Holiday Gift Idea: Book Series for Babies, Toddlers, and Pre-K Children

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*Stay tuned! Tomorrow, I will share favorite series of books for elementary, middle school and high school students!

When all else fails and I can’t come up with a gift idea, I head to my favorite bookstore and buy a book or a gift certificate for the recipient.  Even though we allow handheld video games and electronics during our travels, I still limit the time that each child gets to spend playing them.  Books are always first on the list of things to pack.

Buying books before a road trip or vacation are some of my favorite memories from my childhood.  Before every trip, we would head to the bookstore and be allowed to pick out a certain number of books to take with us.  When we got home, my mother would confiscate the books and hide them.  I can still see that fresh new pile of books stacked high in my mother’s closet, taunting me to take one and steal off to my room where I could start reading.  But, oh no, we couldn’t touch those books until it was time to pack up our backpacks for our trip.

As a teacher, I tried to read anything and everything that came across my desk.  It helped me keep up with what the kids were reading and it kept me semi-cool in their eyes when I could discuss Twilight, Crank, or Harry Potter with them.  Now, I volunteer in my son’s library and I have been trying to keep up with the books that are currently popular.  Here are a few series of books, both recent and old favorites, I have seen in constant rotation at the library.  If you buy the first in the series, I highly recommend being ready to stop by a bookstore to buy the next few!

I have not read all the books I have listed, though I am working my way through the pile.  I recommend that you read along (or read the book before) with your children.  Only you as the parent can decide what is and isn’t appropriate for your children.

Baby/Toddler

Brightly colored board books are what will fit the bill for your baby or toddler.  Though some of these are more author collections rather than a series, the books will still be appreciated.

Any book illustrated by Eric Carle – We particularly loved the books written by Bill Martin Junior like Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You See.

Susan Boyton wrote our all time favorite nighttime book, The Going to Bed Book.  We also loved Moo, Baa, La La La!  My five year old still asks me to read that book sometimes!

Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth – Children love to run their hands over this book where they get to count the ten little ladybugs as they disappear.  This book came with us everywhere for several months!  Other Books: Ten Rubber Duckies and Goodnight Sweet Butterflies by Dawn Bentley

Pre-K

Pete the Cat – If you asked me to recite Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes right now, I could sing the entire book.  Both of my kids adore Pete the Cat and his adventures.  Other books: Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes; Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons (out in 2012)

If you Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff is a catchy book about that silly mouse that keeps wanting more and more!  Other books: If You Take a Mouse to the Movies; If You Take a Mouse to School; If You Give a Pig a Party; If You Give a Pig a Pancake; If You Give a Cat a Cupcake

Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister Herbert is one of my favorite children’s books of all time.  I love the beautiful illustrations and the moral of the story.  Other books: Rainbow Fish and the Whale; Rainbow Fish Finds His Way; Play with Rainbow Fish

Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann is one of my daughter’s current favorite books. She LOVES pink…pink walls, pink bedspread, pink, pink, pink, The book is full of pink, pink, pink so it is perfect! Other books: Silverlicious; Goldilicious; Purplicious; there are also a number of I Can Read books

Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor is frilly and fabulous.  We don’t have many of the Fancy Nancy books, but we do have all the holiday ones.  I always purchase holiday books for the kids and somehow my daughter’s books have all been Fancy Nancy books! Other Books: Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas; Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy; Fancy Nancy: Aspiring Artist

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom…will there be enough room?  This catchy book teaches letter order and the other book in the series teaches numbers.  This is a favorite of my son still even if he won’t admit it.  Other Books: Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems is the only book on this list that I haven’t read but my kids think they are hilarious!  They have read them at school and have told me all about them.  I have them on my list of gifts that I still have to pick up! Other books: Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late; The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog; The Pigeon Wants a Puppy

I got a little carried away in my excitement to share favorite books with you that I ran out of room in the post.  Tomorrow, I will share favorite series of books for elementary, middle school and high school students (unless I get carried away again and have to extend the post into a three part series)!

Share your favorites in the comments!