am i a lone in my intense hatred of that " we are going on a bear hunt" book?

try "Duck for President" from the states. V funny.
Do you think children's books which make us cry are cynical marketing aimed at us rather than children? Because all the real classics I can think of have one bit which has me reaching for the hanky - the baby otter being found by Pan in Wind in the Willows, Christopher Robin telling Pooh he's got to grow up now but will always love him (WAAAAAAH! even while rational part of me is thinking "Goody and get your hair cut too") ekt ekt

Yes I know the Little Wooden Farmer, should be getting that soon
My parents were avid children's book collectors and I have finally persuaded them to send me most of ones suitable for my kids' age group. It will cost a bomb and come by sea but it's very important to keep the reading alive.

I do 50s voices in the style of the Muffin The Mule presenter as often as I can, ds1 quite likes it and it makes it slightly more interesting for me

By the way, if anyone has Pass the Jam, Jim, I found it works well sung to the tune of 'Glorious things of thee are spoken'...bizarre the things you come up with when faced with reading a book for the trillionth time

Peachy, love Tiger who came to tea too! I know it off by heart as before thomastook over our world, the ds's both loved it. Do you find yourself adopting a bizarre 1950's BBC voice to read it? Or is it just me

Oh MI Run away from SCARY pants that has to be shouted out in our house.
I love that book. I recall dd at about 2 and a bit sitting "reading" it to herself on the sofa (she knew it off by heart of course, couldn't read at 2 I hasten to add before you all think I'm some hideous hot-housing mother...
I am also with you all in my hatred of the Mr Men books, they don't rhyme or appeal in any way, too long and not at all interesting. Kids love em of course. Am I the only person who shortens them as I go? (Luckily no-one reads well enough here to know!)

Hi, my first posting on this site! I can't stand any books with long paragraphs as my little ones won't wait for me to read them and they just turn the pages... so I like Elmer's Weather - fun, short and thick card so it can't be torn! Having said all that, they both LOVED 'Room On The Broom' as it rhymes and it's well illustrated... and I still enjoy reading it even after well over 40 reads!

Our favourite:

Tiger who came to tea

Sister adored as a kid and I bought it for her a few years back at Christmas but never made it that far

Ant and Bee YAY!

Bear Hunt- ds's would like therefore I'd tolerate but that is about it, not one I ever liked

love bear hunt to bits read it a thousand times but still love it . my dd2 used to sleep with it she loved it so much.
i hate "i dont like peas" dd2 has never eaten peas since !!!!

We love the Sarah Garland books - coming to tea, doing the washing, etc - i know they're all 'mummy at home' type of books, but they're just normal, everyday things that happen. I like the fact that the mum is clearly pregnant in one of them, and it's not all 'oooh, mummy is going to have another baby', is just is, somehow. And the blonde toddler is a dead ringer for DS2, which makes me like them evenmore.

So wonderful to see Ant and Bee mentioned - I've never met anyone else who knew who they were! Always wondered where the mum was in Bear Hunt - or is that blonde one the mum?? She always looks like a big sister to me and mum seems to be missing.

Anyone else know 'The foot book' by Dr Seuss - that is no.1 fave with ds (9months) and is loved by all just because his reactions to it are just the best

I'm normally opposed to book burning, suze, but when it comes to the Mr Men books, hell, I'll provide the matches.

Run away from SCARY pants!

Pants on your head when you've gone crazy!

the best book is pants. I mean, the best book is "Pants" - small pants, big pants, giant frilly pig pants. etc etc ad lib to fade. I love it.

Popsycal - just love Hurry Hurry Mary Dear, and my 17 month old loves it too!

Like Bear hunt, love the gruffalo et al and Peepo, but absolutely hate Owl Babies - so naff.

I bloody hate them
what 's the one where the entire action is some badly drawn character meeting other badly drawn characters whilst walking along the road. Mr Clever, that's the one.

Hate them
Get them on the bonfire

yes they're AWFUL
and so LOOOOONG as well

NO BETTY

I adore the elephant and the bad baby, especially when they go "rumpeta. rumpeta, rumpeta' All down the road. And the cakes, cream, cherry, almond, raspberry, coffee and what's the other one. Oh god I love it.

I fcken hate the Mr Man books, I knew I'd forgotten something

When I left for Oz, my mum bequeathed me the entire collection of MM books including the eye-pokingly-out awful John Mouse

I gave them to a friend knowing that I would never willingly read them aloud to the kids and wouldn't ya just know it, ds1 is obsessed with them and I am mug enough to buy him one a week and have to read the bloody awful things. Very lazy, padded text IMO

I hate them

cassoulet you are so right
the Mr Men books are utter utter crap
spread the word

Just remembering the HOURS spent poring over the Baby's Catalogue - they loved the naughty ones best and had to make up little stories about each baby. Amazing how many of these books I can remember off by heart - Dear Zoo, Cat in the Hat especially.