Wednesday, June 18, 2008

100 Great Picture Books

Yesterday, we went to the library around the corner. The car was out of commission, so the girls grabbed their scooters and Jake hopped in the wagon (his bike is in the courtyard, which is currently being invaded by hornets). I had this bright idea that I would pull the wagon while rollerblading.

The thing is, I used to be an AWESOME rollerblader. I jumped on and off of sidewalks, I could do one footed turns and jumps like an ice-skater, and I was absolutely fearless. I would blade down huge hills at top speed without even blinking. (I was insane, basically.) Not so much anymore. (Insane OR fearless, take your pick.) Now I'm a lot more tentative and a whole lot less fast. The driveway seems very long and steep and scary.

I was trying to go fast enough to keep us moving, but slow enough to retain control over the wagon and myself if I needed to stop quickly. Jake was not happy with my slowish progress. "Mom, you are not going faster enough."

Oh, excuse me. I'm so sorry to inconvenience you as I huff along on my rollerblades of death.

On the way there, we saw a dead catfish on the sidewalk, which precipitated much screaming. From me. "You guys, you can look, but don't touch it. Don't touch it. Don't touch it! Jake, if you touch it, I'll - DON'T TOUCH IT! DON'T TOUCH DEAD FISH YOU FIND ON THE SIDEWALK!" (Advice for the ages.)

After that we made it there pretty quickly, despite the 170 degree heat. Unfortunately, when we got to the library I realized I'd forgotten my shoes. I wasn't about to haul everyone back home just to retrieve my shoes, so I ended up walking around the library wearing socks and rollerblade liners. (Hey, they were kind of shoe-like. Sort of. If you squint.)

We found our books, cooled down, checked out and rolled away. Back at home, I started cleaning the kitchen and looked over to see this:


YEEEEESSSSS. My DNA manifests itself at last.

Lastly, the local elementary school sent home a list of 100 great picture books. I love anything to do with books, and thought I'd post it for you. I thought my preschoolers were sort of well readish, but there are a lot of books on the list that we haven't read before. I'm excited to take this list with us to the library next time.

