I was browsing the local Barnes and Noble children’s department the other day in search of holiday gifts and started thinking about the books that I treasured as a child and those that our boys have loved. I couldn’t wait to log on to MS and click on the ’’Mouthpad’’ to ask for this topic. While I’m eager to share our favorites, I’m actually more interested in hearing the thoughts of others in this diverse community.

Here are our favorites-

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey. Mr and Mrs. Mallard are looking for a safe spot for their ducklings and happen upon the perfect place in Boston’s Public Garden. Their journey along familiar Beacon Hill land marks, including crossing the traffic aided by a bemused policeman, are great fun. This book was first published in 1941 and is still delighting children 60 years later. There are annual re-creations of the story in Boston each year and statues of the mallard family in the Public Garden.

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams. Classic story of a beloved stuffed bunny who longs to become ’’real’’.

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. ’’would you, could you on a train? would you could you in the rain?’’ Children love the rhythms and silliness of this story and want to hear it over and over. This is only one of the many, many wonderful books by Dr. Seuss with interesting characters like the Grinch and the Lorax and the Sneetches.   Pay close attention to the lessons he has slipped into his books for us all; messages about conservation and peace and tolerance.

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown. Almost every child I know has been rocked to sleep reading this book. ’’Good night stars, goodnight air, good night noises everywhere’’

Stellaluna by Janell Canon. This is a relatively new book (1993) about a little fruit bat who is separated from her mother and ends up with a family of birds. It has beautiful soft illustrations and a sweet tale of friendship.

If you give a mouse a cookie by Laura Bond Numeroff. This book is a hoot. Everything the little boy in the story gives the mouse, leads to something else. Once he has the cookie, he needs milk, then a napkin, then a broom for the crumbs etc. Also check out If you give a moose a muffin

The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle. The little firefly is drawn to various forms of light while looking for a friend. There is a lovely surprise page at the end of the book with twinkling firefly lights. Mr. Carle uses characteristic collage art to illustrate all his books. We also loved The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The very Quiet Cricket

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. This is a Christmas book by the author of Jumanji. It is pure magic. A boy looks out his window one evening and there sits a train. He boards the train and finds it filled with other children in pajamas. Where is it going?

There are many, many more. For me Little Women, Nancy Drew Books and more. For the older boys, The Phantom Tollbooth, The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings etc. and for the youngest Harry Potter of course, and the poems of Shel Silverstein, Where the Wild Things Are and anything by Raold Dahl or Jon Scieszka.

So tell me, my friends, what books did you and your little ones love? I’m looking forward to your review!