On Wednesday, we participated in The Enquirer’s 175th Birthday Bash on Fountain Square! In conjunction with the United Way of Greater Cincinnati and The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, the Enquirer’s birthday party was the culmination event of a summer devoted to alleviating childhood illiteracy in the Cincinnati area. To continue this celebration, we’d love to share with you a new edition of CMB’s Favorite Children’s Books!
Here at Cincinnati Moms Blog, we are passionate about literacy and children’s books! (Not only do we all read to our children, but we’ve got two children’s book authors, several teachers, experts in child development, and independent children’s book consultants on our team!) We pride ourselves on choosing high-quality books for our children that are engaging and contain themes and topics that children both enjoy and need. We use books to empower, encourage, and educate our children, and we are pleased to share our favorite children’s books with all of you!
Though we’ve included the publisher’s recommended age guideline for each book, you know your kids best and we encourage all of you to read to your kids from infancy!
“I love that it gets the kids interacting with the book; they don’t just read or listen passively…to do what it says. There’s a sequel (Mix It Up) that teaches them color blending, and it is just as awesome. My kiddos never get tired of them.” – Laura M.
Recommended for ages 2-5 years.
“I got this book as a gift when our first daughter was born (5 years ago) and haven’t stopped reading it since! It is a true celebration of the bond between mothers & their children!!” – Allison F.
Recommended for ages 2-7 years.
“Little Blue Truck has been a favorite in our house for awhile now. My three year old never gets tired of the rhyming words and animal sounds and I love the message. Help each other, simple but such an important lesson for young kids.” -Allison L
Recommended for ages 1-7 years.
“Super funny book. Fun to read out loud. Sometime books are just meant to make you laugh.” – Jennifer A.
Recommended for ages 3-7 years.
“While we are huge fans of everything written or illustrated by Dan Santat, this is without a doubt our favorite. The story of Beekle’s journey alone is full of fun and imagination. Combined with the absolutely amazing illustrations, it’s definitely one of our most frequently read (and enjoyed!).” – Emily R.
Recommended for ages 4-7 years.
“Elephant and Piggie Books by Mo Willems. It’s a series for early readers that teaches some good lessons, often focusing on friendship, and has a lot of fun in the process. My favorite thing about these books is that there are two main characters, Gerald the Elephant and Piggie the Pig, and my son will take one role and I will take the other. These funny stories have made the task of keeping my son reading during the summer an enjoyable endeavor.” – Lisa S.
Recommended for ages 4-8 years.
“It teaches about the town/ community and has a repeated refrain, which makes it easy and fun for little ones to “help” read it. Great for setting and character practice.” – Courtney R.
Recommended for ages 4-8 years.
“All of the Tractor Mac books are colorful, engaging and filled with character. The variety of topics keeps my children engaged year round and they love the detail in the illustrations and the stories.” – Andrea L.
Recommended for ages 2-5 years.
“Even though I thoroughly despise spiders, even I have to admit that there is just something irresistible about Charlotte. I love this story because it’s main human character has spunk and determination (like my kiddos) and it is a story of teamwork, friendship, perseverance, dreams and family. I have always loved the story, but reading it now with my girls is so much more magical. It makes me so excited for the future of books we have before us.” – Sarah B.
Recommended for ages 8-12 years.
“Sick of politics? Not in this story. A little like a teen version of Scandal, this story includes power and intrigue, a case of terrorism, election campaigns for both the school and the nation, and a fixer or two to make sure it all turns out OK. A serious page turner, according to my 13-year-old.” – Tara L.
Recommended for young adult readers.
“This book has been our family favorite for years. We love the easy writing style and the bright pictures. It helps our kids understand that all families are different. It let my kids see our family makeup in a different light. We love all Todd Parr books, but this is our favorite.” – Sarah C.
Recommended for ages 3-7 years.
“It’s just funny in general, has great illustrations, and is a spin on the classic “boy who cried wolf” lesson.” – Jennifer R.
Recommended for ages 4-8 years.
“Oh man! Favorite kids book at the moment is probably : Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be In This Book) and Woodpecker Wants A Waffle. They are both fun children’s stories that the kids ask to read over and over, and the adults don’t mind!” – Kate R.
Recommended for ages 4-8 years
“This book/graphic novel hybrid is about a super hero squirrel that helps a girl reconnect with her father. Funny and touching.” -Jennifer A.
Recommended for 8-12 years.
“This is a great book that can be enjoyed by many ages at the same time (as evidenced by my toddler and 5-year-old boys). The repetition is fun and silly, and I love the soft illustrations!”
Recommended for 4-7 years.
“The rhythm of the book is perfect for toddlers they can practically sing along. Why I love it: 1. It calms my toddlers down at the end of the day by saying good night to each truck and thank them for their work today (a great message to give kids about hard work and gratitude) and 2. I get to learn the names of construction equipment, something my son excels in more than I!” – Jenna W.
Recommended for 1-6 years.
“This is a book about finding a home for a boy’s polar bear. The illustrations are wonderful and it indirectly tells how wild animals belong in their wild home.” – Lilly Y.
Recommended for 5-8 years.
“I would have to say, “Dick and Jane” series of early readers books. My daughter LOVES to read all of these, and it was so easy for her to pick up reading during Kindergarten. She loves the stories and loves to re-read them constantly. Also, my grandmother was very excited to know the books are still in print, since that is what she learned to read with!” – Courtney S.
Recommended for 4-6 years.
“My mom read the Little House books to me at the same age as my daughter and it’s a neat tradition. It incorporates history, with adventure and the life journey of the main character which I love.” – Amy R.
Recommended for 8-12 years.
“My daughter loved everything about this story of a sixth-grade girl dealing with some serious orthodontic work–its artwork, its humor, and its reassurance that she would be able to deal with her new braces just fine.” – Tara L.
Recommended for 8-12 years.
“Written in free verse, it may take a little time to get started. This is a story of a teen growing up with tragedy and success.” – Jennifer A.
Recommended for 10-12 years.