100 Great Picture Books, compiled by the New York Public Library

Abuela by Arthur Dorros.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst.
Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing by Judi Barrett.
Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock by Eric A. Kimmel
Andy and the Lion by Juan Daugherty
Ben's Trumpet by Rachel Isadora
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
The Bossy Gallito: A Traditional Cuban Folk Tale retold by Lucia M. Gonzalez.
Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business by Esphyr Slobodkina.
The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss.
A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr., and John Archambault.
Corduroy by Don Freeman.
Curious George by H.A. Rey.
The Day Jimmy’s Boa Ate the Wash by Trinka H. Noble.
Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell.
Doctor De Sota by William Steig.
Farmer Duck by Martin Waddell. The Fortune-Tellers by Lloyd Alexander.
Freight Train by Donald Crews.
George and Martha by James Marshall.
Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley.
Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann.
Goodnight Moon by Margaret W. Brown.
Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say.
Happy Birthday, Moon by Frank Asch.
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson.
Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion.
Henny Penny illustrated by Paul Galdone.
Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss.
I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly illustrated by Glen Rounds.
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura J. Numeroff.
Is It Red? Is It Yellow? Is It Blue? An Adventure in Color by Tana Hoban.
It Could Always Be Worse: A Yiddish Folktale retold and illustrated by Margot Zemach.
John Henry by Julius Lester.
The Judge: An Untrue Tale by Harve Zemach.
Julius by Angela Johnson.
Komodo! by Peter Sís.
Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus.
Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni.
The Little Dog Laughed and Other Nursery Rhymes by Lucy Cousins.
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams.
Little Red Riding Hood retold and illustrated by Paul Galdone.
Lunch by Denise Fleming.
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile by Bernard Waber.
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans.
Masie Goes Swimming by Lucy Cousins.
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey.
Martha Calling by Susan Meddaugh.
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia L. Burton.
Millions of Cats by Wanda Gág.
Miss Nelson Is Missing by Harry Allard and James Marshall.
Mr. Gumpy’s Outing by John Burningham.
The Monkey and the Crocodile retold and illustrated by Paul Galdone.
Morris’ Disappearing Bag by Rosemary Wells.
Mouse Paint by Ellen S. Walsh.
Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale retold and illustrated by John Steptoe.
Mushroom in the Rain adapted from the Russian of V. Suteyev by Mirra Ginsburg.
The Napping House by Audrey Wood.
Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann.
Old Black Fly by Jim Aylesworth.
Over in the Meadow by John Langstaff.
Owen by Kevin Henkes.
Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle.
Perez and Martina by Pura Belpré. Illustrated by Carlos Sanchez.
Pierre: A Cautionary Tale by Maurice Sendak.
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg.
The Random House Book of Mother Goose: A Treasury of 186 Timeless Nursery Rhymes selected and illustrated by Arnold Lobel.
Rosie’s Walk by Pat Hutchins.
Round Trip by Ann Jonas.
Rumpelstiltskin retold and illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky.
Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young.
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats.
Stone Soup retold and illustrated by Marcia Brown.
The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant by Jean de Brunhoff.
The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf.
Strega Nona by Tomie De Paola.
Swamp Angel by Anne Isaacs.
Swimmy by Leo Lionni.
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter.
Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang.
There’s a Nightmare in My Closet by Mercer Mayer.
The Three Billy Goats Gruff by P.C. Asbjfrnsen and J.E. Moe.
The Three Robbers by Tomi Ungerer.
Tikki Tikki Tembo retold by Arlene Mosel.
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by A. Wolf as told to John Scieszka.
Tuesday by David Wiesner.
Two of Everything: A Chinese Folktale retold and illustrated by Lily Toy Hong.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt retold by Michael Rosen.
The Wheels on the Bus adapted and illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky.
When I Was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant.
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.
Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill.
Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats.
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears: A West African Tale retold by Verna Aardema.
Zomo the Rabbit: A Trickster Tale from West Africa retold and illustrated by Gerald McDermott.

162 comments:

  1. "Why Mosquitoes Buzz In People's Ears" ROCKS! It has been one of our favorites! You should check it out. Enjoy!

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  2. The picture is adorable... As is the thought of you wandering through the library in roller blade liners.

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  3. You need LINERS for rollerblades!? Maybe that is why I fall on my butt everytime I try to do it.

    I love books more than food. (And that is a lot - I grew up in my parents bookstore)

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  4. Anonymous11:32 AM

    I had forgotten all about "Caps for Sale" until I read it on the list.

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  5. I love top 100 lists! I'll printing it off...

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  6. I love that Old Lady who swallowed a fly book. It's a good one.

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  7. Where the heck did the catfish come from? Jump 100's of miles from the nearest source of water?
    I know why you can't skate fast anymore. You have FINALLY developed cause and effect thinking. You know if you go fast, gravity works, you will fall down and it will hurt. It will take a while before your kids figure it out.
    While I like the idea of a book named Read and Jam for Francis, I do believe it is Bread and Jam for Francis. The Francis books are part of the few LONG books I will willingly read to my kids. LOVE them.

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  8. Oh I love this list! I am sort of obsessed with buying books for my kids. I see all kinds of books I had forgotten about on here.
    PS - I think wearing the liners was brilliant.

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  9. Thanks for the list!

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  10. Oops, thanks Jo, I fixed it :>

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  11. Nice list.
    Nice story.
    Nice A$$.

    Pick me!

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  12. I've NEVER been able to rollerblade.

    Seriously? A catfish? On the sidewalk? You live in a whacked out neighborhood.

    And yay for books!!! We have a humongoid book basket that's filled to the brim with children's books. My husband hates it. I like it. The kids LOVE it. So can you give the gift card to me so that I can drive my husband insane by buying some of the books on that list and making the basket completely overflow? Pretty pretty pretty please?

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  13. I want to win. Gimme. I love books.

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  14. Wow, if I looked and saw BOTH of my kids sitting quietly and reading at the same time without being told to, I would have to wonder what they've done that they're trying to pretend they didn't do. That's the way we roll lately, it seems.

