For the love of books! - Thirteen Thursday

Being an English teacher, it should come as no surprise that I am obsessed with books. I love books. I love to read them, touch them, smell them, handle them. I could spend hours in a book store searching for new books and authors. I pour over the book order forms that come to my classroom. I love all things books. As I tell my students, you can never have too many books (well, you can, but only if they start to take over your house).

Because I love books so much (and because I have a stepson who hates books), it was important for me to instill a love of books in Camden. And he does so far. Of course it helps that I collect them and surround him with books. Just to give you an idea, the boy is almost 10 months old and has over 80 books. Yeah, just a few. He'll grab a book, crawl into my lap, and sit there turning the pages and having us read to him. When he first wakes up from a nap, he wants to have books read to him. This kid can spend hours with books, just like his mom. In honor of my book obsession, I want to share some of my favorite children's books with you. Feel free to share with me your favorite children's books, either ones you love to read to your children or ones you loved as a child.


This was the first book I ever read to Camden. I read it to him in the first week of his life. It took me about two months to be able to read it all the way through without crying. It's a touching story of the love between a parent and child.

This is another beautiful book that shows the love between parent and child. It is written in simple rhyme and contrast.

"I am your parent;/you are my child./I
am your quiet place;/you are my wild."

I love the style this book is written in.





Another great book about the love between a parent and child. Camden loves to turn the pages of this book and I get to tell him how much I love him.














Camden loves this book! He loves to turn the pages and stick his fingers in the holes of each food. He'll skip right to the foods, stick his fingers in the holes, and then go back to the start and want us to read it to him.











This is a delightful board book, perfect for boys. It's all about a garbage truck and what it does. Mark does the greatest voice for the garbage truck, which is why I think Camden loves it so much.





Another great book for voices. Mark does a ghetto voice for the llama. The bat sounds like Dracula, the seal is a redneck, and the swan is British in our voice rendition. Cam loves to hear our funny voices as we read this book. It's also another great book for rhyme.







Camden loves to touch the ladybugs and the holes as they disappear one by one. He also love the butterfly book by the same author.








This is my new favorite. I realize Camden is a little too young for it right now, but with him in daycare and me working, I love the sentiment. I read it to him and give him his own kissing hand for when I am at work. I cannot wait until he is older and can really understand the meaning of this book.

This book is so much fun! I love the pictures and the simple wording. It's also over Camden's head, but I love to read it again and again.

I cried the first time I read this book. It conveyed so many of the feelings I had about my pregnancy and my child, especially after the infertility. I vowed then to give this book to any infertile friend who was blessed with a baby.





I have this book so memorized I can read it without even looking at the pages. Mark doesn't like it so much, but I like the simple rhymes and patterns. It's a classic!







I love this whole series of books. I love the circular pattern of the books. Definitely a delight to read!









My husband and I love anything by Mercer Mayer. We have several of these books and love each of them. We plan on getting more, and more, and more.




So there you have it - some of my favorite children's books. Please share your favorites with me!