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Children's books

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Original poster

What books for 2 year olds can you read over and over again without losing the will to live?

69 replies

stubbornstains · 07/10/2011 12:34

...because The Little Princess is about to meet a sticky end in our house, I fear...

OP posts:
Greenwing · 07/10/2011 21:26

Oh yes, and Tom and Pippo books were great and quite short!

Greenwing · 07/10/2011 21:26

I find ones in verse easier to bear.
Love all the 'Hairy Maclary' books.
Also 'Bear Hunt' and 'Each Peach Pear Plum'.

Original poster
stubbornstains · 07/10/2011 21:15

This is all wonderful material for the Ultimate Christmas and Birthday Book List that I am compiling for me and all the relatives who would otherwise buy him dreadful plastic junk.

Downpipe- we hadn't been to the library for months after A Very Embarrassing Incident (the librarians obviously hadn't thought about babies when they put their paper display of flags of the world at floor level- by the time I caught up with him he had eaten half of Cuba)- but we did risk it the other day, and Babies Love Books by the Anholts has become a mutual favourite...

Lightroom - In the Night Kitchen scares me!

OP posts:
budgieshell · 07/10/2011 17:23

Room on the broom (my favourite)

The gruffalo (not the gruffalos child)

The tiger that came for tea (DD's still think the picture of the tea pot on the floor looks like tiger poo)

Hungry caterpillar

Where going on a bear hunt (really feel sorry for the old bear)

Anything with really good pictures, so when you get bored of the same old words you can make up a different story.

Proon · 07/10/2011 17:08

Man on the Moon
Pumpkin Soup
Mr Magnolia

lightroom · 07/10/2011 17:07

Have you tried In the Night Kitchen - another Maurice Sendak. Proper text, gorgeous illustrations and has taken dc through from 2 - 6+ without me 'losing' book or patience... The first Olivia book (haven't read the later ones) is a favourite. I love Click Clack Moo (Cows that type). (A children's book that gets away with mentioning arbitration. Weird & fab). Farmer Duck. All bear multiple readings. Oh, and the Benedict Blathwayt Little Red Train books have got lovely detailed illustrations that counterbalance slim plot + lots of repeated train sounds.

Original poster
stubbornstains · 07/10/2011 16:51

(busily taking notes)....

OP posts:
everpuzzled · 07/10/2011 15:01

Penguin by Polly dunbar, I love you stinky face,

Bear hunt makes me want to poke my own eyes out.

posey · 07/10/2011 14:35

I work in a pre school so have been in the 2-3 year old reading bracket for many years! Books I could read over and over again are many of those already listed, and also Harry the Dirty Dog, Ginger, My Granny is a Juggler, Balloon.
I'm sure there are more, I'll get back to you if and when I remember any more!

BikeRunSki · 07/10/2011 14:19

I love Tiddler, but DS hates it.

We can all read "IF I had a sailboat" over and over, not very well known but very sweet. I think we probably all know it by heart.

Current favourite is "The Smartest Giant in Town".

Pancakeflipper · 07/10/2011 14:12

Dear Zoo as it is wonderfully short.

I have yet to bore of The Tiger Who Came to Tea. But my DP now hates it.

I also can read Tiddler over and over again.

margoandjerry · 07/10/2011 14:08

I am about to collapse with You Choose fatigue but I do think anything by Nick Sharratt is pretty good. We read You Choose and Shark in the Park many many times a week.

nickelbabe · 07/10/2011 14:03

yeah, you need to go to your local bookshop and get some more!

Julia Donaldson ones are good - there are loads now, so you can change them regularly and still keep the same style of writing.

lifeistooshort · 07/10/2011 14:02

I love stick man

Sirzy · 07/10/2011 14:02

I know gruffalo child by heart and still enjoy it

substantiallycompromised · 07/10/2011 14:01

Bear Hunt?

Carrotsandcelery · 07/10/2011 13:57

Julia Donaldson always made me smile, no matter how often I had to read it.

SecretSpi · 07/10/2011 13:54

The old ones are the best for me - Where the Wild Things Are and Dr Suess books like One Fish Two Fish.

downpipe · 07/10/2011 13:30

Maybe it has to go back to the "library...." But actually that could be a good place to start as then you don't have to read anything for more than a week and it is free. I know how you feel though, we have the same problem with certain books but then after a while something else becomes the favourite..