Must-Read Library Picks! | Living Books for Ages 2-6 y/o
Welcome back, friends to a new series on my blog where I share ALL of the living books my four children (ages 2-6) are loving from the library! As a homeschool mom of four, (with one on the way), it's been my joy to surround my children with living books that open their minds up to creativity, beauty, and a wealth of learning. Any one of these books would be the perfect addition to your home library! We hope that you enjoy them as much as we have!
*(This post contains affiliate links, which means if you order from these links you will be supporting my blog in a small way that means a lot, at no cost to you. Thank you!)
“Penny” series by Kevin Henkes
This series about a girl mouse named Penny is my four year old daughter’s new favorite! The illustrations are so precious and sweet that they instantly draw you in. Follow Penny along as she navigates different challenges during the innocence of her mouse-hood!
“Caps for Sale” and Sequel by Esphyr Slobodkina
This classic story will make your child giggle as they witness the silly interaction between countless mischievous monkeys, and a peddler who is just trying to make a living selling caps!
“Henry and Mudge” series by Cynthia Rylant
This series is perfect for beginning readers! My 6 year old enjoyed reading these books of the many adventures of Henry and his big, slobbery dog, Mudge to his younger siblings!
Stumbling upon these books by Virginia Lee Burton has been a treasure to our family! The unique and detailed illustrations makes each book hard to mistaken for any other author. Each story draws you in with charm and curiosity as to what will happen next!
“Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel” by Virginia Lee Burton
Mike and his trusted steam shovel, Mary Anne are a wonderful team that sadly, face going out of business with the rise of newer technology! By the end of this book, they prove that with devotion and teamwork, they are still capable of getting a hard job done.
“Katy and the Big Snow” by Virginia Lee Burton
When a HUGE snowstorm hits a small town, Katy is the only hope to paving the streets for the community!
“Little House” by Virginia Lee Burton
This is one of my new favorite books! A sweet little home in the countryside finds itself stuck in the ever-evolving BIG city. Eventually she becomes redeemed to her original state in this sweet story you’ll want to own a copy of! I have TWO!
“Time Goes By” by Nicholas Harris
I recently discovered this series by Nicholas Harris, and my children were instantly engaged for hours reading, and picture studying these detailed images!
“Roxaboxen” by Alice McLerran
This is another FAVORITE of ours probably because it felt so similar to my own imaginative childhood, and one we aim to give to our children! Inspired by a true story, follow the accounts of children who work together to create their own imaginary town, and play for hours on end.
“House Held Up by Trees” by Ted Kooser
This book sparked great conversation about the changes that surround home and family. Can beauty still be found when no one is there to appreciate it?
“Waiting” by Kevin Henkes
All four of my children were engaged by this book of five friends who are waiting on a window sill. Each friend is waiting for different things, and yet they still find the beauty that waiting brings in the end!
“My Garden” by Kevin Henkes
Follow a young girl’s imagination as she describes her perfect, imaginative, and tasty garden!
“Madeline” by Ludwig Bemelmans
This childhood book of mine has become a family favorite! All of my children were entranced by the classic adventures of a headstrong, little school girl named Madeline, living in France.
“Miss Rumphius” by Barbara Cooney
This book is definitely a tear jerker!! It sparks the question, “How can we make the world a more beautiful place?” It is sure to bring a many lovely discussions and actions into your home with your children!
“Ox-Cart Man” by Donald Hall
Take an inside look at a family who, as a team, works very hard on unique projects that are then sent to the market each year! Great book to inspire teamwork within the family and different types of handicrafts.
“This is the Farmer” by Nancy Tafuri
This book especially intrigued my farm-loving three year old as it involves actions building upon different actions that the Farmer does throughout his work day!
“Winter is Coming” by Tony Johnston
This book is a perfect Winter read-aloud for any nature-loving child as the main character nature journals in her treehouse about all of the different animals she sees, and the signs of winter coming.
“Tracks, Scats, and Signs” by Leslie Dendy
The title above pretty much sums up this book! Learn to identify different animals by their footprints, droppings, and other signs with this very interesting book!
“Meeting Trees” by Scott Russell Sanders
What a wonderful book about a Father bringing his son into nature to discover the beauty of trees, and how to identify them!
“Blueberries for Sal” by Robert McCloskey
Follow a mama and her daughter as they pick blueberries, and meet a mama bear and her cub that are doing the same!
I hope you enjoy these library books that have nourished my children's imagination! If you enjoy this living book series, let me know in the comments below, and I will continue to share our favorites with you monthly!
