Mimi's Dada Catifesto by Shelley Jackson

Mimi is a cat who is a very artistic cat and this book is a creative and artistic look at the life of Mimi.

Clarion Books, 2010.

Monster Baby by Dian Curtis Regan Illustrated by Doug Cushman

Monster Baby is the humorous story of a couple who find an adorable baby on their front porch and decide to adopt it. Monster Baby, Olly, as they name him, is fuzzy and orange with horns and pointy teeth and a tail, and Olly grows VERY quickly. This is a really cute and funny story about how families can be made differently.

Clarion Books, 2009.

No More Kissing! by Emma Chichester Clark

A little boy monkey doesn't understand what all the hype about kissing is. It's annoying and yucky and EVERYBODY does it! He just doesn't understand...that is, until it's his turn to quiet down the new baby.

Barfburger Baby, I Was Here First by Paula Danziger Illustrated by G. Brian Karas

I love all of the nicknames this little boy comes up with for his new baby brother. He definitely has a lot of feelings about having a new sibling and in this book those feelings are explored and eventually overcome through this creative and humorous book.

G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2004.

Outside Over There by Maurice Sendak

This is a 'different' kind of children's book that borders on the line of slightly disturbing although it really is a lovely tale. After Ida's father goes away to sea, goblins come and snatch away Ida's baby sister and she must journey out to rescue her. The goblins end up being really cute and looking like roly poly babies (which explains why they stole Ida's baby sister to be a Goblin bride). The text is large and simple and the illustrations are amazing. This book won a Caldecott Honor. The story ends on a happier tone but the content is not-as-positive as I would imagine a child's story to be, HOWEVER, it has the old-timey feel of an old-fashioned fairy tale and anyone who knows their literature knows that fairy-tales do not always end happily, but this story does.

Harper Collins, 1981.

Spooky Spooky Spooky! by Cathy MacLennan

A cute overview of all things spooky at Halloween time in rhyme, this book is a definite pick! My daughter picked up the Spooky Spooky Spooky part right away and we really enjoyed reading this!


Boxer Books, 2009.

The Runaway Dinner by Allan Ahlberg Illustrated by Bruce Ingman

This book is a humorous story of a little boy who's dinner (and utensils and furniture) decides to take off one day after the little sausage who makes an escape. It is a really cute story and it is written in a dialogue format that is easy to understand and adds to the appeal of this story.

Candlewick Press,

When-I-Was-A-Little-Girl by Rachna Gilmore Illustrated by Renne Benoit

This is a cute look at how a little girl compares with her mother's recollections of how SHE was when SHE was a little girl. The little girl has some fierce competition (When-I-Was-A-Little-Girl LOVES liver and onions for dinner!) until she makes a phone call to her grandma for a visit and the truth really comes out!

Second Story Press, 2006.

Babies Don't Eat Pizza by Dianne Danzig Illustrated by Debbie Tilley

This is a simple yet comprehensive book for 'big kids' about baby brothers and sisters. It doesn't get too informative as to where babies come from but rather explores babies, how big kids used to be babies, what babies do, how they look and everything else a cihld would need to know about babies. It's wonderfully illustrated and very informative with an infusion of a little bit of humor where needed.

Dutton Children's Books, 2009.

The Biggest Bed in the World by Lindsay Camp Illustrated by Jonathan Langley

I think anyone who has shared a bed at some point or another with their child/ren can appreciate the father's feelings in this book. As his family expands there is less and less room in the bed and therefore, less and less opportunity for a good night's sleep. I like how the Mom always seems pretty content to have her gaggle of children undercovers with her, but the Dad is sick and tired. So he decides to build the biggest bed he can after the upgraded bigger beds are no longer big enough. However, the biggest bed in the world was a bit too much for their house to handle and one day the bed kind of crashed/flew out of the house and ended up in the ocean. After that Dad banned everyone into their own bed but then realized he and mom were kind of lonely all alone.

I really really really like this book for a number of reasons. Firstly, it really connects to me because I am also part of a family-bed family and as tough as it can be (that's a whole different blog...) there is no where else my babies would be as comfortable. I do think that the story is a little unrealistic (or maybe it's just an idea that I haven't thought of yet) because instead of having multiple blankets for everyone, there is just one big blanket that is comprised of a bunch of smaller blankets sewn together. One blanket, even a big blanket, isn't enough for just the adults in my bed so I thought it was a novel idea.

I also really really really liked how each kid in the family had a B name. Ben, Billy, Beth, Bart, Brittany, Bella and Boris.

Harper Collins Publishers, 1999.

Cats' Night Out by Caroline Stutson Illustrated by J. Klassen

This is a charming book featuring pairs of cats that dance throughout the night. It is a counting book by twos and the cats do every sort of dance until finally someone hollers for them to knock it off. It is richly illustrated with lots of contrast and darker colors to signify the city life. The book is in rhyming format so it is good for reading aloud. Also, the cats are super cute and dressed in different outfits and shoes depending on what types of dances they are doing.

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2010.

Oink, Oink Benny by Barbro Lindgren Illustrated by Olof Landstrom

Two little brother pigs decide to go outside and play and in the meantime have a bit of an adventure from their mishaps before they go home. It's a really cute little story and it highlights how older siblings lead and take care of their younger siblings. I think it is also right-on in the way children think because instead of going home all muddy and covered in mud, the two little pigs decide to hide under a tree because they know their mother is going to be upset with them.

I love the illustrations and it's a really cute little book and a fun read for any child.

R & S Books, 2008.
Translated by Elisabeth Kallick Dyssegaard

Just Like Mama by Leslea Newman Illustrated by Julia Gorton

This little girl loves her mama and throughout her day she explains how nobody else does things JUST like Mama. It is colorfully illustrated and wonderful to read aloud as it rhymes and flows. From a parent standpoint, it is nice to look at all of the little parts of a child's day which can easily be overlooked but for the child means so much.

Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2010.

Burger Boy by Alan Durant Illustrated by Mei Matsuoka

This is the absolutely adorable tale of a little boy who loves cheeseburgers SO MUCH that he only eats them and one day, despite his mother's warnings.....he turns into one! This is a really cute version of that timeless saying, 'You Are What You Eat'. It's fun to read outloud and the illustrations are really great.

Clarion Books, 2005.

This is the Day adapted by Phillis Gershator Illustrated by Marjorie Priceman

At first this story was kind of disturbing as I'm sure no one likes to read about babies being given away, but the illustrations are adorable. The book set me up for some deep thinking and I guess the whole story is really lyrics from a song. I didn't look up the song because I don't know, it is bordering on 'Should I really Listen to this' and 'this is a song about giving away babies.' and I love babies. But it is definitely a really cute book and it is catchy and rhymy and all about babies.

Houghton Mifflin, 2007.