Library Lady

It’s Children’s Boo Week. Over the past year or so I’ve done quite a few author interviews on Library Lady’s Kid Lit. One of the questions I usually ask is Since I’m a school librarian, I have to ask – What is your favorite children’s book? Here are some of the answers:

L A Kefalos

I want to say The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, but I don’t know if that is fair.  I read it when I was young and enjoyed it, but it wasn’t my favorite at the time. It wasn’t until I read it as an adult when it became my favorite.  As a child I did not grasp the deeper meaning of the story and the philosophical questions that it poses.  I probably should read it again in 5 years or so and see how I interpret it then. I am thinking the meaning will change for me again!   When I was a child and not trying to figure out the meaning of life, I loved Beverly Cleary. My second-grade teacher read us Henry Higgins and I was hooked.  I read all her books.  Her character Ramona was my favorite.  So, if the question is what my favorite book as a child was, it would be one of hers. I have a vivid memory of discovering the library for the first time.  It was such a magical place, filled with so many books AND we could take them home with us! I remember walking out of the library with a stack of 6 or 7 at a time.   

Pamela Poole

Madeline, by Ludwig Bemelmans, a painter, illustrator, and writer. I loved little Madeline’s adventures with Miss Clavel, Pepito, and the heroic dog Genevieve! When I had a daughter, I shared the stories with her in a collected volume of 6 of those stories, which still sits on my bookcase.

Heidi McCahon

As a child, my favorite book was The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton. Now that I have kids and I’ve read a lot of children’s books, my current favorite is What Do You Do with an Idea by Kobi Yamada.

Lisa Renee

I’ve recently read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to my children. That’s a lot of fun and so much better than the movie versions.

Ralene Burke

The Chronicles of Narnia were my favorite from a very young age. But also anything by Shel Silverstein.

Jen Johnson

I love the Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman, Harold and the Purple Crayon, The Scarecrow by Jan Brett, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See?

Heather Smith

I think it’s for all ages, but my favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

Some favorite picture books from my childhood are The Monster at the End of This Book (starring Grover, of course) by Jon Stone and “Stand Back!” Said the Elephant, “I’m Going to Sneeze!” by Patricia Thomas.

David Rawlings

Because I’m an Aussie, it would have to be Storm Boy, which is Australian tale of an orphaned boy who adopts an orphaned pelican named Mr Percival. Or anything by CS Lewis, who is one of my literary heroes. I also remember fondly a book called The White Mountains by John Christopher. It’s a very old story, but I still remember it being a great read.

Melissa Ferguson

There is no way I could pick a favorite. I read more children’s books than adult books 100 to 1 and am such an addict. It is a weakness of mine, buying children’s books. So, I’ll tell you my favorites this week: Toot & Puddle I’ll Be Home for Christmas, all books by Cynthia Rylant (especially Mr. Putter and Tabby), The Autumn Visitors (the illustrations are lovely!), Katie and the Impressionists, Charlie Brown Christmas.

Laurel Blount

This one’s easy! THE VELVETEEN RABBIT is my all-time favorite children’s book. I still treasure my dog-eared childhood copy, and even today I’ll tear up when I read the Skin Horse’s description of what it means to become “real.” Over the years I’ve fallen in love with more books than I can count, but this one remains my absolute favorite.

Kellyn Roth

I can’t choose one! I love so many authors – Beverly Cleary, Maud Hart Lovelace, Jeanne Birdsall, A.A. Milne, C.S. Lewis – but I suppose today I’ll recommend Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards. It’s the sweetest, most heart-rending, most beautiful little story!

Rebecca Waters

I’m going to say Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell.

Melony Teague

Unblemished by Sara Ella. It’s YA, and I love her books.

Cynthia Hilston

Being a mom of three young kids, I’d have to say I Love You to the Moon and Back

Sara Davison

 I have several, but if you will allow me, I’ll mention two that are probably my absolute favourites. They are Are you my Mother by P.D. Eastman, and Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss. I think it’s the devoted mother theme of both books that gets me every time.

Lauren Reeves

I remember LOVING Shel Silverstein books growing up.  I also loved Dr. Seuss books.  I guess I had a thing for rhyming even then!  Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein is a classic to me!

Patricia Beal

For moms to read to their baby girls, I adore Someday by Alison McGhee. For older kids, I love From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg. The author notes at the end of an anniversary edition we have make me cry every time. Great book.

Michelle De Bruin

My favorite children’s book is the Dr. Seuss book Go Dog Go by P.D. Eastman. I read it to my boys over and over again when they were small. There is one page in that book that stands out to our family as sort of an inside joke between my husband and I as Mom and Dad, and our sons. It is the page with the illustration of the wide bed where a whole pack of colored dogs are supposed to be asleep. The words on that page say, “Now it is night. Night is not a time for play. It is a time for sleep. All dogs go to sleep. They will sleep all night.” I would quote that portion of Go Dog Go to my little bedtime snubbers as a reminder to follow the dogs’ example to go to sleep and stay that way all night.

Lillian Penner

You are Special by Max Lucado

Connilyn Cossette

I was a prolific reader from the moment I learned how to put letters together and there are so many wonderful books from my childhood that it is really hard to narrow it down to just one. So I will have to say the entire Narnia series are probably my most cherished childhood books. I even have the original set that was given to my parents as a wedding gift in 1971 and those were the books that I read to my kids. But I have very distinct memories of reading them for myself when I was a child and being so enthralled by the way C.S. Lewis lured me into Narnia and built an entire fantastical world inside a wardrobe. And really, is there anything better than Aslan?

Lin Stepp

One of my favorite books growing up was Edward Lear’s A Was Once an Apple Pie, which I still can recite completely. My mother favored poetry and read many kinds of children’s verse to me … I also loved Peter Pan (and I still do!) and Nancy Drew mysteries and the Anne of Green Gables books.

Andy Andrews

The Kid Who Changed The World!

Alexis Goring

My favorite children’s book is Love You Forever by Robert Munsch.

Cher Gatto

Hands down, C.S. Lewis’s Narnia series. I never tired of reading them aloud to my kids. When my children were really little, I always looked for one of Patricia Polacco books from our local library. Nothing beat her masterful storytelling and rich illustrations. And of course, we loved Dr. Seuss! You said “book” (singular), didn’t you? Okay, Winnie-the-Pooh.

There are many of my favorites in this list. What about you? What are your favorite children’s books? Comment below and let us know.