Susie's Book Nook - Some of My Favorite Books

I often do bookstore runs to keep current on new children's books. My routine consists of making camp on the floor of the kids book department and reading my little eyeballs out. A few titles will really grab my imagination or make me laugh out loud. The best come home with me and squeeze onto the shelves of my ever-expanding personal library. Here are some of my very favorite titles...

Goodnight Lulu
by Paulette Bogan

This is the sweetest bedtime book. I want to read this to my yet unborn children, it is so funny and good. Plus Paulette Bogan's pictures are a riot.

Too Many Bunnies
by Matt Novak

For years, this smart little book has cracked me up. The story line is great and comes full circle, and the illustrations are superbly goofy. I also love the angry insects in the pictures, another engaging story line to follow.

The Pig of Happiness
by Edward Monkton

I love this book. The concept of happiness seeping and leaking is extremely gross but hilarious. This
pig never fails to make me smile.

Jellybeans
by Sylvia von Ommen

This is a quiet existential conversation between two good friends. With simple and emotional black and white line drawings, JELLYBEANS explores life, death, and love.

The Stray Dog
by Marc Simont

You can't beat the narrative quality of these illustrations. From the get-go, I really care about this homeless darling dog. I want so much for him to be happy, and I just want to cheer when he finally finds a home with a kind family.

George and Martha
by the great James Marshall

I've spent many a lazy afternoon with George and Martha. These two have a gorgeous friendship, and I love hippos even more because of them. Marshall's illustrations just make me giggle.

Raggedy Ann and Andy
by Johnny Gruelle

I own a much-loved copy of RAGGEDY ANN AND ANDY that I have read over and over since childhood. My favorite story bits are when they find the wishing pebble and drink from the magic soda water fountain. I could almost taste it!

Dear Zoo
by Rod Campbell

To discover which zoo animal is being delivered from beginning to end, you just life the flap. This gives us readers real incentive to turn the page. DEAR ZOO is simple and classic.

Song of the Circus
written by Lois Duncan
illustrated by Meg Cundiff

I love the lyrical rhythm of Duncan's writing and really appreciate how the designer incorporated the text so well with the bright illustrations. It's a completely lovely picture book.