• mamahood
    • homeschool
    • Maxwell
    • Natalie
    • Marigold
    • Landon
    • baby things
  • faith
    • 23 identities (PDF)
    • Tanzania + Compassion
  • inspiration
    • our home
    • books
    • lifestyle
    • marriage
    • homeschool
    • simple living
    • we’re debt free!
    • book recommendations
  • homeschool
  • devotionals
    • (in)courage Devotional Bible
    • 31 Days of Prayer for the Dreamer & Doer
  • new? start here

Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / inspiration / books / Favorite books for the kids!

Favorite books for the kids!

November 12, 2015 · 12 Comments
Filed Under: books, for fun, Maxwell, Natalie

our 12 favorite kids books | maggie whitley designs

When we were planning Natalie’s first birthday, the memories of celebrating with our family and friends were sure to be great, but we didn’t want any of them to feel obligated to bring her a gift. And, I didn’t want any more toys ;) Instead, we gave our guests the option to opt out of bringing a gift, as well as a suggestion if they chose to.

I drew back on a phrase I saw months ago and added a simple note to the bottom of her party invitations: If you’d like to bring a gift, please consider a book to expand Natalie’s library. It was the perfect add-on to her bunny tea party themed invitations! Zack and I both love to read, whether it be articles/advice or leisurely books, and in the past six months we’ve seeing the kids take a big interest to it, too. In fact, Natalie will busy herself for a good 20 minutes with a basket of books. And then there’s Mr. Max, who is my little couch reading buddy.

kids reading maggie whitley

Here are our 12 favorite kids books:

Playtown (a lift-the-flap book)

A Madeline Treasury (I was obsessed with Madeline as a little girl)

Little Blue Truck

The Seven Silly Eaters

Baby Sister

On The Night You Were Born

I Love You, Daddy

The Bear Snores On

The Secret Garden (BabyLit)

The Bunny Rabbit Show

How to Babysit a Grandpa

Goodnight Moon

There are so many ways to “play” with books with your children. Sometimes we play hide & seek with the pictures, or I point out the colors on each page. Everything is either BLUE! or ORANGE!, but we’ll get there ;) Also, Max is starting to remember the details of each story, and it’s seriously amazing listening to him describe what’s going on on each page. Other times we make up a totally new story than the one typed on the page.

Books are easy to share, easy to bring in the diaper bag, and are full of inspiration & creativity. What are some favorite kids books in your home?

(Affiliate links included above.)

PS. a list of MY 12 favorite books (hooray for book club!)

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Print
  • LinkedIn


12 Comments
Filed Under: books, for fun, Maxwell, Natalie

Join over 4,400 women who receive Maggie Whitley Designs inspiration & encouragement:

 

Loading

« Dear Natalie Rose, on the eve of your First Birthday…
A day in the life. »

Comments

  1. Tonya says

    November 12, 2015 at 7:12 am

    What a great idea for her birthday! My nephew just turned one, as well. A couple months ago I gave him little blue truck and then my dad made him a matching wooden blue truck to go with it. He LOVES them.

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      November 12, 2015 at 1:14 pm

      Oh my gosh, that is precious! :)

      Reply
  2. Nikki says

    November 12, 2015 at 8:41 am

    ‘Rosie Revere, Engineer’ and ‘the pout pout fish’ are two of our favorites.

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      November 12, 2015 at 9:00 am

      We love Rosie Revere! We also have Iggy Peck, Architect — have you read that one? xx

      Reply
  3. Laura @ Laura Radniecki says

    November 13, 2015 at 7:56 am

    I find it amazing and thrilling that Goodnight Moon [one of my favorites as a kid] is still so well loved by new little ones today! I’m expecting my first in March [a week or two before you, I believe!] and I not only saved my copy of Goodnight Moon from when I was little, but we got a thick paged baby copy from a friend. I know that will be a well-loved and often read staple in our house!

    I’m a huge reader too, so I can only hope that by exposure to books and seeing his mama read, my son will learn to appreciate it too!

    Also, I checked out your reading list and I second the Orphan Train recommendation! I just scheduled a post yesterday detailing some of my favorites from the last year and that was my top fiction favorite! SO, SO GOOD.

    Reply
  4. Sarah says

    November 16, 2015 at 9:55 am

    Favourite books… where to start? Where to stop?! We are such fans of books around here. Some of our all-time faves are the Richard Scarry classics – Cars & Trucks & Things That Go, What Do People Do All Day, and The Best Storybook Ever. Maxwell would LOVE the first one in that list!

