I have been tagged to nominate my top five children’s books. Thank you Norah at norahcolvin.com. Choosing five books (only five) is a roller coaster, and I love that ride. Here are my favorite children’s books, and why:
Goodnight Moon
This book is a classic. It is what every baby needs to hear, over and over again. In my classroom, I recite Goodnight Moon before chapter reading. Every day. Often I change it up to include the children’s names: “In the great green room there is Mark’s telephone, and Sarah’s red balloon…” and so on. It is the best.
The Story of Little Babaji
Helen Bannerman wrote this story in 1899. When I was a child, I loved Little Black Sambo, which was an adaptation of this book. That book was banned, and the original, based in India, was reborn. Thank goodness. Not only is it a great story, it is so beloved in my classroom that we host play performances for families. When a children’s book has a repeating phrase that encourages children to join the reader and say aloud; “Little Babaji, I’m going to eat you up”, it cements their love for the book.
Swimmy
My very first day of teaching I read aloud Swimmy. That was all I needed for me to recognize the most important thing in teaching- reading aloud. This book has it all: adventure and suspense, life in the ocean, and most importantly, problem solving when you’re feeling lost. The story is timeless. Reading it today is just as fresh and exciting as it was that very first day. Children feel the same way.
The Wild Robot
The Wild Robot is, hands down, my favorite new book for elementary grade children. I’ve read this aloud to a captive audience of second graders. On the surface, it is a fantastic adventure story. Who wouldn’t want to read about a wild robot who is shipwrecked? Underneath, it is a story of a robot who has to adjust to nature and animals… and therefore change. Can a robot become human?
Charlotte’s Web
Charlotte’s Web is an all-time classic. I have been reading this book to students for decades. It’s the very first chapter book that I read aloud at school, every year. My class comes together as a family, because I read the words about love, worry, fear, friendship, understanding… all that really matters. A spider and a pig, and a story of life.
I am nominating five bloggers to do the same; post your five favorite children’s books!
Rules:
1. Thank whoever’s nominated you and share their blog link.
2. Let us know your top five children’s books.
3. Nominate 5 people to do the same.
4. Let your nominees know you nominated them.
Here are my nominees:
- Marcia at marciastrykowski.com
- Robin at witlessdatingafterfifty.wordpress.com
- Beth at nerdybookclub.wordpress.com
- Susan at redcanoereader.wordpress.com
- Ritu at butismileanyway.com
Of course, many thanks to Norah for including me in this challenge. Please visit her wonderful blog at norahcolvin.com.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
Five great children’s books choices, Jenny.
Thanks, Robbie. Michael would Adore The Wild Robot. I loved your book choices as well. 😀
I will definately look it up, Jennie.
These are all good choices. My daughter loved Goodnight Moon as a child and we read it just about every night.
Thank you, Darlene. So glad you read Goodnight Moon every night! 🙂
Oh thank you for these Jennie.. Charlotte’s Web is the only one I am familiar with so thank you for sharing these others which are new to me.. 🙂 ❤ Hugs
You are welcome, Sue! 🙂
Excellent book choices, Jennie! Thanks for nominating me. It may take a while (2018?) but I look forward to sharing my top five, too! 🙂
Sounds great, Marcia. Your book choices are always so good. So hard to pick just five!
2 of your 5 are in my library Little Black Sambo was a childhood favorite of mine too. I hadn’t heard of The Story of Little Babaji, Swimmy, or The Wild Robot. I’ll look for those at the library and check them out.
I love Goodnight Moon! It was one of the first books I bought for #1 Grandson.
I am so glad! You will LOVE The Story of Little Babaji since you read Little Black Sambo as a child. I can’t say enough praise for The Wild Robot. Happy reading! And, thank you. 🙂
I love your choices! Margaret Wise Brown is a graduate of Hollins College, my alma mater. 🙂
I knew that Margaret Wise Brown was a graduate of Hollins. My mother went to Hollins. She left in her senior year to marry my father who had joined the Navy in WWII. Fascinating family history. I’m so glad to know that Hollins is your alma mater!! One of my best high school friends was a Hollins graduate, too. Class of ‘72. 😀
What a small world! That’s Wonderful! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
My pleasure! It is a small world. 😀
These are all wonderful books, but I am always partial to Charlotte’s Web! The results of the children understanding the story meanings…friendship, happiness, sadness, success, patience, love and so on…can change the demeanor and focus of a class. I absolutely love this book!!
I do, too. I think that’s why it’s my first chapter reading book of the school year. So many important lessons, and we somehow come together as a family through this book.
Thanks for joining in with such a lovely post, Jennie. You’ve reminded me of some old favourites and introduced me to some that may become new favourites. Choosing just five is so difficult isn’t it. I almost wrote in my post a prediction that you would nominate Charlotte’s Web. It’s up there for me too. It’s a wonderful story and perfect for read aloud, as you say. I read Little Black Sambo as a child too and appreciate being introduced to a more respectful version. Like others of your readers, I wasn’t familiar with The Wild Robot but will now look for it. Thanks for sharing your favourites, and what makes them so.
Thanks, Norah. This was hard to pick five, but such fun to share with others. You will love The Wild Robot. Whenever I’m asked to recommend a book for older children, that’s the one. And, The Story of Little Babaji is actually the original, written in 1899. Fabulous. Of course you knew I had to include Charlotte’s Web!! Best to you, Norah!
