baby proof: bedtime stories lately.

November 7, 2016

our favorite children's books lately | reading my tea leavesIt’s been awhile since I put together an update of what books have been monopolizing bedtime at our house lately. Except that’s not totally accurate. These are books that have been monopolizing morningtime, naptime, bedtime, anytime. Faye’s up for a snuggle with a book at just about time of day and these are some of her current favorites.

As always, we buy almost all of our books in local shops—BookCourt, Greenlight Bookstore, and the new and very lovely Stories Bookshop are favorites—but I’ve also provided links where you can find these titles online.* Here goes:our favorite children's books lately | reading my tea leaves




Du Iz Tak?
(IndieBound) This totally delightful and very beautiful book by Carson Ellis is one of our very favorites lately. Written entirely in an imagined bug language, and filled with detailed illustrations, Faye has enthusiastically embraced the project of translating and pointing out the progression of the snail across the bottom of the page (among other things.) (The ladybug inspired her Halloween costume.)our favorite children's books lately | reading my tea leaves

Amos and Boris (IndieBound) An old standby by William Steig. This book was written with a slightly older age group in mind, so there are some passages that sometimes need abbreviating for a two-year-old’s attention span, but Faye loves following this story of mouse and whale friends, Amos and Boris, replete with an enthusiastic dramatization of what happens when poor Amos gets thrown overboard…our favorite children's books lately | reading my tea leaves

We Found a Hat (IndieBound) Third in Jon Klassen’s series of hat books, this book follows a pair of turtles who discover a hat and ultimately decide not to let the hat get in the way of their friendship. A book to make a minimalist’s heart go pitter-pat if ever there was one.
our favorite children's books lately | reading my tea leavesUp in the Garden, Down in the Dirt (IndieBound) A seasonal tale of a grandmother gardening with her grandchild, this book borders on science-y in the best kind of way for small kids.our favorite children's books lately | reading my tea leaves

Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn (IndieBound) Another trip through the seasons, this book tracks the change from summer to autumn with vivid illustrations and sweet prose.our favorite children's books lately | reading my tea leaves

The Paperbag Princess (IndieBound) This was one of my favorite books growing up. A very good book for teaching kiddos that princesses are clever and cunning and not at all in need of a prince.our favorite children's books lately | reading my tea leaves

Peace is an Offering (IndieBound) This lesson in compassion and caring is so sweet and simple and such a welcome reminder for adults and kids, especially during a time when peace feels especially necessary.

More bedtime stories HERE and HERE.

What about you guys? Any favorites lately?

*I received review copies of Du Iz Tak and We Found a Hat from Candlewick Press; all opinions and enthusiasm very much my own.

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25 Comments

  • Reply Erin November 7, 2016 at 11:44 am

    We are all about Elephant and Piggie in our house right now.

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  • Reply Alexa November 7, 2016 at 12:03 pm

    My three year old has been loving Ada Twist, Scientist lately! Such a fun book to read and great underlying themes.

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  • Reply Ms. Megan November 7, 2016 at 12:11 pm

    these books are all so cute! i think you should def. check out emily martin’s books! they are all magical!!

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    • Reply Erin Boyle November 7, 2016 at 12:31 pm

      Yes! The Wonderful Things You Will Be is another favorite of ours (included on another list!).

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    • Reply Angela November 8, 2016 at 9:29 am

      My daughter loves Emily Winfield Martin so much she was a character from Oddfellows Orphanage for Halloween. We had to tote the book with us for explanations!

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      • Reply Angela November 8, 2016 at 9:35 am

        Forgot recommendations: Mr Tiger Goes Wild, The Gruffalo, The Skunk, Children Make Terrible Pets, the Bears Surprise, The Bear Ate Your Sandwich, Max the Brave, Have You Seen My Dragon, Go to Sleep Little Farm. These are just my sons fave, my daughter is into Ruth Chew right now, old school books about magic.

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  • Reply Samantha November 7, 2016 at 1:50 pm

    My girl is 4 months old so at this point I’m reading for my own enjoyment – my favorites are Blueberries for Sal, One Morning in Maine, and old standby Where the Wild Things Are. I really love Fanny at Chez Panisse, a combo cookbook and story – Faye might like that one as she’s already an artisan bread baker 🙂 I also have to thank you, Erin, for the This is Sadie recommendation – it’s just beautiful!

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    • Reply Erin Boyle November 7, 2016 at 2:25 pm

      So glad to hear it! All about storytime being as much for parental enjoyment as child enjoyment!

