National Children's Book Week!

For National Children's Book Week, I would like to share some of my childhood favorites, and even some books I love as an adult that are meant for kids. It's my own Top Ten list for you. You're never too old for a good story.

Picture Books:

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems. Very cute story, with cute pictures. A book that is fun to read and listen to.
Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown. A sweet tale about a mama bunny's love for her baby.
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown. Every nursery should own this book. It is the perfect bedtime story.
Olivia by Ian Falconer. Olivia is sassy, smart, and imaginative. Plus I love that she gets up, moves the cat, gets dressed, moves the cat...
Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss. Read it fast for tongue-tying infectiousness. I used to make my dad read it, and I like to read it myself to kids too. It always ends in giggles.

Chapter Books:

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. An excellent example of a fairy tale retold. I think I've sung this book's praises plenty. I first read this in fifth grade, and numerous times since.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. I didn't read this book until I was an adult, and it kind of blew my mind. I am constantly impressed with the nuances and detail, yet can totally see the appeal to a child.
The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau. Also read as an adult. Dystopian before Hunger Games came on the map, and easy enough to read for a fourth or fifth grader, yet complex enough to satisfy the teen audiences.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney. I wish this was around when I was a kid! My younger sister (and every other elementary-school aged child it seems) love this series. I've read most of them myself, and I absolutely see the appeal. As a librarian, I love that it is so universal and non-gender-specific too.
Babysitter's Club by Ann M. Martin. This is from my childhood days. My older sister read the series, and I inherited them from her. I love that they are being reissued with relevant covers for a new generation of girls.

 For more excellent book suggestions, visit our Children's Department and start reading!


What about you? What are some of your favorite books from childhood (or adulthood)?

~Cailey W.