Book lists are some of my fave. I really love looking into others’ bookshelves and seeing which books they think are worth reading. We’ve found a few good books at the library lately and thought you might like to add them to your to-check-out list!
TOP TEN FUN KID AND PICTURE BOOKS
1. Mortimer’s First Garden
I have loved Karma Wilson since I picked up Bear Wants More
This little book about Mortimer the mouse is really a parable about God planting a seed and making it grow. It’s a really lovely tale. My Asa (2.5) loved it and sat through every word! And now whenever we see a sunflower he thinks it must be Mortimer’s!
2. Let’s Make a Joyful Noise: Celebrating Psalm 100
This book is GORGEOUS. It has the most fun illustrations. Kinda modern. But retro, too. It’s really a re-telling of Psalm 100 so the illustrations are like a secondary story. I got it at the library and did NOT want to return it!
3. Animal Strike at the Zoo. It’s True!
Well, once I found out Karma Wilson had faith-filled books, too (see above), I began stalking the W section at the library. This isn’t a biblical book like the other ones, but it’s SO fun! The animals go on strike until a little girl comes to the zoo and they remember what they were meant to do! The illustrations are hilarious. And it’s one I can really read over and over!
4. Raggedy Ann in Cookie Land
A few years ago I picked up the original Raggedy Ann stories on CD at the library. They were short stories with really great moral lessons in them. I felt like they were practically Bible stories! Lydia loved them and has adored Raggedy Ann ever since. Well, I picked up Raggedy Ann in Cookie Land because it had the original full-color illustrations. And it’s a full chapter book instead of short stories. So, it’s perfect for bedtime.
Well. It is also the strangest book I’ve ever read. Kinda Wizard of Oz-ish. Raggedy Ann and Andy meet Cookie people who bake their own children and animals. They are followed by a Goblin who tries to cook them for noodle soup every single chapter. And even more weirdness that I can’t remember without looking at the book. But Lydia LOVES it. She thinks it is so funny. And because she doesn’t know that goblin could resemble something from Lord of the Rings, she takes the Raggedy Ann version and is not remotely scared by it.
Anyway, if you want some strange fanciful stories–this is the one for you! But if you’re like my husband, you’ll try to hide it under the bed so we don’t read it.
5. The Borrowers
I checked this book out from the library because I knew Lydia would love it. I had it on my to-read list forever! Then, when I started reading it to her I realized, “I’ve never read this book before!” I had a distinct memory of LOVING The Borrowers! How could I not remember the book? That’s when I realized, it wasn’t a book. It as a movie. The Littles
Anywhoo. I do love the story. And Lydia is totally intrigued by all their gadgets and gizmos they create from our cast-offs. But the reading is a little hard. I don’t even know some of the words because they are so old-fashioned!
6. One-Dog Canoe
This is a cute rhyming book about a girl and her dog going on a canoe trip. By themselves. But it doesn’t stay that way for long. The concept is adorable, the illustrations totally engaging and will get your kids giggling.
{fyi: My husband just pointed out that it said, “darn” which he thought was weird for a kids’ book. In case that bothers you. Which it does him, apparently.}
7. Just Plain Fancy 
I actually bought this one at the library for like 10 cents. (Or maybe it was a yard sale?) It’s the story of a little Amish girl who finds a fancy egg and raises the bird with her chickens. As her little chick grows up, she begins to show off her true colors—the many colors of a peacock and scares the poor little Amish girls who think she is TOO fancy for their plain life.
It also started an interesting conversation about the Amish, other religions and sin with Lydia. Heavy stuff for a picture book!
8. Curious George Rides a Bike
Asa owns one Curious George book. About pancakes. He loves pancakes. So, this one fits him nicely. Now, every time I get another Curious George book at the library, I never like it as much as the pancake book. *shrugs*
So, I finally made a point to pick up an original Curious George book (instead of the “based on” versions). I had a vague memory of reading Curious George Rides a Bike as a kid. But after my Borrowers fiasco, I didn’t really trust my memory. However, as I read it to Asa, I remembered it! He really enjoyed this one and if it wasn’t so long, I wouldn’t mind reading it every night!
9. How To…series by Sally Lloyd Jones
There are 3 books in this series: How to Get a Job…by Me, the Boss, How to Be a Baby . . . by Me, the Big Sister, 
10. The 101 Dalmatians
I think I mentioned this book the other week. We got the audio version and I WAS MESMERIZED! I didn’t
It also had a distinct Jesus-thing in it that was beautiful. (I don’t know how to describe it better. But if you read it, you’ll see. It’s cool.)
Have you and your kids checked out any good books lately?
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