    That's a good list, too. I've read so many of those to my preschool class. They always go back to Brown Bear, Brown Bear, though. That or the random Dora book they find (...shudder...).

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  15. Wow, looks like I've got a lot of reading to do with my kids! Thanks for the list.

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  16. I love books too, loving the list! Thanks for posting it.

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  17. I wrote about children's books yesterday. So I should win the certificate.
    or maybe I'm just freaked out because after I wrote it, I surfed around looking at blogs and more than one wrote about books too. I think I have the gift of prophecy.
    Now I'm going to go write a post about how everyone everywhere should give me fifty bucks.

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  18. Anonymous12:09 PM

    Love books--I wish my kids read more--seeing your list brought back lots of memories of the younger years(theirs and mine!)

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  19. LoL you've inspired me to get of my lazy butt and drag my kids to the library. I think my three year old might (finally) be old enough to get out his own book (and not eat it, don't ask)

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  20. That is my dream...all my children sitting quietly and reading books. Thanks so much for the great list to get us started!

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  21. You kill me! I am SO impressed... in that heat.... on rollerblades, pulling a wagon! wow, you deserve a sonic run!

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  22. Hello? What's that? You "received" an Amazon gift certificate to give away? Have you somehow tapped in to the super-secret blog giveaway pipeline, and you didn't even tell me?

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  23. oh reading has become this summer thing at our house thanks for the new reading list. We will have to check out some of them. YOur trip to the library sounded like so much fun.

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  24. I like free stuff. Pick me.

    And once I wiped out on my blades while wearing short shorts (pre-marriage), and had a lovely road burn on my upper back thigh for weeks. Things like that make me look athletic AND hot.

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  25. Oh my gosh...love Amazon. Thanks!

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  26. Anonymous1:08 PM

    I love the catfish line. I am still chuckling over the Las Vegas Zoo, too.

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  27. Dude, I have to know! Why the freaking heck was there a catfish on the sidewalk.

    Gotta go! I'm off to the library with my monsters.

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  28. Have you ever read "Aint' gonna paint no more"? I'ts our family's favorite picture book. It makes me laugh every time I read it.

    I am also wondering what a dead catfish was doing on the sidewalk in the desert. Does this happen often?

    I have never been on rollerblades. You are such a cool mom to have such a nice outing to the library. My kids keep asking me to take them to our local library, but I won't due to the overdue fines we owe.

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  29. Oooo! Oooo! Me me me!

    Thanks for the list, I'm determined to build up our library over the next year or so.

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  30. Anonymous1:19 PM

    Okay, I'm wondering how a catfish ended up on a Las Vegas sidewalk. There's a story.

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  31. Thanks for the list. I was just thinking today that I need to find a libary around here to take the kids to.

    Oh and I have to know too - where did the dead fish come from? Seems kind of random....

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  32. Miss Nelson Is Missing! I remember that! Wow. Great book.

    I think you should pick me since you never answered my email. My creepy, creepy email.

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  33. Anonymous1:32 PM

    Pick me! I so need new stuff from Amazon.

    Go you on finally having your DNA kick butt!

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  34. Anonymous1:33 PM

    Great list. I'll be printing that one off. And I love Sylvester and the Magic Pebble! Takes me back.

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  35. I have no idea why the fish is there or how it got there. It's still there actually. When I go pick up my kids from pre-school I'll take a picture of it.

    I THINK it's a catfish. That's the kind with whiskers, right? It's really gross.

    Abby, your email was awesome not creepy. I'm just lame. I really am planning to answer it, I swear. Because you were awesome to email me in the first place. I'm just really, really strange about communication in general these days.

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  36. Love the list too. Thanks so much! Your post gave me a good laugh. Esp. the dead fish.

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  37. The catfish was bad enough, but I'm still impressed that you rollerbladed to the library.

    That picture is beyond priceless. It deserves to be framed.

    And Amazon? Yippee! That's my kind of giveaway.

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  38. Hey, I can't even roller blade so you're one up on me!!!

    And yay for readers!! My girls are, my boy is soo not.

