We are BIG into children’s books around here, especially Archie. It’s built into our bedtime routine, nap routine, morning routine, and many times a day he will carry one around grunting in the way he does when we wants something, “eh eh, eh eh, eh eh” meaning read to me pleassssse.
I put a call out for everyone’s favorite books about a year ago, on instagram, and since then, we have been devouring them like crazy and I wanted to share my list of absolute favorites.

Some books don’t hold his interest at all, and some he wants over and over and over again. Of course it changes as he gets older, but there are some that I love for design/illustrations and storyline (huge bonus when it’s both like Gaston and Henry’s Bright Idea) and ones that he loves (the ones that hold his interest all the way through from start to finish) and those crossovers are what made my very select list of favorite books.

OH and I totally judge a children’s book by the cover. Archie is most attracted to clean illustrations (as am I, obv). When there is too much going I think it was hard for him to take anything in. He has started to look at busier, more detailed picture books now that he is older but from age 6 – 12 months those Moe Willems Pigeon Books were almost all he ever wanted. Each page is super simple with just a flat image of the pigeon on a solid color. We bought every single one of them because they are so good… clever, funny, well designed… and Archie was obsessed. Two of those made the list, but really all of them are great.

And still my favorite book of all is Gaston. I think I have bought this one book 7 times now giving it as a gift for friends with kids or babies on the way. It was one of the first books I got after Archie was born and there were many a night when I would stand by the kitchen extractor fan (serving as a giant white noise machine) bouncing a swaddled newborn Archie to sleep while reading “Fi Fi, Foo Foo, Ooh La La and Gaston…”. Each page is a frame worthy illustration and the story is so sweet.

 If you are only in the market to add a few books to your library, make sure the top 3 (but really the top 6) are in there. Those are our absolute favorites of the favorites.

Happy Reading!!

Gaston // Extra Yarn // Henry’s Bright Idea // Mr. Tiger Goes Wild // An Awesome Book // The Pigeon Needs a Bath // Home // I Want My Hat Back // My Teacher is a Monster // Wolfie the Bunny // The Day the Crayons Quit // The Little Gardener // Big Bear Hug // This Moose Belongs to Me // The Wonderful Things You Will Be // Cats Night Out // The Pigeon Wants a Puppy // Archie and the Pirates (I mean how could I not?)

Image by Katherine Rose