Thanks to you, Jennie. I’ve added them to my list. Best wishes to you too. 🙂
Best wishes and Merry Christmas to you, Norah. 🙂
Thanks for turning me on to some new books! Can’t wait to read them to my 5 yr old
You are most welcome. Happy reading!
I am not familiar with all of these, Jennie but the ones I know are very good choices. I don’t know that I have five favorites. Judging from the number of times certain ones were requested, I Might be able to guess at my daughters. Our favorite was “The Twenty Elephant Restaurant”
I don’t know that book. Is it a picture book?
No, it’s a story about a man and a woman. I don’t think it’s in print any longer. There are lots of pictures in the book.
I’ll have to check it out. Thanks!
Thanks for sharing your favorites, Jennie. Goodnight Moon is a staple over here with little ones and Charlotte’s Web, of course. The Wild Robot sounds like great fun – it piques my interest as an adult too! Awesome post!
Adult readers LOVE The Wild Robot! Thanks for reading. Best to you, Diana.
The only one I would not have known was “The Wild Robot.” Thank you for including EB White, Leo Lionni, Margaret Wise Brown and Helen Bannerman. Wonderful choices, Jennie. 👏 📚
Thank you, Robin. The Wild Robot is fairly new. How old is your oldest grandie? Second grade or above, and you will have the time of your life reading the story aloud!!
Thank you for the honor of nominating me, Jennie. I will accept this challenge but may be next weekend to publish or post it.
No worries! It took me a week or longer. I don’t typically do this sort of thing, but when it’s about children’s books… 😀
This is a lovely post, Jennie. It’s a charming list of books. Have a beautiful new week. Hugs!
Thank you, Teagan. Best to you! 😀
I was so intrigued about which books you’d choose, Jennie. Lovely choices! I’ve never read The Wild Robot or The Story of Little Babaji. I must find both!
They are among the VERY best. Thanks so much! 🙂
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Great choices Jennie! I read Good Night Moon to my son so many times I still know most of it by heart…and he’s 21 now!! 😉
Thank you. That’s wonderful! 🙂
I knew you would come up with an excellent all-round selection, Jennie. What interested me even more, is that I have never read any of them. I must explore some with our grandson.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thanks, Pete. Happy reading with your grandson. Best to you.
Jennie, a delightful selection of books – your love for them shines through. I’m tempted to read The Wild Robot just for myself; a terrific storyline which raises pertinent in today’s quickly evolving technological society. The artwork on Swimmy alone is captivating and lush…a lovely post!
Thank you, Annika. I read The Wild Robot for myself, first. I’m SO glad I did! Yes, the storyline is right for today, yet is also timeless. Make sense? I have always loved the art work in Swimmy. Captivating for sure!
Well, I know and love the first and last of these. I loved Little Black Sambo as a 3 or 4 year old (hey, it was another era), and I’m sure the others are delightful if you think they are, Jennie!
Thank you, Mitch!
I remember my grandpa reading me Little Black Sambo as a child. Never knew there was an adaptation. Thanks for sharing. I’ll have to take a look at the two of three of these I’ve never read.
Thanks, Michelle. The good news is that the “new” version is actually the original!! It is awesome. 🙂
Oh that’s so funny. 😉
🙂
Excellent choices Jennie. 🙂
Thank you, Debby! 🙂
These are wonderful, Jennie. When I worked in my friends’ cafe & bookstore, shelving the children’s books was such a pleasure! Goodnight Moon was a consistent best-seller. Are you familiar with Animalia by Barbara Berger? It’s one of my favorites 🙂 ❤
YES!! I love that book. My copy is well worn with love. Thanks so much, Tina. 😀
Yay! Another Animalia fan 🙂
😀👏🏻👍
Great list! Charlotte’s Web has always been a favourite.
Thank you!
Jennie, I will be posting my five favorite books along with their authors (with some of their other books. . .) tomorrow on December 18!!
It may not have five nominated people but maybe I can five who will like the idea.
Over the years since 2012 when I started my blog, I have found less people who wish to have any nominations given! Thank you so much for choosing me, dear.
PS. Someone asked me to include the http each time I try to link, since no one wants to type it all into their browser. When you link to others they will link back to you. I will not visit your list until I have lots of time! I added your link and Norah’s too. 😊 📚
Robin, I feel exactly the same way. I hate (strong word) getting nominated and then having to pass the nomination on. This was one I did, because it was children’s books. BUT, please don’t feel like you have to pass this on to others. Just having you post your five favorites will be wonderful.
I’m so glad you didn’t mind my doing this, Jennie. I had lovely but few responses, maybe more tomorrow when I focus on only one author, A. A. Milne. ❤
I’m hopping over to read after work, Robin. Of course I won’t mind. Anything you post is wonderful. 🙂
This is a great list! I have a lot of friends with kids and I love giving them books for birthdays, holidays, etc.
Thank you!
Sad to say the only two I know is Goodnight Moon and Charlottes Web … I’ll probably have to buy the others and read them to my kids . I’m interested in reading them .
Thank you, and they are terrific books.
I look forward to reading them . Thank you for sharing .
You are welcome.
My son would approve of this list!
Thank you!
Great choices! I’d love it if you read my book ‘Wayan and the Turtle King’!
I really loved Goodnight Moon, when I was little and it’s one of the few children’s books I still have. A friend of my mother brought it from the United States all the way to Germany, so it was also one of my first encounters with the english language.
A wonderful book! In my classroom, I recite Goodnight Moon before chapter reading, every day.
You should also try Kaye Umansky’s books. They’re great for children.
Thank you.