Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo

Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo

By Kevin Lewis, Pictures By Daniel Kirk

This book I also found at a preschool I use to work at.  It was a favorite among the children.  It goes through the day of a train engineer who is a toy in a little boys room.

Why your child will love it:  What little boy doesn't love trains, of course he will love it.  The illustrations are so bright and engaging.  The language is simple enough that they will memorize it soon, but the rhyming text also makes it very captivating.  Your child will love making the whooo! whooooooo! noises of the train.  And it is a bedtime story that will leave them feeling cozy and ready to be tucked in.   

Why I love it:  I loved this book from the first moment I read it.  When my son has a child I will buy it for them.  One of my favorite parts of this book is that the setting is not the typical train setting.  It is in the little boys room, and it is his train set and toys that are going on this adventure.  The illustrations are so detailed and so great, from the train going over a bridge of blocks to it going under a rocking chair.  It is like you are peeking into the little boys imagination. 

*I have read via Amazon that the illustrations in the board book are not as the hardcover.  I only own the hardcover and the illustrations are bright and wonderful.  The reviewer stated that the board books illustrations were not as great.

Age Recommendation:  One, Two, Three, Preschool

Sample Verse:  Sun's up!  Morning's here.  Up and at 'em engineer.

Sixteen Cows

Sixteen Cows

By Lisa Wheeler, Illustrated By Kurt Cyrus

We have a farm and own cows, so I could not pass this one up after reading some good reviews.  I'm sure happy I didn't.  This book is a lively tale of two cowpokes whose land meets together at the fence line.  After their fence is blown away their cows decide to mingle together.  They try to get their cows split back up by singing them a song, a very silly song.  The cows get awfully confused and the two ranchers decide to call a truce and raise their cows together.  

Why your children will love this book:  The rhyming of this book alone makes it very fun.  It is very silly.  Definitely not a before bed calm story, my kids smile as we read it.  The best part is the repetition of the cows names, such as Butter-Box and Jelly Toes it brings giggles every time.

Why I love it:  As stated it is super fun ;)  The rhyming and the cow poke dialogue is very engaging.  The illustrations are great too.  And of course the song they sing their cows is a lot of fun.  Most importantly, my kids really love it.  Our paperback copy has been used and abused, also known as loved dearly.  I must say if you ever heard the Diamond Rio song Meet In The Middle you will get is stuck in your head after reading this book somehow... at least I do.

Age Recommendation:  Two & up

Sample Verse:  The cows all did the two-step, as Gene commenced to singin'.  They trotted down to Biddle Ranch, their cowbells just a-ringin'!