i have come to a realization:
i don't like a lot of children's books.
some are hard to read
overly silly
or sometimes just boring.
so i am getting picky.
but i will always enjoy reading
the wood's
"quick as a cricket"
a delightfully illustrated book
written in similes.
i love this book.
i love the hot fox
and the cold toad
and the tame poodle.
i love how i feel
almost other-worldly
when i read it.
and i love that it comes
as a board book.
and please, don't get me started on piggies.
(when i was pregnant with
the chief, my writer friends
threw me a party
where they showered me
with children's books
and their picks are among the best
we have to our collection.
it goes to show:
it pays to have
writer friends.)
i don't like a lot of children's books.
some are hard to read
overly silly
or sometimes just boring.
so i am getting picky.
but i will always enjoy reading
the wood's
"quick as a cricket"
a delightfully illustrated book
written in similes.
i love this book.
i love the hot fox
and the cold toad
and the tame poodle.
i love how i feel
almost other-worldly
when i read it.
and i love that it comes
as a board book.
and please, don't get me started on piggies.
(when i was pregnant with
the chief, my writer friends
threw me a party
where they showered me
with children's books
and their picks are among the best
we have to our collection.
it goes to show:
it pays to have
writer friends.)
p.s.
if you'd like to be a dear c jane sponsor
--mostly because it is really fun--
you can email us at
dearcjane@gmail.com
if you'd like to be a dear c jane sponsor
--mostly because it is really fun--
you can email us at
dearcjane@gmail.com
36 reactions:
And, oh, The Napping House - the Woods make wonderful books. Try to get a hardcover copy because the front endpapers are dark blue (like the sky outside the napping house, where everyone is sleeping), and the back endpapers are light blue (like the morning sky, when all have woken up) - such a clever and thoughtful touch.
I used to teach preschool and books by Don and Audrey Wood were always favorites. Their stories and adorable and the illustrations are always amazing. I too love The Napping House but my all time favorite is The Tickleoctopus, The Chief may not be old enough to get it quite yet but it is one to look forward to.
Oh, you just took me back so many years! Quick as a Cricket was my favorite book. I remember reading it over and over and over. I would sleep with it, that book would accompany me to friends' houses, it was almost an appendage. Thank you for reminding me. I have to go get it for my kids now!
I love the Napping House! I'll have to find this one too. One of my favorites is Mo Willems. His books are so funny, especially Leonardo the Terrible Monster.
Another important Wood's book to add to your collection is "The Little Mouse, the Red, Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear." My daughters are now in their mid-twenties and can quote both "Quick as a Cricket" and "Big Hungry Bear" from beginning to end. And, no wonder! We read them every single day, for years, it seemed. Timeless classics for our family.
I also love their "Weird Parents". They are great writers. I could go on and on about children's books.
Both the good and the bad.
Doesn't it seem like anyone can write a children's book these days? I think it's a crime some of the stuff I read and see. Embarrassing. I have often thought of writing for children and after reading a lot of what is out there today, I have more confidence in myself than ever.
Yes, Yes, Yes.
This is one of my Sophie's very favorites! She also loves the Big Hungry Bear {which I know has a longer title than that, by why bother.}
We also really like Carolyn Buehner books -- especially Fanny's Dream and Wittilda {but, of course, we like that last one, what with the last name and all.}
we've gone through several copies of this book because we read it/love it so much...& my oldest is only 4.
Mine are all falling apart too. I love Piggies. MY absolute favorite!!!!
I grew up reading this book. It is one of my favorite books!
Not that anyone is asking, but my favorite children's book (possibly of all time) is A Visit to William Blake's Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers by Nancy Willard and illustrated by Alice and Martin Provosen. And to validate my selection, I should point out that it was the Newberry *and* Caldecott winner the year it was published. That's got to be saying something!
We are loving Jazz Baby by LIsa Wheeler and Nit-Pickin' by Nancy Van Laan. I amuse myself by reading them in different accents.