    Penny Dale’s 10 in the Bed books (sweetest illustrations ever), anything at all by Barbara Reid (Canadian artist with the coolest illustration style – so inspiring) – her Zoe’s Year series is perfect for Natalie’s age right now. And all her books are just amazing.

    Night Cars and Each Peach Pear Plum… and anything by Margaret Wise Brown; she has some lesser known books like The Big Red Barn and The Color Kittens that are absolutely awesome. Seriously I could go ON AND ON for DAYS! There are so many wonderful books. It’s the one thing I don’t mind owning a ton of; I just rotate so they aren’t all out at once. And I try to keep it to books that have beautiful/interesting illustrations and intelligent text. :)

    You’re just at the beginning of such a fun journey of years worth of reading to your kids! :)

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      November 20, 2015 at 10:11 am

      Your comment is making me smile SO BIG, seriously, I love all the recommendations and positivity you shared with reading. I totally agree! Thank you Sarah for taking the time to comment! xx

      Reply
  5. Kelli says

    November 19, 2015 at 12:14 pm

    We love Little Blue Truck around here! Some other favorites of ours for little boys are Build Dogs Build by James Horvath and EIEIO How Old MacDonald Got His Farm by Judy Sierra. We did a post on our favorites a couple months ago on the blog. :) You have a great selection! -Kelli

    Reply
  6. Lauren says

    November 20, 2015 at 8:49 am

    Are you familiar with the Read Aloud Revival podcasts? They encourage families to build a culture of books in their homes and give lots of recommendations for good books to read with your children.

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      November 20, 2015 at 10:11 am

      I am not, but thank you so much for passing that along! xx

      Reply
  7. Tonya Lawson says

    March 9, 2016 at 3:05 pm

    Maggie, I really have to commend your for encouraging reading so intentionally! I’ve been a Children’s Minister for 19 years, and we’ve really seen a decline in the number of kids with an attention span long enough to like reading. With all of the technology at their disposal, kids multi-task more than they focus on one thing, and surveys have shown that they’re not excelling at anything. Obviously, there are exception. From what you’re reading, I assume you’re a Christian. It will be great when your kids are able to focus on God’s Word! :)

    Anyway, I LOVE reading!!! I raised boys and we had a few favorites. One that sticks in my mind, and I’ll save for when I have grandkids, is The Spooky Old Tree by Berenstein Bears. I was very dramatic with it, and the kids loved it! Since you have a boy, I’ll look through our collection (yes, we still have them and I won’t let my kids get rid of them) and pass on a few more.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. What’s new on my bookshelf. says:
    April 25, 2016 at 6:53 pm

    […] our top 12 favorite children’s books […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

ABOUT MAGGIE WHITLEY DESIGNS:
Maggie Whitley weaves her writings around joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith, and simple living. She homeschools her children, enjoys a quiet room while reading, and roars with laughter over the challenges & delights of motherhood. Maggie and her husband, along with their four young children, live in metro-Detroit. She has been writing online since 2008.
READ MORE >>
  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS

EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Join over 4,400 women who receive Maggie Whitley Designs inspiration & encouragement:

 

Loading

instagram

maggiewhitley

JOY in motherhood & homemaking 🧺🌿💓✨

maggiewhitley
“We are preparing to wind down for the school ye “We are preparing to wind down for the school year with just a few more weeks of intentional table lessons. We will then transition to a lighter learning schedule during the summer months. Today I am grateful for the books and resources I’ve read that have helped keep me in my own lane. (Visit my blog to see a personal favorite.)

Even now, three years in, I appreciate the reminder to stay on the path that was designed with intentional thought just for me.”

✨ see #maggiewhitleydotcom for the full post ✨
I took off my “comparison / contemplation” gla I took off my “comparison / contemplation” glasses last month and it’s been soooooo good. See also: sooooo hard (because life is never and/or). I’ve been writing more, reading more, spending more time outside. Talking to friends faces and smelling their detergent. My heart feels lighter. I’m sharing a few updates on my blog if you’d like to read? 🌾🤓blog reading & writing is a much better pace for me. You too? Link in profile.
Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect o Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect on the moments I’ve felt my mind spinning, my emotions swirly, it’s almost always when I’m not feasting on the word of God. Not that reading scripture is the cure for anxiety —no! Rather, it’s hard to worry when we’re worshipping.
.
.
.
.
.
#womenintheword #wearethehomemakers #scripture #dailyintheword #titus2woman #healthylifestyle #mentalhealth #anxiety #anxietyawareness
Current backyard status: stunning in wonder ❄️ Current backyard status: stunning in wonder ❄️✨
A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is hot, and the whisper of a page turning. ♨️☕️📖 // We are breaking from school this week, my plan is to read a lot, walk a lot, and rest a lot. How about you?

