[mariaalony]

Reading Children books has been a part of our routine everyday. I know this really helps a lot to nurture my son's young mind. Though there are times, he gets bored or distracted easily. Still, he loves to see colorful picture books. I would love to hear your ideas on how to increase his interest more in reading books. Do you know any more interesting books for his young age? Thanks everyone!

[Jean Reidy Posts: 778 Status: Offline I love kids' books!! WWW]

Hey Maria -

So many books come to mind. Do you have a local library? The children's librarian would be a fabulous resource for you. In the meantime, I'd like to recommend a few of my books that very young boys love - all very short text with colorful engaging pictures:

TOO PICKLEY!
TIME OUT FOR MONSTERS!
ALL THROUGH MY TOWN

My book LIGHT UP THE NIGHT is a little longer. But little boys love it because the verse is cumulative - so they can remember it easily - and the little boy in the story travels through his universe on his blanket which becomes a rocket, plane, train, etc.

Good for you for wanting to make books a part of your son's early life.
Jean

[Leandra Posts: 69 Status: Offline I love kids' books! WWW]

My son is 16 months, and he really seems to enjoy Jean's All Through My Town, for the fact that it is so colorful! I read to him at night when he's getting his last sippy of milk, b/c he actually holds still. During the day is harder b/c he's so squirmy. But he will hold still for a few minutes for a lift the flap book. Have you tried any of those? I just bought a Turbo lift the flap book, about that animated snail movie that's coming out soon, and he has lots of fun w/that.

I also have tried to build up a collection of books that make noise. Your two year old would probably love to be the 'only' one who can press the buttons when you're reading it to him. 

 

[Jean Reidy Posts: 778 Status: Offline I love kids' books!! WWW]

Leandra!  : : : to you and your boy!

[Leandra Posts: 69 Status: Offline I love kids' books! WWW]

Aw, thanks, Jean- and true story, the last time I read it to him and put it down on the couch, he kept reaching over for it. Our second reading of it was a little disjointed, as he was the one flipping the pages... 

[Vijaya Posts: 6,941 Status: Offline BEAUTY WWW]

Some of my kids' favorite authors at that age:
Eric Carle, Leo Lionni, Eve Bunting, Rosemary Wells, Richard Scarry, Kevin Henkes, Salina Yoon.

Check out your local library and see what grabs his attention. Also children's librarians are the best.
Vijaya

[LeslieG Posts: 210 Status: Offline WWW]

I recently fell in love with Open This Little Book by Jesse Klausmeier. It's colorful, wonderfully inviting to little hands, and brilliantly done.

[jeanne k Posts: 76 Status: Offline WWW]

Zin Zin Zin a Violin was a favorite of my kids at that age.

And any of Sandra Boyton's board books (don't forget Fuzzy, Fuzzy, Fuzzy)

We also loved (love) Owl Moon which is more of a quiet book.

[anita Posts: 370 Status: Offline I love kids' books! WWW]

Boy + Bot by Ame Dickman
The Monstore by Tara Lazar
Dog Gone by Leeza Hernandez

[AuntyBooks Posts: 620 Status: Offline AKA Kersten Hamilton WWW]

Red Truck
Police Officers On Patrol
Firefighters to the Rescue!
all by Kersten Hamilton.

  eab

[Larissa Posts: 712 Status: Offline Larissa WWW]

Seconding the Sandra Boynton and Salina Yoon reccs.

Also, any of the Mo Willems' Pigeon books are great.

[Vijaya Posts: 6,941 Status: Offline BEAUTY WWW]

Hey, my kids ate up the Kersten Hamilton books They're still big on NF.
Vijaya

[MysteryRobin Posts: 781 Status: Offline]

Salina's books! Check out Opposnakes, Deep Sea Diver, Penguin and Pinecone... All fabulous!

[Betsy Posts: 2,318 Status: Offline PICKY EATERS WWW]

Is GOODNIGHT, GOODNIGHT CONSTRUCTION SITE appropriate for a two-year-old? Anybody know?

[LeslieG Posts: 210 Status: Offline WWW]

Is GOODNIGHT, GOODNIGHT CONSTRUCTION SITE appropriate for a two-year-old? Anybody know?

As long as he's big enough to be into trucks. It references crane trucks, dump trucks, cement mixers, and the like in really simple, sweet rhyme. Besides, a mega-hit like this has to be good, right?

[Betsy Posts: 2,318 Status: Offline PICKY EATERS WWW]

Thanks, Leslie. I think I might get it--along with S'Yoon's penguin book.

[MysteryRobin Posts: 781 Status: Offline]

My little guy loved it at four, Betsy. I think a two year old would like it, too.

