Jasper's Favorite Books

It is time for Jasper's current top ten favorite books!

10. 13 Words written by Lemony Snicket and illustrated by Maira Kalman


This is such a strange, bizarre book but that is why it is so awesome. The story itself is silly and absurd and the illustrations match this story's world. The words, such as despondent and haberdashery, were new for Jasper. This book is a must for your home library!

9. The Gingerbread Man written by Nancy Nolte and illustrated by Richard Scarry

Our family loves the gingerbread man story as much as eating gingerbread cookies. I have read a lot of gingerbread man books and this one illustrated by Richard Scarry is my favorite. You really can't go wrong with a Scarry book but these illustrations are some of his finest.

8. Pomelo Begins to Grow written by Ramona Badescu and illustrated by Benjamin Chaud

I just love this book. Pomelo is a garden elephant and his world is tiny. This book is about what happens when he begins to grow. The story is cute but the illustrator is what puts this book over the top for me. He is so imaginative and original. I just love Benjamin Chaud's work. We own all the Pomelo books.

7. Clifford the Big Red Dog written and illustrated by Norman Bridwell 

It seems all children enjoy this book. It's a quick read which is perfect for short attention spans. It's simple, colorful and filled with warm humor. 

6. Go, Dog. Go! written and illustrated by P.D. Eastman


A classic book that every child should read. Jasper loves this silly book about dogs going everywhere. He especially enjoys the repeated question of "Do you like my hat?" 

5. Gaston written by Kelly Dipucchio and illustrated by Christian Robinson

What a super cute book about love, family, and where we belong. The doggies are so adorably illustrated and I like the visible painterly strokes. We have read this book many, many times.

4. Peter & the Wolf written and illustrated by Ian Beck (adapter), Sergei Prokofiev (author)


This book is uniquely one of Jasper's favorite books. The other books on his list have also been some of Noelle's favorites but I would say this is a true Jasper pick. This book makes it fun and easy to teach children about classical music and instruments. I think Jasper also likes the idea of a boy taking down a scary wolf on his own.

3. Gumby Goes to the Sun written and illustrated by Holly Harman

This book is so ridiculous and hilarious! Our family loves Gumby and Pokey and we have watched all their claymation shows. But this book... oh my! The illustrations are painted through most all of the book but then at the end Gumby uses his magic ice-ode and the illustrations turn to photographs with the exception of the characters who are still painted. The story is equally bizarre. When I read this to Noelle and Jasper they are so fully enthralled their eyes are practically bulging.

2. Where the Wild Things Are written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak


Jasper loves all things scary and ferocious and Where the Wild Things Are fits this perfectly. It doesn't hurt that this is a Caldecott medal-winner. It's easy to see why this is one of the most beloved children's book. But I also have a special place in my heart for this book and for Sendak's book Higglety Pigglety Pop!: Or There Must Be More to Life. This is because both of these books have Sealyham Terriers in them. Sendak owned a Sealyham, Jennie. Higglety Pigglety was a tribute to Jennie. Our family also owns a Sealyham, Parry, as well. Clearly Sendak was a gifted children's author and illustrator but he also had excellent taste in dogs.

1. Mister Dog written by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Garth Williams

Apparently Jasper loves books about dogs as this is his fourth dog book on the list! Jasper's Great Aunt gifted us this book. Jasper has had me read it every night since. Margaret Wise Brown is a genius children's author. Two classics, Good Night Moon and Runaway Bunny, were written by her in addition to her authoring well over a hundred others. Brown worked hard at ensuring her stories had a rhythm but she also wrote from a child's perspective. She did not follow traditional "adult" style plot development. She wrote the way a child wanted to hear a story. Perhaps this is why Mister Dog seems so strange to adult readers yet children are enthralled by it. This story is about a funny dog, Crispin's Crispian, who belonged to himself and a boy he meets who also belongs to himself. The illustrations are wonderful too. Garth Williams was a prolific illustrator and illustrated a number of Brown's books as well as classics such as Stuart Little and Charlotte's Web.

Evette & Margot's Favorite Books

Since it is the new year and we are feeling very listy, I thought I'd compile a list of my children's current top ten favorite books.

Today I am going to start with Evette and Margot's current top ten favorite books.

10. My First Word by DK Publishing 

This book is a must for all toddlers. They just love looking at every single tiny little photo, pointing, and having you tell them what the item is. 

9. Baby Beluga written by Raffi and illustrated by Ashley Wolff

I have sung the Baby Beluga song sooo many times and it still never gets old. Evette and Margot love it when I sing to them and to have illustrations to go with the song is perfect!

8. Richard Scarry's Bunnies written and illustrated by Richard Scarry

Richard Scarry is one of my favorite illustrators. And this book is just so enjoyable to read as it takes you through different types of bunnies.

7. Harry the Dirty Dog written by Gene Zion and illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham

This book is about an adorable dog who does not want to take a bath and then becomes even dirtier through his adventures. The illustrations are so cute and all my kids just love reading it.

6. Jabberwocky written by Jennifer Adams and illustrated by Alison Oliver

The original Jabberwocky poem was a nonsense poem written by Lewis Carroll and illustrated by John Tenniel and was included in his book Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There. This version of Jabberwocky is very abridged. Yet, the abridged version still uses Carroll's playful language and the story of Jabberwocky's "...jaws that bite, the claws that catch!" is a great source of silliness and entertainment for Evette and Margot.

5. Fox in Socks written and illustrated by Dr. Seuss

Evette and Margot enjoy the abridged board book. We do own the unabridged copy but that's too long for their attention spans. So this version is just right. I am very good at reading this tongue-twister super fast and that is very funny to them. Of course Dr. Seuss's illustrations are always so imaginative and colorful.

4. The Little Engine That Could written by Watty Piper and illustrated by George and Doris Hauman

We own the large board book with George and Doris's original illustrations however, it is the slightly abridged edition. Yes, we should definitely own the unabridged edition as this is in their top ten. The illustrations are so classic and old. The kids love the anthropomorphic trains, candy and milk as wells as the cute toys and animals. Children always love trains and being introduced to different types with their own funny personalities is really entertaining. Of course the overarching moral of the story is perseverance and a book with a lesson is always great.

3. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Clement Hurd

This is such a classic children's book. It's an excellent read before bed. Going through and saying goodnight to everything in the room is very calming. I love it's sweet simplicity yet saying goodnight to a comb, a brush, a bowl full of mush, and nobody is really funny.

2. I am a Bunny written by Ole Risom and illustrated by Richard Scarry

I bought this book when I found out I was pregnant with Noelle. So obviously this is one of my favorite children's books! I am a sucker for children's book illustrations and Richard Scarry's illustrations in I am a Bunny are lovely and magical with a cozy vintage feel. It makes you feel like a child again wandering through nature and all of it's wonders each season. These illustrations are so grand that they should be framed and hung in your child's nursery.

1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar written and illustrated by Eric Carle

We have read this book over and over and over and over. The large bright, bold colors are gorgeous yet simple. This in and of itself makes the book super appealing to little ones. But the story is wonderfully written as well. It's short but it takes you through the metamorphosis of a caterpillar. Even the design of the pages really engage my children as the caterpillar eats through the food. Although this is Evette and Margot's favorite book, Noelle and Jasper still read along. We own the large hardcover book and it's definitely worth it!!!