David’s Favorite Books
Sweet family time
David has always been quite the reader! One of the things I remember most about him when he was around 1 year old, was how long he could sit and be read to. He just loved it.
Of course, when he was 12-14 months old, I was about 8-9 months pregnant, so he was slowly getting edged out of my lap for reading time, but we still found a way.
His favorite books, by far, have been Richard Scarry books. I am *so* glad he loves them because I have the fondest memories of Richard Scarry books from my youth!
There is always so much to look at, and the book Cars and Trucks and Things That Go has a little “goldbug” hidden on each page that your child can search for.
Another favorite, that he’s growing out of a little bit now, is Playtown. This book has tons of flaps on each page, so it’s interactive for your child. It’s cute to see him open the same flaps on certain pages, and I think there are still some flaps we have yet to open! We don’t have any other books from this author, but I may do a little shopping around for one for Luke’s Christmas present or birthday. I think he’ll really enjoy the flap opening like David did when he first discovered it.
We have some Thomas the Train books, and Curious George, but anything Richard Scarry is always his top choice!
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We have that play town book too! I don’t know if you noticed that there is one flap where someone is sitting on the potty! It cracked me up. I think it’s on the fire station page.
Those are our favorites too! My truck loving boys also love “you can name 100 trucks!” We easily spend a good part of the day reading it
Richard Scarry! I loved him as a child and my daughter did too. I was also so excited when I found Lowly the worm!!!!! My daughter (who is now 17 and a senior in high school) always loved books. She would sit and look at them before she could read, make up her own stories to go with the pictures, and she loved to be read to. When she got older and was into chapter books, she and I would take turns reading two chapters before bed – she would read one and she would ask me to read one. It was our own personal time together. It was great. I still cherish those times. She is still a bookworm and loves to read for leisure!
Kate, I saw your snap about “board games” for David and don’t have twitter to respond. We have an “Uno Moo” game that my daughter got for her 3rd birthday that would be perfect. It is an easy version of “Uno” with little farm animals that you match by color or type of animal.
Break the ice or ants in the pants are great games for three year olds.
My 2 and half year old car addict is obsessed with this book right now http://cottagedoorpress.com/collections/12m/products/look-look-baby-zoom-zoom. It’s not your traditional book where you just sit and read words, but way more open ended. It turns into a game of eye spy or count the animals. Saw your snap about games and this fits into both a book and a game in our house. Totally sets them up for matching games as well. I’ve seen them at Target but Amazon has it too.
Amber,
We’re so excited that your son loves our book Zoom! Zoom!: Point ‘n Match. As a new children’s publisher, it’s such a thrill when we learn that little ones are enjoying our books! By the way, we LOVE and are inspired by Richard Scarry books at The Cottage too.
Thanks for sharing!
If your kids enjoy interactive books, check out Richard Fowler’s books “There’s a Mouse about the House” or “A Squirrel’s Tale.” They use a mouse and squirrel prop that kids can advance through the story by sticking them through slots in the pages. One page might have the mouse going under a door or the squirrel diving under a pile of leaves — I’m not describing this very well, but my nieces love them!
https://www.amazon.com/Richard-Fowler/e/B001ITXJ1Y/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1
My kids were obsessed with the fisher price little people lift the flap books. They are very colorful, they can lift flaps and they learn letters, numbers, colors etc. at the same time. Definitely check them out!! I miss those reading in my lap times a lot! My oldest is ten and down not fit on my lap anymore. It was quiet funny when we tried it out not too long ago.
My kids were obsessed with the fisher price little people lift the flap books. They are very colorful, they can lift flaps and they learn letters, numbers, colors etc. at the same time. Definitely check them out!! I miss those reading in my lap times a lot! My oldest is ten and down not fit on my lap anymore. It was quiet funny when we tried it out not too long ago.
https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=little+people+flap+books&tag=mh0b-20&index=aps&hvadid=2012347024&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_5qu1144b5j_e
Ohh soo cool Richard Scarry books! I also was obsessed with those when I was a kid! And my brother before me! Every page has so many characters and things going on and you can really search for special things.
