children's classics: all wrapped up

It's our last Children's Classics post of the year, folks! This month over at 5 Minutes for Books, we're asking about the children's books you love to give. I've been really looking forward to this one, but to tell the truth, it's been quite a challenge deciding how to answer this! There are lots of obvious choices, it seems. Having a new baby? Can I please be the first person to give you a Goodnight Moon board book? A preschooler's birthday party? Mo Willems, all the way. (Yup, his work is immediately considered a "classic" to me.) With my oldest just now entering these so-called 'tween' years, I'm less versed in the classics of this age group, but we do have quite a few contemporary middle grade novels that are on our potential gift list, when the occasion arises.

Beyond those immediately-come-to-mind options, I've come up with a couple others that may seem silly or odd... but the gift usually does reflect the giver...

Dr. Seuss seems to be an obvious choice, but these two books may not be as well known as some of his others. My Book About Me is a beloved one from my own childhood, although it's exact whereabouts are unknown (someday I'll scrounge through my parents' basement and come upon it!). It's one of those fill-it-in-yourself books, but of course, it's not just the typical name/age/address/best friend's name kind of set up. I remember something about counting the number of steps from your house to... um, somewhere. And trying to determine the number of freckles on my face and draw them on the illustrated face in the book. (Impossible as a fair-skinned child in the summer.) Most of all, I remember the fun I had with this book, and that makes the best gift of all.

My absolute favorite Dr. Seuss, though, is My Many Colored Days, which wasn't even published until after his death, and does not feature his signature illustrations. But, from what I've read, he wanted this book to have a different feel in its pictures, so I do believe he would have been very, very pleased with the final product. This simple but beautiful picture book falls into the genre of "feelings" books for young children, but it definitely rises above the rest with it's gentle nature, lyrical text, and reassuring illustrations. Our copy is quite well-loved, after many years of visits to my classroom before it got to live full-time on our home shelves.

Ooh, and while I'm thinking about picture books that I have read to literally hundreds of preschool children over the years, The Napping House makes a great gift AND most definitely fits into the classics model, in my opinion. What fun children (and grown-ups!) have when they read this book together! With repetitive text that children quickly learn and 'read' along with you, this darling book has been beloved since it was first published. I believe we have given this to one or two preschool friends as birthday gifts, and it stays on the list of possibilities, for sure.


How about you? What children's books are on your gift list this holiday season, or all year round? Link up with us at this month's Children's Classics on 5M4B!


'Tis better to give than receive books? Thinking maybe it's an even tie,



P.S. From now until 12/8, please check out a slew of giveaways on 5 Minutes for Books' Gift Guide & Giveaway!