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  39. I've got it! The dead catfish slipped out of a grocery bag someone was carrying back from the grocery store whilst trying to remain upright on roller blades whilst pulling child in a wagon. Roller blader did not want to risk falling on butt whilst stopping to pick up the catfish. So it was left there to fry in the 140 heat.

    Could that be how a catfish landed on a Las Vegas sidewalk?

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  40. Not touching fish you find on sidewalks is very good advice. I think you should embroider it on a sampler...

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  41. I need that gift certificate! Pick me! And what do you mean you haven't read all the books on the list? We have---twice! (not really...oh well).

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  42. great book list!

    hysterical rollerblading story. i have a hill dubbed the "dear god! hill, because that is what i silently (or not so much) prayed as i careened down it on my blades.

    good times.

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  43. thanks so much for the book list, i'm excited to share those with the kids. i feel so bad about the rollerblading to the library. we walked once, the library doesn't open until noon and i seriously thought i was going to melt. i did rather enjoy the visual of you walking around in rollerblade liners... awesome!

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  44. Wow, I'm excited to check out the books on this list. I hope my kids turn out to love books as much as I do.

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  45. Aw... your kids are cute. And that's a great list.

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  46. Go Sue! Teaching your kids to love books! Thanks for the list...gonna pass it on, if that's ok with you!

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  47. How the heck does a dead catfish end up in the road? I mean seriously!

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  48. Thanks for posting that list! We will definitely have to use it.

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  49. Anonymous3:00 PM

    That is one seriously huge sofa. I am most impressed.

    I'm really glad the Roller Blades of Death didn't kill you.

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  50. What an awesome list of books. I better get to the library ASAP!

    And that couch rocks!

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  51. So much talk about kids reading, I thought I'd share something I know you'll appreciate---
    My oldest is reading Anne of Green Gables for the first time! I'm so excited for her! Another generation of Anne lovers. Yay!

    (Oh yeah- if you draw my name I will fall down dead from the shock of it- but my family will enjoy spending my Amazon giftcard!)

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  52. Thanks for sharing the list and love the picture. You are such a good mom to go out in the heat AND pull your child in the wagon! I had to laugh at the socks/blade liner shoes because I could see myself forgetting my shoes too!

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  53. While reading your post I thought, "I would love to rollerblade to the library with my kids in tow! Too bad I have neither a wagon or rollerblades, but sounds like fun..." and that's when I got to the part about forgetting shoes! That is TOTALLY something I would do. Then I had a clear mental image of you walking through the library in rollerblade liners and cracked up.

    I'm giggling now. :o) Thanks. I needed a good laugh.

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  54. Awesome list of books. And you made me snort with the "don't touch dead fish you find on the sidewalk" advice.

    Oh, and thanks for the chance to win.

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  55. i am totally baffled as to why a dead catfish would be on the sidewalk. totally.

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  56. You know, when we bought that couch it was one of those things where you order it and it comes in different sizes, depending on how many different sections you want. (Does that make sense? It does in my head.)

    Anyway, we ordered it smaller and they accidentally gave it to us larger. They didn't charge us for the extra piece but it's been a problem because it's like the couch that ate Manhattan. It makes every room look tiny.

    But it's so comfortable, there's no way we will ever get rid of it. My husband likes it because we each have our own TV watching domain.

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  57. So many books--so little time!

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  58. Snaps for even attempting that rollerblade trip. Isn't it amazing how loooong sidewalks become when you're no longer in a car?

    My favorite from your list is The Napping House.

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  59. So, don't you live in Vegas? Like everyone else, where the heck did the catfish come from???

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  60. is MY brain-dead comment, because I want Amazon, and I'm too hot and pregnant to think up anything vaguely clever.

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  61. I like free stuff and I like your blog, so I'm delurking to leave a comment.

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  62. I love your blog and would love to win!

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  63. Hey, at least you used to be able to do cool stuff on blades...I used to try and do cool things, but mostly I was terrified of falling. Yay for summer library trips and then laying around reading all the fun books!