[mariaalony]

Hey Maria -

So many books come to mind. Do you have a local library? The children's librarian would be a fabulous resource for you. In the meantime, I'd like to recommend a few of my books that very young boys love - all very short text with colorful engaging pictures:

TOO PICKLEY!
TIME OUT FOR MONSTERS!
ALL THROUGH MY TOWN

My book LIGHT UP THE NIGHT is a little longer. But little boys love it because the verse is cumulative - so they can remember it easily - and the little boy in the story travels through his universe on his blanket which becomes a rocket, plane, train, etc.

Good for you for wanting to make books a part of your son's early life.
Jean

I haven't checked the local library near our place, yet. Maybe next week, I can go there with my son. My son got a copy of "Time out for monsters!" on his last birthday. The pictures are really nice, but I don't know if he liked it that much. Maybe, I'm worried about his age. But, I keep it for him to read on his own in the future.

Who's the author of LIGHT UP THE NIGHT?

Thanks for your suggestions! How old are yours sons, anyway?

[mariaalony]

My son is 16 months, and he really seems to enjoy Jean's All Through My Town, for the fact that it is so colorful! I read to him at night when he's getting his last sippy of milk, b/c he actually holds still. During the day is harder b/c he's so squirmy. But he will hold still for a few minutes for a lift the flap book. Have you tried any of those? I just bought a Turbo lift the flap book, about that animated snail movie that's coming out soon, and he has lots of fun w/that.

I also have tried to build up a collection of books that make noise. Your two year old would probably love to be the 'only' one who can press the buttons when you're reading it to him. 

Good idea, Leandra!

I'm glad to know that you're son is learning how to appreciate books. Where did you get a Turbo lift the flap book? I want to find one for my son, too.

[mariaalony]

Some of my kids' favorite authors at that age:
Eric Carle, Leo Lionni, Eve Bunting, Rosemary Wells, Richard Scarry, Kevin Henkes, Salina Yoon.

Check out your local library and see what grabs his attention. Also children's librarians are the best.
Vijaya

Oh, we got a few copies of mouse books of Kevin Henkes. He loves all the 9 characters very much. All adorable!

[mariaalony]

I recently fell in love with Open This Little Book by Jesse Klausmeier. It's colorful, wonderfully inviting to little hands, and brilliantly done.

Is it an eBook or Hardcover?

[mariaalony]

  I'm taking notes of all the books you've suggested. I really hope I can find them all and make a GREAT LIBRARY for my son!


Hooray for all!

[Dianna Winget Posts: 380 Status: Offline I love kids' books! WWW]

Don't think any one mentioned it yet, but get a copy of Dorling-Kindersley "My First Word Book". It's like a visual dictionary for toddlers and my daughter and I had such fun with it starting when she was around 18 months. Lots of bright pictures and it really expanded her vocabulary. 

[Amy S Posts: 229 Status: Offline Adventures in writing WWW]

We loved Good Night Gorrilla, and Ten Minutes to Bed Time when our boys were that age. Also the Sandra Boynton -- masterfully tells a whole story in 54 words (and a whole lot of pictures).

[TMarie Posts: 92 Status: Offline]

I love,
I'm the Best, and, Hooray for Fish! by Lucy Cousins

[Rebecca Kraft Rector Posts: 89 Status: Offline TRIA AND THE GREAT STAR RESCUE, Delacorte]

Trashy Town by Andrea Zimmerman
I Stink by Kate McMullen
Chugga chugga choo choo by Ken Lewis

[Franzilla Posts: 1,124 Status: Offline Gah! WWW]

Can't believe no one's mentioned Eric Carle's Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See. And also Polar Bear Polar Bear What do you Hear, as well as The Hungry Caterpillar.

I'll be honest, some of the books mentioned here wouldn't really fly with the two-year-olds I've known. I've found they love the repetitive books that don't really have too much of a storyline and are all about joining in with the process of reading/looking – so lift the flap books and books that require a response or can easily be repeated.

One book that always entertains is Once Upon a Potty (there's one for boys, and one for girls) and it's useful too! The kids just love the part where the MC gets her new potty and isn't sure what it's for – is it a hat? No! is it a milk bowl for the cat? No! They seem to really enjoy the joining in element.

Modified to add: noticed that Vijaya did mention Carle! Sorry!

[Kurtis Posts: 399 Status: Offline WWW]

My (2, almost 3 y/o) son loves Curious George, Otis, and Knuffle Bunny at story time... oh, and Cat the Cat. But he's also recently pulled out a lot of his baby/board books again and wants to read them because now he can sort of "read" them himself (using the pictures). Just simple counting books, opposite books, color books etc.

[mariaalony]

When I told my son that he will have new books, he looked very excited. He took his bag and asked me to put his books inside. He loves to share it with his cousins.