Some books I’m willing to read repeatedly: I Am A Bunny, and I Am A Mouse, both by Ole Risom and illustrated by Richard Scarry and John P. Miller, respectively, in a realistic style, as if they actually made the time to observe the plants and animals; Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown; Stack the Cats, by Susan Ghahremani; and Bear and Wolf, by Daniel Salmieri. The latter is my favorite so far because of this line, among others:
“Bear and Wolf walked through the quietly falling snow, using their eyes, and ears, and noses to take in the snowy woods.”
Bear is female, Wolf is male, and they are at home in the cold, as we can be if we allow ourselves to acclimate. They explore together, go they separate ways, and meet again in late spring.
On the page in Goodnight Moon where the mouse is peeking out from behind the bowl full of mush, our 3-year old has started shouting at it "NO NO YOUNG MOUSE, GET AWAY FROM MY MUSH!!!" Makes me laugh every time.
I love that part, and also "goodnight nobody" - the book starts out being very concrete (saying good night to all the things in the room) then expands out to encompass everything and nothing. It feels at once poetic and childlike.
While Goodnight Moon is everyone's favorite, there is something about "The Little Island" by Margaret Wise Brown that captured me as a parent. I loved reading this story out loud. The writing is poetic and flows off the tongue. The story has some nuance, that to this day I'm still not sure I fully grasp. This is my favorite book to give as a gift to new parents.
I honestly think that Frog and Toad has lessons that are applicable even for adults. My wife and I will sometimes quote things like "'What we need is willpower,' said Frog." when meaning to stop snacking on something.
Also, I find Owl at Home intriguingly solipsistic, but that's not really a concept that I think my kids would understand.
“Bear and Wolf walked through the quietly falling snow, using their eyes, and ears, and noses to take in the snowy woods.”
Bear is female, Wolf is male, and they are at home in the cold, as we can be if we allow ourselves to acclimate. They explore together, go they separate ways, and meet again in late spring.