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  64. I printed the list and found that we actually own or have owned at least 43 of those books. I was actually surprised that the number wasn't higher but then again, it could also be my faulty memory.

    I'm with you on the DNA. My friends laugh because the worst punishment in our house is, "You will have to put that book down." I guess there are worse things...

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  65. I am rather curious as to why there was a dead catfish on the sidewalk.
    Is this normal in L.V?
    Just wondering.

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  66. I love that all the kids are reading! How sweet!

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  67. Anonymous4:59 PM

    What was a catfish doing on a Las Vegas street, dead or otherwise? Am I the only one who thinks that is really really weird?

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  68. Anonymous5:16 PM

    Aren't those fleeting moments worth all the tea in China? I took my daughters to a local amusement park last week and was delighted to see them hug, to watch the eldest encourage and comfort the youngest when she was scared, and laugh together. Of course that all immediately disappeared the next day, but it is a memory of mine forever now. I've gotta get me one of those wagons for my new niece, so cute!

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  69. Awww! And if I'm brave enough to go to the library again, I'll be sure to take that list. Oy, the cursed library.

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  70. Anonymous5:51 PM

    Great list! Enter me in your contest thingie!

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  71. Anonymous5:59 PM

    I really love that you walked around the library in roller blade liners. Actually, I really love that you roller bladed to the library with a wagon in tow.

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  72. thanks for the list!! So very cool...there are a few on there I haven't read to my kids that i always loved and forgot about! Cool!

    I admit though that I am responding cause I love Amazon.com. Love it.

    Do I get points for honesty?

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  73. I recognize 36 of them. BUt then my youngest just graduated from high school so I've been out of the loop on picture books for a few years. However, I appreciate your list because I have grandchildren now. I need to know what's cool.

    I loved almost everything by Don and Audrey Wood. Glad one of their books is on the list.

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  74. I think you are awesome for being able to remain upright on rollerblades. I am really, REALLY good at flailing around like a windmill when I am on rollerblades. Quite funny from the perspective of an innocent bystander, I suppose. Anyway...

    I love your list. I will be heading to the library tomorrow with my kids (in my car, though, I do NOT need to fry my behind on the ground in the Arizona heat - because that is what will happen if I go on rollerblades).

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  75. Awesome list of books!

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  76. Anonymous7:45 PM

    That picture is worth a thousand words, so who cares about the title?

    I'm praying for a cold spell in Nevada...

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  77. I can't rollerblade for the life of me! They are way too fast for me. Give me the old fashioned four-wheeled skates anytime. I love how you wore the liners in the library.

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  78. I have seen a lot of road kill in my day, squirrels, racoons, possums (or Opossum if you are picky), armadillo, skunks, deer, dogs, cats...you get the idea. But a catfish?

    The books are awesome. We own 11 of those listed and have read over 20!

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  79. Anonymous8:47 PM

    We're walking to the library tomorrow and I'm sure we won't see a dead catfish!

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  80. Caps for Sale is a family favorite!

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  81. you are the best mom rolling them to the library in this heat! carter will appreciate that you did that someday.

    Cute pic of them! They're so smart & sweet.

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  82. I love quiet summer afternoons out of the heat ... and all the crazy (catfish?) adventures that go along with long summer days with nothing better to do.

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  83. Anonymous9:43 PM

    Great list, thanks for sharing! I would add My Friend is Sad by Mo Willems. Not that the NYT cares about my opinion, but....

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  84. Anonymous9:46 PM

    Great list, we've enjoyed quite a few of those titles; We're Going on a Bear Hunt is one of our favorites. Tragically, we have an animated DVD version of Pierre (Maurice Sendak) set to song that has caused so many minor implosions in my brain that I have hidden it from the kids. I'm sure it's better as a picture book than a bad cartoon musical.

    My son has taken to reading chapter books lately -- he'll sit for hours every day with his nose between the pages. Warms the cockles of my heart.

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  85. I LOVE that picture of your kids, it's like a dream! Thanks for the list too, I'll have to check out the ones I haven't heard of/read before.

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  86. Loved the rollerblades of death! Brilliant.
    I am hesitant to comment because you have so many.
    Something I discovered about you. You must be a much better typist than I am. It would take me three days to type that book list. Thanks for the suggestions.

