Make Reading a Top Priority

Finding the right books for your child

Finding the right books that are appropriate for your child is half the battle. Of course, we’re often given the classics. Sometimes they’re age appropriate, sometimes not.

I am by far not a book expert. So I’ve asked for help.

Allison of No Time for Flash Cards is an early childhood guru and knows her stuff. She knows the importance of play and what’s developmentally appropriate. I love that about her. She’s a preschool teacher that teaches at the preschool level.

Allison is sharing her favorite books for each age.

Quick Reference Downloads

Download the book lists for the appropriate ages that you need:

• Babies & 1 Year Old Book List
• 2 Year Old Book List
• Preschooler Book List
• Early Readers Book List

The following book lists contain affiliate links to support No Time for Flash Cards as a way to give her our thanks for providing her expertise.

Babies and 1 year old Book List

• Moo Baa La La La by Sandra Boynton
• Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
• Clap Your Hands by Lorinda Bryan Cauley
• Time For Bed by Mem Fox
• Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr
• Everywhere Babies by Susan Meyers and Marla Frazee
• I Love Colors by Margaret Miller
• Quiet Loud by Leslie Patricelli
• Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann

2 Year Olds Book List

• How Big Is a Pig? by Claire Beaton & Stella Blackstone
• In the Town All Year ‘Round by Rotraut Susanne Berner
• Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
• Peek-a-Zoo! by Marie Torres Cimarusti
• Alphabet Under Construction by Denise Fleming
• Chicka Chicka ABC by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
• Dig Dig Digging by Margaret Mayo
• One Duck Stuck by Phyllis Root
• Dinosaur vs. the Potty by Bob Shea
• Dinosaur Roar! by Paul and  Henrietta Stickland
• I Love Trucks! by Philoemen Sturges
• Owl Babies by Martin Waddell
• Cookie Baker by Monica Wellington
• Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
• Trashy Town by Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha

Preschooler Book List (3 to 4 year olds)

1. Animalia by Graeme Base
2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
3. Pete The Cat Rocking in My School Shoes by James Dean
4. Dog’s Colorful Day by Ema Dodd
5. Eating the Alphabet: Fruits & Vegetables from A to Z by Lois Ehlert
6. Corduroy by Don Freeman
7. Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino
8. It’s Mine by Leo Lionni
9. The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch
10. The Family Book by Todd Parr
11. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
12. Mr. Brown Can Moo Can You? by Dr.Seuss
13. My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss
14. Apple Farmer Annie by  Monica Wellington
15. Goldilocks and The Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems

Early Readers (that don’t suck)

• Scholastic Reader Level 1: Silly Milly  by Wendy Cheyette Lewison
• Mac and Cheese (I Can Read Level 1) by Sarah Weeks
• Fancy Nancy: Too Many Tutus by Jane O’Connor
• Danny and The Dinosaur by Syd Hoff
• Penny and Her Marble by Kevin Henkes
• What This Story Needs Is A Pig In A Wig by Emma J. Virjan
• Ballet Cat Dance! Dance! Underpants! by Bob Shea
• Zack’s Alligator by Shirley Mozelle
• Splat The Cat and The Quick Chicks by Rob Scotton
• Lulu Goes To Witch School by Jane O’Connor
• The Thank You Book by Mo Willems ( Elephant & Piggie)
• We are in A Book by Mo Willems ( Elephant & Piggie)
• Fly Guy Presents: Space by Tedd Arnold

Reading Lists for Older Kids

I have recently made a master list of books for my 9 year old. He’s reading at a 4th grade level right now, but these books may be good for around grades 3 to 5.

Recommended 4th Grade Books for Boys

Books for YOU

Don’t forget about you either. Here are some links to find some good books for Mom.

• Join Peanut Blossom’s online book club for recovering readers
• Creative with Kids’ Books That Changed My Life This Year
• Why Reading is Important for Moms & a British Book List from A Mother Far From Home

Books I’ve been reading lately are:

• Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
• Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
• The Hypnotist’s Love Story by Liane Moriarty
• Sacrifice by Adriana Locke
• My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult

Go to the Library

Head to the library and pick out one book for each person in the family, including yourself.

I want to stress that to be sure to pick out a book for yourself to read. When you are reading and your kids see that, they will be positively influenced. Even if they don’t grab a book at the same moment, I bet you’ll see later on them mimicking you in the same way. It’s amazing.

Create a Book Nook

Create a small cozy place to read.

This doesn’t need to be fancy, just some place in the house, inside or outside, that you will enjoy reading. I have found that I love reading on our patio while the kids are playing in the sandbox.

Also find a place for each of the kids too. Sometimes it might be better if each of your kids has a separate spot.

Carve out a time in the day to read

Much like we find time to do activities, it’s important to find time to read every day. Our school likes our kids to read 15 minutes, 5 days per week.

I don’t take this literally. Often when my kids are in reading mode (especially now that my oldest is 8 and is reading chapter books), they really get into books and can read for an hour at a time.

If that happens, I’m totally okay with that counting for 3 or 4 days worth of reading. It’s okay to cut yourself some slack, and your kids, because life happens.

We often read at night before bedtime for the little ones, and my oldest reads after we say goodnight. But there are nights that we have things going on and its a rush to get to bed because it’s getting too late. That’s where I think it’s okay to skip. It’s fine.

Where in your day can you squeeze in 15-20 minutes on a regular basis? Or longer periods. Try these times:

• First thing in the morning, especially if your kids wake up early. They can read while the rest are waking up, or while they’re waiting for breakfast.
• Before naptime, or while a younger sibling is napping.
• Bedtime, before or after, if you don’t mind them staying a tad bit later.

Don’t forget to think about yourself. When can you get a few moments of reading in? When the kids are playing nicely? After they head to bed? Before they wake up?

Read aloud as a family

Often when kids get older, they’ll start reading on their own. I think it’s still important to read aloud to them. And even more important for bonding as a family is to do it together.

Read a book to all the kids at once. Talk about it. Ask questions. If it’s a new book from the library, pause during the book and have them anticipate what’s going to happen next. At the end, ask if they’d change the ending and what to.