Children's Books You'll Actually Enjoy Reading!

By KitchenComa Blog Team

      One of the greatest gifts you can give to a child is a love for reading. Reading to children from a very early age can significantly impact their love for reading as they grow throughout childhood and into adulthood.  Finding books that are can be both engaging and entertaining can be a challenging but we've got you covered with our all time favorite children's books! We promise that you'll actually enjoy reading these on repeat! So pick up a book, snuggle up with your kiddos and enjoy our all time favorite picture books!
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Room On The Broom by Julia Donaldson Illustrated by Axel Scheffler

A lovely and silly story about a friendly witch and her loyal cat who meet a few unexpected friends during their journey to uncover lost belongings. Julia Donaldson is a wonderful writer! We are avid fans of her work!  The Gruffalo, Stick Man, and The Singing Mermaid are a few of our favorites, among many others! The illustrations and storytelling are enough to entertain even the most adverse little reader. Mom and Dad will also enjoy the creative tales and melodic rhythm of the writing. If you haven't picked up one of these books yet, I highly recommend you add a few to your collection immediately! A few of the stories have been turned into short films which are narrated by acclaimed actors such as Gillian Anderson (The X-Files) and Simon Peg (Shaun Of The Dead). Our little one is a massive fan! You can find more of Julia Donaldson's books here.

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Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin Illustrated Daniel Salmieri

Did you know that Dragons LOVE tacos? They love chickens tacos, and beef tacos, they love tiny tacos and gigantic tacos! Who knew?! Dragons Love Tacos is a funny story about a boy who is throwing a taco party for a bunch a hungry taco loving Dragons. But watch out! Dragons HATE spicy tacos! Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri make a wonderful pair with their goofy storytelling and direct narrative style. The reading feels as if the story is being told directly to the listener which immerses the child into the reading experience. Our little one loves to yell out during our nightly reading of this particular story. “No Dragon! Don’t eat the spicy taco!!!” She’s a very dramatic toddler haha. We also enjoy some of their other stories such as, Big Bad Bubble and Those Darn Squirrels! , to name a few. With the silly artwork and goofy writing, these books are sure to bring a smile to any face, both young and old. You can purchase this lovely book here. 

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Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees

For anyone - young and old - who feels a little bit awkward, Gerald the main character of this tale, will help you find the silver lining. In this tale, Gerald, a giraffe clumsy with his crooked knees and long thin legs, finds himself sad because he feels like he doesn’t have the skills to dance at the annual Jungle Dance with the rest of the animal kingdom. Rhino’s could rock ‘n roll, lions could tango and chimps do the cha-cha. They all laughed at Gerald, yelling, “Giraffes can’t dance, you silly fool! Oh, Gerald, you’re so weird.” Sad, right? But fear not, this book is all about finding your own groove and it is a great mental health guide for all of us. After Gerald runs off, he finds the moon and a cricket who give him some sound advice - that sometimes when you’re different  you just need a different song. Check it out on Amazon.com.

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George and Martha written and illustrated by James Marshall

Two loving hippos learn the meaning of friendship in this book with five smaller stories inside it’s loving pages. My copy is in Spanish, translated by Yanitzia Canetti, and I love to read the stories aloud to help further my language learning. There is a hilarious vignette about a less-than favorite soup (spoiler, it ends up in a shoe) and an array of ludicrous situations made extra comical because of the bulky size of the two friends (think hot air balloons and dressing fancy) as they navigate each hilarious situation. There might be a deeper level to gain from this awesome duo but my Spanish needs more work to sort out the nuances.

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There’s NO Such Thing as a Dragon by Jack Kent

When Billy Bixbee wakes up to find a small, friendly dragon in his room, his mother tells him that there’s no such thing as a dragon. The day goes on, and the dragon grows in size. But, if there is no such thing as a dragon, the mom can’t react to the dragon growing astronomically in size, eating all of the pancakes (apparently dragons also LOVE pancakes) and growing so big that he moves the entire house. This book is fun and lighthearted but also packs the message that with some things (apparently dragons) it is better to deal with the problem at hand when it is just a small problem, rather than denying the whole thing and ending up with a massive disaster down the line. Hopefully Billy’s mom learned her lesson. Either way this classic tale is a great fun read and who doesn’t like friendly dragons? Find it here. 

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Star in the Jar written by Sam Hay and illustrated by Sarah Massini

When a little boy comes across a fallen star and tries to take care of it, carrying it around with him in a jar, he is filled with joy. He marvels at the night sky, as we all are known to do, and is thrilled about his new companion. When he realizes that the star needs to go back to its home in the sky, the little boy has to both solve the problem of “how to return the star?” and how to overcome his sadness over the loss of his star-buddy. He does it with the help of his sister. Oh sibling love! The art in this book is equally as lovely as the message that the words hold and you can find it here.

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Eight Little Planets by Chris Ferrie

​This educationally forward children's book teaches while also engaging its readers at the same time and for that reason, it's one of our favorites! Chris Ferrie is a well known Physicist based out of Sydney, Australia. He illustrates complex concepts in the most simplistic ways that even toddlers can begin to understand. And bonus - it’s an easy way for adults to brush up on elementary ideas and concepts too! With its bright and adorable illustrations and credible teachings about the solar system, this one is a great addition to your child's library. So, brush up on your planetary knowledge and buy it here. 

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The Wonderful Things You Will Be
by Emily Winfield Martin
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Emily Winfield Martin is an incredibly talented artist and author. Her writing is beautifully rhythmic and inspiring while her artwork is whimsical and unique. I love her books for the pictures alone but the stories are adorable and sentimental. Just try reading this to your little one without getting choked up! A lovely story about all the wonderful things we hope for our children and the unconditional love we have for them. This makes a wonderful gift for new parents or for a baby shower! We own a few of her books, some of our favorites being Day Dreamers, and Dream Animals. She also writes book for older children as well! Check out Snow and Rose, an imaginative retelling of the classic fairy tales we grew up with. You can find more of Emily's work here.

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