My Top 10 Board Books
Quote - Rowling, J k 'Something very magical...'
I am currently anticipating the arrival of a new niece or nephew. In celebration, I decided to share my favourite board books. I love the thought of parents sitting down before bed and reading to their child as he/she grows older. One of my favourite things to do with my nephew, before we moved to Canada, was to read together. I also love the idea of encouraging little ones to discover books for themselves. My favourite gifts for new babies and parents are books to help them create their own library for their little one. Board books tend to last longer as little hands learn how to hold books without ripping pages. Some of my go-to board books are these ten:
1- 'Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes' by Mem Fox
'both of these babies, as everyone knows, had ten little fingers and ten little toes'. Every day, babies are born all over the world, each of these babies are different but in some ways these babies are all the same. I love this book.
2- 'Dear Zoo' by Rod Campbell
My nephew went through a stage of adoring this lift-the-flap book. I knew all the words by heart and would sit with him and read the book over and over and over again. This book was so popular with him, it had to make the list.
3- 'Peepo!' by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
I am a big fan of Janet and Allan Ahlberg, as you can tell by my featuring two of their books on this list. Peepo!
4- 'Guess How Much I Love You' by Sam McBratney
This book just had to be on the list. The tale of Big Nutbrown Hare and Little Nutbrown Hare and loving someone to the moon and back.
5- 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' by Eric Carle
Books by Eric Carle are well known and loved. I love all the food that The Very Hungry Caterpillar eats.
6- 'We're Going On A Bear Hunt' by Michael Rosen
The repetition in We're Going On A Bear Hunt makes it a great book for younger children. The onomatopoeic description of each stage of the hunt adds extra fun when reading this to my nephew.
7- 'Alfie Gets in First' by Shirley Hughes
I love Shirley Hughes and love that Alfie Gets in First is being made available in a board book format.
8- 'Each Peach Pear Plum' by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
'Each peach pear plum, I spy Tom Thumb...' I can probably still quote this book from beginning to end. I love the mix of 'I spy' with nursery rhyme and fairytale characters.
9- 'Five Minutes Peace' by Jill Murphy
The Large family were one of my favourites as a young child. I love how these books are written mainly for adults. Mrs Large wants five minutes of peace and quiet, but everywhere she goes her children follow her.
10- 'Little Miss Austen' by Jennifer Adams
Teach children numbers with the help of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice - what's not to love?
Which is your favourite children's book?