Green Hat Blue Hat by Sandra Boynton
Surprise Mommy! by Liza Alexander
The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
Maisy Takes A Bath by Lucy Cousins

This is one of the most cleverly written titles we own. I love to read this book to Kenneth. It really lends itself to theatrical performances. The illustrations are fun. The story is lively. Since the topic of fire trucks is always a hit, Kenneth really likes it too.

Michael's and my relationship was cemented over a discussion of this book. We were newly engaged and both acknowledged that it was hard to get through it without getting choked up. I've read it to Kenneth dozens of times now and I STILL can't get through it without getting choked up. I have to swallow hard and keep going. He seems to love it to, although at this stage, I wonder if, ironically, it's the steam shovels and rollers that construct the city around the little house and the cars, trains and subways that become the bane of her existence that attract him. It's theme is definitely one you have to grow to understand, but, as two old house lovers, we couldn't be without it. We finally bought him his own copy as my childhood copy was falling apart.

Kenneth was slow to warm up to this book, but once he realized that the bats and birds have a lot of fun being upside down he was quite taken with it. The illustrations, particularly facial features and expressions are delightful. I try to tone down the mother bird's scoldings when I read it. It's a sweet story.

I wish I had a nickel for every time I've read this book. The photographs are clear and bright. It's a simple, category, picture, label book, and Kenneth adores it. This book is responsible for his learning all the names of all the types of trucks. Actually, it's responsible for me learning them too. I especially like the feature at the end where the reader is asked to make matches and associations. Which person drives which kind of truck? Which truck hauls which kind of load? It's unique in that regard and Kenneth has learned something about how we associate objects with each other from it, as well as all the truck types.

Sing Song rhymes and sweet illustrations, plus a touch of silliness make this book a favorite.

Strictly speaking, this is a first reader book, but I was specifically looking for a book that covered weather, and this fit the bill. William watches from the window through all the seasons and all kinds of weather. The repetitive words and simple sentence structure really lend themselves to toddler read-aloud format. This is another book from Dorling Kindersley DK. They have a terrific assortment of books for children.

Another DK toddler board book. This one is so much fun. I hold it largely responsible for Kenneth having learned the alphabet at 15 months. He started playing referee even early than that and would say, "Safe!" and "Yer Out!" accompanied by the requisite arm motions. It was pretty cute. The book is fun because not only is it an introduction to the alphabet, but to lots of baseball terminology as well, many of which was unfamiliar to me. So, I learned something too.

Kenneth just loves this book. It's definitely a book for browsing, not for reading outright. I find him sitting on the floor flipping through the pages often. He especially likes to look at it with me. It's a classic and heaps of fun.

I bought this board book after Kenneth had really gotten past the need for board books and had started reading picture books instead, but we are so fond of the other Boynton titles I thought I'd try it. It ended up being an excellent choice, because Kenneth laughed out loud the very first time through. It surprised me that he got the joke, but I guess the author knows kids pretty well. It's a keeper.

We owned this book before we started raising caterpillars in captivity on our front porch, but it made an excellent teaching tool at the time. I do feel compelled to correct the usage of the word, "cocoon" since, in fact, butterflies actually make a chysalis. However, the idea was there and then you have the side benefit of it being a counting book. It's another that's fun to read aloud.

Wow, was this an instant hit. It's a blast for me too because I get to be very theatrical with the different dinosaur descriptions. I think my favorite is "dinosaur grumpy." The illustrations are endearing and engaging. The rhyme is fun and silly, and Kenneth loves it.

Kenneth never met a Maisy book he didn't like. They are so short and simple, we usually read them more than once in a row. This one is helpful because it covers topics familiar to Kenneth such as having his temperature taken and getting a minor injury bandaged up. Simple text and adorable illustrations complete the story.

Well, what can I say that hasn't been said about a classic like this? I think for Kenneth this is especially a favorite because of the software. Although we owned the book first. I think he's really come a long way in his ability to recognize sounds that are similar, in large part due to this book.

Sheila Rae taunts and teases her little sister, refusing to share a peppermint stick until circumstances change and she is left with little choice. I just don't feel comfortable reading this to Kenneth. While it's true that siblings behave that way to one another, I don't see the point of showing them examples of it before they've even figured out for themselves how it's done. As far as I'm concerned it's a lesson learned all too easily! This is definitely not a favorite.

We heard another Froggy book read aloud at the library so I grabbed this one up without properly reviewing it. It turns out that Froggy's reluctance to go to bed is a bit on the uncooperative side and Michael and I don't care for that much. However, we try to use the book as a lesson for how NOT to behave. He loves to say, "FroooOooggy!" So, I guess it's not too bad. Just not a total winner.

Here's another book with a lesson better left alone. I think the sentiment is the right place. You obviously want your children to learn that cruel teasing is unacceptable. However, they have to learn to tease cruelly before you can teach them that lesson. If you teach them too soon you might, in fact, be propagating it since you are setting an example. The rhyme is cute, but the story makes me a little uncomfortable.