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    • Reply Christy November 8, 2016 at 12:08 am

      I read One Morning in Maine just about every day when my oldest was four years old. “Clam chowder for lunch!” She was so disappointed when she tasted (and hated) clam chowder. 🙂

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  • Reply Connie November 7, 2016 at 2:02 pm

    Have you discovered the Froggy books by Jonathan London? They work as both picture books to read now and books for her to learn to read when she’s ready.

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  • Reply Kim November 7, 2016 at 2:10 pm

    The Paper bag Princess is truly a great book. We also love many of the other Robert Munsch books like “Murmel Murmel Murmel” and “Angela’s Airplane” in which a young girl accidentally flies an airplane which also ends in an girl empowering way. I’m very much a kid book addict it might be the one area where my otherwise minimalistic tendencies get overpowered by a need to acquire more and more!

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  • Reply Tris November 7, 2016 at 5:17 pm

    The “Full Belly Bowl” by Jim Aylesworth is one of my favorites from when I was a kid. “Imelda & the Goblin King” by Briony May Smith, “Wild” by Emily Hughes & “Extra Yarn” by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen are adorable as well.

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  • Reply Maree November 7, 2016 at 7:17 pm

    Our son loves the Paper-bag Princess – we were given a copy at his baby shower! Innes is also liking “This Moose belongs to me” and “A Lion in Paris”. But the perennial favorite is “Guess How Much I Love You”. Sweet dreams little ones!

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  • Reply Katrina November 7, 2016 at 7:56 pm

    Sun and Moon by Lindsey Yankey is a charming story about appreciating what you have and the illustrations have so much detail that there’s always more to discover. The kids I nanny for love pointing out their favorite animals.

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  • Reply Christy November 8, 2016 at 12:10 am

    Candlewick Press makes such beautiful books. We have several that we love.

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  • Reply Helen November 8, 2016 at 1:07 am

    The Cat that Wore a Pot on her Head.
    It’s old- I have my old copy- my daughter laughs so hard each time the words get mixed around. We love thinking of silly things Bendelomenia might think we are saying!

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  • Reply Helen November 8, 2016 at 1:10 am

    Oh- and some Frog and Toad- what a great classic to come back to as an adult. And all the William Stieg- love Amos and Borris as well. Doctor De Soto is a favorite as well. Also- the book Seasons by Blexbolex is just lovely and my 1.5 year old is just getting into it.

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  • Reply Francesca November 8, 2016 at 1:32 am

    I don’t have a baby to read them to (I read them to myself. I am a 22-year-old baby), but Jon Klassen’s hat books just crack me up! They’re just so funny! I love reading children books when I’m feeling a bit down, 🙂

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  • Reply Kat November 8, 2016 at 9:33 am

    As a social-emotional learning specialist, I LOVE that Du Iz Tak book – I haven’t seen in before, but it looks like it would teach kids how to read social context in the absence of language. Awesome way to develop nonverbal social intelligence!

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  • Reply Caprice November 8, 2016 at 10:49 am

    Oh that Amos and Boris book tears me up every time! Such a lovely book about two new friends helping each other. If you like “Up in the Garden”, I highly recommend Kate Messner’s “Over and Under the Snow”. My kids love this one and it is such a lovely story for wintertime. Another book that might be a little older-age wise is “Santa Calls”. My daughter brought this home from kindergarten one day and I was so surprised by how much I loved the ending. Great story for siblings who might not get along all the time.

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  • Reply stephanie November 8, 2016 at 10:49 am

    Du Iz Tak? is a daily read in these parts. Thumbs up!

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  • Reply Kim November 8, 2016 at 11:23 am

    Thelma the Unicorn. Don’t let the pink unicorn on the cover scare you. Great lesson for kiddos growing up in the Kardashian Era. Also love any book that rhymes.

    Dragon’s Love Tacos. I laugh every time.

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  • Reply Jennifer November 8, 2016 at 3:30 pm

    My 2 year old loves Mirabelle, The Pout Pout Fish, Owl Babies, Llama Lllama Red Pajama and anything Carl. My 5 year old’s favorites right now are Poppleton, What A Fine Dessert, The Tomten and The Tomten and the Fox (purchased at Acorn 🙂 and The Lion and the Bird which is the sweetest story ever.
    I am getting Du Iz Tak immediately!

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  • Reply Nat November 10, 2016 at 12:13 pm

    Have you read “A is for Activist”? It seems seasonally appropriate.

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  • Reply Lisa November 24, 2016 at 1:03 am

    Hug Me is our favorite, by Simona Ciraolo. It’s about a cactus that just wants to be hugged and the illustrations are adorable.

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