5 Books My Baby Requests All of the Time

February is, among other things, Library Lovers’ Month. To celebrate, I’m going to review B.G.’s Top Five favorite books (at the moment, age: almost 15 months). She requests these five books all of the time and brings them to people to read to her. It’s very sweet!

Good Night Gorilla by Peggy Rathman: Though it’s a bedtime book, she loves having it read to her at all times of the day. It’s simple and charming, following an oblivious zookeeper through the zoo as he says good night to all the animals. What he doesn’t realize is that a cheeky gorilla has gotten a hold of his keys and is letting the animals out behind him! With only a few words and gentle pictures, it is a top-tier bedtime book. (Mom’s note: There are also lots of details in the pictures that older kids will enjoy!)

Babies Love Colors by Michelle Rhodes-Conway: This book features a simple rhyme scheme and repetition as it goes through each color of the rainbow. Between the cadence, sweet pictures, and a fun lift-a-flap, it’s easy to see why she enjoys it so much. (Mom’s note: The “blue” page has a blue whale but doesn’t mention it. I don’t understand why not! But still, I think this book is a fantastic way to introduce colors without being too teachy, too early.)

Dinosaurs and Trucks Because Hey, Why Not? by Sandra Boynton: This book was B.G.’s first favorite book and stirred her love of all things dinosaur. It’s whimsical, imagining what would happen if dinosaurs did have trucks. 

Five Little Ghosts by Patricia Hegarty: This book follows five little ghosts looking for a place to play. It’s cute, has a rhyme scheme, and expressive pictures. I found it as a Halloween book, but B.G. brought it back to her everyday books and requests it every day, sometimes more than once a day! (Mom’s note: I’m a bit of a literature snob. This book has some forced rhymes and a plot with too many holes. Will I read it to my girl? Of course. Does it annoy me? Of course! 😅)

We’re Different, We’re the Same by Bobbi Kates: Starring favorite Sesame Street characters, this book teaches that even though we have hair, eyes, skin, etc., it all has the same function. What unites us is more than what divides us, and at the same time, our differences make the world an interesting place! (Mom’s note: I also love that this book helped introduce different body parts!)

Honorary Mention (aka, Mom’s vote): If Animals Kissed Good Night by Ann Whitford Paul:

This book is pure poetry, with lines like, “Peacock and chick would dance a fan dance, with high-stepping prance” and “Giraffe and his calf would stretch their necks high, and kiss just beneath the top of the sky.” It is whimsical, lyrical, and features soft pictures. It is often our bedtime book.

What was your favorite book as a child? What books do/did your children request over and over? Let us know! And check back in on Thursday, February 12 to read about how Mardi Gras can be a family celebration.

Thanks for reading!

💜

Laura