And now “The Books Most Enjoyed by the Youngest Generation” as reported by their parents. **

I’m not sure any great insights can be drawn from this list, but it does seem clear that the younger ‘readers’ like the board books of Sandra Boynton (pix to the right) and those of Eric Carle, plus any touchy-feeling books (Pat the Bunny, etc.).

Dr. Seuss is still popular, and beyond that there are a lot of titles and authors’ names that are vaguely familiar and many that are unknown to me, but I’m sure are familiar to ‘newer’ parents.

I was happy to learn that one ‘reader’ loves the All in a Kind Family series, an all time favorite with our own kids many years ago. I wonder if parents today are reading books to their kids that they remember from their own childhood?

Much thanx to those who sent in responses and an apology in advance if I messed up a bit on your prodigy’s age. I left out the parents’ names and the last names of the young readers to protect the innocent/innocence.

Please feel free to  ‘Add a Comment’ below and/or give any suggestions (for a list next year?).

              36 Kids, Their Ages, & Their Favorite Books Today

                                           (as reported by their parents)

1. Ella, 5, Willow 2.6

Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin & Betsy Lewin

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems

Moo Baa La La La by Sandra Boynton

2.  Samantha, 8,   Ella, 4:

I don't really have any babies any more, but my 8-year old positively loves the Doll People series, by Ann M. Martin, Laura Godwin, and Brian Selznick. It's a trilogy, and it's brilliant. Engaging story and fabulous illustrations. I think she's read each one approx. 100 times.

She also really likes the All of a Kind Family series by Sydney Taylor and Helen John. It was written many years ago and there are 5 of them (I think). They follow a Jewish family in New York just prior to WWI. Beautiful family story.

She also enjoys the Schoolhouse in the Woods series, by Rebecca Caudill and Decie Merwin. Also an oldie but a goodie.

My youngest is 4, and she enjoys having read to her the Angelina Ballerina series, by Katharine Holabird and Helen Craig. Any of them.

She also likes Leo Lionni's books -- Swimmy, Matthew's Dream, and Alexander and the Windup Mouse.

3. Jesse 1.5:

Mama Loves You by Caroline Stutson,

The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton,

Lunchtime on the Farm by Cathy Drinkwater Better

The Very Ticklish Tiger by Jack Tickle.

He loves all books where there are things to touch and feel or with lights and sounds. He's also into all that is Elmo!

4. Beatrice, 6 weeks:

Guess How Much I love You by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram

On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman

The Grouchy Lady Bug by Eric Cayle

5. The 5th grade class at Glenallan Elementary loved listening to me read them, according to Emily as teacher:

1) The Witches by Ronald Dahl

2) The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis

They loved listening to Shell Silverstein read his poetry from Where the Side Walk Ends.

They love reading Captain Underpants, by Dave Pilkey, Harry Potter, and attempting to read Twilight by Stephanie Meyer (?) (My guess is they aren't actually reading this one!)

6. Nicky 6, Mac 2.5, Winnie 1.5:

The Story of Everything by Neal Layton

North Country Night by Daniel San Souci

The Year At Maple Hill Farm by Alice Provensen

7.  Jolie, 3 (almost):

Mommy in My Pocket, by Carol Hunt Senderak

Dora's Backpack, by Sarah Willson, Robert Roper

Madeline in London. by Ludwig Bemelmans

She also loves all the Dr. Seuss books - her current favorite: Pu

And according to Jolie’s Nana,

Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and One Fish Two Fish (“over and over and over again”)

Cordury by Don Freeman

Llama Llama Red Pajamas by Anna Dewdney

Mary Poppins and Ratatoulie on daddy’s iphone.

8. Zoe, 2:

Snuggle Puppy and anything by author Sandra Boyton, including

But Not the Hippopotamus

Blue Hat Green Hat

Barnyard Dance

Jamberry by Bruce Degen

Gossie series by Olivier Dunrea

9. Alex, 4, Cory 1.5:

Alex's favorite books right now :

Dora's Storytime Collection or anything with Diego

Fancy Nancy books by Jane O'connor, and

Dr. Seuss books.

