One of my absolute favourite outings with my girls is the library. It is just such a happy place for me. Since quitting my job to stay home with my girls full time, I now have the luxury to go most weeks.
Our local wriggly readers session put you in a prize draw if you borrow six books and so most weeks we come away with twelve. Taking twelve books most week means we are rapidly working our way through the entire children’s section of paper backs.
My girls adore reading and although they don’t know authors names, they now recognise those books by authors we’ve read and are on the look out for ones we haven’t yet found. Julia Donaldson is our all time favourite at the moment and we are pretty much guaranteed to love whatever she writes.
Growing little book worms
As we joined the group this week, Jess reminded me ‘Mummy we need to find Superworm and Tabby McTat.’ Unfortunately we didn’t but there is always next week. With no cost involved, we are also really encouraged to keep trying new authors.
Below, I’ve compiled a list of 15 books that have proved great bedtime stories in our house. I’ve forced myself to choose only one from each author but lots of them have many more amazing books so keep a look out for their names.
- We’re Going on a Bear Hunt– Michael Rosen/Helen Oxenbury [can be recited word for word]
- Whatever Next – Jill Murphy [proof a cardboard box really is the best toy]
- Paper Dolls – Julia Donaldson [inspired us to make our own]
- Six Dinner Sid – Inga Moore [great for early counting]
- The Princess and the Pig – Jonathon Emmett [not your typical princess story]
- Trixie The witch’s cat – Nick Butterworth [learning to accept yourself]
- I love you, Blue Kangaroo – Emma Chichester Clarke [that one special toy]
- The Night Pirates – Peter Harris/Deborah Allwright [full of rough, tough little girl pirates]
- Hot Dog Hal – Peter Bently [a dog and his blanket]
- Baggy Brown and the Royal baby – Mick Inkpen [money can’t buy everything]
- Zoe and Beans: Where is Binky Boo? – Chloe and Mick Inkpen [one girl and her dog]
- Dogger – Shirley Hughes [an oldie but a goodie]
- A Little Fairy Magic – Julia Hubery/Alison Edgson [lovely sibling relationship]
- The Velveteen Rabbit – adapted by Margery Williams [toys are real]
- Tiny Whale A Fishy Tale – Joshua George [when you just want someone to know who you are]
What are your toddler’s favourite paperback stories for bedtime?
PIN FOR LATER
We read in different language so I don’t have recommendations but one thing I’ve noticed is that when the boy has found some nice book he wants to read that same book night after night. After a week or so he finds a new book and then we read that but choosing a new book for each night would be difficult! 🙂