October is National Book Month and what better way to celebrate than to gush about our favorite books? Well, actually I do have a few ideas for celebrating that I’ll discuss below, but first let’s dish about the hardcovers that make our kids happiest. Children’s literature has come such a long way since I was a kid. When I became a mom, I was excited to share my childhood favorites with my children. However, it turned out that many of those books were not as good as I remembered or had simply not stood the test of time. I was a high school teacher at the time so I was up to date on all of the newest Young Adult (YA) books but I had fallen behind in my knowledge of picture books. Luckily, I was able to recover quickly when I started exploring the impressive variety of contemporary children’s books.
When I hear a child say that they do not like to read, I tell them that they simply have not found the right book yet. There are thoughtfully worded and beautifully illustrated children’s stories about most any topic available now. Whether you are looking for books to encourage your kids to make good choices, books to help you approach a delicate subject matter, books that will satisfy your child’s current hyperfixation, or books as a way to just have fun and be silly together, today’s authors of children’s literature have got you covered!
As parents, we often end up repeatedly reading a book aloud that our children love to hear again and again but we quickly get sick of. (“We read this one last night, honey. Wouldn’t you like to try this new book instead? I bet this one’s really fun, too!…Please?”) As a result, I’m always on a mission to find children’s books that are just as fun for adults to read as they are for kids. After some trial and error, my family has been able to find several picture books that none of us ever tire of. I could list all of the fantastic literary works that are loved in our home, but then this article would easily turn into a novel. (See what I did there?) Instead, I will share just a few of our favorites!
Favorite Children’s Books For National Book Month
- Knufflebunny trilogy (Mo Willems) – A little girl has the unfortunate habit of losing her favorite comfort item but her dad always knows just what to do.
- No, David! series (David Shannon) – David often makes impulsive and surprising choices that get him into trouble, but he is still loved and accepted.
- Elephant and Piggie series (Mo Willems) – Two curious best buddies learn gentle life lessons together through hilarious back and forth conversation.
- Dragons Love Tacos duology (Adam Rubin) – Learn the ridiculous and riotous consequences of letting dragons eat spicy salsa.
- The Pigeon series (Mo Willems) – An opinionated pigeon argues with the reader to try to get his way but learns why his plan is not the best.
- The Book With No Pictures (B.J. Novak) – A book with words so silly that you don’t need pictures to get everybody laughing.
If there are any books on this list that your family hasn’t yet read, why not try reading them together this month? Let us know what you think of them! What books would make your family’s list?
Other Ways To Celebrate National Book Month
- Write a book together that tells the story of your family. How did each of your join the family? How did you all come together? What places have you lived together? Have each member of the family help with the illustrations. Use family photos, as well.
- Take out 7 new books from the library. Read one together each night for a week. At the end of the week, vote on your favorite one. Go to a locally-owned bookstore together to buy the book that was the winner.
- Have a family night in for reading. Each family member grabs their own book to read independently. Buy everyone’s favorite snacks and hot cocoa. Everyone gets into pajamas, curls up in a comfy blanket in the same room, and reads their books together silently. Blanket fort and flashlights optional.
- Play literature charades. Everyone can take turns acting out their favorite scenes from different books. Break up into teams – kids vs adults, perhaps? – and take turns guessing which book scenes the others are acting out. Why not have a pile of new books to give out as prizes?
- Attend the 27th annual Rochester Children’s Book Festival. It’s a full day of book-related activities for the whole family including storytimes, crafts, and book signings. Best of all, it’s free!