Good Night Our World series by Adam Gamble and Cooper Kelly

Corey LOVES all Karen Katz flap books:

Toes, Ears & Nose! and Where is Baby's Belly Button, etc...

Touch and Feel Books....his favorite at the moment being Animal Kisses by Barney Saltzberg.

10. Aaron, 5; Anna, 8, Owen 11, Aidan 13:

Picture book for Aaron:

 

10 Minutes Till Bedtime (Peggy Rathmann)

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (Barrett)

No, David! By David Shannon

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie series by Laura Numeroff

Any Eric Carle or Dr. Seuss book.

Chapter books for Anna:

A to Z Mysteries by Ron Roy

Go Girl series by Ash Oswald

Rainbow Magic series by Daisy Meadows

Chapter books for Owen and Aidan

Cirque du Freak series by Darren Shan

Eragon series by Christopher Paolini,

Charlie Bone series by Jenny Nemmo

Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

11. Haley, 3

All Karen Katz books!!!! -All David Shannon books

Dr. Seuss, of course

Cinderella

12. Eli, 11 months:

Dog by Brian Stanton

Peek-A-Who? by Nina Laden

Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt

That’s Not My Dinosaur by Fiona Watt

Please Don’t Eat Me by Roger De Muth

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd

13. Jack, 11 months:

Farm Peekaboo http://www.amazon.com/Peekaboo-Farm-Touch-Feel-Action/dp/0756631041

But Not the Hippopotamus by Sandra Boynton. My favorite (which Jack will sometimes sit through)

14. Drew 3, Greyson 3 months:

Love You Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt and Cyd Moore...ok, ok, so really it is my favorite but it is soooooo cute!

15. Winston  1.5:

Gossie by Olivier Dunrea

Olivia by Ian Falconer

Epossumondas by Coleen Salley

Wallace's List by Barbara Bottner and Gerald Kruglik

16. Leo, 5, Anya 2.5:

Pigeon books, anything by Mo Willems

Busy Town books -- not new, but good

Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, anything by Kevin Henkes

Katy was a Snow Plow by Virginia Lee Burton

for the younger set--any in those touchy-feely series That’s Not My ...." (dinosaur, truck, car, etc.)

17. Armwell, 13.5 months:

Butterfly Kisses by Sandra Magsamen

Usborne's Noisy Zoo

Brown Bear Brown Bear by Eric Carle

Waddle by Butler Seder

Hippos Go Berzerk by Sandra Boynton

Eight Silly Monkeys by Steve Haskamp

18. Ellison, 8 months:

Hands Hands Fingers Thumb by Al Perkins and Eric Gurney

Brown Bear Brown Bear by Billy Martin Jr. and Eric Carle

Fifteen Animals & Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boyton

19. Sean, 14 months:

Wild About Books by Judy Sierra

20. Sarah, 1,5,  Thomas, 1 month:

Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt.  Its an oldie but a goodie, but she adores the darn thing, and we have had to tape it back together, repair it and even buy thirds and fourths of the darn thing because she has loved it so much!

That’s Not My Monster and That’s Not My Bear and all the Usborne Touch Feely books by Fiona Watts and Rachel Wells.

21.  Reagan, 4, Abby, 2, Charlie, 10 months:

Reagan loves Berenstain Bears, Curious George, and I Spy books (looking for the hidden pictures).

Abby loves counting books, alphabet books and anything by Sandra Boynton.

Charlie is into any lift the flap books with a “peek a boo" added (as I'm sure Eli is), which just sends him into laughter, especially when read by his big sisters.

22. Emmett, 8.5 months:

I Love You Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt – that’s who Emmett was for Halloween!

23. Billie, 16 months:

Polly's Pet Shop by Nicholas Allan.  Here's a link to the info on Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pollys-Pet-Shop-Nicholas-Allan/dp/1862304831.

24. Leo, 4 and Claire 2:

Dora the Explorer by Ty

Diego (anything with Diego in it)

(**Click HERE for the list of ones most enjoyed by the 22-92 year olds.)