Children's Books

When I was a kid, like most other kids, I changed what I wanted to be when I grew up ALL the time. However, I remember that there was a good year or two (which was forever for me!) that I was dead set on being an author of children's books. I even wrote several stories on pieces of construction paper, stapled them together, and illustrated them myself.  (Um, yikes. I have never ever fooled myself into believing that I could be an artist).  ;-)  Eventually I sort of forgot about my passion for children's books, but it has been rekindled now that I have two kids who have grown beyond just the "Baby Touch and Feel" books.

In a nutshell, I still LOVE LOVE LOVE children's books. Don't get me wrong, I love grown-up novels too, but I don't get excited about them in the same way that I get excited over children's books. It kills me when I go to the children's section of a bookstore and can't just buy every book that I see.

I seriously think I could read to my kids all day. I am sooo glad that they enjoy it so much. There are many different activities that I love doing with them, but I think reading to them is at the top of that list. It's simple and definitely not very flashy, but it is wonderful. I hope that they continue to love books their whole lives- even in a world that seems to be drifting away from books a little.  (Boo!)

If anyone feels so inclined, please share with me one or more of your favorite children's books! I am on the hunt for more, and I don't own nearly as many as I wish I did. And if anyone is looking for some good ones, my favorites include:

The Very Hungry Caterpillar 
Harold And The Purple Crayon
I Was So Mad (this has helped Matthew express himself better during his tantrum-throwing age ha!)
Love You Forever
If You Give.... books (A Mouse a Cookie, etc.)
Goodnight Beach
Guess How Much I Love You
The Sleepy Little Alphabet
Five Little Ducks
Dear Zoo
Where The Wild Things Are

And anything by:
Leslie Patricelli
Karen Katz (my kids LOVE these ones)

*Many (most?) of these are toddler-age books, though I am also starting to think about adding to my slightly-older kids' book collection as well.