We are always looking for new books for our avid reader.  Classics like Dr. Seuss and Goodnight Moon aside, here are our top ten favorite books so far, in no particular order:*

1.  Jamberry by Bruce Degen – this was a very early favorite and continues to be a joy for the whole family.  It is a fun, imaginative read with captivating rhythmic prose about, yes, berries!

2. The Icky Sticky Anteater by Dawn Bentley and Carly Castillon – our child loves anteaters, and for this reason, we searched for any and all books on anteaters.  Surprisingly, there are not that many books out there about the odd little creatures, so we took a chance on this one.  What an excellent find!  Not only is it a fun book that has great rhyming prose, it teaches a valuable lesson about being your own individual.  If your child has an anteater obsession like ours, this book should definitely be part of your collection!

3. Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Tom Lichtenheld and Sherri Duskey Rinker – we found this one thanks to an excellent New York Times review.  Well-written with beautiful illustrations, the creators make routine construction vehicles come to life as they get ready to end their day and say goodnight.

4. Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle and Jill McElmurry – love this book!  It teaches excellent lessons about patience and the value of friendships. The book also has an excellent sequel:  Little Blue Truck Leads the Way.

5. Speedy Little Race Cars by Heather Cahoon – another early favorite.  We started reading it to Logan at about 6 months, at which time he loved the feel of the raised race cars.  More than one year later, Logan still loves the book, but less for the raised cars, and more for the bustling activity of race spectators found on each page.

6. The Going-To-Bed Book by Sandra Boynton – anything by Sandra Boynton is excellent.  Her books are short, witty, and fun.

7.  If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff – this is a relatively new one for us.  The mouse is endearing, as is the little boy who takes care of him for the day.  A very sweet read.

8. Richard Scarry’s Cars and Trucks and Things That Go by Richard Scarry – At first I thought this book would be too busy for Logan at his young age of 18 months, but I was dead wrong.  It is the number of illustrations of cars, trucks, buses, train, scooters – you get the idea – and the classic imagination of Richard Scarry that capture his attention and excitement.  I’m not kidding you when I say that we spend at least 1-2 hours a day on this book alone.  It never gets old.

9.  The Sleepy Little Alphabet by Judy Sierra – thank you, Oprah, for this suggestion from your Kids’ Reading List.  It’s a classic bedtime story that also teaches the alphabet.

10. Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy E. Shaw and Margot Apple – who can resist the temptation of reading a book about sheep driving a jeep?  This one will make you and your child laugh with its simple, yet catchy, prose.

*Disclaimer:  We have a car enthusiast at home (well, between Dad and Logan we have two), therefore many of these books are transportation-heavy.  Ahh, the joys of a testosterone-charged home!