Best Children's Books For February

I love children's books. I adore the feel of chunky board books, designed to withstand brand-new teeth and chubby uncoordinated baby hands. I have stacks of picture books filled with photographs of apples, balls and cats and bold illustrations meant to capture a toddler or preschooler's imagination. I could sit for hours listening to a new reader sound out his or her first chapter books.

Although I enjoy the charming sweet confections that comprise most people's experience with children's literature, my favorites, as some of you may know, are the curious, quirky, unique and unexpected books that balance adult humor and outrageous creativity. Mixed in with the classics, my bookshelves hold stories of depressed cutlery, abandoned orphans, disturbing three-toed boys, child-eating reptiles, and the occasional sarcastic historical figure. I think children's stories should be irreverent, challenging, laugh-out-loud funny and beautiful, which is why I agree with every line of "The Picture Book Proclamation," especially its plea to avoid the bland and conventional in children's publishing.

It's not always easy to find these books. Sometimes, if you're lucky, your local bookstore might have one sitting on the shelf, cover forward, just waiting for you to take it home. I'm a sucker for good packaging, and with the books I like, you often can judge a book by its cover. But in case you're still searching, I want to help. This month, in honor of February's relatively random holidays, I've gathered a few of my favorites -- stories of romantics, presidents, inventors and rodents of all shapes and sizes. Just don't expect rose petals and chocolates.

 

Follow Devon Corneal on Twitter: www.twitter.com/dcorneal

Comments

[stecchino]

04:04 PM on 02/14/2012

Another great children's book is Just Being Audrey about the wonderful Audrey Hepburn. Very nice illustrations too. Delightful story of an icon that anyone can enjoy.

[stecchino]

04:01 PM on 02/14/2012

You should consider a lovely book for children about the wonderful Audrey Hepburn called Just Being Audrey. Delightful illustrations and a well told story of her remarkable life. Look it up.

[b4pangea]

08:13 PM on 02/04/2012

I just weeded out my daughter's bookshelf (she's 10 now) but still couldn't bring myself to part with:

"Pirates Don't Change Diapers" by David Shannon (anything by David Shannon is awesome)
"Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type" by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Levin
"Diary of a Wombat" by Jackie French
"The Hole Book" by Peter Newell (this one is ooooooooold)
Anything by David Wiesner- they make great coffee table books too
"King Bidgood's In The Bathtub" by Audrey Wood (gorgeous art in this one)
"Munschworks" by Robert Munsch- this compilation of stories includes "The Paper Bag Princess"

Stop me now. I could go on forever.

[Devon Corneal]

08:15 PM on 02/05/2012

Oh, David Shannon is wonderful and we read Pirates Don't Change Diapers, How I Became a Pirate and all of the "David" books over and over and over again. I'm sure some of them will make it on a future list! Thanks for sharing.

[EMcBC]

06:20 PM on 02/01/2012

Great post. My mom saved all of her kids books and my kids LOVE them, especially the quirky ones. Here is a great February Book list from 60 Second Parent - kids books about love. My favorite is "You Are My I Love You" - great poetry.
http://www.skinnyscoop.com/list/sixtysecparent/kids-books-about-love-for-valentines-day

[Brianne DeRosa]

01:39 PM on 02/01/2012

"Naked Mole Rat" has been a favorite in our house for a couple of years now. The best part, in my humble opinion: "Grand-pah did look heroic. Grand-pah did look regal. But he would also look heroic and regal in a casual shirt and some summer slacks." It's become our standby gift for every child we know.

[Devon Corneal]

05:31 PM on 02/01/2012

That's my favorite line too! Ah, Mo Willems, what would we do without you?