Every kid loves it when their parents use storytelling as a meaningful childhood ritual; regrettably, some children don't have those memories. For me personally, I’m thankful that my late grandma and grandaunts always mailed us children’s books back in the day for that special storytime.
Reading became my afternoon pastime as a child. I probably had hyperlexia because I learned to read and write by myself. By the time I was six, I had already devoured more than 30 short stories on my own.
Then, in first grade, something happened that stayed with me forever. My teacher, Mrs. Delia, read The Legend of Bathala to the entire class. The story follows Bathala, one of the three powerful primordial gods in Filipino mythology, how he became the supreme deity, and what inspired him to create the first man and woman.
It was the first time I had heard someone tell a story instead of simply reading one, and the way Mrs. Delia delivered it made me feel as though I had been transported into another world.
That was the moment I realized that reading a story to yourself and having someone read it to you are two entirely different experiences for a child. For that reason, I will never stop encouraging anyone to read stories to their children, nieces, or nephews.
Years from now, your child may not remember every story you read or how accurately you pronounced difficult words, but believe me, they will remember how those bedtime rituals made them feel happy as they snuggled comfortably with their favorite plushie.
With that in mind, I’ve put together a list of my favorite children’s books that you can read aloud to your little one and paired each story with a plushie from our collection that closely resembles the main character.
Charlotte’s Web
I never imagined a book could make me care so deeply about a spider and a pig, yet here we are!
Charlotte’s Web is a tale about compassion, loyalty, integrity, and sacrifice. It tells the touching story of an unlikely friendship between a spider named Charlotte and a pig named Wilbur, who was raised to become Christmas ham.
While it is a children’s book, I love how it doesn’t talk down to children. The author’s prose is elegant and rich but simple enough for young readers to follow and understand big ideas.
As you read it out loud to your child, don’t be surprised if you also find yourself getting swept up in the story and become as invested as your little listener. Charlotte’s Web is simply the kind of book that stays with both adults and children.
If you would like to make story time more interactive, consider bringing Baby Pig Sleeping in Bed Plush as an adorable stand-in for Wilbur and the Friendly Spider Plush for Charlotte.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
From one timeless classic to another, The Tale of Peter Rabbit is another excellent choice for introducing your child to classic children’s literature. First published in 1902, it is the first installment of Helen Beatrix Potter’s “23 Original Tales.”
The Tale of Peter Rabbit teaches children about the consequences of disobedience in a lighthearted way. It follows a naughty bunny who, despite his mother’s repeated warnings and knowing that his father was made into a pie, could not be dissuaded from visiting McGregor’s vegetable garden.
Well, most kids are just like Peter Rabbit, aren’t they?
The book’s watercolor illustrations were nothing short of mesmerizing. I can vividly remember how my six-year-old self was completely in awe. Yes, I loved them so much that I brought my little book to school to show it off to my classmates.
While all of Beatrix’s books have a way of taking over a child’s imagination, the stories felt even more magical when I had a few rabbit plushies to snuggle with as I read. As I followed more of Peter’s adventures and got to know the other characters, it felt as though the plushies beside me were the manifestation of the characters I dearly loved.
I have a feeling your child will fall in love with The Tale of Peter Rabbit just as I did. As you read to them, your child may enjoy it even more if they have their own brown bunny to cuddle with during the exciting chase through Mr. McGregor’s garden.
Lessons from Shadow: My Life Lessons for Boys and Girls
“You might think about running away when you get angry at your mommies, daddies, brothers, or sisters. But remember these people all love you even when you get mad at them, or they get mad at you. It’s much better being home than running away.”
That quote perfectly captures what makes this book exceptional. Written from the perspective of Shadow Bregman, a senior black dog, Lessons from Shadow is a collection of short stories that provides plenty of valuable lessons and food for thought.
By sharing experiences most children can relate to in their daily lives, Shadow passes down life lessons without sounding heavy-handed. From settling into a new home and making friends to dealing with bullies, food, traveling, the wisdom-filled stories make it easy for young readers to relate. It’s like listening to your grandparents reminisce about their past.
Even better, each chapter concludes with a question-and-answer section from Shadow that helps parents initiate thoughtful conversations with their children about empathy, kindness, resilience, and more.
