Friday Links: What We’re Reading

It’s been a little while since I’ve done a Friday Links, and our reading (particularly of the child/picture book variety) has changed quite a bit – we are into big picture book territory now! So here’s an update of our favorite books at the moment:

Alfie and Annie Rose, by Shirley Hughes – there are a lot of books by this author, featuring Alfie and his little sister Annie Rose. I remember them from when I was little, I think my little sister really liked them. They are perfect for a 2.5 year old, with funny little stories that are totally relatable (going to a birthday party for the first time, getting new shoes) and sweet rhymes and poems, all with really wonderful sketchy watercolor illustrations. The author also wrote the same types of stories and poems about a little girl named Katie and her brother Olly, and we like Moving Molly and Dogger too. I could actually do an entire list of Shirley Hughes books we like, they are the definite favorite these days.

Just Like Floss, by Kim Lewis – Our family has a special place in our hearts for border collies, and this sweet story is about puppies! I think there are other Floss books, but this is the only one I’ve read so far.

I Dance In My Red Pajamas, by Edith Thacher Hurd – a quirky and cute story about spending the night with granny and grandpa and how they really don’t seem old at all. (As a side note, how is it that amazon has this book for either one cent, or one hundred fifty dollars?!)

Mr. Gumpy’s Outing, by John Burningham – this was a story my mom read to me when I was small, and she brought it to us when she visited recently. I wouldn’t have remembered it, but as soon as I saw the illustrations it was familiar in that particularly comfortable way of a much loved book. Putting these links in, I see on amazon that there are other Mr. Gumpy books – I never knew!

A New House for Mouse, by Petr Horacek – a cute story about a mouse, with clever windows in the pages and a sub-text joke that I don’t think my toddler gets. But she’s not much for subtext in general. More of a literal child, maybe.

These are a few of our favorites. We keep encouraging Dr. Seuss and Paddington Bear, but tepid response so far. What are your favorite picture books?