Friday Favorites - Series Books

Once we find a book we really like, it's wonderful when we learn there is a series!  Usually these aren't quite sequels, rather they just continue the story of the character, but it's wonderful to learn more about them.  Last week I mentioned a few of our favorite board books and some of them just happen to be part of a series -- Bear Snores On and the other books in that series and our other favorite, The Little Blue Truck has been followed up with, Little Blue Truck Leads the Way.

Reading time.

We also own two of the Knuffle Bunny books!  I practically cry every time I read the last one in the series, as Mo Willems writes a little tribute to his daughter at the end.  I think the sentiment that she may have actually given her Knuffle Bunny away and that it could one day come back to her when she has her own child is just too much serendipity for me.  

Reading with Daddy

In the last six months or so, Beansprout has been moving into his big boy books.  He loves the Mercer Mayer series!  I can't imagine how many times I have had to read them to him, so it feels merciful to me that there are at least other stories to be told about Little Critter.  It's also nice that these books come rather inexpensive; we've been known to pick them up more than once for a nice little surprise even at the grocery store.  Bernenstain Bears are also a set of books Beansprout can't get enough of!  The fact that there are little lessons or specific experiences in both of these series has been quite useful with our little guy.  When he had to go to the dentist for the first time, we were already prepared (thanks to our thoughtful good friend!) with Little Critter Goes to the Dentist.  He's still a bit young to really get all of the lessons from Brother and Sister Bear, but we talk about them often and they serve as a starting point for getting Beansprout to do things such as set the table.

Scaredy Squirrel is the latest hit.  At first I wasn't sold on these books, as they seemed a bit too busy for my taste.  However, we have two of the books by author Melanie Watt, and Beansprout and Matt have been enjoying them immensely.  They've even determined that Beansprout would make a good squirrel friend, as he passes Scaredy Squirel's friend test every time.

I can't wait to start series chapter books with Beansprout, but we aren't quite there yet.  Any book series you would recommend for kids big or small?  I'd love to hear what your favorites are!