These Are Few of Our Favourite Children's Books

There are so many books out there to choose for our children that sometimes it's hard to decide what to pick. I've checked with the Wenches to let me know some of their favourite children's books. Either their own or books that they loved reading to their children. The wonder of reading is the new worlds, concepts and ideas that it opens up to us. There is nothing quite like having your child sitting on your lap listening to you reading a story (yes, even when it's the millionth time you have read the book). I loved it when the child's memory became so good that they could already predict what word you were going to say next.  So let's look after the jump at some of our all time favourite children's books and see how many you recall.

Dr Seuss aka Theodor Seuss Geisel

Dr Seuss has  been a firm favourite for many children. I remember reading some of the stories when I was at primary school and in turn read them to my own children. The poetic way the stories were written make them memorable and the below books instantly came to mind for the Wenches.

Today is your birthday! Today you are you!...There is no one alive that is you-er than you!
Six pages of rollicking pop-ups animate this simple adaptation of the Dr. Seuss classic. It's the best-of-the-best way to say... Happy Birthday to You. From Goodreads

“Do you like green eggs and ham?” asks Sam-I-am in this Beginner Book by Dr. Seuss. In a house or with a mouse? In a boat or with a goat? On a train or in a tree? Sam keeps asking persistently. With unmistakable characters and signature rhymes, Dr. Seuss’s beloved favorite has cemented its place as a children’s classic. In this most famous of cumulative tales, the list of places to enjoy green eggs and ham, and friends to enjoy them with, gets longer and longer. Follow Sam-I-am as he insists that this unusual treat is indeed a delectable snack to be savored everywhere and in every way. From Goodreads

With a host of crazy crackpot creatures, from wockets in pockets to waskets in baskets, this hilarious books helps young children set off on the road to reading. From Goodreads

In this hilarious exploration of opposites,colours,numbers and nonsense,Dr.Seuss paints a crazy world of singing Yings,boxing Goxes and seven hump Wumps. From Goodreads

 Roald Dahl

Oh, the delight we had reading Roald Dahl and it's so fantastic to see our children having read them or still to enjoy the delight. Who didn't want to go and explore the Chocolate Factory or pretend to find a golden ticket?

Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory is opening at last!

But only five lucky children will be allowed inside. And the winners are: Augustus Gloop, an enormously fat boy whose hobby is eating; Veruca Salt, a spoiled-rotten brat whose parents are wrapped around her little finger; Violet Beauregarde, a dim-witted gum-chewer with the fastest jaws around; Mike Teavee, a toy pistol-toting gangster-in-training who is obsessed with television; and Charlie Bucket, Our Hero, a boy who is honest and kind, brave and true, and good and ready for the wildest time of his life! From Goodreads

When James accidentally drops some magic crystals by the old peach tree, strange things start to happen. The peach at the top of the tree begins to grow, and before long it's as big as a house. When James discovers a secret entranceway into the fruit and crawls inside, he meets wonderful new friends--the Old-Green-Grasshopper, the dainty Ladybug, and the Centipede of the multiple boots. After years of feeling like an outsider in his aunts' house, James finally found a place where he belongs. With a snip of the stem, the peach household starts rolling away--and the adventure begins. From Goodreads

Are You My Mother by P.D. Eastman

We love this book as it tells the story of a little hatchling looking for his mother. Donna summed this up perfectly, "I think I have loved this book my entire life". We agree.

ARE YOU MY MOTHER? tells a very simple story for children who have just started to read. their younger brothers or sisters will also want to follow the baby bird's quest as he asks everyone and everything he meets, "Are You My Mother?". From Goodreads

The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

The book that introduced so many children to fantasy. We remember reading this being enchanted and wanting Lucy, Susan, Edmund and Peter to save the day. From that first walk through the wardrobe we were captivated and it reminds me of some of my favourite memories of being a child curled up with a book.

When Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy took their first steps into the world behind the magic wardrobe, little do they realise what adventures are about to unfold. And as the story of Narnia begins to unfold, so to does a classic tale that has enchanted readers of all ages for over half a century. From Goodreads

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Having recently discovered the writings of Gaiman and the vivid worlds he is able to create, it's no wonder that Coraline is firm favourite for it's genre.

Coraline's often wondered what's behind the locked door in the drawing room. It reveals only a brick wall when she finally opens it, but when she tries again later, a passageway mysteriously appears. Coraline is surprised to find a flat decorated exactly like her own, but strangely different. And when she finds her "other" parents in this alternate world, they are much more interesting despite their creepy black button eyes. When they make it clear, however, that they want to make her theirs forever, Coraline begins a nightmarish game to rescue her real parents and three children imprisoned in a mirror. With only a bored-through stone and an aloof cat to help, Coraline confronts this harrowing task of escaping these monstrous creatures. From Goodreads

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

As you have probably guessed the majority of us read this series as adults, but still throughly enjoyed it. The series showed a whole new generation the wonder that can be found with fantastic fantasy writing.