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  87. My kids didn't pick up my reading gene yet either. Is there a no shoes no shirt no service sign at the library 'cause honestly I'd have wandered around in my socks. You got the temp a little exaggerated- really it was ONLY like 107. Didn't you grow up here???

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  88. I love children's books. Does begging increase my chances of winning?

    My BIL (who's the teensiest bit crazy) loves to tell the story of how he roller-bladed to the airport weekly and got in a fight with airport personnel every week because they wanted him to take the rbs off, so he'd take them off, and then they wanted him to put some shoes on, so he'd put the rbs back on, and they'd tell him to take off the roller blades and then he'd...

    Hilarious. It's a wonder they didn't arrest him.

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  89. catfish is the product of the blog god who delivers things such as this for blog posts when you got nothing.

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  90. I miss the days when I lived less than a quarter mile from our local library. We walked there several times a week. Now it's across town and if we get there once a week we're lucky!

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  91. Did you join the ranks of the "big girls" and are now getting stuff for free??
    Wow! I want free stuff.

    I've said it before, and I'll say it again: What happens in Vegas STAYS in Vegas!
    Especially dead, smelly rotting catfish!

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  92. HAhahahahahha.


    I never thought I'd spend as much time in my life screaming to my children not to touch things as I do.

    Will it look fixed if I win? I don't care, I'm entering anyway.

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  93. I love that you even attempted to rollerblade!

    I LOVE AMazon!

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  94. Anonymous5:27 AM

    Awwww. That's such a sweet photo - yay for reading!

    And, I know I don't know you or anything, but I can so see you rolloerblading and dragging a wagon!

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  95. Anonymous6:48 AM

    My kids love to read! We try to get to the library as often as we can. I could spend hours in there.
    I wish we could ride bikes to the library. It is too far away. Actually, I wish we could ride bikes anywhere.

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  96. I've been lurking here for some time now. I know how you hate that, so today, some sunshine for you. A de-lurker. :) Free things always bring me out of my closet. It's part of my charm. I like free stuff. :) I also really, really enjoy reading your blog. I'm sure you're heard this sixteen thousand one-hundred times (my 5yo. favorite number), but you are so very funny. So very. I also know that it never gets old to hear it. So again I say. So. Very. Funny.
    Oh, and you look very lovely today. :)

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  97. Thank you for taking your children to the library!! I don't think parents do that nearly enough these days. I loved to read when I was a child and my mother would always drop me off at the public library while she ran errands. Of course, this was back in the day when it was safe to that kind of thing. Anyways, major kudos to you!

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  98. That picture is priceless! How cute!

    Oh and I'm so in for the giveaway - nothing like free books.

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  99. Anonymous8:39 AM

    I don't want to die, so I'm doing what I was told. Now you have to come enter my contest. ;-)

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  100. There is nothing better than a great kids book. When my kids were little(r) the one way they could get me to pay attention to them was to bring me a book to read. I would stop whatever I was doing and read to them. Does that make me sound like an awful, neglectful parent? I promise I'm not! I love books. Love them.

    I can just picture you rolling along on your rollerblades, trying to pull the wagon. Very impressive as I can hardly huff up the hill dragging the wagon behind me in my real shoes!

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  101. entered.

    because I don't want to die

    *whimper*

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  102. The things you do for your kids, huh?

    And thanks for the list! As much as I love Dr. Seuss, he's getting a tad old....

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  103. Our library is less than a block away, and I still regularly drive because of the face melting heat. Of course, there is also no sidewalk, so I justify it that way, too. I always wonder what the criteria is for those "best" lists for children's books. I've read a lot of those and disliked them for one reason or another.

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  104. Anonymous9:43 AM

    Sign me up.

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  105. holy cow, that list took some serious typing time!! I'm glad to see other families encouraging reading. My kids LIVE for books and I think my house is slowly but surely being completely taken over by them. I can walk into just about any room (bathrooms included, and even the garage) and will 90% of the time find one or more books strewn about.

    and kudos to you rollerblading AND pulling a wagon. I dont' think my athletically challenged body could have managed both at once... LOL

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  106. love the library and love even more crawling up on the couch with the bag of library books but I might love even more than either being able to buy a new book of my very own with that GC i am going to win :)

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  107. I want to win. I love books. I really really love books.

