We were sorting out the big bookcase in the lounge at the weekend, as we usually do around this time of year. When we got to the second shelf from the bottom, there was our collection of read aloud picture books. The box was ready and waiting to pack them up and put them in the attic. We took them off the shelf, flicked them with the duster and couldn’t quite resist a little peek inside a few of them. I will just mention at this point, that my children are 12 and 14 years young old. We smiled at the pictures and rhymes we know so well and put them all back on the shelf. Maybe next year they will make it into the box.
So, in no particular order, here are 10 of our favourites.
‘The night Max wore his wolf suit and made mischief of one kind….’
‘Once upon a time there was an Elephant.’
‘Eddy’s off to find his teddy. Eddy’s teddy’s name is Freddy.’
‘One day, when giant Baby Bear was playing in the woods, he found a very small….’
‘The witch had a cat and a very tall hat, And long ginger hair which she wore in a plait. How the cat purred and how the witch grinned, As they sat on their broomsick and flew through the wind.’
‘Winnie the Witch lived in a black house in the forest. The house was black on the outside and black on the inside. The carpets were black. The chairs were black. The bed was black and it had black sheets and black blankets. Even the bath was black.’
“Hello, Dad,” said Bernard. “Not now, Bernard,” said his father.
‘Each Peach Pear Plum I spy Tom Thumb’
‘On a windy hill, alone, with nothing to be friends with, lived Something Else.’
‘The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play. So we sat in the house All that cold, cold, wet day.’
It would seem we have a penchant for witches and monsters, bears and small cute creatures and a love of rhyming text. The first two books, I read as a child (although mine came from the library) and the last one actually belonged to my husband, when he was a little boy.
I’m sure there are some in our list that you recognise.
Shimelle is hosting 10 Things on her blog again this month. Pop over if you’d like to see what everyone else is sharing, or to add a list of your own.
Great selection there Fi. I still have all the favourite books from when my two were small and they are 18 and 20 now. I did pack them away into a box evenutally though but not all that long a time ago
ReplyDeleteOoh lovely selection Fi I need to get Alex some new books for christmas :) Would Winnie the Witch be ok for Kari (7)?
ReplyDeleteI have the first one and the last one!!! Great list~
ReplyDeleteMichelle ~ Kari may think it's a little bit young for her, in that picture book format. There is an omnibus edition http://www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/qs_product_tbp?storeId=10001&catalogId=10051&langId=100&productId=208341&searchTerm=winnie though, with 3 stories in, which might be more suitable.
ReplyDeleteFiona x
Sorry Michelle, I don't think that link works. Not sure how to do one in a comment.
ReplyDeleteI'll contact you another way x
Of course I was going to love a post about books :) My kids are 16 and 13 and I'd still hold them down and read picture books to them if they'd let me! I love your choices and have enjoyed many of them over the years!
ReplyDeleteAh what a lovely selection, lots of them are on our book shelf too and some on our 'to read' list - thanks for sharing :) xx
ReplyDeleteI am going through those books again because I have grandchildren that need to know them. I also have a great grandchild so I am really blessed
ReplyDeleteEach peach, pear, plum I spy Tom Thumb :) Have several of these boxed up in the attic waiting for grandbabies to arrive...in no hurry though!
ReplyDeleteAw I love Eddy and his teddy! And all things by Julia Donaldson. I love that you put them back on the shelf :)
ReplyDeleteA lovely trip down memory lane, many of our favourites are there, like old friends. Great post.
ReplyDeleteElx
Oh, and one month, maybe you'll share what your young people are reading now at 12 and 14, I hope a love of books goes with them into adulthood. :)
ReplyDeleteElx
I love picture books, I buy so many! I had a big collection before I had children, and now I have a 3yr old and a baby I can't stop buying them. But I don't think that's a bad thing! I'm going to check out a couple of these that I haven't seen before. x
ReplyDeleteWhat a great list ...a lovely Ten Things. I recognise several and I'm pleased that they went back on the shelf! I remember Each Peach from when I was small and it was the first book I bought for my own daughter. Thank you for making me smile :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad these are back on the shelf. I collect picture story books and don't think you really ever get to old for them! Where the Wild Things Are is a favorite of mine, too.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE picture books..great selection!
ReplyDeleteAlison xx
What a wonderful selection. Makes me want to go to the library and look at picture books.
ReplyDeleteLovely set of books, some of them new to me - glad of the recommendations, as I am starting all over again with the grandchildren! Our children's book never made it to boxes - they stayed out on shelves ever since they left home!
ReplyDeleteThey all look great books - I loved the cat in a hat as a child and still love it now!!
ReplyDeleteKaren x