Childrens Books I Love

Children's Books I Love

Dogzilla by Dave Pilkey The kids in my class love this book and they always beg for re-readings. It has a rating of "Too goofy for adults" so what's not to love? It is full of puns that are just, well, goofy! The author used pictures of his own pets for the illustrations.

Kat Kong by Dave Pilkey Ditto above

"There Are Rocks in My Socks," said the Ox to the Fox by Patricia Thomas I use this book to teach rhythm and rhyme. The children love the pictures and the funny story.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff The kids love this book. I like it a lot and use it for enjoyment as well as predictions. Felicia Bond illustrated it.

The Mitten by Jan Brett Jan Brett is my favorite illustrator of children's books. I have a collection of her books. This one is great for sequencing and I use it for extensions. The kids write what might happen if more animals cam up.


The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett Love the illustrations.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle This is a great story for science and for sequencing. The illustrations are great to discuss the different methods illustrators use to create their pictures. I like anything by Eric Carle - lots of great stories and teaching opportunities.

The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister I use this book to start a discussion on friendship and sharing.

Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni This is a great story and I use it when we are practicing measuring
Leo the Late Bloomer by Leo Lionni This is a wonderful book. We read it and discuss how every one is special in their own right among other things. The kids love Leo and relate to him. Lionni has several other books I really like as well.

The Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin This is such a funny book, many re readings are demanded. My kiddos keep a dated diary of school happenings after we read it.

Click, Clack, Moo By Doreen Cronin This is another very funny story by Cronin. Most of the children don't know what a typewriter is! We write letters after reading this a couple of times.

Aunt Flossies's Hats (and Crabcakes Later) by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard This is a wonderful, warm family story with great illustrations. We discuss families, extended families and how families are alike and different. Then they write about a fun memory of a time with their family.

The Lorax by Dr. Suess This is a great book for rhyming, as are all of Dr Suess' books. It goes beyond that to environmental issues.

The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Suess Great for discussing how arguments can get out of hand.

The Legend of the Bluebonnet by Tomi de Paola I use this when we teach Texas history (The Texas state flower it the Bluebonnet) along with a couple more books from this wonderful author.

Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats We discuss setting, the illustrations, how practicing helps you gain skills, etc. this is a lovely warm story.

I could go on and on. There are so many great children's books. I use lots of them in my class to foster love of reading, model fluency, discuss setting and author's purpose, instruct everything from writing to math to science, to use as art instruction, for retelling, etc.