    And I love your blog. (Pick me now? Please?)

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  108. We have read Nightmare in My Closet soooo many times. It's a great book.

    I need me some Amazon cash--so Pick ME! Pick MEEEEEE!
    Pretty, pretty please? With whipped cream on top?

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  109. If you're picking people randomly, I'm about as random as they come....

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  110. Anonymous11:21 AM

    As your mother I claim that gift certificate! Neither our local public library nor our school library have most of those books. I have to buy them myself. Since you will undoubtedly inherit some of them one day, we might as well add to the stack. And, besides, for adding to my worries by letting me know you are once again on roller blades and I may have to come and tend your children while you recover from two broken legs,
    I deserve some sort of reward.
    By the way, that surely is a FRIED catfish by now. Are there no local cats? Love, Your Mom, to whom you owe your genetic skating ability.

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  111. Anonymous11:22 AM

    First off, I have to admit to being a *lurker*...till now I've only read...*sniff sniff* I'm sorry :(
    Someone may have already said this one, my goldfish attention span was lost somewhere around comment 10...but I like "The Hungry Hungry Caterpillar" I know it's cheesy, but what can I say, it's my favorite (Besides Green Eggs and Ham!!!)

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  112. Anonymous11:26 AM

    Ok....stupid me moment....way to screw up my first comment ever!!!!
    It's called "The Very Hungry Caterpillar"..... and it's on your list already :'( Sorry

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  113. Anonymous11:29 AM

    If I were at your library and saw you padding around in your rollerblade liners, I would totally have passed you a note asking if you would be my friend.
    TOTALLY.

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  114. What a great book list. we love to read at our house

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  115. Well there's nothing like a contest to draw one out of lurkerdom. That and the threat of death. :) $20 could buy a lot of books.

    I must say, I was a little disappointed that your post was lacking the all-important picture of you wandering the aisles sporting roller blade liners. Hah! That's funny.

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  116. Anonymous12:15 PM

    Do I have to have a blogger thingie to play? Because I want that certificate, but I don't have a blogger sign-in.

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  117. count me in . . . now that i am no longer lurking.

    thanks for sharing that book list. i'm copying down some suggestions.

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  118. Oh, fine, you slave driver.

    Here's your comment. Happy now?

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  119. Cool list; it brought back memories. My kids have moved on to chapter books, but I LOVED some of these.

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  120. Anonymous12:32 PM

    Ohhhh, ha! I thought of one not on the list.... "Love You Forever" by Robert N Munsch. I'm due in October with my first and I'm planning to get this one to read to my little one :)

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  121. I love that you wore the liners. I would have said screw it and left. But then you wouldn't have got that great picture I guess.

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  122. Your blog is great! A gift card would be great! New posts are great! Thanks for entertaining me.

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  123. Just found your blog through Mormon Mommy Wars, and I'm laughing really hard! Especially at the post where your daughter reminds you of the girl from The Ring. :)
    byubabe14 at yahoo dot com

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  124. Oh, I love free stuff. Or at least I think I do. Is anything free by the way?
    We went to the library to sign up for their summer reading program.
    Good luck with the heat!

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  125. Rollerblades!?! You're my hero. No way would I ever strap on a pair of those. And looking like a gigantic rolling pear has nothing to do with it. Well, maybe just a litte.

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  126. Anonymous1:46 PM

    I wouldn't say no to $20 at Amazon. Heck, I wouldn't say no to $5 at Amazon.

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  127. Anonymous2:07 PM

    I'm commenting! I'm commenting! I had no idea it meant so much to you.

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  128. Oooh, oooh, pick me, pick me. And thanks for posting the reading list--I'm always looking for new preschooler-approved book ideas.

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  129. hey, I like free stuff, and i can totally get behind books.

