When your husband is a children's book illustrator the bar is set pretty high for fabulous reads in your home. Friends have officially declared us crazy as our bookshelves overflow with bright and colorful pictures and short stories, but we just can't help ourselves. I've talked about a few of my essential reads and how they inspired my current tastes in design — but this book is different and it's all about how you read it. Watch it being read after the jump!
Dinosaur Vs. Bedtime is the tale of a young dinosaur who is filled with the same energy that all young growing dinosaurs have. He conquers everything in his path with a victory, but he just can't conquer bedtime which wins out in the end.
The story itself isn't epic. The illustration is fun, but this book holds something special in its cadence. Because of how it plays out, you're able to read the story with a rise and fall to each page or challenge. It almost feels like a video game in print... (large announcing) DINOSAUR VS.... A PILE OF LEAVES! RAWR RAWR RAWR RAWR!
It's ridiculously silly to be "rawr-ing" out loud, but the rhythm of the book is oddly addictive and ends with a sleepy dinosaur when the swell fades and the excitement is over and hopefully all of our little dinosaurs are fast asleep.
Do you have a children's book that you adore simply because it's fun to read out loud? Share your favorites in the comments below!
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My 14 month old son's current favorite to hear, and that I love to read, is Little Blue Truck. I can't wait until he's old enough for The Gruffalo. That one is so much fun.
I love to read Veggie Tales, God Loves You Very Much! I like doing all the different voices.
Little Blue Truck is fun to read out loud. It does stick in the brain.
I love to read longer Seuss , all of the Frog and Toad, all of Virginia Lee Burton, Jamberry, Clap Your Hands, etc.
Bear Snores On! So fun- and I do different voices for each animal, of course. And Madeline.
I too was going to say Bear Snores On! And Bear Wants More. Karma Wilson is awesome
If you like 'Little Blue Truck', try:
My Truck is Stuck!
The Goodnight Train
Chugga Chugga Choo Choo
1. "How I Became a Pirate" by Melinda Long (illustrated by David Shannon)
2. "I'm Dirty!" and "I Stink!" both by Kate and Jim McMullan
3. Dr. Seuss's "Mr. Brown Can Moo Can You?"
Just one? :) As a children's libarian, my daughter's large Ikea expedit is overflowing with books. I would say our favorite read alouds RIGHT NOW are:
1. anything by Mo Willems, but specifically Leonard the Terrible Monster
2. My Daddy is a Pretzel (Yoga for Parents and Kids) by Baron Baptiste - we do the poses shown in the book!)
3. Anything by the amazing Quentin Blake, esp. Mr. Magnolia and Zagazoo
We also love the Bear books
Looooooove Dinosaur vs. Bedtime! And anything by Mo Willems. :)
Ditto what liamzmum said (the Pigeon cracks me up no matter what he's jonesing for). I also love Guess Again by Mac Barnett and Adam Rex. My almost 3-year-old thinks it's the most hysterical thing on his bookshelf.
"The Monster At The End Of This Book" starring Grover of Sesame Street. It was one of my favorite books as a child! And even now I love reading it to my friends' kids and mock-yelling "YOU TURNED THE PAGE!!!" and pleading (as Grover) to not have the kids turn any more pages of the book, because there is a MONSTER at the end of the book...and (spoiler alert!) it turns out to be Grover himself!