Living Books for Young Ones
These are a list of books that we have read aloud to our children and enjoyed as a family. While any age can enjoy these books, they are written particularly with three to seven year olds in mind. Our children, ages four and nearly two, have greatly enjoyed these books! I hope you and your family can enjoy them, too.
You will find them arranged by categories and alphabetized by title. Come back often, as this list will be added to as we find great living books to recommend!
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Stories
Blueberries for Sal
One of my childhood favorites in which a young girl and bear get mixed up while picking blueberries.
Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business
Fun to read and act out together!
The Complete Tales of Winnie-The-Pooh
Don’t even bother with the Disney version – just stick to the classic. These stories are whimsical and silly and serve as a wonderful read aloud.
Curious George
This silly and curious monkey will delight readers of all ages.
Dr. Seuss’s Beginner Books
Our children could read Dr. Seuss for hours. Their favorites are The Cat in the Hat Comes Back and Green Eggs and Ham.
Farm Tales: A Little Golden Book Collection
This unexpected treasure has been read so much the binding is breaking. It is a collection of classic farm books, perfect for children who love farm animals.
The Story of Ferdinand
One of Kevin’s childhood favorites, a story that inspires you to embrace who you are.
Frog and Toad Books
While I never read these going up, I adore these books. The stories are simple, yet truthful and humorous, and I find they are edifying for me as an adult. My personal favorite is Frog and Toad Together.
Go, Dog Go
My kids read this one on repeat, enjoying all its silliness and prepositions.
If You Give a Moose a Muffin
Of all Laura Numeroff’s books, this one is our favorite. Follow the lovable moose on his if-then journey.
The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name
Of all the Bible books for kids, this is the one I love most. We read it well before we had children and found it nourishing to our own souls. Each story directs the reader to Jesus and is rich with the Good News.
The Little House
A sweet story, beautifully illustrated, of a house who bears witness to the changes that come with time.
The Little Red Hen
The rhythm to this classic book makes it so enjoyable to read aloud and the illustrations are simply lovely.
Make Way for Ducklings
A classic story of a family of ducks that is simple and heart-warming.
Miss Rumphius
I just read this book for the first time recently and it brought tears to my eyes! Gorgeously illustrated with a glorious theme, a delightful read.
Miss Suzy
One of Kevin’s favorites from childhood – Miss Suzy is a charming story that touches on themes of contentedness, friendship, and justice.
Ox-Cart Man
I read this book as part of Levi’s preschool curriculum and fell in love with it. A sweet story of how a family worked together to provide for a year of living.
Roxaboxen
A new find for me, this book is all about childhood imagination. The point of view is spot on for young ones!
Where the Wild Things Are
I’ve loved this book since I studied it as part of a children’s literature course in graduate school. It helps children grapple with difficult feelings.
Educational
Adventures with Barefoot Critters
Our favorite alphabet book, hands down. This board book is gorgeously and thoughtfully illustrated.
Counting with Barefoot Critters
We enjoy finding how each number is craftily incorporated on each page! Our kids love to study each page and count the various items. A treasure.
An Egg Is Quiet
This book is one in a series of many nature books that are beautifully illustrated and explain a particular mystery of nature. See also: A Seed is Sleepy, A Butterfly is Patient, A Rock is Lively, A Nest is Noisy, and A Beetle is Shy.
Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World
We consult this book often! Adults and children will equally find this book informative and wonderful to look at. It is a wealth of richness.
Storyworlds: Nature
This wordless book is wonderful. Large and vibrant, it illustrates different scenes from nature, encouraging the reader to tell come up with the story of what is happening. My kids thoroughly enjoy this book.
Richard Scarry’s Best Word Book Ever
This and Richard Scarry’s Best First Book Ever, are our “car books.” Each page has a different theme and has lots of images for children to enjoy viewing. When read with an adult, they are wonderful for building vocabulary and understanding every day life!
Poetry
Favorite Nursery Rhymes from Mother Goose
We recently got a copy of this large, amazingly illustrated anthology of Mother Goose nursery rhymes. My kids enjoy the full-page, detailed illustrations and the silly rhythm and rhyme.
Now We Are Six
This book of poems by A. A. Milne is quirky and whimsical. Some poems are silly, some are sentimental, all are charming.
Sing a Song of Seasons: A Nature Poem for Each Day of the Year
One of my favorites, this book is one we try to read from daily. With one poem dedicated to each day of the year, your child will develop a taste for poetry of all kinds.
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