Unlike board books, whose chunky hard pages are meant to combat babies tendency to rip pages clean out of the book, picture book’s entertaining illustrations are meant for toddlers and kids who are old enough to understand not to rip the pages. So when your kids graduate from board books to picture books here are my family’s favorite picture books to help ease the transition.
Winner of the 2005 Caldecott Medal for his excellent illustrations, Kevin Henkes is also a gifted writer. Kitten’s First Full Moon is proof of that and also the first book to make the cut onto my list. The black and white color pallet of this book make it most commonly used as a bedtime story however my kids requested to read it during all times of the day nonetheless. It depicts a black kitten mistaking the full moon for a bowl of milk in the sky. After chasing the bowl of milk without any success the kitten returns home to a real bowl of milk on the porch. It is such a wholesome and simple plot.
Due to it’s heartwarming plot and wonderful artwork, Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett is the next book to make the cut. It shows the story of a young girl who transforms her previously grey and dim community into a colorful and healthy community just by using some magically endless yarn. My family is not the only one to recognize this book for how sensational it is. Extra Yarn received a Caldecott Honor and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, as well as being a New York Times bestseller. It is safe to say everyone who reads this book is satisfied.
For more than 25 years, children have been going on an adventure through the book We are Going on a Bear Hunt by Micheal Rosen. The suspenseful and adventurous plot of this book is sure to keep any kid engaged. Plus the repetitive, rhyming, and almost songlike phrases make this book extremely entertaining. Not to mention the elaborate and creative illustrations by Helen Oxenbury.
Everyone has heard of Dr. Suess. He is arguably one of the most famous children’s book authors and illustrators in the world. From his rhyme schemes, to his made up words, to his goofy illustrations, Dr. Suess books are some of my family’s all time favorites. Specifically The Cat in the Hat is our favorite of his works. There is always something new and captivating going on that will grab and hold everyone’s attention.
The final book is such a classic. I would be surprised if you hadn’t already heard of it. It’s about a caterpillar who seems like he will never be full. He eats and eats and eats until finally he is full and eventually transforms into a butterfly. You guessed it! It is The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. It is a wonderful book to help kickstart your kids learning foods, numbers, and even the lifecycle of a caterpillar. Plus it gets across a message about nutrition because when the caterpillar ate the junk foods it gave him a stomach ache. It also showed that eating healthy can help you grow, big and strong, just like the caterpillar. All of these books are great options to help ease your children’s transition from board books to picture books.
Below are links to read aloud youtube videos for all the books:
Kitten’s First Full Moon; Extra Yarn; We Are Going On a Bear Hunt;
The Cat In the Hat; The Very Hungry Caterpillar
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Jessica Lee Photography is a Boulder & Denver Photographer who specializes in maternity, newborn, baby, and family photography in Boulder & Denver Colorado and surrounding areas including Erie, Broomfield, Lafayette, Longmont, Superior, Louisville, Frederick, and Firestone.
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