To make storytime more immersive, you may pair the book with a dog plushie from our store. Children can cuddle their own “Shadow” while they listen to more stories.
Are You My Mother?
If your child needs a little help as they are about to take a big leap into preschool, P. D. Eastman’s Are You My Mother? deserves a spot on their bookshelf. It is a funny and heartwarming story about a hatchling determined to find his missing mother.
The story begins with Mama Bird brooding her one and only egg. When the egg moved, she left the nest to find food for her baby. Before long, the hatchling has already pecked his way out of his shell, only to realize that his mother is nowhere to be found.
The distressed little bird fell off the tree and set off to find his mama. Along the way, he asks every animal he sees the same innocent question, “Are you my mother?”
Are You My Mother? is a wonderful read-aloud for toddlers and preschoolers who are prone to separation anxiety, a feeling many young children know all too well. The story reassures little ones that although Mommy or Daddy may leave for work or drop them off at daycare, they will always come back.
To make storytime even more interesting for little ones, consider pairing this book with a Baby Sparrow from our collection. Holding a plush version of a story’s main character actually helps promote imagination and memory retention in young minds.
The Kissing Hand
Along the same theme of separation anxiety comes one of my favorite comfort books for young children, The Kissing Hand.
Chester Raccoon refuses to go to Animal Night School because he will miss his mother. Fortunately, Chester’s wise mama knows how to comfort him, and she reassured her darling son that love does not disappear just because you don’t see your loved ones.
Kissing Hand explores separation anxiety with warmth and compassion; it teaches young children that missing their loved ones is a natural part of growing up.
What I love about this book is that there is no evil villain to defeat or any grand adventure to weather through. Audrey Penn simply took one of childhood’s universal struggles and turned it into a gentle, comforting story that resonates with all of us.
Would you like your child to have their own little raccoon plushie while listening to this story? A stuffed raccoon may not solve their first-day-of-school jitters, but having a friend to hug certainly does not hurt.
Sunshine’s Excellent Adventures
After several emotional stories, let us lighten the mood with something delightfully cheerful. Sunshine’s Excellent Adventures teaches kindness, friendship, and finding magical joy in the mundane; it is a feel-good read that encourages little children to embrace change and always keep an open heart.
The story stars an optimistic ginger cat named Sunshine. Living up to his name, Sunshine has a bright, sunny disposition; he approaches each new situation or challenge with curiosity, confidence, and an open mind.
He discovered early on that treating others the way he’d like to be treated is the easiest way to make new friends. He quickly became friends with Claude Crab, Polly Pelican, and Sam Seagull.
And just like Shadow Bregman, Sunshine is actually inspired by a real cat. Sunshine was the real-life companion of authors Reggie and Anita Hill. Although the cheerful cat has already crossed the rainbow bridge, his playful spirit and upbeat outlook live on in this cute book.
Do you have a family pet that looks like Sunshine, or does your child want to adopt one? We do have an orange kitty that looks just like Sunshine!
Leviatopia: A Tale of a Whale
Not every unforgettable children’s book has been around for decades. Newer stories also deserve a place alongside the classics, and Leviatopia: A Tale of a Whale is among them. It is a magical adventure that teaches kids that even the most frightening or unexpected situations can lead to incredible discoveries when they are met with courage.
The adventure begins with two friends, Ella and Alex, whose ordinary day at the beach takes a completely unexpected turn. A sudden storm sweeps them into the mouth of a giant whale named Levi, but thankfully, he wasn’t actually looking for lunch.
Levi was actually giving the kids an opportunity to wander into a place of wonder. It turns out that a breathtaking city can be found inside the whale’s belly; an amusement park, flying animals, candy galore, and toy stores await them.
I’m not going to leave more spoilers here. Just know that reading Leviatopia reminded me of that wonderful feeling of childhood when reality and imagination seemed to be happily blurred together.
Final Words
Children often develop positive emotional associations with certain books because they remind them of the love, comfort, and security they feel while listening to those stories read aloud by their parents or any adult they look up to.
As your child grows older, they may start forgetting some important details of those stories you read, but they will always remember how they had your full attention. Adult kids will remember how it felt to curl up with their special plushie while their loving parents brought the pages to life and patiently answered their questions.
So, out of these seven stories, which one will you read first? How about you share one story each night?
