Today I want to share with you 7 kids books that our family loves. I’m always on the hunt for a good family read-along book that all ages can appreciate. These books are ones we have read over and over, gifted to friends, and will treasure forever.
1. But No Elephants by Jerry Smath
This book was my very favorite as a child. Fortunately, I kept my old, dog-eared copy to read to my own kids and they love it now too. It’s the got perfect cadence and length to keep even the littlest’s one attention. But No Elephants tells the story of Grandma Tildy who lives alone. One day, a salesman stops by to sell her a pet. It is a heart-warming book with bold and lively illustrations (also done by Smath).
2. Show and Tell Bunnies by Kathryn Lasky and Marylin Hafner
This book was an amazing thrift store find for us and we have read it again and again since then. It tells the tale of Clyde, a first grader who is worried about what to bring to a Show and Tell. To pique your interest, I’m just going to say that it has a surprising and imaginative twist at the end that our kids love. The illustrations keep the kids’ attention and the characters are a compelling bunch. A great length of read for kids age 4-8.
3. Grumpy Baby by Brett Cranston
Our first-born Charlie was a grumpy baby. He scowled 24/7. We came to find this book from a local Vancouver author, Brett Cranston, and immediately connected with the story of the grumpy baby who couldn’t be pleased. We read Charlie the story and he gets a kick out of learning what he was like as a baby through it.
Grumpy Baby is a humorous story about dealing with a “challenging” newborn. It has sharp illustrations and a playful tone and now both of our kids want to hear it over and over again.
4. Franklin in the Dark by Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clark
The Franklin series is a Canadian classic and we loved reading the whole series to our kids. The books are the perfect length for a bedtime story and have a moral to each one. The Franklin in the Dark is my personal favorite from the series.
It is also the first one of the series. In it, Franklin is dealing with one of the most common childhood afflictions — he is afraid of the dark. This is particularly distressing for Franklin as he is a turtle, and the darkness he fears is inside his own shell. The illustrations are excellent, and the story is engaging and encouraging.
5. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
A classic for a reason. The story is a soothing kind of poetry with interesting illustrations which combine to make for a perfect book for bedtime. We read this book at least once a week and have various versions floating around our home which all harken back to the perfection of the original tale.
6. Good Night Vancouver by David J. Adams
Good Night Vancouver is a book we were gifted when we first moved to Vancouver. It features spots around Vancouver (English Bay, Lions Gate Bridge, Granville Island, etc.) and says goodnight to them all. Our kids love to see the places they have been to and seen in real life, and it’s a fun tour of the city we have come to love.
7. Corduroy by Don Freeman
Don Freeman’s classic character, Corduroy, is even more popular today then he was when the book first came on the scene in 1968. I read this book as a kid and the story always stuck with me. Corduroy tells the story of a teddy bear waiting on a department store shelf for a child’s friendship. It is sweet and heartbreaking. My son has continued to ask for it night after night after his first read.
Off to a Good Night’s Sleep! 😴
So which of these are you ready to read to your little one? Do you have your own personal favorites? Let us know and happy reading! Don’t forget to do it as often as possible, it’s been shown that reading to your kids encourages them to start talking!
I’m Laura and I am a former lawyer, current Canadian stay-at-home mom of 2 lovely kids (a boy and a girl) and married to her high school sweetheart and best friend. I’m also a motherhood & lifestyle YouTuber who loves to share both the high and lows about her life.