clever. I wish this woman wrote adult books. As it is, she keeps me entertained with children’s books. Other Bean favorites: The Going to Bed Book and Moo, Baa, La La La.
Eric Carle is a genius. His books are clever, educational and fun. Try Brown Bear Brown, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and The Very Hungry Catepillar, but anything Eric Carle is sure to be a hit.
When Harold takes a walk in the moonlight with his purple crayon, we remember how important imagination is. Crockett Johnson’s Harold and the Purple Crayon is a delightful little book. Jax loves it, and I’m sure your kids will too.
No little library is complete without the Little Golden Books Collection, a thoughtful gift that Saint Patricia gave us. Featuring my very favorite, The Poky Little Puppy, the collection also includes Tootle, The Saggy Baggy Elephant, Tawny Scrawny Lion, Scuffy the Tugboat, and The Shy Little Kitten.
Sam McBratney’s Guess How Much I Love You touches my heart every time I read it. And every time I read it I want to cry. It’s that beautiful. Colors Everywhere is another great book by Sam McBratney.
Let the wild rumpus begin! Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are surprised me more than any children’s book I’ve read. Mommy Bean, who does not like funny-looking monsters, has a bad habit of judging books by their covers, and this book–a gift–sat on a shelf for three years. (By now I’m sure you’ve discovered that sometimes Mommy Bean also has a strange habit of talking about herself in the third person.) Get this book and don’t leave it on a shelf for three years. It really is a beautiful book.
Every kid needs a little Dr. Seuss in his life. There’s a Wocket in My Pocket was one of a wonderful set given to Jax. (Thank you, Miss Ann!) I can’t find the boxed set, but you can buy them separately: Mr. Brown Can Moo, The ABC Book, The Foot Book, and The Tooth Book.
