One of my joys this year is reading to my grandson, Vander. I started reading to him almost as soon as he was born and now that he is 14 months old he is beginning to indicate his favorite books. So I thought I would share that for all the grandparents, parents, and aunts and uncles out there who might appreciate some recommendations for baby and toddler books.

I think by far his favorite books right now are the nursery rhyme series by Child’s Play and illustrated by Annie Kubler. I bought both the board book version and the Kindle version. I have found having books available on my phone or iPad is really helpful for times when he gets fussy on the road! Vander loves the pictures of the children and he really enjoys hearing the various nursery rhymes, too. He usually asks me to read these books over and over again. Row, Row Your Boat is a favorite right now but I think Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is sneaking up fast!

We’re Going on A Bear Hunt by Helen Oxenbury, is another favorite. Vander likes to skip through the intro to each obstacle, like the long grass or the river or the mud, instead he like the pages where there are sounds. The grass goes swishy swishy, or the mud goes squelch squerch, or the snow storm goes hooo, wooo. At the end when everyone is running away from the bear you have to do all the sounds right after each other and Vander really likes that part the best. It really is hard not to get tongue tied as you say all those sounds quickly!

When my daughters were growing up The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear by Audrey and Don Wood was a special favorite and now Vander likes it too. We are still reading the one our daughters got from their Aunt Kathy thirty some years ago! The illustrations are just amazing and the unique way of telling the story is really fun! Vander likes to have this one read almost every time I am with him.

Finally, I created a Mixbook with pictures from the baby shower and pictures of Vander soon after he was born. Vander likes to look at the pictures of himself and all the people who love him. I will point to a picture and tell him who they are and by now he is really beginning to recognize the extended members of the family!

I hope this gives you some ideas for little ones you may have in your life!