Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Children's books

Our local library had a giant book sale last Saturday. Aaron and I arrived early hoping to beat the crowd, but even arriving 15 minutes before it opened still deemed us 40th in line. Never the less, it was well worth it. The concept of the sale was to clean out multiple copies of books and get rid of some oldies. You could FILL a bag for $5! Thank goodness I brought my strapping husband along. Being the bargain shopper I am, I STUFFED two big bags. All-in-all, we got about 60 books; various genres; biographical, fiction, non-fiction, educational, poetry, short stories, classics, and a TON of children's books.

I wasn't a HUGE reader until my teen years, but when I was small, I definitely had a few favorites-- about 12 or so-- 10 of which I will list here. In case I haven't mentioned it before, although I think I have, the tick-tock of my biological clock has grown louder in the past year. It's not yet deafening, but loud enough that it's distracting. This isn't even a discussion I'm willing to have until after our Alaska cruise/land trip this summer. I REFUSE to be seasick and morning-sick while taking in the beauty of Alaska. After that, we shall see ;)

However, y'all know I'm a planner. Aaron and I do talk about raising children a great detail. We disagree on some things and agree on others. One thing we BOTH whole-heartedly agree upon is that we will NOT allow our children watch a lot of TV, maybe two hours per week. Thus, we have started to collect lot of books. I know it's a bit premature, but what's the harm?

I love books. I love buying new books and Aaron and I will often go to Barnes & Noble for hours on end perusing the shelves sipping a coffee. Unfortunately, I'm not really a person who can give books away. I keep them, which causes some problems in our small little chateau.

We have three shelves in our house all stuffed like this one. I have one large one in my office too. Aaron better get to work building me another.

My children's book collection is also growing. Those books, however, I don't keep on display. I have then organized in two milk creates, stored in a closet, waiting for use. Many of the books are new (shhhh!). When I go book shopping I don't buy just one book, I'll buy 8 or 10 and often I'll slip a kid’s book into the mix. Others, I took from my childhood home (the good ones at least) and about 25 of them I bought this weekend at the book fair.

My Top Ten favorite books from childhood:

1. Perfect the Pig
2. Corduroy- Everyone remembers that sweet bear!
3. Whose Mouse Are You?
4. The Velveteen Rabbit- A classic- must-have!
5. Dog Goes to Nursery School- This was probably my favorite. I had terrible separation anxiety in 1st grade. This book really helped me.
6. A Porcupine Named Fluffy
7. Once Upon a Potty- A really great “old-school” book about potty training but, as a child, I wanted the boy version (??!!)
8. Johnny Lion's Bad Day- It's all about taking medicine and being sick.
9. Pig-Pig Grows Up
10. Where the Sidewalk Ends- This book isn't pictured because I have it at my office. My sister used to read me those poems over and over and over again. My favorites were "Melinda May" (who ate the monsterous whale) and "Sick." I now read them to my group kiddos and they love it!

There you have it. My yet to be born children are already spoiled :)