I can't say I've noticed this and we have a fairly large library now for our kids (4,2).

But since I am doing most of the shopping or quick library visits our books reflect my kids interests plus my standards. I never buy junk or licensed stuff or "based on" and I also mix in a lot of poetry and nonfiction. I also discuss books fairly often with both the bookseller at a local children's bookstore and my favorite children's librarian. They do get some books as gifts but if they aren't interested in them and they aren't of quality than they go in the give away pile.

Maybe it is time to expand your collection a bit. Three is a great time to introduce longer more challenging text and themes as well poetry. Some favorites when my son was 3: everything by Virgina Lee Burton, some of the less complex Bill Peet like the Caboose that Got Loose, Captian Flinn and Pirate Dinosaurs, and His Shoes Were Far Too Tight.

I think it has more to do with the nature of children than anything else. Kids (in my experience at least) tend to think of everything in terms "the worst ever!" or "the best day ever!" or "the meanest teacher in the world". It doesn't bother me. I'd say relax and not over think it, personally.

Huh- I haven't seen this in any of my kids' favorite- Madeline, Olivia, Where the Wild Things Are, Gruffalo, Iggy Peck- I can't think of a superlative in any of those books. But kids do talk in these terms- my daughter (4) talks about eating her whole dinner so she can be the strongest girl in the whole world. For my kid, at least, I don't think she realizes that this would mean all other girls are weaker than her. I think it's about approximating a super-hero or something- in grown-up terms, being the best she can be. I'm not a psychologist, but I don't think this is harmful, just authors trying you speak in childrens' voices.

I think you're overthinking this, a lot.

I'm with pyjammy. I'm sure you are smart and wonderful and nice and a great mom, but this question is ridiculous

I have not noticed this phenomenon happening anywhere except in my own writing on my blog ABOUT Children's Books, where I tend to abuse and overuse the words DARLING! DELIGHTFUL! CHARMING! BEST BOOK EVER! tee hee

I haven't noticed this at all, and we have a ridiculously large number of books in the house and a constant box of library books. I can't imagine what you're reading.

Have you tried book series like Franklin, Berenstain Bears, Curious George, and the author Mo Williems? Great for kids, and nothing like what you posted.

Amelia, no suggestions here. Sorry...the majority of my children's books have been passed down & are generally the classics. Just wanted to say...

You are EXCEEDINGLY wise.

Keep searching & don't allow the majority to covince you that your over-thinking or being ridiculous.

*you're* (just dodging the grammar police)

Oh, and I don't think you are overthinking things. I just haven't had that experience.

Books are powerful and there are weird themes and undercurrents that run through some books of specific authors or those produced in a certain time period. I do think you should think carefully about what your children read and are read. I get annoyed with "smart aleck" language or attitude that is not age appropriate etc etc

I think the prevalence of superlatives is, as another poster said, a reflection of the developmental stages of children. Nuance is pretty tough for most children (even up to the teen years), so the difference between "Richard Scarry's Good Busy Year" and "Richard Scarry's Best Busy Year" is vague for very little ones. (I remember my cousin, at her third birthday party, announcing that this was the best birthday she'd EVER had!)
There's also something very exciting about things that are the "most" anything--witness the popularity of those inane Guinness World Record books among the 10-13 set. Perhaps small, powerless people like to read about extreme characters as a way of experiencing vicarious power.
Aside from the eye-rolling factor, I don't think there's really any harm, but good for you for taking a moment to think about the words that are used in your children's books--lots of people see children's literature as merely "cute" or "educational," without taking the time to really think about the quality of the language (hence the creation of basal readers and "See Dick. See Jane.") There are thousands of well-written children's books out there--now that you've identified what you don't like, you can search for books that work for you!

I think the superlatives are something kids like and relate too. They don't have a huge vocabulary to express gradations and so superlatives do the job. The first book that popped into my head when reading this question was Alexander and The Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst so I think superlatives stay around children's books for a long time.

I recently had to discuss the death of a relative to my young children and the books that I read suggested using lots of superlatives to highlight that it isn't just being sick or just being old. But being very very very very very sick or very very very very very old. To make help them make the distinction that it isn't an every day happening.

I always like using children's books as teaching tools and if a character is very very happy you could ask what is another way to describe very very happy? Do you think he was the best? the fastest?

We've got hundreds of kids' books. Some use a lot of superlatives, and some use none--at all age levels. I'd say this certainly depends on the author, and having a three and five year old, I would also say that this does in some way appeal to children since they do, in fact, often talk this way. The older they get, the more nuanced their level of communication. That's not to say that they don't perceive nuance; they just tend to speak in superlatives, especially when they get excited.

I just re-read your question, and as far as books that don't encourage competition, there are thousands. There are so, so many nice children's books. We love Don Freeman, Elsa Beskow, Margaret Wise Brown, Sibylle von Olfers, Gerda Muller, Crocket Johnson's Harold and the Purple Crayon books, Virginia Lee Burton--I could probably go on for hours. You won't find a competitive spirit in these books.

I don't think it's wrong to want to be the best at something any way. You would have to be doing a whole lot more besides just reading a few books for it to become an issue-in my opinion.

haven't noticed it in any of the books we've picked up...

I have, however, noticed it in the few videos that we've screened for our daughter. And it does kind of get old...one of many reasons we stick to books over dvds!

I think you should just stick to the classics or visit your used bookstore for old children's books if this really annoys you that much. Though there are plenty of awesome current books available too...

wordless picture books might be for you-and then you can make up and recreate your own story each time you read using your own input.

we love anything by david weisner like "flotsam", "tuesday" and "the three pigs." other wordless books we love are "wonder bear" and "in the town all year round." can't remember the authors offhand at the moment.....

I can sort of understand being upset over a book that centers around the prettiest girl, or perhaps the fastest running kid...but the best busiest year ever???? Huh