Books for a Growing Library

I’m SO proud to say that I’m raising a little bookworm. At least for now. Annabelle spends a lot of time looking at books and having me read to her, you might not know that she is two going off her book reading attention span.  I’ve always loved reading and even though I don’t read as much now as I used to before becoming a mom I still love it. In my opinion one of the most important things parents can instill in their children is a love of learning and a love for reading.

This week is National Children’s Book Week. Books are such a great way to teach our kids I figured I’d put together some of my favorite children’s books. Some for teaching about food and other great teaching books I picked up from teaching PK.

Books that teach about Real Food, where it comes from, how it’s made and even how it’s stored.

1.  Snipp, Snapp, Snurr and the Buttered Bread by Maj Lindman teaches about how butter is made.
2. To Market, to Market by Nikki McClure Follow a mother and son to the farmers market and learn where different food comes from.
3. Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey the underlying theme teaches about preserving food for the winter.
4. Two little Gardeners by Margaret Wise Brown.  Follow the two little gardeners while they plant seeds, harvest, cook and can their harvest.
5. Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert. Describes the process of growing vegetables and then using them for soup. Even has a vegetable soup recipe to make after reading it!
6. Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert An alphabet book that introduces new fruits and vegetables.
7. Pancakes, Pancakes by Eric Carle. Goes through the process of making pancakes and the process of making all the ingredients that go into making pancakes. Great conversation starter on what is in different foods.
8. I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child. Charlie tricks his sister into eating a variety of food by giving the foods funny names.
9. Pizza at Sally’s by Monica Wellington. Introduces the ingredients used to make pizza and how it’s made.
10. Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens teaches kids about eating various parts of a plant.
11. The Vegetables We Eat by Gail Gibbons a great way to learn about even more vegetables.
12. Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban. Frances is a picky eater that wants nothing but bread and jam… until mom decides that’s all Frances will get, then she wants everything.
13. Good Enough to Eat: A Kid’s Guide to Food by Lizzy Rockwell. Introduce nutrients and the digestive system for kids 5 and up.

Books about Being a Friend:

• Heartprints by P.K Hallinan
• My Friend and I by Lisa John-Clough
• Sharing How Kindness Grows by Fran Shaw

Books about Feelings:

• The Grouchy Ladybug, Eric Carle
• My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss
• Sometimes I Feel Like a Storm Cloud by Leslie Evans
• The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle
•  If You’re Happy and You Know it! by David Carter

To find more great book lists on different subjects try these websites:

Friendship and Feelings

Emotional Intelligence 

Teaching Self Control

What are some of your favorite books? Which are the ones you couldn’t live without? I’d love to turn this post into a great resource for other parents so please share your favorites!