My Bookshelf: part two

Image taken from here.

I could not share my bookshelf without including the books contained within this post, because some of them are honestly my absolute favorites. I wish I had had the time and space to include these books in the last post, because I honestly feel a good book can be enjoyed by all ages, and although I understand to a certain extent why books are separated into "children's" "young adult" and "adult" I feel like people miss out on so many great stories when they restrict themselves to books only found in certain areas. I honestly wish libraries were just a jumble of books with a single "restricted section" reserved strictly for those stories with content children should not read. I love to browse my entire library and you will find me curled up on my couch reading books intended for "children" of all ages. So, I hate that my blog has these books so clearly in their own "section" so to speak as I feel they are stories that can be thoroughly enjoyed by adults and children alike. My current bookshelf is completed with the inclusion of these precious books (yes, they are found on my bookshelf--out of my daughters reach, although we do read many of them together almost as often as the ones found on her bookshelf): 

The Velveteen Rabbit: Although this is a really sweet story about a little stuffed rabbit who longs to be "real" and his adventures with the boy he loves, I have mostly saved this book because of the gorgeous illustrations this particular version includes. Count to 10 With A Mouse uses rhythm and rhyme to capture the attention of you and your child and is a tale of a mouses journey through the pages of this beautiful book. You Are My I Love You has wonderful, creative descriptions of a parents relationship with their young child and is sweet in a capture your heart kind of way. Wherever You Are, my love will find you is a parents promise to their child that they will always be loved, in a poetic way that draws you in. This book also has gorgeous, fun illustrations that will make you  wish you had them to hang on the nursery wall. Love Song for a Baby is another book that uses fun descriptions to express the love a parent has for their child in a sweet, poetic way. A Cup of Christmas Tea makes me tear up every. Single. Time. A story of a man who visits his elderly aunt at Christmas, despite all his reservations and excuses for why he shouldn't need to go. Llama Llama Red Pajama is a little llama who loves being tucked into bed by his momma and his worries and reservations on a typical night. I Know a Wee Piggy would be a great book for learning colors. A story about a pig who visits a colorful fair in rhyming verse my daughter can't get enough of. Mornings at the Truck Stop include regular customers and their vehicles the little boy in the story embraces into his routine like they are members of his own family. A great way to introduce the topic of animals and where they live and sleep is A House Is A House For Me. This is also a book written in that rhythmic rhyming style that children simply embrace. The Twelve Gifts of Birth: technically belonging to my daughter, this is a gift to her about the gifts we would hope for all children to receive at birth, things like goodness, happiness, understanding, and hope. A book especially great for helping your child understand those with physical impairments, Puppies For Sale is a heart-tugging story about a little boy who wants to purchase the runt of the litter. Harold and the Purple Crayon is just a cute story about a little boy who uses his purple crayon to create his own little world at bedtime. The Biggest Bear is special in our house because it was daddies favorite book as a boy and is about a child who wishes his family had a bear skin to hang on their barn just like all his neighbors. Green Eggs and Ham -because who can resist Dr. Seuss? My First Read and Learn Bible is a new favorite in our house. Simple, clear stories from the bible to help your child learn all about God and Jesus. I will admit that Hug can get annoying quickly when your child wants to read it over and over again because "hug" really is almost the only word in the entire book, but it is a way too cute story about a baby monkey just looking for a hug-won't anyone help him out? 

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is a magical grandmotherly little lady who helps resolve all the problems mothers in her neighborhood experience with their children. Everyone will fall in love with spirited Ramona Quimby-like Junie B. Jones who has just started Kindergarten! If you are looking for a book that will keep you laughing, a book that I would recommend to anyone in a heartbeat, Cheaper by the Dozen is that book. A time-saving father and a quiet mannered mother raise a dozen children all their own. (For anyone who has seen the movie based on this book, I personally cannot understand how they can claim to have gotten that story out of this book-DO NOT refuse to read this book based on the movie, and DO NOT judge this book based on this misrepresentation). Trixie Beldon books are probably pretty comparable to Nancy Drew mysteries, but in my humble 12 year old (or so) opinion, better, and harder to find, so I had to save at least one. What's your favorite children's book?

Image taken from here.

p.s. with a few exceptions I have a harder time keeping track of authors of children's books. I find sorting children's books by author is a bit like just tossing them in one big pile and saying go for it. I remember titles much better at this level. :)