My boys love The Napping House but I've never read Quick as a Cricket. I'm going on our library website right now to request it, thanks!
I found a copy of Heckedy Peg in the thrift store years ago, and we fell in love with it. Since then we've accumulated almost all of their books. Always delightful and a little bit dark.
A huge, stand-out gem by The Woods, "King Bidgoods in the Bathtub". We have all of those others listed, too. A recent discovery? "Pirates don't change diapers" by Melinda Long. David Shannon illustrates it, he isn't my favorite. But the story is wonderful!! Check it out!!
Quick as a Cricket is a favorite here. We all have it memorized. And when it comes to the last page, and the "You've got ME!" we tickle the boys on "ME!" it's a daily ritual around these parts. :)
The Napping House is another great book by the Woods. I love their illustrations too.
I love all of the Woods books! Have you tried Mo Willems? Hilarious!!!
This is turning into a list of my favorite tried-and-true books to read to my kids. Once I discovered Audrey Wood's books, I was hooked.
I have to agree about "King Bidgood's in the Bathtub." The illustrations are hilarious--we spend almost as much time looking at them as we do reading the words. It's one we all enjoy reading.
And then there's "Silly Sally..."
i just LOVE "quick as a cricket". my rosie, who just turned 8, still quotes from it.
I love that book, too! I like voicing the characters. Especially the c-c-c-cold toad.
It's true-one has to sort and be picky these day with kid books! Thanks for the recommendation.
We LOVE Don & Audrey Wood's books. I especially love The Napping House. I'm very fortunate to say that my family is good friends with family of the Wood's, so I've met them a time or two. Such wonderful stories and illustrations...
The only Wood book I have read is Heckedy Peg. It's an awesome book as far as literary merit goes...but it also terrified the pants off me when I was a kid.
We like The Napping House, Silly Sally, and King Bidgood's in the Bathtub, too. :) Great books to read together.
Piggies is my MOST favorite children's book ever! I remember reading it sitting on my mom or dads lap...good memories!
If you haven't heard of the book "Earrings" before, that one is a must read children's book! "Beautiful Earring, glorious earrings for pierced ears..." one of my favorite lines from the book!I was always jealous by this book though for one reason...I am allergic to metal = no earrings for me, I know sad.
p.s. we always joked when we were younger that Heckedy Peg lived under our bed, we told my cousin once when she was sleeping over on the floor of our room and she demanded to go home 5 minutes later!
We have all of Jan Brett's books---her illustrations tell a story within a story. Also, the Chief would LOVE Pete's A Pizza!
This is one of my very favorites. I may teach a high grade, but I keep it in my classroom.
Where the Wild Things Are was a family staple.
Now that I'm working on spawning, I love David Shannon's books. Also anything written by Doreen Cronin is a gem.
Tomie dePaola's books make me happy. So do Eric Carle's masterpieces.
Ahh, now to indulge in Barnes and Noble's buy one, get one half off Children's books sale...
Oh, I am so glad other's mentioned the Wodds' other book The Big Hungry bear. It is one of my favorite children's books. Definately worth finding.
I hope you will share some of the other favorites you were given by your writer friends. I would love to check out more quality children's books. We have enjoyed the Wood's books here. We also love Animalia by Graeme Base and various Jan Brett and Eric Carle books.
Could you someday share the list of favorites from your writer friends?
I grew up with Quick as a Cricket! It's a staple in my children's literature collection (right next to Piggie's). I don't know if you've read it, but The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Bear is another favorite!
My boys can both quote the big hungry bear books by don and audrey wood. my favorite.
i read this book a kajillion times as a kid and u just reminded me that my kids NEED it. i'm gonna go steal it from my mom!!
Have you seen the alfie and annie rose books by shirley hughes...actually all of her books (the nursery collection!)they are precious and among our favorites....also the mcduff and yoko books by rosemary wells...wonderful. I agree...a lot of children's books are inane.
you should check out elsa beskow's children books ~ the stories are sweet and the illustrations soft and beautiful.
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