This week the country celebrates “Read Across America” in honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday.
It serves as a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the tradition of reading not just by yourself, but reading to your children as well.
So, in honor of the celebration I wanted to share both Lily’s top three books and my top three books. (Lily decided on the number three because she is just three years old.)
Lily’s top three books of all times
“Interrupting Chicken” by David Ezra Stein
This book always elicits giggles in our house.
The story is about a little chicken that is enjoying story time right before bed when she keeps on interrupting her father as he tries, and fails, again and again to read stories when the little chicken keeps on interrupting.
Can Papa finish one story before he is interrupted? Found out in the book.
“The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh” by A.A. Milne
Every child that has grown up has visited his or her friends in the Hundred Acre Wood.
Pooh, Piglet, Rabbit, Eeyore and the whole gang’s tale of Heffalumps, Busy Backsons and becoming completely surrounded by water are one of our favorite stories to hear time and time again.
I am sure everyone has either wanted to play Pooh Sticks with Winnie-the-Pooh or gone bouncing with Tigger at least once in their childhood.
“Creepy Carrots!” by Aaron Reynolds and Peter Brown
This is one of Lily’s favorites from way back when she was little.
The story is about a bunny that cuts through this field on his way to and from school where he plucks a few carrots from the garden to eat.
Everything seems to be going fun until he starts to think the carrots are following him.
The book is more cute then creepy and reminds me of a cheesy monster movie.
It is also a Caldacot award winning book, so you know it must be good.
Tara’s top book picks
“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen
This is my all time favorite book. I love the regency time period and Lizzy Bennet is one of my all time favorite literary heroes. She bucks the system when she won’t marry the creeptastic Mr. Collins (can you blame her?) and is holding out for love.
Mr. Darcy is also such a dreamy character (even though he is a jerk throughout half of the book) that has Austen fan girls swooning for days.
The story really talks about the dangers of pride and of course the prejudice that people pass each day.
“She’s Come Undone” by Wally Lamb
When I first read this novel many years ago, I had to keep on checking the front cover to double check the gender of the author.
Lamb did a wonderful job being the voice of a girl that grows into a woman and has to face many challenges during this transition.
Dolores Price spends her time feeding her soul with junk food until she turns into a young adult where she goes through a rebirth that helps to transition her life.
Really great story that deals with difficult themes.
“Memoirs of a Geisha” by Arthur Golden
What stood out to me the most was how well Golden did at transporting the reader to another place and time. Somewhere that most readers would never have experienced and make it seem like a place they know so well.
The story follows a group of girls as they train to become geishas before and during World War II.
Becoming and being a geisha was an art form that was much more than “entertaining” a gentleman, and Golden really goes into depth on explaining this.
The film version of the novel was a really good adaptation that stayed pretty faithful to the book.
What are your favorite books to read with your little one or on your own? Leave your comments below.
Mousekatots 