We have always loved books in this house. Before Molly was even born, she has a book collection that put mine to shame! At my baby shower I kindly asked if people to gift a book with a message in, instead of a card. We received so many wonderful books and the collecting hasn’t stopped since. I have written a post on the importance of reading and how beneficial it is to a child’s learning and development. Molly is at an age now where she will sit there and read books herself. Flicking through the pages, and then making me read them over and over again! As today is International Children’s Book Day, I though I would share with you some of Molly’s favourite books that she has been obsessed with over the month of March.
The Peter Rabbit Jigsaw Puzzle Book
This was one of the first books I bought for Molly when she was still cooking. I found it in the charity shop for a whopping £1! Each page has a daily scene and a small 9 piece colour-coded puzzle that you can take out and do. Peter Rabbit was a big part of my childhood and brings back so many memories. Not the version that’s on Cbeebies now, but the classics.
Molly will sit there for ages, taking out each puzzle and putting it back together. She likes to count how many bunnies on each page, as well as name other animal’s that are on the page. Butterflies, bee’s, snails and ladybugs. It’s so lovely to just sit and watch her work out where each piece goes, and then get so pleased with herself when she gets it right.
Waiting For Baby
This is another charity shop find for 50p. We were on the look out for baby related books to get Molly to help her understand that shes a big sister. We came across “Waiting for Baby” by Rachel Fuller and it is perfect. It follows the journey of a little one whilst their mother is pregnant. Going to baby scans, shopping for baby, making pictures for baby ect all from the perspective of the child.
Molly LOVES this book. She asks to read it several times a day, and she will snuggle up to my baby bump as she reads it. Molly has such a better understanding of things since reading this book over and over. She linked the scan page in the book to when she came to one of my ultrasounds, and she will grab and show me the sonogram picture. Too cute!!
The Gruffalo – Sound Book
Written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, The Gruffalo is a book that is loved by many world wide. We have had many version of this book, from board to pop-up, but none of them compare to the Sounds version that Liam’s cousin got Molly for her 1st Birthday. Each page has a coloured musical note or two, that when pressed make a different sounds. Snake’s hiss, owls hoot, Gruffalo’s growl and more!
This book has been a firm favourte of Molly’s for a long time now and I now know it word for word! We read it most night’s after her bath. She will press each button over and over whilst I read the story to her. Such a clever and imaginative way to bring this well loved story to life. The movie and the ride at Chessington World of Adventures are also massive hits with Molly. The Gruffalo’s child is taking some getting used to, but I don’t think it will be long before she loves that story just as much!
Room on the Broom
Room on the Broom is another book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Its about a Witch, with a very tall hat and long ginger hair that she wore in a plait. Her and her cat go on an adventure and meet several friends along the way who all ask if there is room on the broom. Spoiler alert, the broom brakes, and there is a big red dragon who wants to eat the witch for his tea. All is ok because the animals scare off the dragon and the Witch makes a super new and fancy broom that everyone can fit on, and whoosh! they were gone.
As you can tell, this story has also been extremely popular for a very long time. So long in fact, that I also know this one word for word too! Molly used to ask to read this book by saying “Witch, dog, cat, bird!!” Now she will just say “Witch!! “. I love this book as much as she does, so I am more than happy to read it over and over again. We also watch the film on a regular basis, as it gives me 10-15 minuets to make a hot cuppa tea and go for a pee in peace! Chessington World of Adventures also have a Room on the Broom immersive walk through attraction that follows the story – If you have never been, and your child likes the Julia Donaldson books – Please go. They are awesome!
Usbornes Fairies
This book is another charity shop find for I think £1. Usborne books are a staple for many babies and toddlers. We have nearly all of the “Thats not my” ones, and I wanted to start getting the others. We have the nativity one, and now the Fairy one. There are so many more that I want to get as they are amazing books to have. They are board books, that have touchy-feely sections, making them sensory as well as just a story.
Molly has always loved these books, ever since she was tiny. She now knows that each page has a touchy-feely bit, and will tell me how it feels. With the “That’s not my books” I always ask her if she can find the mouse, as there is one on each page. With the Fairies book, there are different creature on each page, so i’ll ask if she can find the butterfly, or the bird. She gets so excited when she finds them. I highly recommend the Usborne books for kids of all ages, they have such a vast range to choose from. Defiantly looking into getting her some more!
So there we have it, Molly’s Favourite books for the month of March. I have wanted to create a series called Molly’s Favorites for a while now, So I might do a mixture of toys/activities and books from now on!
What book shave your little one’s been loving at the moment?