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  130. Thanks for the book list! You should definitely check out "There Was a Bold Lady". She wants a star, so she sets off on roller skates to begin! I think it's you.

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  131. I was a itsy bit disappointed when my daughter showed no interest in looking at books as a toddler...then she got glasses and now she rarely puts the books down!

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  132. God bless you for showing your kids that reading is important...I think it's the single-most important skill for kids to cultivate to lead to academic success!

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  133. great list. we are always in the lookout for good recommendations. I also would love a gift card. who wouldn't?

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  134. Some of those are my very favorites! Good list!

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  135. Anonymous4:39 PM

    You can hear me breathing? Creepy.... count me in for the gift card drawing.

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  136. Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out. Can you hear me breathing, Sue???
    (referencing your PS on the Ahem post here, not being a pervert or anything).

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  137. I think I should be "randomly" selected because it is my birthday, and getting a book would be perfect as it would give me a perfectly reasonable excuse to ignore the fact that the 2 year old has watched 4 hours of tv and is having chocolate chips she found in the pantry for lunch.

    Also, I can't believe The Stinky Cheese Man isn't on that list. (I think that's the right title. maybe.)

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  138. Oops, this is Wendy (your sister)... google signed me as in my hubby all by itself.

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  139. in as. Signed me IN AS, not as in. Whoops.

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  140. I hate libraries. I owe them way too much money. Sometimes I consider just cutting up my library card and buying our reading materials on amazon. It might be cheaper.

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  141. So peaceful when the kids are sitting there reading...don't ya just love it?!

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  142. There are few things in life that make me happier than seeing my kids engrossed in BOOKS!

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  143. That list totally bring back memories! I can still recite "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom... will there be a light moon?"

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  144. A gift card? Books? Sign me up!

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  145. Anonymous6:34 PM

    I want to enter the contest! I am a cash-poor homeschooler who is in dire need of books! Please pick me! :o)

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  146. Great list. I'm happy to say I've read almost all of them.

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  147. I love when my kids read.

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  148. Anonymous8:20 PM

    I'd just rollerblade in the library >:)

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  149. Enter me!
    I LOVE "Where the Wild Things Are," by the way.

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  150. Anonymous8:43 PM

    the pic is cute, and I havent been on rollerblades since my daugther was born 6 years ago.

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  151. Okay, I'll enter. Geez..

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  152. Yeah that the kids were reading.

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  153. Looks as though my odds of winning have gone way down - 107 to 156? Wow, we are all desperate for that $20 from Amazon. What if I leave like 20 comments though. Will that up my chances or will you eliminate all duplicate entries? You didn't say and any other night I just might have posted about 50 comments, but I'm crying and tired and just can't summon the energy. See how I'm begging with my patheticness for you to give me the certificate.

    Sniff.

    Oh, and your kids are gorgeous. And so smart to be avid readers so young.

    Glad you survived the roller blades.

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  154. Here's a joke to brighten your day (and perhaps help my chances of winning a certain $20 gift card--HEY, I'm a starving student):

    Q:What kinds of animals are party animals?

    A:(It helps to say it out-loud)
    Brown chicken brown cow! :D

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  155. I'm not crying because of your post though.

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  156. No, in fact, that made me smile through the tears. Apparently enough so that I am actually leaving multiple comments when I swore I wouldn't. Damnit! You and your comedic powers!

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  157. I'm a new reader to your blog, thanks for the list! At the bottom of my blog, I've posted my top 20 picture books, in case you want more recent ones. . .(some are the same!) Have a nice weekend! Sarah in Oregon

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  158. Anonymous12:03 AM

    I want it. GIVE IT TO MEEEEEEEEEEE. It's only 11pm PST here in SF, just in case you think I'm cheating.
    That picture is adorable and I love how they are all giving each other what I like to refer to as "ATM distance."
    God I wish I could have seen you pulling the wagon while roller blading. I hope someone got a picture! :)

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  159. Pick Me! Pick Me! J/K I know that it is "random". I love going to the library with my kids. We love the Skippyjon Jones books by Judy Schachner. It is best to get them as books on tape, because they are really hard to ready but my kids laugh and laugh.

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