#mothersofinstagram #tea #winterreading #hygge
I fought every internal comment I could think of a I fought every internal comment I could think of and took my kiddos for a looooong walk today before dinner. ❄️✨ There’s just so much work required to raise children! I’m feeling like a tired lady. But sunshine & fresh air are good companions to keep around. 

We came home and I made “the best dinner ever”. Max specifically announced, “it’s so great you’re launching new meals to the world”. LOL— kids! 🤣👏🏻💓
How about a little Wednesday night introduction? 😘Social media sure has changed over the years and we don’t always SEE who we’re following or remember WHY we’re following certain accounts. 

So, hello! As you can gather, my name is Maggie ;) 

I started writing online (almost 13 years ago) to share the handmade products I was sewing. My shop was called Gussy Sews. ✂️👛I love the community that has grown from sewing & sharing online.

Let’s FFW to today: Zack and I live in Michigan and have four young children (2 boys & 2 girls). I slowly left the handmade industry and walked right into homemaking, homeschooling, and encouraging women through writing. 💕📝

Motherhood has been very hard on me. (And not just because of how close in age our four children are.) It’s been hard for me because I fought for years to accept that *it’s supposed to be hard*. 

I mean, how do you effectively teach another person to know and love the Lord? Bc that’s how I think of motherhood: a calling to nurture others by studying the One who nurtures me. So I gotta make the first move: study the Bible and seek Him first. As my friend Autumn reminded me, vulnerability births transformation. 

(I’ve had to be really vulnerable!)

So, yes motherhood has fully transformed me. But even more so, Christ has fully transformed me. My list of “all that He’s done for me” is off to a beautifully long start.

Something else I want you to know about me: I stalled for years before acknowledging I have anxiety and depression. It’s hard to talk about this because of course this isn’t forever “my hardship”, but rather because acknowledging this means to heal I have to work through some really difficult things. ✨

But my friend Jesus walks alongside me. He’s already done a mighty work in my heart, including helping me process my anger in healthier ways. I’ve also adopted a heart for sisterhood, mothering, and Titus 2 mentorship.

Sometimes our greatest losses are our greatest gains? That’s what I’m clinging to!

How about you? Tell me something about yourself so I can get to know you on a deeper heart level. 🖤🖤
How do you play in the winter? // We had a really How do you play in the winter? // We had a really great time visiting family in northern Michigan. On my blog I share a few ways we played outside, plus I describe a memorable childhood game ❄️☃️. Did you play it as a kiddo?
We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens in the morning (HGTV), playtime before lessons, and not enough quiet time after lunch. This made for a really, ummm, unenjoyable learning experience. 

But today! Today we reset the rhythm, and we have had a much happier home & time learning together. 👏🏻
Visit my stories for a quick message from ME — t Visit my stories for a quick message from ME — think outside the box in terms of how you view the definition of “motherhood” 💓😘 (also: look at my little friend, she’s sooooo snuggly)
It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hop It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hope to bundle up for another family nature walk, knowing the fresh air sweeps out any & all frustration, inviting inspiration inside. ✨That’s something we all need more of.
seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming the Laundry Beast (as a family of 6). Who wants the inside scoop? ✔️🧺👏🏻
Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomo Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomorrow :) small celebrations like this are very life giving! PS. thinking of starting a zoom book club — I need more sisterhood in my life. 👏🏻📖
The house is quiet. The heat is on. The pages are The house is quiet. The heat is on. The pages are turning. The tea is calm. 🖤☕️🧺📖
Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his ful Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his full costume and laser blaster and of course the Buzz action figure he flys around 🌟💚💙💨someone has discovered a superhero crush! #joyinmotherhood #slowmornings #surprisedbymotherhood // Landon @ 2.5yo
Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to read this year. Plus my reading goal for the year. And a few practicals ways I fit in reading as a mama of four young children & homeschooling them. Basically, all the good stuff ☺️💓📖 #maggiewhitleydotcom #readersofinstagram #read #readmorebooks
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Categories

Archives

Copyright © 2021 · Divine Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.