In our house, every birthday, Christmas, and celebration that comes with presents, come with books. Our friends at Raincoast Books were kind enough to send us this selection of books perfect for celebrating a fifth birthday! In the last two or three months, Tee’s reading skill has grown by leaps and bounds, and giving her age-appropriate and engaging books encourages that development and fosters her love of reading.
One of my favourite things to do lately is to curl up with Tee and let her read to me. I catch her reading to her little sister too, and I’m just so proud of her.
Goodnight Darth Vader by Jeffrey Brown
Star Wars and parenting go together like C-3PO and R2-D2. That’s why we’re big fans of Jeffrey Brown’s Star Wars comics around here. Last Father’s Day, Tee gave a copy of Darth Vader and Son to Daddy. They’ve enjoyed reading it together several times, so I knew Tee would love her very own Darth Vader book. In Goodnight Darth Vader, Vader tells Luke and Leia a bedtime story in rhyming couplets about how the other Star Wars characters go to bed. Will it work? Who will fall asleep first?
How to Speak Wookiee by Wu Kee Smith, illustrations by JAKe
This book is just so much fun! Ever wanted to know what to say to a Wookiee on public transportation? In the cantina? At the park? The plastic Wookiee head on the front has 10 buttons, and each roars a distinct Wookiee phrase so you can hear and practice your pronunciation. (Thankfully, the batteries are replaceable so you’ll never end up speechless on your next Kessel run.)
More Bears by Kenn Nesbitt, illustrations by Troy Cummings
This picture book establishes what most of us have known for a long time. We need more bears! Against his better judgement, the author introduces more and more bears into the story. How many bears will fit into this book? A lot! This is a really fun interactive book. Both Tee and Kay love shouting out, “More bears!” as we read it together.
Press Here & Mix It Up! by Hervé Tullet
These last two books are family favourites. In a time when tablets and iPads and video game apps are so pervasive, I love the way Hervé Tullet’s books turn those touchscreen conventions on their heads and ask children to use their imaginations to accomplish the same ends. Press Here starts with a big yellow dot and gives the simple instruction, “Press here.” What happens next is both astoundingly simple and magical at the same time. Dots multiply, move, and grow in a fantastic exercise of the imagination.
Mix It Up! uses a similar approach to learn about subtractive colour theory. Both books are tons of fun, even for adults! At Tee’s birthday party I watched my brother go through Press Here from beginning to end, following the directions on each page. These interactive books are perfect for all ages. Little sister Kay in particular can’t get enough!
Win Press Here & Mix It Up!
One lucky reader will win this set of favourite children’s books from Hervé Tullet, courtesy of our generous friends at Raincoast Books. Enter in the giveaway widget below. This giveaway is open to residents of Canada only, 18+. Entries will be verified.
Check out my other open giveaways listed in the right sidebar!
I love The Little Blue Truck and The Little Blue Truck Leads the Way, The Gruffalo, and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom for little kids. These are books I actually enjoy reading that don’t get obnoxious when you read them 8 million times.
I absolutely love giving out the Hungry Caterpillar to little ones, or Big Bagel, Little Bagel. They both make me smile 🙂
I like giving boasrd books for the littleones and some of my favourite to give toddlers and up are Robert Munsch books, and the Kissing Hand.
My kids loved Goodnight Moon when they were little so I like that for new baby gifts.
I like giving thoughtful books as gifts
I love getting children’s books for my grand kids but now I just get the kindle version and read to them when I visit because their mom says they have too many books. Who ever heard of such a thing. 🙂
I like giving Harry Potter books
I love to give children the classic fairy tales!
I love the book My Daddy is a Pretzel!
For my youngest, I love the Sandra Boynton books. My son loved them when he was little and still likes to read them, much to his sister’s enjoyment. Otherwise, I try to pick books based on what the kids are into at the moment. I do have a soft spot for books like Anamalia – which has very little text and pictures with lots of hidden surprises. I used to sit with my copy for hours when I was little, determined to find all the special pictures and the little boy who was hidden in each one.
as my son is a bit older I like to get him the goosebumps books