Children's Books for Christmas

Surprise! It's Kimber An filling in for Lady Bronco on Sundays for all of November. With the holidays fast approaching, I thought I would share my favorite children's books with you. It's time to think about shopping for all the children in your life, whether you personally gave birth or adopted them yourself. The fastest way into a parent's heart is to do something thoughtful for his or her child. These are books which I have read a bazillion times to many children as a nanny and as a mother. Today's books are suitable for boys and girls. I've arranged them by age group. Today's books have rhyme and/or meter. Got your pen and paper handy? Here goes!

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HAND, HAND, FINGERS, THUMB by Al Perkins. This one's great for babies and toddlers. It comes as a board book too, which I highly recommend because the littluns will love it to shreds.

THE WIDE-MOUTHED FROG by Keith Faulkner. The frog in his book is very proud to be a wide-mouthed frog who eats flies...until he runs into an alligator who eats wide-mouthed frogs! This one's great for toddlers and preschoolers.

WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT by Michael Rosen. To do this one properly, you really must clap or slap your knee. My children especially love the part with the wind, "Wooo-wooo! Woooo-woooo!" This one will hold on to toddlers through Kindergarteners.

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BRINGING THE RAIN TO KAPITI PLAIN by Verna Aardema. This one is based on an African folktale. It's excellent anyway, but if you want to be completely blown away you must buy or check out from your local library the Reading Rainbow video for it. That's the PBS kids' program hosted by LeVar Burton (Geordi LeForge on Star Trek The Next Generation.) The reader for it is James Earl Jones. You know, he's the guy who did the voice for Darth Vader in the original trilogy. Oh my goodness, it's mesmerizing! This book will enthrall all ages, but is especially loved by Kindergarteners through Fourth Graders.

I won't be doing books for Middle Grade or Young Adult. They warrent their own individual reviews just like grown-ups. Happy shopping, Everyone!