<p>binx–So glad to know we weren’t the only ones with that little problem!! Reading this thread has brought back a lot of memories from those early years.</p>
<p>Not sure who read what first but first favorites for both my boys were
Mickey’s little book of shapes ( one of those ones you wanted to hide before the 20th reading!:))
“one fish, two fish”; Dinosaur poems by Jack Prelutsky (especially Ankylausaurus was built like a tank…“); “The Little Train that Could”; " Mama do you love me?” ; and a book about a mouse’s house in a teapot with a line about up and down a slippery slope that my s2 just loved! (the things we remember)</p>
<p>My husband loved some of the illustrators of children’s books. We especially liked books by David McPhail, Steve Kellog, the Amanda Pig series, and others. Many of the books have superb pictures and my D always showed a very strong preference for books with lovely drawings.</p>
<p>Our D got her 1st grade teacher upset because she wasn’t interested in picture books (had heard them all when we were reading them to her & brother from very young. She wanted books on Greek & Roman myths (chapter books). The teacher adamantly refused to let her get any at the school library, so I took her & let her borrow whatever pleased her. She started reading those books as she was not interested in the others.</p>
<p>My S’s kindergarten teacher was perfectly happy for him to wander over to the 1st & 2nd grade and use any of their books of interest; he read to his classmates and tutored them. He would borrow magic books so he could do magic tricks and would read every chess book at every library. </p>
<p>D still loves myths and now manga & anime. S still loves chess.</p>
<p>I just remembered: “Runaway Bunny.” THAT was a mom bunny who needed CC counseling. No matter how her baby tried to get away, she’d change herself into something else to go and bring him back to her! </p>
<p>At age 3 or 4, however, our kids found that message very reassuring.</p>
<p>Runaway Bunny was the early helicopter parent–none of us had heard of the book until my kids were much older & not interested in picture books much.</p>
<p>Runawaybunnymom was a helicopter parent? Gosh, DS and I must have read a different version when he was young. When we’re talking about 3 and 4 year olds, isn’t it our job to do a little helicoptering (this coming from someone who lacked any sort of “helicoptering” as a child) in order to prepare our little bunnies for the future? Actually, I wouldn’t be surprised if runawaybunnymom is currently one of our wiser “CC counselors” - just posting under a different screenname!!</p>
<p>Our favorite picture book author was Eric Carle - “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”, “The Very Busy Spider”, “Brown Bear, Brown Bear What do you see?”
I could read those books for hours and even bought the hardcover versions.</p>
<p>Speaking of “The Runaway Bunny” - Margaret Wise Brown also wrote Goodnight Moon - the ultimate bedtime story.</p>
<p>LOL. I never thought of The Runaway Bunny’s Mom as a helicopter. Though for contrast here is my other favorite:</p>
<p>James James
Morrison Morrison
Weatherby George Dupree
Took great
Care of his Mother,
Though he was only three.
James James Said to his Mother,
“Mother,” he said, said he;
“You must never go down
to the end of the town,
if you don’t go down with me.”</p>
<p>James James
Morrison’s Mother
Put on a golden gown.
James James Morrison’s Mother
Drove to the end of the town.
James James Morrison’s Mother
Said to herself, said she:
“I can get right down
to the end of the town
and be back in time for tea.”</p>
<p>King John
Put up a notice,
“LOST or STOLEN or STRAYED!
JAMES JAMES MORRISON’S MOTHER
SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN MISLAID.
LAST SEEN
WANDERING VAGUELY:
QUITE OF HER OWN ACCORD,
SHE TRIED TO GET DOWN
TO THE END OF THE TOWN -
FORTY SHILLINGS REWARD!”</p>
<p>James James
Morrison Morrison
(Commonly known as Jim)
Told his
Other relations
Not to go blaming him.
James James
Said to his Mother,
“Mother,” he said, said he:
“You must never go down to the end of the town
without consulting me.”</p>
<pre><code>James James
</code></pre>
<p>Morrison Morrison
(Commonly known as Jim)
Told his
Other relations
Not to go blaming him.
James James
Said to his Mother,
“Mother,” he said, said he:
“You must never go down to the end of the town
without consulting me.”</p>
<p>James James
Morrison’s mother
Hasn’t been heard of since.
King John said he was sorry,
So did the Queen and Prince.
King John
(Somebody told me)
Said to a man he knew:
If people go down to the end of the town, well,
what can anyone do?"</p>
<p>(Now then, very softly)
J.J.
M.M.
W.G.Du P.
Took great
C/0 his M*****
Though he was only 3.
J.J. said to his M*****
“M*****,” he said, said he:
“You-must-never-go-down-to-the-end-of-the-town-
if-you-don’t-go-down-with-ME!”</p>
<p>by A.A. Milne</p>