It's that time of year again.
Oh, did you think I meant Christmas? I actually meant the time of year when my job becomes so insanely busy I dream of it at night and wake up in a panic remembering something I need to do or forgot to do or should do... and then I check my work email. Which is just never a good idea.
I would love to have more time to blog, but between work being so busy and trying to fit in some Christmas activities and my house looking like a tornado hit, I just haven't been able to write very much.
Lest this should all be taken as a complaint, please understand it is not. For me, December is a mixed bag of joy and stress. Especially at this time of year, though, I remind myself to count my blessings. I sometimes don't feel like it, but I am blessed to have job. Really. December is just a time when I have to work a wee bit harder to convince myself.
But, yes, it is also the time of year when we
madly and insanely scramble search for gifts for people we love. I have a list I created of some of Paityn's
favorite toddler toys, so if you are looking for some good toy ideas, click over to that post. As an added note to that list, the items are still among her favorites several months later.
One of my favorite gifts, though, is books. I'm a complete sucker for books. I love and adore them, and I seem to have passed that on to my daughter.
For links to Amazon, click the "Via Amazon" caption below the book. Amazon is not sponsoring this post, and I in no way benefit from your purchase. I just find them to be the easiest to use and a good reference.
Ten favorite toddler books from my child to yours
1. Sheep in a Jeep
The cadence of the story is very pleasing to read, and the humor will have your little toddler giggling. There's a whole series on these silly little sheep, so you don't have to stop with just this one.
2. Bear Snores On
I love this story about a hibernating bear who hosts a party without even knowing about it until the end. The pictures are really lovely. This is another book that is part of a really sweet series.
Bonus Book: Bear Stays Up for Christmas. We read it at the store, and it's really cute how Bear wants to stay up for Christmas since he's never done it before (as he's always hibernating).
3.
Llama Llama Mad at Mama
We absolutely love all the books in the Llama Llama series. This one teaches a bit about patience and working together, and since Paityn always grocery shops with me, it's particularly relatable to her.
Bonus book: Llama Llama Holiday Drama is a holiday themed Llama Llama tale. Although I was only so-so on the story, Paityn has made me read it to her every day since we got it a week ago. So, she likes it even if I don't. Still, the rhyming and pictures are great.
4. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
This is Paityn's absolute favorite book, so much so that she repeats parts of it randomly, and then we all get started on trying to remember how it goes. The colorful pictures jump off the page, and the repeating pattern is nice for toddlers to anticipate the next part of the story. (I actually recommend any Eric Carle book; we have most of them and they are all loved.)
5. Merry Christmas, Stinky Face
6.
I Love You Through and Through
This book reinforces the message that parents love their child no matter what. The story takes us through a little boy's different actions, both good and bad choices, and each time reiterates unconditional love.
7. If I Could Keep You Little
Honestly, I enjoy this one more than Paityn. But I think it's a beautiful story read to a child because it truly reflects our hearts as parents. I always get choked up, especially when I get to, "If I could keep you little, I'd keep you close to me. But then I'd miss you growing into who you're meant to be!"
I love reading this and sharing feelings I can't put into words with my rapidly growing little girl.
8. Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type
I'm cheating a bit with this one as we don't own it (yet), but I really love this book about cows "unionizing" against their farmer. The best is when the duck comes in to arbitrate.
9. Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever
I picked this particular Richard Scarry because Paityn has it and likes it, but truly, you can't go wrong with any Richard Scarry book. They have so much to look at that toddlers love to gaze at the pages time and again, always finding something new. These books are fantastic for plane flights for that reason.
10. This Little Piggy: And Other Favorite Action Rhymes
This book was a gift, and it's a true favorite, maybe even top three. Paityn loves to do the actions I've taught her to all the popular rhymes. Because it's a board book, it's very easy for her to turn the pages and look at it herself.
Happy reading!
