What Simone’s Reading

I used to write a series on my personal blog called What Simone’s Reading, in which I highlighted a few books my daughter was currently enjoying. They weren’t always—or even usually—new releases, but simply titles worth noting. I’ll be reviving this series here on Elephants. For reference, our daughter just turned three and has a wicked attention span when it comes to books.

Here’s what we’re reading lately.

1. A Balloon for Isabel by Deborah Underwood

Simone went through a serious phase of balloon love recently, and we’re really enjoying this quirky little book. Isabel and Walter, both porcupines, are bummed that they can’t have balloons with the rest of their classmates during graduation…so they come up with an ingenious solution.

2. Gray Rabbit’s Odd One Out by Alan Baker

I remember reading these rabbit books when I was a child. I checked one out of the library for Simone a few months ago and it became an instant favorite. We ordered every rabbit title we could find from Paperback Swap, but Gray Rabbit’s Odd One Out has remained number one. It touches on concepts of colors, shapes, and sorting.

3. Millions of Cats by Wanda Gág

Millions of Cats won the Newbery Honor Award in 1929 and is apparently the oldest American picture book still in print—yet I’d never heard of it until recently. The book features fairly simple black and white drawings and hand-lettered text. It’s an enchanting little folk tale about an elderly couple in search of a cat, and Simone adores it. Who wouldn’t love a book about millions of cats?

4. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss

I feel a little silly even mentioning Dr. Seuss because he seems like such an obvious choice, but One Fish Two Fish has been requested bedtime reading for several weeks running. It’s so delightfully absurd.

5. First Big Book of Animals by National Geographic

Our daughter is animal-obsessed. Obsessed. I’m pretty sure the zoo is her favorite place in the world and she loves to inform us that Curious George is “a ape!” We bought her this animal encyclopedia for her birthday and it’s at the perfect comprehension level for her. Nice big pictures, simple text, interesting information.