Bedtime stories are a universal staple in nighttime routines for parents. Who doesn’t love to cuddle up in cozy jammies and read a good book?
Until you’ve read the same book eighteen million times.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who has “misplaced” a certain book when I just can’t take it anymore. “Oh my, I just don’t know where it might have gone! We will look again tomorrow. And how about if we read this one tonight?”
Fear not, mamas. There is a solution! We are probably all familiar with old favorites like Corduroy, The Berenstain Bears, Curious George, and others, but so many children’s books have been forgotten in recent years, and they certainly bear another look! Here are some of our favorite “classic” children’s books for reading at bedtime, and all the time:
The Caboose Who Got Loose by Bill Peet (1971)
Let’s start with a little honesty: All of Bill Peet’s amazing books belong on this list. I had to narrow it down, though, so Katy Caboose got the nod. Her story is a great lesson in being content with what you have, while still having big dreams. It also has a great rhyme and rhythm, which in my opinion makes storytime a lot more enjoyable for the reader.
If you feel inexplicably drawn to Peet’s illustrations, it might be because he worked for Disney for a number of years, and worked on films such as Sleeping Beauty. I’m a confirmed Disneyphile, so this went a long way toward my feeling of “coming home” when I read this book for the first time.
The Sneetches And Other Stories by Dr. Seuss (1961)
If you enjoy reading Green Eggs and Ham, Fox in Socks, The Cat in the Hat, Horton Hears a Who!, or any other of Dr. Seuss’s masterpieces to your little ones, you will rejoice at the addition of this book to your repertoire. I didn’t grow up reading this compilation, but my husband and his siblings did, and I just don’t know where it’s been all my life. You know the perfect cadence and rhyme schemes of the inestimable Theodor Geisel, and the distinctive illustrative style, and this volume doesn’t disappoint.
The Sneetches, with the crafty Sylvester McMonkey McBean, teach a valuable lesson in being happy with the way you are, and not judging other people by their looks. Our family favorite is Too Many Daves, in which a myriad of fantastic names are presented that you really missed out on when naming your children. (Bodkin Van Horn? Soggy Muff? Marvin O’Gravel Balloon Face? Imagine sending them to kindergarten!)
Teddy Bears Cure a Cold by Susanna Gretz and Alison Sage (1984)
I loved these books when I was little. I couldn’t get enough of the antics of William, Charles, Louise, Robert, Sara, John, Andrew, and of course their huge dog, Fred. They’re kind of like a co-ed college fraternity house, but without the drinking.
In this volume, Andrew is sick, and he kind of milks it. A lot. Shenanigans ensue. The colorful illustrations will captivate your child, and the bears’ sideways glances at each other will keep you laughing.
The Great Pie Robbery by Richard Scarry (1969)
Huckle Cat has gotten a show in which he solves mysteries, along with his trusty sidekick Lowly Worm, but Richard Scarry had a pair of sleuths long before Huckle came along, and they were stupendous. Sam Cat, in his Sherlock Holmes-style deerstalker cap, and Dudley Pig, in his lederhosen, will steal your heart. Their misadventures continue in several other volumes, including The Supermarket Mystery and The Great Steamboat Mystery.
I know I keep going on and on about the illustrations, but before kiddos can read, that’s what they look at, right? That’s what I remember: the pictures. Sam and Dudley, covered in cherry pie filling, or balancing a pie on top of a broom on Sam’s nose. These are the images of my childhood.
Like so many of the items on this list, this is only one of Richard Scarry’s nearly endless line of one pièce de résistance after another.
Gregory, the Terrible Eater by Mitchell Sharmat; illustrated by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey (1980)
I should preface this entry with the warning that in my family we are obsessed with goats. I’m not sure if it’s because of Gregory or if we love Gregory because we first loved goats, but it doesn’t matter. Also, I currently have three picky eaters terrorizing my mealtimes, so this book hits close to home more now than ever.
Anyway, the idea that a goat wanting orange juice and eggs for breakfast is so horrific to his family is frankly hilarious, especially to children. They love nonsense, and even if they don’t yet understand irony, this juxtaposition of nonsense and cute illustrations is a proven winner.
Miss Nelson Is Missing by Harry Allard and James Marshall (1977)
Tell me you didn’t read the saga of the children in Room 207 when you were younger. Just tell me you didn’t dread a Miss Viola Swamp-esque substitute teacher. (Random thought: They call them “guest teachers” now… do you think Miss Viola Swamp created a generation of children terrified of substitutes?)
My daughter Samantha picked this one for me to read to her preschool class last year, and it was a huge hit. Even the kiddos whose attention is hard to keep occupied were enraptured. I feel this may have something to do with the words-to-pictures ratio, which is good for younger kids who can’t sit through a lot of text.
Plus, now that I’m an adult and a parent, I can really appreciate that the angelic Miss Nelson really pulled one over on those kids.
Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish; illustrated by Fritz Siegel (1963)
If you’re something of a word enthusiast like yours truly, this one is a winner. I think most people of our generation were read one or more of the Amelia Bedelia books. This is confirmed by the fact that she’s getting a reboot as a Junie B. Jones type of preschooler, but those are a story for a different day.
Amelia Bedelia is delightfully literal. (Think Drax the Destroyer from Guardians of the Galaxy.) She follows Mrs. Rogers’s instructions to the letter, which has consequences that are both disastrous and hilarious. I’m certain my children don’t understand most of it, but it doesn’t take away from their enjoyment. They adore Amelia Bedelia’s antics, and I look forward to the day that they start to read for themselves, because these books are perfect for beginning readers.
Add to my list!
What are your favorite not-so-new books to read to your children? Or your favorite new books? My kiddos and I can’t get enough of Dragons Love Tacos. Please weigh in below!
