March 1st, 2010 | 
Author: I need to know what are the best children books to read. I have a four year old son and I want to buy many good books to read to him.
It can be any genre.
I need to know what are the best children books to read. I have a four year old son and I want to buy many good books to read to him.
It can be any genre.
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Dr. Seuss is great
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.
amelia bedilia…my sister always loved them , and so did i when I was little
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak was one of my favorites as a child. I’m not really sure what age range that book is for.
The book does not matter a lot, as long as you do it. Buy or borrow a couple, and follow what he seems to like. The critical thing at this stage is that he becomes interested in books and reading – not what he reads.
But you may have left your run too late.
Try Enid Blyton’s series of books. They are quite interesting for young children.
The Curious George collection is good, Dr Suess of course, Where the Wild Things Are is classic, and don’t be afraid to challenge them. Our eight year old read Harry Potter to our five year old. It was a wonderful experience for both.
There is a Little Golden Book called “The Monster At the End Of This Book.” It has Grover from Sesame Street. It is my favorite, becaus eI used it to teach my brother & sister how to read using that book. (They are 24 & 29 now!) You can find it at Wal-Mart, they have rereleased the Little Golden Books…they are classics! Happy Reading!!!!
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
by Virginia Lee Burton
Also by Virginia Lee Burton
Katy and the Big Snow
The Bearstine Bears
Dr. Seuss
Courious George
Ameila Bedila books by Peggy Parish
Frog & Toad books by Arnold Lobel
The Little Bear books by Else Holmelund Minarik
All of the above are great. I also loved any Curious George books when I was little. And I also loved Max and Ruby…it was a book series before it was a show.
Sketchy
Try buying his favorite tv shows in book form. My boys love blues clues, dora the explorer, little bear, and seseme street.
By all means, get the Dr. Seuss collection. My younger son can recite all of Green Eggs and Ham and he learned his alphabet thanks to Dr. Seuss’ ABC. Other authors worth reading are P.D. Eastman, Mercer Mayer, Beatrix Potter, Roald Dahl, and Carl Hiaasen.
Dr. Seuss books are excellent, and my son loves the Clifford series too. If your son is an advanced reader, my 8-year-old is a fan of The Magic Treehouse series. And finally, I *highly* recommend Shel Silverstein’s poetry and other books like Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, A Giraffe and a Half, and Runny Babbit. These are so funny, very insightful and have great pictures!
Boa Constrictor
Oh, I’m being eaten
By a boa constrictor,
A boa constrictor,
A boa constrictor,
I’m being eaten by a boa constrictor,
And I don’t like it–one bit.
Well, what do you know?
It’s nibblin’ my toe.
Oh, gee,
It’s up to my knee.
Oh my,
It’s up to my thigh.
Oh, fiddle,
It’s up to my middle.
Oh, heck,
It’s up to my neck.
Oh, dread,
It’s upmmmmmmmmmmffffffffff . . .
Mercer Mayer The Little Critter series, lots of fun adventures, my daughter loved them
“Swimmy.” It’s a great book that says it’s okay to be different. “Where the Wild Things Are” would also be great. I suggest hitting the library and letting him wander around and pick up ones he thinks look like fun.
The best children’s book of all time is ‘The Little Prince’. It’s also one of the best pieces of literature of all time. Both you and your son will enjoy it.
The actual title of the book is pretty irrelevant, the most important thing is the together time you spend reading together, and the fact that you model reading enjoyment to him. Most children of your son’s age have a favorite book that they want read over and over and over, and if you try to change words or skip places they will tell you that you’ve got it wrong. Don’t ignore this request because it is a very important step in the growth of reading development, no matter how tired you are of the story. The best thing to do is go to your local library and ask the children’s librarian for some of her suggestions, we are always glad to help, that is why we are there.
I’ve always preferred “The Velveteen Rabbit.” I think at the age of 5 it’s important to plant the knowledge that “love makes you real” before peer pressure and school shatter that idea.
Try “The BFG” (Big Friendly Giant) by Roald Dahl. He’s the author of the better-known Willy Wonka book too. The BFG is a chapter book, so you can read him a couple of short chapters every night.You can enjoy learning what wizzpoppers and snozzcumbers are!
It won awards in Great Britain and Germany. More importantly, my daughter LOVED it. So did her friend, a six year old boy.
Here’s a review written by a kid:
http://www.spaghettibookclub.org/review.php3?review_id=5795
Kevin Henkes has great books. Owen is my favorite. Others by him include Julius The Baby of the World, A Weekend With Wendall, Chester’s Way, Chrysanthemum, Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, Wemberley Worried, Sheila Rae The Brave.
Laura Numeroff is another great choice.
*If You Give A Mouse A Cookie
*If You Give A Moose A Muffin
*If You Give A Pig A Pancake
*If You Take A Mouse To School
*If You Take A Mouse To The Movies
*Beatrice Doesn’t Want To
Kathi Appelt has written many children’s books. Her Bubba & Beau series is wonderful!
Bubba and Beau: Best Friends
Bubba and Beau Go Night-Night
Bubba and Beau Meet The Relatives
Robert Munsch is great. He’s written so many books–so many great funny books. His most well known is Love You Forever…but my favorites include Thomas’ Snowsuit, Stephanie’s Ponytail, and Purple Green and Yellow.
Judith Viorst: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day
Mercer Mayer’s Little Critter books (I loved these books)
Leo Lionni: A Color Of His Own; Swimmy; Frederick
Eric Carle…
Tomie DePaola
Lauren Child is another great choice. Her Charlie and Lola series is very good, and it is now a tv show.
Anything by Dr. Seuss. The rhymes make it easy for kids to follow along on the page. As your son gets in to reading on his own, having “Green Eggs and Ham” or “The Foot Book” around will be invaluable.