Counseling Education

Top 10 kids books that never get obsolete

It’s almost 10 pm and you’re still trying to put your 5-year old daughter to sleep. How do you convince her to sleep? The answer: books. Whether we like it or not literature is dying, and yet there are still great books for kids out there that will never go obsolete. Let us check them out.

1.      “Down the Back of the Chair”

This is a lovely book written by Polly Dunbar and Margaret Mahy, and it’s about a lunatic family that decides one day to dig behind a chair to see what treasures are buried there. They find more than they imagined because behind the magic chair there are lost animals, jewels and even a sibling! The humor and rhymes are to die for, so your kids will love it.

2.       “Stand Straight, Ella Kate”

Stand Straight, Ella Kate is a fantastic book by M. Sarah and Kate Klise. It tells the story of a real girl, Ella Kate Ewing, from Rainbow, Missouri.  She’s extremely tall and travels with various circuses, attended numerous museum exhibitions, and makes lots of money. Her story is presented in the book in a touching way, with lots of details. The authors talk about the girl’s self-acceptance and the struggles she passed through. 

3.      “Mary and the Mouse, the Mouse and Mary”

Barbara McClintock and Beverly Donofrio pleasantly surprised their readers with this great book. It tells the story of a pretty girl, Mary, who lives with a tiny mouse. They become secret allies and when they grow up, their daughters become friends too. The book feature amazing illustrations, cool pictures and the tone is sweet and smart. What’s interesting is that Mary’s parents are really wealthy and their power is not mocked like in most kids’ books.

4.      “The Random House Book of Poetry for Children”

The Random House Book of Poetry for Children contains lots of interesting poems chosen by Jack Prelutsky and it is illustrated by the talented Arnold Lobel. It’s truly great and it includes poems that children will love. Some are gloomy, some are optimistic, and some joyful, thus you have something for every mood of your kid. They have fascinating topics, vividly described characters and perfect rhyme. You and your kid will have a great time reading this book in a rainy afternoon.

5.       “Lizzie Nonsense”

This is one of Jan Ormerod’s best books. It tells the story of a little Australian girl who takes care of her mom and her baby brother, while her father works all day long in a nearby town. The action takes place in the 19^th century. Although Lizzie was not born in clover she’s always cheerful and full of life. She has a rich imagination and the details of her daily life, the dingoes, snakes, sky, are described in a fun way.

6.      “One Monday Morning”

In One Monday Morning Uri Shulevitz talks about a boy in New York who imagines that illustrious guests are visiting his home while he’s gone. The book is a real proof of children’s rich imagination and infinite creativity. It has an enjoyable rhythm and ends with a surprising twist.

7.       “Along a Long Road”

Frank Viva is the author of this wonderful children’s book. It is about a bicyclist who travels through New England. In his journey he passes by fantastic oceans, dazzling cities, emerald-green trees and lots of interesting people. The book is filled with bright illustrations that your kid will love.

8.      “Please, Baby, Please”

Tonya Lewis Lee, Spike Lee and Kadir Nelson worked together to create Please, Baby, Please. It has a multitude of cute illustrations, nice rhymes and an appealing tone. It presents the life of a toddler who’s a real mischief-maker. He wants to play all day long, draws on the walls and annoys his parents. It is perfect for young children as they’ll find the story really funny.

9.       “Jake Baked the Cake”

Jack Baked the Cake is a great book by Mary Morgan and B.G. Hennessy. It presents the preparations for a big weeding. The main characters are a patient and the joyful cake-maker, Jake. The book was published for the first time in 1990 and had a huge success. The narrative is hilarious, the rhymes are great and the pictures will make your kids fall in love with this book.

10.  “Mama Loves You”

Last but not least, we have Mama Loves You, a book that you must add to your collection. It’s been written by John Segal and Caroline Stutson and is a really enjoyable lection. It’s not like all the other dull love books. It has funny rhymes, talks about animals and presents love in a really comic way.

Your child may not be prepared to read on this own just yet, but he will certainly enjoy these 10 eternal books. Parents should have them in their library because they’re extremely educative, fun, and enjoyable. In a world where kids are used to watching movies on iPad books are rare. Yet, we must admit that nothing can be compared with the experience of reading a book made of paper.

Image credit:  srqpix on Flickr