Read a good book lately?

What do Jesus, George Washington, Justin Bieber and Barak Obama have in common? They were the stars of Grace and Emma's dinnertime conversation last night.

During dinner the girls got into a little discussion (argument) over who really makes the rules. Is it mommy and daddy? Is it Obama? Is it God? So...out came the Bible to find the 10 commandments, the simplest answer to what the rules are and who makes them. Since Grace is really enjoying reading these days, she asked if she could read it...so, we turned her loose. A few words in she asked..."Have you read the Bible before?"  Mark and I both explained that we had read parts of it, but never the whole thing. Cue question #2..."Why not?"

I was at a loss for an explanation. There really is no good excuse or an easy way around it. She has seen us both reading, as having an emergent reader in the house, we try our best to model the importance of reading at every age. However, she also has been taught that the most important book you could read is the Bible. Why then, have we not read it?

So, guess what we're doing at Casa Richmond these days.

In addition to reading the Bible, we are sprinkling in a few "easier" reads. The girls can't get enough of books lately and with 2 libraries to borrow from (school and public) our book supply is never short. However, our "must-read" list is starting to fade. What children's books do you remember from your childhood? What books are on your "must-read" list for children? Here are a few of our favorites.


Top 50 favorites on our shelves right now:
Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae
Fancy Nancy Series by Jane O'Connor
Moo, Baa, La La La Series by Sandra Boynton
Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann
Not a Box by Laura Vaccarro Seeger
We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
The Kissing Hand Series by Audrey Penn
Gallop! by Rufus Butler Seder
On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman
Skippyjon Jones Series by Judy Schachner
Muncha, Muncha, Muncha by Candace Fleming
Froggy Series by Jonathon London
Llama Llama Series by Anna Dewdney
Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt
Rumble in the Jungle by Giles Andreae
Wherever You Are, my love will find you by Nancy Tillman
I Love You, Sleepyhead by Claire Freedman
Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae
Bad Dog, Marley! by John Grogan
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? by Bill Martin, Jr.
The Rainbow Fish Series by Marcus Pfister
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
Dinosaurs Galore by Giles Andreae
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith
Chimpanzees of Happytown by Giles Andreae
Love You Forever by Robert N. Munsch
Oh, The Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by John Archambault
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Series by Laura Joffe Numeroff
Heaven is Having You by Giles Andreae
The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
Curious George series by Hans Augusto Rey
Clifford, the Big Red Dog series by Norman Bridwell
Love is a Handful of Honey by Giles Andreae
You're All My Favorites by Sam McBratney
You Are My I Love You by Maryann K Cusimano
I Love You Trhough and Through by Bernadette Rossetti- Shustak
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
Bless Me by Grace Maccarone