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 Sometimes when I walk into the children's section of a bookstore, my eyes glaze over and I am just plain overwhelmed by all of the colors and characters around me. It is hard to know which books will really grab my child's attention and which books will be read once and passed over in the future. I like books that we can read over and over again and that become like old friends, but with all of the books out there it is hard to know which are the gems and which are the duds.
In order to remedy this situation, I keep an ongoing list of books that others have recommended or that I have otherwise heard about so that in those random moments when I pop into the book store I am prepared with my handy list! (Thank god for iPhones, so I can find the thing!)
I have noticed that the books that are the most beloved are the ones that empower kids to be creative and have an imagination. The other day, I found one! And when I read this cute little book called Higher and Higher by Leslie Patricelli to my 3 year old, I could see the delight in her eyes and feel it in my belly. These are the kinds of books that spark imagination and get kids (and adults) excited about life! The thing I like about this book in particular is that it doesn't have a lot of words, but instead, a child's ride on the swing becomes rich with illustration and emotion. Even my 10 year old enjoys reading this book to my 3 year old (and if a book can tear her away from Harry Potter, you know it is good)!
The top three books on my list for 2-5 year olds:
1. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Borwn
2. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
3. No David by David Shannon
Start your book list today for your next trip to the book store and if you know a child between 2-5, make sure Higher and higher is on it. Happy reading!
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Communication 
