Thirteen of my Favorite Children's Books

(and why I love each of them)

1. THE FOOT BOOK

I love hearing my students read this one out loud, and I NEVER get sick of it.

2. THE QUILT STORY

It reminds me of my grandma, who taught me how to make quilts myself.

3. I LOVE MY HAIR

I love my students' hair.

4. THE VERY LONELY FIREFLY

We've all been there. And the book lights up!

5. TODAY I FEEL SILLY

It says the word "diarrhea" and I still laugh every time I read it.

6. WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS

Classic.

7. THE STORY OF RUBY BRIDGES

HISTORY.

8. ARTHUR'S EYES

It's just fun and cute. And we always make the glasses to go with the story.

9. JUNIE B. JONES: BIG FAT MOUTH

It's hilarious! I love all Junie B. Jones books because they read as a kid might really be talking. And that's all. (ha-Junie always says "and that's all")

10. THE VELVETEEN RABBIT

This was read to my many times as a kid, and I loved it, even when it wasn't Easter.

11. THE LEGEND OF MACKINAC ISLAND

There is a series of Michigan legend books like this one, and they are all beautiful and colorful, and tell about how people think land forms in Michigan came to be.

12. OX-CART MAN

My parents read this to me, one of the first books I can remember. I have a signed copy at home, and a kid copy at school. It reminds me of the farm where I grew up, minus the cows.

13. OLIVIA

I wasn't introduced to the Olivia books until I was in the early childhood education department in college. And the first time I saw the book, I thought it looked silly, which it is, but I was hooked. She's simply adorable!