Favorite Books for Kids: 10 Titles that Are Special to My Children and Me

Reading has always been a favorite activity in our family. Through nineteen years and four children, I have created some of my most meaningful mothering memories by sharing certain books with my kids. The books which grew to be my favorites to read with my children were not usually titles that I expected to become special to us. Following is a list of ten books that have become treasured favorites to my children and me.

Favorite Baby/Toddler Books - There are two board books that hold very special memories for me of reading to my children when they were young babies and toddlers. The first of those favorite books is titled, "Baby's Colors", by Neil Ricklen. This book is a series of babies dressed in different colors and set against an interesting background of the same color. The photos are adorable, and my youngest daughter begged to have this book read to her over and over as a tiny toddler.

The other favorite book that I loved reading to my children when they were babies was "Dinosaur's Binkit", by Sandra Boynton. It is the story of a dinosaur who needs to find his blanky, and I can still hear my son's baby giggles when I would repeatedly read the words, "I want my BINKIT!" My son had a cherished yellow "binkit" of his own, much like the one in the story, which made this book extra special to him.

Favorite Books for Children Aged 3-6- Some of my very favorite memories of reading to my children were made with the book, "Where The Wild Things Are", by Maurice Sendak. It is a short read, but the illustrations are sensational, and the story begs clever reading style from the parent.

Another favorite book that I loved reading to my children was Mercer Mayer's Little Critter book, "I Was So Mad". This has been a favorite among all four of my children, and holds tremendous sentimental value to me. My kids have been huge fans of Mercer Mayer's work, which led to another of our favorites being his story, "Purple Pickle Juice".

When I was a very small child, I learned to read using the book, "The Fire Cat", by Esther Averill. I have taught each of my own four children to read using this same title, as well. Naturally, it is one of my favorites because of those special memories.

Favorite Books for Older Kids - Two favorite books that I loved reading to my children when they were a bit older, were actually written by the same author. Both "The Secret Garden" and "The Little Princess" were written by Frances Hodgson Burnett, and were wonderful stories to read aloud and get lost in with my children.

Finally, my absolute favorite book that I have ever read to my children is "Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone", by J.K. Rowling. It's a magical story that I enjoyed reading more than I've ever enjoyed any other book. Reading it aloud to my family as we all snuggled together in a warm, cozy bed created favorite memories that I will hold special for the rest of my life. We've read the entire series, but that first novel really was extra special.

These favorite books have become so meaningful to me that I have held onto our copies of each one, and keep them together with other sentimental motherhood mementos. Perhaps some of these same titles will become favorites in your family as well.