Harry Potter has never played a sport while flying on a broomstick. He's never worn a Cloak of Invisibility, befriended a giant, or helped hatch a dragon. All Harry knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley. Harry's room is a tiny cupboard under the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in ten years.

But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to a wonderful place he never dreamed existed. There he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic around every corner, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him... if Harry can survive the encounter. From Goodreads

The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister

What kid wouldn't love this book.  It's wonderful for showing the importance of sharing and the colourful pages are a delight to behold.

The Rainbow Fish is an international bestseller and a modern classic. Eye-catching foilstamping, glittering on every page, offers instant child-appeal, but it is the universal message at the heart of this simple story about a beautiful fish, who learns to make friends by sharing his most prized possessions, that gives the book its lasting value. From Goodreads

The House that had Enough by P.E. King

Anne credits this book with her tidiness as an adult. See reading does have an influence on our adult lives.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

The number of times we've read this book to our children. Whether it's putting their little fingers in the holes as the caterpillar ate it's way through the book, to having them recite the words back to us. This book is a real treasure.

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

In a great green room, tucked away in bed, is a little bunny. "Goodnight room, goodnight moon." And to all the familiar things in the softly lit room -- to the picture of the three little bears sitting on chairs, to the clocks and his socks, to themittens and the kittens, toeverything one by one -- the little bunny says goodnight. From Goodreads

Madeline and the Gypsies by Ludwig Bemelmans

Madeline and Pepito think it will be fun to run off with some gypsies. Reality soon strikes. They will need rescuing. Kathi brought this book to our attention telling us it's one of the first books she remembers that she memorised. I confess I had never heard of Madeline and all the adventures she had.

The Madeline books are among the most honored children's books of all time. Join Madeline in another adventure when she and Pepito run off to join the carnival with a band of traveling gypsies! At first they're having the time of their lives—they don't have to go to school, brush their teeth, or ever go to sleep. But soon Madeline and Pepito start to feel homesick. Leave it to clever Miss Clavel to find Madeline and Pepito and bring them home. From Goodreads

Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion

A great book about a dog who doesn't want a bath and so he hides his bath brush and then proceeds to get incredibly dirty. 

There's never been another dog as delightful–or dirty–as Harry.

This lovable white dog with black spots (or black dog with white spots) has charmed children for fifty years, and we are celebrating with an anniversary edition. This childhood favourite is perfect for reading aloud before going to bed or avoiding a bath. From Goodreads

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

We read this book as children and adored it. 

One night Max puts on his wolf suit and makes mischief of one kind and another, so his mother calls him 'Wild Thing' and sends him to bed without his supper. That night a forest begins to grow in Max's room and an ocean rushes by with a boat to take Max to the place where the wild things are. Max tames the wild things and crowns himself as their king, and then the wild rumpus begins. But when Max has sent the monsters to bed, and everything is quiet, he starts to feel lonely and realises it is time to sail home to the place where someone loves him best of all. From Goodreads.

Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish

From dressing the chicken to dusting the furniture, Amelia Bedelia does exactly what Mr. and Mrs. Rogers tell her. ...But somehow things never turn out quite right. From Goodreads

Love You Forever by Robert Munsch

An extraordinarily different story by Robert Munsch is a gentle affirmation of the love a parent feels for their child--forever. Sheila McGraw's soft and colorful pastels perfectly complement the sentiment of the book--one that will be read repeatedly for years. From Goodreads

The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash by Trinka Hakes Noble

Eek. Don't we wish all field trips were like this.

It starts off as an ordinary class trip to the farm - boring, kind of dull. But before very long, chaos takes over as one zany incident leads to another, even zanier, one. Soon the entire farm is uproariously out of control. From Goodreads

The Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone

I loved reading this book to my children and it's wonderful that it's still such a popular book today.

Many adults name this book as their favorite Little Golden Book. Generations of kids have interacted with lovable, furry old Grover as he begs the reader not to turn the page—for fear of a monster at the end of the book. “Oh, I am so embarrassed,” he says on the last page . . . for, of course, the monster is Grover himself! From Goodreads

The Sorcerer's Apprentice by Walt Disney Company

We loved this book as children. How many of you can remember watching the movie starring the one and only Mickey Mouse?

Apprenticed to a sorcerer, Mickey Mouse tries to save himself work by making some magic. From Goodreads

What a great walk down memory lane. There are definitely a few favourites of mine and the other Wenches here. We hope you like our selection. It's definitely reminded me of some of the great books I read as a child and a few of these that I read to my own children.

Let us know below what children's books you loved.