For quite some time, Bruce and I have been reading Baby a bedtime story or two at night. This ritual is one I’ve always loved participating in. Of course, I started as the listener, tucked into bed as my Mom or Dad read aloud to me. Then I got to read books to little ones as I grew up — sometimes kids I babysat for, other times for my niece or nephew or my grandkids. Now I’m privileged to have the chance to become the reader to my little one now really “tucked in” my belly, but soon entering the world beyond my womb.
A book for the ages
While I have many books that are on my “must have” list, one that Bruce and I read a few nights ago, immediately jumped to the highest places on the list. Love You Forever, by Robert Munsch and illustrated by Shelia McGraw, is a heart-melting story of a mother and her son. If you have ever been a child or had a parent, please buy this book for your own library (and buy some to give to little ones in your life).
While a couple of people on Amazon thought the book was “creepy,” personally I think they (a) missed the entire point or (b) were missing a vital organ. Both Bruce and I found the story incredibly touching and a reminder of the strength of the bonds of love.
Do you have a favorite baby/children’s book?
Though we have over 200 books (saved from my childhood and gifted from friends and family) already, this biblio-addiction is one we don’t shy away from in our household. So, please tell us about a book you think needs to be in our library to read to and with our baby through the years.
The Lavender-Mulkey Baby Blog 
Hi Shonnie!
I loved this book so much, still do I guess.
My parents and I read the books by this author, they seems a bit…morbid? But the illustrations are actually kind of amazing and the stories are so funny. We recited them to each other for years.
So excited for you both! Baby Lav-Mulkey is so luck!
Lily
Love this book too!!! Not sure where you’d find one of my other favorites, The Old Man and the Afternoon Cat. The kids got it through Weekly Reader (had a membership) or Scholastic. An old man is grumpy (even has a song…I hate birthdays, I hate spring. I hate almost everything. I like to be mean and nasty and grumpy…) until a stray cat befriends him. When the pound picks up the cat, the old man is desperate to find out what has become of his afternoon, park-napping buddy so he makes rounds to all of the neighbors, discovering the cat has been seen by each at a certain time of day. Some suggests he check the pound, they’re reunited, and rewrite the song!
Two books I loved as a young child growing up and still love today are Make Way For Ducklings by : Robert McKloskey sp.? and Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag…
We loved all the Good Dog, Carl books, although any social worker would have a heart attack to see a Rottweiler in charge of a baby! I loved that there were no words, so we could talk about the story in a different way every time. I have a million more suggestions, too. Odd Velvet, The Princess and the Potty, Stella Luna, Verdi, the Poppleton series, Dr. Seuss, Richard Scary…
The Paper Bag Princess (same author) is great too!
A few we love are The 3 Questions, Samsara Dog, Everywhere Babies, Hush Little Baby by Sylvia Long, Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, Frederick, Blueberries for Sal, One Morning in Maine, Officer Buckle and Gloria… I could go on! 🙂 I hope you find much love in reading the same story over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. And then again. It’s a beautiful thing! Sending love!
Thank you all for such wonderful suggestions! I’ve heard of a few of these and I know we have a copy of Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. I look forward to adding to the collection over the years and hopefully passing the books onto others (in or outside the family) who will also love them.
No doubt you discovered my most favorite book: “I Love You Forever”. Of course it brought tears to my eyes to see it posted here and once again I am reminded of our divine and deep connections.
Other favorites: of course the classic “Goodnight Moon” and “The Other Way to Listen” by Byrd Baylor (I’ll tell it to you guys and Gracelyn sometime)