Some Books My Kids Love

OK, I love reading.  I love words and stories.  I love it so much I studied it in University and I teach it today.  So I want my kids to discover the glorious beauty of words and the wonderful things these can make your imagination do.  I try to make them love books, and stories, and reading by reading to them whenever I can.  Here are some of the books my kids love.

1. I Love You Forever by Robert Munsch

This was actually a Christmas gift to me by a dear, dear friend a year ago and now it’s one of the mommy-and-kids bonding books.  The story starts with a son who is just born and continues through his toddler years, his teen years, and even on to when he is a grown man.  The mother sings to him every night:  “I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as I’m living, my baby you’ll be.”  My kids love this book. They love the story and love seeing parallels between the boy in the book and themselves.  This is true for my daughter as well even if the baby in the story is a boy.  It helps that they love music and singing too and that I sing the lullaby part to them as well.  It is a great way to express the love a mom has for her kids and vice versa.  I must say, I cried while reading this to them the first few times.  Amazon currently sells it for $5.95, you can find it here

2. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

This is a simple story about the relationship between a boy and a tree.  The tree loves the boy very much and gives him everything, even  allowing the boy to cut him down to be used to build a boat.  The boy comes back to the stump later when he is old and chooses to sit and be quiet with the tree who still loves him so.  I know, it sounds kinda depressing, and kinda selfish.  But I love the part about giving because you love the person. This is what I focus on with my kids especially emphasizing them giving to each other as brother and sister.  Amazon is selling it for $12.23, you can find it here

3.  Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

This was a children’s book I knew nothing about until I took a Children’s Lit class in University.  I have loved it ever since. It is the story of a boy, Max, who flies into a tantrum and is sent to bed without his supper by his mom.  In his room, he imagines a  wild forest and sea and sails to the land of the Wild Things.  There he becomes king and does anything he want.  But he soon becomes homesick and so goes home, back to his bedroom, where he finds his supper waiting for him, still hot.  I love how this book deals with anger and how it shows that tantrums aren’t good and that at the end of the day, you can always come home to your parents who love you and to a safe and comforting place.  It helps too that there is a movie about this book!  Amazon is currently selling it for $10.82, you can find it here

So, these are the top three books of the moment.  I know these will change as I stumble upon newly remembered books of childhood years past.

What are your favorite children’s books?

Brian

Brian is the founder of Kids Ain’t Cheap and is now sharing his journey through parenthood.

 
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