Eddie's Desert Island Books

I have heard that it is perfectly normal for toddlers to want the same books read over and over again. Lucky for us, Eddie has picked some pretty good books to want repeated. I have most of these memorized and have contemplated trying to multi-task while "reading" to Ed. We've read them so many times that sometimes he will even tell me what is coming up on the next page.

Where the Wild Things Are // Maurice Sendak

Eddie loves all the "pups" in this book. He thinks that Max is a pup because he's dressed in his wolf suit. He thinks the wild things are all pups, too. Plus, this book has an added bonus: the moon. We're not sure why (perhaps because of the moon in The Very Hungry Caterpillar), but Eddie loves the moon and always has to point it out when it shows up in his stories.

"Oh please don't go - we'll eat you up - we love you so!"

Oh, The Thinks You Can Think // Dr. Seuss

My mom and I discovered this book the first time we went to Universal Studios Islands of Adventure and visited the bookstore dedicated entirely to Dr. Seuss in Seuss Landing. I absolutely love this book because it is all about encouraging imagination and thinking of ridiculous things.

"And what would you do if you met a Jibboo?"

Puppies

This is an Usborne touchy-feely book. Eddie loves puppies, so naturally he loves this book, which is filled with all sorts of hairy, fluffy puppies.

"Most puppies like to sniff, but not this one."

Sheep in a Jeep // Nancy Shaw

This book was a baby shower gift from my cousin, who told me that she let her sons pick out the book. It is a fun rhyming book about a bunch of sheep driving a jeep rather recklessly. Thanks to this book, Eddie can say "beep beep."

"Oh dear! The driver sheep forgets to steer!"

Hippos Go Berzerk // Sandra Boynton

A gift from Eddie's aunt Cheryl, this book was a hit from the start. It is a counting book about a bunch of hippos that get together for a party and... you guessed it... go berzerk. Eddie likes this book so much that he attempted to eat it the other day in the car. Luckily I caught him before he ate through any of the words.

"All through the hippo night, hippos play with great delight."

Good Night Gorilla // Peggy Rathmann

This book is all about the pictures. Eddie loves it because it prominently features a gorilla (aka monkey, which Eddie calls "ah-ah") and a lion, which Eddie always thinks is a "pup." I even taught Eddie to gasp at the right moment -- when the zookeeper's wife realizes that all the animals are in their bedroom.

"Good night armadillo."