We have a healthy bookshelf full of picture books and a large magazine holder full of library books.  We read three books and a chapter in the Children’s Bible every night before bed. We read on and off during the day or for different activities, but we’ve set aside 10 minutes in the morning for Gage’s choice. I’m curious, given free reign and the instruction to only choose one book, what he will bring me every morning.  This week he picked 4 library books and 2 from his own library.

Just Like Bossy Bear by David Horvath.

A repeat from last week.  When we visited his class this week (school starts Monday) I told him he had to be a good example for the new kids in the class and he asked me, “Just like Bossy Bear?”  Apparently this book can help bossy kids!

Locomotive by Brian Floca.

This Caldecott Medal Winner, Sibert Honor Book, and New York Times bestseller is a beautiful book about the history of the railroad.  The illustrations are outstanding, the facts are interesting and the big bold type keeps younger ones entranced. This is the second time we’ve checked this out of the library and because I think it will age well (Gage will still enjoy it in a few years) I may go ahead and buy it.  At 3, Gage doesn’t want to read every page, but he listens through at least the first half and then we just talk about the pictures the rest of the way. 64 pages.

Marvin K Mooney Will You Please Go Now by Dr. Seuss

I admit that there are a few Seuss books that I don’t really ‘get’ but Gage seems to like all the ones we’ve read.  In this one he likes the crunk-car and shows everyone who comes to the house how cool a car with two smokestacks and feet for wheels can be.  36 pages

Are You My Mother? by PD Eastman

This one belonged to me as a kid and I’ve read it to Gage off and on over the years.  I was surprised this was his choice since he hasn’t shown any favorability toward it.  A baby bird loses his mother and finds his way home with the help of a Snort.  Our new game is that I pretend to be a Snort, lift him the air, set him down in his home and cuddle him as his mother.  He even made me do it in the waiting room of the Cleveland Clinic yesterday and I went ahead and made a fool of myself because I am happy that he wants me to be his Snort 😉  64 pages

Hatch by Katie Cox.

We cull Gage’s library every 3-6 months and donate books that he no longer reads.  He chooses, not me, and this one always made the cut for whatever reason. I think it’s too young for him, but like this week sometimes he pulls it out to read.  Every page has description of an animal and then on the opposite pages you have to crack open the egg to see if you were right.  The baby owl is both cute and ugly!  16 pages and perfect for younger kids.

Mr. Putter and Tabby Take the Train by Cynthia Rylant

I’d like to say that Gage loves this story because of the cat or the dog or the illustrations, but we al know it is because of the old steamie train on the front.  The story is long and has chapters and hewill pretend to listen to all of the non-train parts, but I don’t buy it.  Really intended for older kids from 6-9 it has 44 pages and part of a Mr. Putter and Tabby series.