I don’t know if you have ever checked out Usborne books, but they are great! Both my boys love them! By the way I love your blog!
I so wish they still had the Busy World of Richard Scarry cartoon still on. I think my girls would love it!
Have you guys discovered Truckery Rhymes by Jon Scieszka? That book was the all time favourite of my nephews around David’s age. It’s a reimagining of nursery rhymes with trucks and big machinery building things and knocking things over.
Truckery Rhymes
My brother loved these books! He also loved the cartoon The Busy World of Richard scarry!
Maybe your boys would like the cartoons as well, if they are available to purchase!
We also absolutely LOVE Richard Scarry! “I am a Bunny” is THE book I remember my mom reading to me when I was really little. I’ve had fun introducing my three kiddos to Richard Scarry. We enjoy the Richard Scarry Eye Found It board game–my four-year-old requests to play every weekend. Check it out when David is a little older!
Cars and Trucks and Things That Go is a favorite here too! It seems like my son (also 2.5 years old) notices different things every time we look at it (which is nightly these days).
Have you seen the books by Sally Sutton – Construction, Demolition, or Roadwork?
https://www.amazon.com/Demolition-Sally-Sutton/dp/0763664936/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1473787360&sr=1-1&keywords=demolition
These are so fun to read and a big hit with a boy who loves anything with an engine.
My son always loved Richard Scarry. They are fun to read and look at together. There is a Richard Scarry Busytown Board game that would be wonderful for him at this age. If you don’t already own it, I highly recommend it:
https://www.amazon.com/Wonder-Forge-Richard-Scarrys-Busytown/dp/B002V3RCE6/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1473789388&sr=1-1&keywords=busytown+board+game
When your boys get a little older you should definitely get Mac Lucado’s books. He has a series of books with a made up town and it’s some fabulous writing and illustrating. Each book also had great message behind it too. Great conversation starters for important character building traits!!! They are a household favorite and we buy a new one every Christmas!!!
Oooh! My 10 month old is obsessed with flap books- I need to get him Playtown!
Thanks for the recommendations
Those are totes my son’s favorite books too! He will be 3 in December and can read the big word book and the big car book for hours when we are driving. He also a toddler meltdown today because he NEEDED his best little word book ever. And we love Play town! I love that there are people on the potty in the book haha. I always say “shut the door. I’m pooping!” When he opens those flaps haha
This morning I sent you a game suggestion. And now I read this. He will love the Richard Scarry Eye Found It Game.
My nugget is only 5 month old so her books have to be entertaining for mom and dad to make the cut. We’re loving Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins and Albert’s Almost Amazing Adventure by Marty Kelley. There’s something about a clever picture book that makes it more fun to read to little ones.
I loved Richard Scarry stories as a kid! Who am I kidding, I still love them! If you can find vintage Richard Scarry books, those are the best. I had my mom’s book from when she was a kid, growing up and I looked and read that book for years. I was bummed that she wanted it back when I moved out. I wish I had my own copy. They’re wonderful! <3 Enjoy having a reader! When we have kids, they're doomed to be readers like my husband and I. 😉
Loved Richard Scarry as a kid!
Hi Kate! My son is 2.5, and he also loves to read. He has enjoyed it since he was a wee little one. Lately, he’s taken to Dr. Seuss, specifically his ABC book. And, he knows just about every page. “Big f, little f. What begins with F. Four Fluffy Feathers on Fiffer-feffer-feff.” There’s a few others he likes as well by Dr. Seuss, such as Hop on Pop. We also like Thomas the Train. At bedtime, we cap him off at 3 books a night; however, we often read through out the day, and he’ll look at books in the car, too. If I start reading a page, and then pause, he’ll often finish it for me. And, sometimes, he’ll pick up a book and attempt to read it completely on his own. Granted, he’s going more based on the pictures and such, but it’s rather cute to hear!
I know this is a bit older genre but I loved the Encyclopedia Brown stories as a kid! Great post!
I so wish regardless they had the Busy World of Richard Scarry toon still on. I think my young ladies would love it!