Who wants to read a list of books? Whether you do or not, here it is! This list represents about half of the kids' books we own. The other half is put away to switch out when we get tired of these. I try to keep seasonal/holiday books around the season/holiday they belong to, but it's no strict thing. We've read most of these books (most multiple times), though there are a few I noticed I haven't read to them (that'll change shortly!)
We have story time every night before bed, and it really is the best time of day for us. The bedroom is clean, everyone is calm-ish, and we end up having some great conversations and learning discoveries through the books we're reading. In our house, storytime isn't a privilege that can be revoked on bad behavior, or something to be done away with because we're too busy playing or doing something else (although there have been exceptions to both). Usually we read two stories minimum, most nights four or six.
Another of my secrets? Most of the books we have are "learning" books, rather than fantasy/pretend books. If I'm going to invest so much of my time in reading to them, I want them to get as much out of it as they can. And if I'm going to fill their heads with books for half an hour or 45 minutes a day (assuming we only have one story time that day), I want them to actually get something out of it, more than just warm, fuzzy feelings and fluff. People are always amazed at how much the boys know, and I think I know why! ;)
Most of the books toward the top are board books or little books with fewer words.
I Spy Little Christmas
Night Time
I Am A Baby
A Good Day
Blast Off! (about space)
USA (fact book)
Biscuit and the Bunny
My Goodnight Book
Let's Paint a Rainbow
Big Thoughts for Little Thinkers- The Trinity
Moo, Baa, La La La!
A Bug, A Bear, And A Boy Plant a Garden
Where is Maisy's Panda?
Doggies
Worm Watches
A Week of Wild Weather
Horns to Toes and In Between
All Wet (water)
Pat the Bunny
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See?
Being Honest
Animal Homes
It's a Frog's Life (life cycle of a frog)
Barnyard Dance!
Zzzz (consonant sound z)
The Going to Bed Book
Lots of Rocks
Big Red Barn
Mealtime Prayers
All Things Bright and Beautiful (book of prayers and poems)
Belly Button Book
Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs!
King Solomon
Stories of God's People
The Human Body Riddle Book
I Wonder Why Whales Sing and other questions about sea life
The Changing Caterpillar
Thunder and Lightning
The Skeleton Inside You
Helicopter Rescue
How To Hide A Crocodile & Other Reptiles
The Christmas Story
The Littlest Soldier
Chicken Soup with Rice
Just Right
Going To The Fair
A Bug, a Bear, and a Boy At Home
Where Did The Baby Go?
Chickens aren't the only ones (creatures that lay eggs)
More Fun With Maisy
Harold and the Purple Crayon
Richard Scarry's Little Counting Book
Secrets of the Vine for Little Ones
Samuel Learns to Yell and Tell
David and Goliath
Samuel and the Wake-Up Call
Prayers for Children
The Secret Journey
The Farm Book
The Sneetches and other stories
The Story of Molly Pitcher
26 Letters and 99 Cents
Thank You, Logan!
The Cat In The Hat
Listen To My Dream (Martin Luther King, Jr.)
I See, You Saw
My Body Is Private
Find Nat
When I'm a Daddy- A Little Boy's Guide To Biblical Fatherhood
From Acorn To Oak Tree
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Africa
Watch It Grow (plants)
Blue Hat, Green Hat
Frog and Toad Are Friends
Merry Christmas, From Biscuit
The Magic School Bus Out of This World
The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds
Big Thoughts for Little People
Biscuit's Pet and Play Easter
Will: God's Mighty Warrior
The Story of Jonah
All About Sound
Giant Squid
Little Bear's Visit
Tiger's Bedtime
Big Wheels (construction trucks)
Baby Animals
Richard Scarry's The Firefighter' Busy Day
Fish
Sea Turtles
Glaciers
The Old Steam Train
Catch Me, Catch Me
Super Grandpa
Minerals
The Fox on the Box
Baby Dear
Biscuit Finds a Friend
Stepping Through Time (shoes)
Building the New Road
The Cat That Sat
Meadow
The Airplane Book
Dolphins
Biscuit Wins a Prize
Frogs and Toads
Baby Farm Animals
The Four Seasons for Little People
Look Inside Your Body
Creepy Crawly Caterpillars
Questions and Answers: Science
Biomes of the World: Grasslands
Bob and Larry's ABC's
Oh The Thinks You Can Think
When Jesus Was Born
One of the Family
I Wonder Why Horses Wear Shoes and other questions about horses
Pig at Work
Chameleons, Masters of Disguise
Holidays: Thanksgiving
Turn to the Sea
Great Day for UP
Questions and Answers: Planet Earth
Fox in Socks
Cars: Race Team
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
Winter on the Farm
Taro and the Tofu
Winter: Discovering the Seasons
I See Animals Hiding
The Little Red Hen
Winter Days in the Big Woods
Going to Sleep on the Farm
Wise Words for Little People
Water's Way
Little Bear
The Magic Whistle
Secrets of the Rainforest: Plants and Planteaters
Humphrey the Lost Whale
Penguins
God Is In The Night
Camels
What is a Flower?
Raggedy Ann Stories
Raggedy Andy Stories
Tundra Swans
Long Ago in a Castle
Read and Learn Bible
The Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes
Yum! A Tale of Two Cookies
Wonders of Rivers
I Wonder Why Fish Don't Drown and other neat facts about underwater animals
Busy Beavers (National Geographic)
How Animals Hide (National Geographic)
Acid Rain
Getting To Know Nature's Children: Chipmunks and Beavers
Do They Scare You? Creepy Creatures
The Night Sky
The Alligator
The Good Bad Cat
Animals In Winter (National Geographic)
Max the Cat 1-2-3 Counting Book
Knights
Happy Thanksgiving, Biscuit!
Snowy Winter Day
Hats! Hats! Hats!
Sharks
I Wonder What a Rainforest Is and other neat facts about plants
The Nursery Treasury
Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose
Trains
The Fascinating World Of Wolves
carrot/parrot
The Truck Book
The Goose Family Book
Gentle Giant Octopus
Christian Mother Goose Tales
Skin, Scales, Feathers, and Fur
Four Seasons for Little People
Expert Guide: Birds
God's Plan for Growing Things
The Tale of Benjamin Bunny
Jesus Who Helped People
Jesus and the Children
The Wonder Book (Bible Stories)
The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin
The Tale of Ginger and Pickles
My First Book of Poems
Petersen First Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians
The Ten Commandments
Jesus' Stocking
The Easter Story
Aware and Alert
God Loves Me
Starfish
Etain and Midir - Irish Legend
The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse
Look At Your Eyes
Kitten's First Full Moon
Weather
Good Boy! Dog's Best Friend
Baby Sea Otter
Curious Geroge and Friends
Sometimes I Wish
Alligators and Crocodiles, Great Creatures of the World
Stories To Read To The Very Young
Big, Big Storybook
Lift-A-Flap Castles
Uncover: Frog (3-D book about a frog's innards)
Pooh's Easter Egg Hunt
How have we gotten so many books? Hardly any of them were bought new. Most of them were bought for 50 cents or a dollar from the thrift store or yard sales. Some were given to us, or we bought them new if there was something in particular we were looking for or had birthday money. And we regularly get rid of books we don't like or don't want anymore. My favorite thing to do with those is trade them in at a used bookstore!
Happy Reading, everyone!
-Amanda -_-*
