Our Favourite Children’s Books

I loved reading when I was a child. The single most memorable moment I had in elementary school was the day I learned how to read. Naturally, I was on the hunt for my favourite children’s books for my little ones and also some new titles to explore. Luckily, there is sooo much out there, you can get lost for days finding books. We’ve grown our collection by picking up books on our travels, visiting Indigo/Chapters to let them select titles, we ask for them as gifts for birthdays and holidays and I have also begun to order them through the school with Scholastic Book Orders; another favourite pastime of mine.

Here are some of our favourite children’s books:

I grew up reading Munsch, Mayer and Bridwell with characters like Clifford the Big Red Dog, Little Critters and Mortimer. The first books I started buying for my kids were The Little Critters books by Mercer Mayer. We have a ton of them, and what’s brilliant about them is they have an I Can Read Collection for children just learning how to read, like my daughter.

Nancy Tillman

The first book I bought of hers was, On the Night You Were Born. I was drawn to it because of the image on the cover of the two polar bears dancing. I quickly read it in the bookstore while pregnant with my first child, my daughter, and I was in tears. I have read it so many times and I still can’t get through it without crying. It’s a must!

Since then, we have grown our Tillman library. My second favourite is I’d Know You Anywhere, My Love; a book about celebrating whomever your children decide to be. Her writing is poetic, rhyming and ever so sweet. She’s the best new author I’ve found and has made the New York Times Best Seller list four times.

Other titles of hers include:

It’s Time to Sleep My Love

You’re Here For a Reason

Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You

The Crown On Your Head

The Spirit of Christmas

Find a great selection of her books here.

Canadiana

Good Night Canada

We love buying books about Canada, especially anything to do with teaching the geography or history of Canada. One of our favourites has been Good Night Canada by David J. Adams and Adam Gamble. It walks you through Canada from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic and everywhere in between. It’s been pivotal teaching our kids about places in Canada that we’ve been to and places we are planning to go.

S is For Surfing

As I mentioned earlier, we love buying books on our travels and S is For Surfing, by Carly Seibel is one we picked up in Tofino, B.C. at the Caravan Beach Shop (they are also available to purchase online). It walks you through surfing culture from coast to coast in Canada.

Never Rub Noses With a Narwhal

As a lover of the north (I studied Northern Environmental Studies in Alaska for a semester, where I met my husband) I’m always game for passing on education of the north to others to help them discover all its magic. I was so thrilled when a very good friend of mine’s Mother, Ruth Wellborn wrote an alliterative ABC book about the arctic called Never Rub Noses With a Narwhal. Even more amazing, her brother and my friend, Morgan Wellborn illustrated it. This book is special because it appeals to both the young and old as it contains so much great information about Canada’s north, everyone can learn something.

A Promise is A Promise

My favourite book about the north (and quite possibly one of the reasons I fell in love with it) is called A Promise is A Promise by Robert Munsch. I remember I bought this book in my first year of university at the U of S bookstore while shopping for my textbooks. I saw it on the shelf and a flood of memories came back to me, I had to have it. I’m happy to now read it to my children. Click on the link here, to listen to some background about the story and listen to Robert Munsch read, A Promise is a Promise.

Other Favourites

Where The Wild Things Are

If I were to write a book, it would be just like this one. So much imagination, beautifully written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak, I love it. Where The Wild Things Are is a favourite of my 2 year old son.

Little Blue Truck

I love rhyming books, it’s probably also why I’m such a fan of Nancy Tillman. Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle is so cute and a nod to my childhood growing up on a farm. This book has been the single most important book to my son. He even had his second birthday birthday party theme as The Little Blue Truck. Stay tuned for a post about his birthday!

Adventures With Barefoot Critters

Written and illustrated by Teagan White, learning your ABC’s with Adventures With Barefoot Critters is like escaping into a forest world with all your best friends. The visuals are so stunning and full of detail, you can get lost on each page.

Someday

A book about all the things a child will see one day through the eyes of her Mother. Another tear jerker, Someday, by Alison Meghee and Peter H. Reynolds was another New York Times Bestseller.

The Magic Bunny

If your child ever received a Jellycat Bunny, this is the book that should accompany it. The Magic Bunny by Paddy Comyn and Barry Sheehan for Jellycat, tells the story of bunny’s job and helps little ones struggling with being alone at night.

Still Stuck

I couldn’t believe I found this book. Believe it or not, one of my daughters first words was “stuck”, and the book Still Stuck by Shinsuke Yoshitake is a journey through being perpetually stuck. It’s sure to make you laugh.

Puff The Magic Dragon

Another book we bought while on holiday to Kauai, Hawaii, the mythical land of Honalee is actually Hanalei Bay on Kauai, where puff lays. I knew the song Puff The Magic Dragon by Peter Yarrow and Leonard Lipton from childhood, and what a surprise it was to see Puff the magic dragon every morning from our lanai overlooking Hanalei Bay; I had no idea the two were connected. We taught our daughter the song while there and brought back the book (with a CD of the song as well).

I hope you enjoyed reading about our favourite children’s books. Check out our list of Favourite Children’s Christmas Books HERE!

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