In my home, reading has always been more than just a routine.
It’s a moment to slow down in our otherwise hectic schedules. A way for us to connect. A soft, familiar rhythm that settles little bodies and busy minds.
As I workshop Treasures for Tots, I know that I want it to be about more than just cute things (though I do love a weird little trinket if you can’t already tell). I want it to reflect what has mattered a lot in my life as a parent, and for me, books are near the top of that list.
Reading out loud has been part of my parenting from the very beginning. Sometimes it’s a stack of ten picture books before bed (even though I told myself I’d only read 3). Sometimes it’s one sentence before someone gallops away like a “wild horse”. But even those tiny moments feel meaningful.
I’ve watched how books have expanded my kids’ vocabularies, made them laugh until they snort, and help them name feelings and actions they didn’t have words for yet. To me, that’s powerful. I’m always amazed by how much they’re constantly observing and picking up on. How much they must pay attention for them to correct me when I accidentally skip a word, even though they don’t know how to read yet. How much their brains must constantly be receiving and filtering through information and then committing them to memory.
There’s plenty of research out there that confirms what many of us already feel in our guts: reading builds brains, strengthens bonds, and sets kids up for a lifetime of learning. It’s even more impactful when I can see the effects of it in real life.
So when I’m stitching up a little fabric friend or tucking a handmade bookmark into a treasure bag, I think about the books that might sit nearby. The ones your kids will drag around by the cover, ask for again and again, or maybe just fall asleep holding.
I’ve gathered some of the books I’ve loved reading with my own kids. These books come highly recommended by my toddler, who reads them every single day. At this point, I could probably recite them from memory myself.
Go, Dog. Go! – P.D. Eastman
Eyes, Nose, Fingers, and Toes – Judy Hindley
Little Bear – Else Holmelund Minarik
Britannica First Big Book of Why: Volume 3 – Britannica Group
Joone – Emily Kate Moon
The Monster at the End of This Book (Starring Lovable, Furry Old Grover) – Jon Stone
The Runaway Bunny – Margaret Wise Brown
Goodnight Moon – Margaret Wise Brown
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? – Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle
From Head to Toe – Eric Carle
The Very Hungry Caterpillar – Eric Carle
The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse – Eric Carle
The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! – Mo Willems
I’m a Big Brother – Joanna Cole
Bad Kitty – Nick Bruel
What books do you and your family read? I’m always looking for recommendations to add to my ever expanding library.
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