Ani's Summer Friday Faves: My favourite Children's Storybooks

As a parent, we often get stuck reading our children's book faves over and over and over and over...for all eternity or if we are lucky, when they finally outgrow them. There were many books I was happy to pass on or donate because they drove me to insanity but these I've kept for future grandkids. I loved them all. Many I read when I was a child and some were new to me with my two littles.

My Favourite Children's Storybooks:

Brundibar: A super weird book that may scare some kids but my daughter loved it. We laughed and laughed every time we ready it. Most of the spots we found funny were dark or creepy but that's us. My family can find humour in anything.

Blueberries for Sal: Sal is my sister so I feel a great attachment for this book. I was a marathon picker and she mostly explored and picked the odd blueberries to eat. She did not help fill our freezer with winter berries. Once she let loose a hive of hornets when she peeled back bark on the wrong tree while we were picking our pie berries. She was a pain. Haha!!

Ferdinand: I am pretty sure I was a born vegetarian and definitely am a lover of animals. I read this book around a hundred times. The ending where he's sitting under a tree loving life, is the best scene in any book....except for my below where I chat about the greatest book ever written, Pete and Pickles.

City Dog, Country Frog: I'm beginning to see a trend already in the books I love...deep and emotional. I like how this book depicts how best friends are seasonal in your life. They come and go but can still be dear and wonderful friendships. It also shows loss and how life doesn't end for the one still living.

Knuffle Bunny: I love this whole series. If anyone had a beloved stuffy, this is a book for you. I loved my stuffed Paddington Bear. It was nothing like the real Paddington Bear but it was near and dear to me. I dreamt it was alive and we were best friends.

Little Wonder: This is another old but goodie. I love the relationship between the organ grinder and the beagle. I also love how Little Wonder becomes a hero in an unexpected way.

Where the Wild Things Are: I know this is another dark book but I loved the fantasy in it when I was young. I loved that he was a bit of a brat and ran away to join a new monster brat pack and ends up getting tired of their drama and sails home to Mom.

The Paper Bag Princes: I made reference to this amazing book a while back but it had to make this list too. I love her, I love the dragon, I love the whiny cry baby Prince. I love that she is the hero. I love that she wears paper and smells of ash. I just love it all!

Oh, the Places You'll Go: This book is so encouraging for all kids. It is a bit longer than most children's picture books but it needs every page. So many kids don't fit the Western Society's mold of what is good. This book shows how it's all good. There is a place for everyone! We can all be successful if we follow our own path.

Last but not least....

The GREATEST Children's Storybook EVER is Berkeley Breathed's Pete and Pickle.

The story is the most beautiful story ever written about how two completely opposite personalities can be such amazing friends. I could read this book every day and still nearly cry when Pete saves Pickle by breathing for her. OMGoodness, a tear is building as I type those words. The art is gorgeous and the story is so heartfelt and fun. GET THIS BOOK!