I can still see my boys, one under each arm, squirming to get a better look at Frog and Toad – for the 87th time. One had peanut butter stuck to his cheek, the other had his toes wedged under my leg like he was strapping in for a rollercoaster. They knew every word by heart, but that wasn’t the point. What they wanted was the lap, the time, the ritual.
The Power of a Lap
That’s why I swear by lap reading. It’s not just about books – it’s about connection. And here’s the thing: the number one way for a child to become a reader is to actually read. But step one? Someone has to read to them. A lap and a story are often where it all begins.
Here’s a secret nobody tells you: reading aloud doesn’t have to stop once kids can read on their own. In fact, it shouldn’t. Kids still love to be read to, and honestly, so do grown-ups. (Why else do you think audiobooks are such a booming business?) A voice telling a story is ageless comfort.
After 35 years of teaching, I can tell you – forget the flashcards, forget the apps. A real child on a real lap with a real paper book is pure magic. And for us grown-ups, it’s one of the few times we’re forced to sit still and create a memory that won’t wash out in the laundry.
So, if you’re thinking, “But I’m not a teacher,” let me reassure you: if you own a lap (or even just a chair wide enough for two) and can hold a book right side up, you’re hired.
Here are some of my favorite books – oldies but goodies – to share with kids, grandkids, or anyone in need of a story. I’ve grouped them by type and tossed in some simple, inexpensive activities. No glue guns, no Pinterest pressure. Just connection, curiosity, and the kind of learning that sneaks in while you’re sharing a lap, a story, and the occasional mid-sentence hot flash.
1. Wordless Wonders
Why they matter: Wordless books let kids become storytellers. You ask questions, they answer. You watch their imaginations unfold.
- Rain by Peter Spier – A rainy day adventure in pictures.
- Look, Look, Look by Tana Hoban – Guess the picture through clever cutouts.
- The Snowman by Raymond Briggs – A boy’s magical snowman comes alive.
Try this: Take a “story walk.” After reading, go outside and look for your own story – a puddle, a bird, a mysterious footprint. Ask, “What happens next?” Take your own mystery pictures and print them in black in white. Cover a portion of the picture with paper with a cutout, just like Tana Hoban.
2. Use All Your Senses
Why they matter: Young kids engage all their senses while reading. These books are irresistible for curious hands.
- Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill – A puppy hides under every flap.
- The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle – A bug who finds his voice (literally!)
- Scratch and Sniff: Food by DK – Smells kids can explore as they read.
Try this: Make your own “lift-the-flap” page. Use envelopes or sticky notes over a drawing, hiding surprises underneath. Or use scratch and sniff stickers to make your own delicious or stinky story!
3. Giggle-Inducing Goodness
Why they matter: Because sometimes, reading should be pure fun. Giggles build bonds too.
- Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi – A funny take on a universal truth.
- Froggy series by Jonathan London – A curious frog with endless misadventures.
- If You Give a Moose a Muffin & If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff – One thing leads to another and another…
- Parts by Ted Arnold – A silly look at body worries.
Try this: Start a “what if” list. What if you gave Grandpa some popcorn? What if Froggy went to outer space? (You might end up with your own silly story.)
4. Timeless Treasures
Why they matter: These books stick with us for a reason. They’re about comfort, resilience, and small everyday magic.
- The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats – A boy explores a magical snow day.
- Corduroy by Don Freeman – A lonely bear finds a forever home.
- Frederick by Leo Lionni – A poetic mouse prepares for winter.
- Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel – Two best friends navigate everyday life.
- Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik – A bear cub’s heartwarming adventures.
Try this: Draw or act out your favorite scene together. Or retell the story – kids love to “teach” it back. Have your child draw panels of a story on paper. Have kids retell the story to you as you write it down in secret code (cursive handwriting) along the bottom. Then, you can “read” the story back to them in their own words!
5. Exploring Big Ideas
Why they matter: Books help kids understand big concepts – kindness, persistence, being unique – and make them less scary.
- Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton – Perseverance through changing times.
- How Full Is Your Bucket? by Tom Rath & Mary Reckmeyer – Understanding feelings and kindness.
- Little Critter books by Mercer Mayer – Everyday childhood lessons with gentle humor.
- How Emily Blair Got Her Fabulous Hair by Susan Garrison – Loving yourself just as you are.
Try this: Make a “kindness bucket.” Every time someone does something nice, add a note or drawing. Watch it fill up.
6. Math Made Fun
Why they matter: Math isn’t just worksheets – it’s problem-solving, noticing patterns, and learning to think in new ways. These books weave math into delightful, memorable stories.
- Marti and the Mango by Daniel Moreton – Using deductive reasoning to solve a puzzle.
- The Math Curse by John Scieszka & Lane Smith – Math problems are everywhere you look.
- Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens – Clever problem-solving in a funny garden feud.
Try this: Turn everyday moments into math questions – count steps to the mailbox, compare snack sizes, or make up a “math curse” for your day.
7. Rhythms and Rhymes
Why they matter: Poetry and music stick in little heads – and hearts. They make language play irresistible.
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. – A rhythmic look at animals and colors.
- Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. – An ABC adventure up a coconut tree.
- The New Kid on the Block by Jack Prelutsky – Silly, clever poems for kids.
- Chicken Soup with Rice by Maurice Sendak – Poems celebrating months of the year.
- Take Me Out of the Bathtub by Alan Katz – Hilarious song parodies for kids.
Try this: Make up your own silly rhymes. Bonus points for singing them to familiar tunes.
8. Nature Explorers
Why they matter: These books teach kids to notice the world outside their window.
- The Apartment House Tree by Betty Killion – Exploring the life inside one big tree.
- The Bee Man by Laurie Krebs – A beekeeper’s day, from hive to garden.
- Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey – A bear and girl meet while picking berries.
Try this: Go on a nature hunt – spot bugs, count trees, or draw a simple “map” of your yard or neighborhood. Make blueberry pancakes – for lunch!
9. Just Plain Old Good Stories
Why they matter: Not every book has to teach a lesson. Sometimes a delightful story is the lesson.
- More, More, More, Said the Baby by Vera B. Williams – A celebration of love and snuggles.
- Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs & Pickles to Pittsburgh by Judi Barrett – A town where food falls from the sky.
- Journey Cake, Ho! by Ruth Sawyer – An adventure fueled by a runaway pancake.
- Henry and Mudge series by Cynthia Rylant – A boy and his lovable big dog.
Try this: After reading, ask: “What would you do if you were in this story?” Kids’ answers will surprise – and delight – you.
Closing Thought
The books on this list are just a starting point. Your local library is bursting with treasures waiting to be rediscovered. But remember this: It’s not about reading perfectly or even making it through the whole book. It’s about the lap. The closeness. The time.
Long after they forget the words to Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, they’ll remember who read it with them.
In the end, the books will be put back on the shelf. But the memory of that lap, that closeness, and that time together? That stays forever.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
What books do/did you love reading to your kids or grandkids? Are there any childhood classics that bring back memories for you? When you think about these times, what do you remember most—the story, or the little one snuggled close as you turned the pages?
