It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading?  is a meme hosted over at Teach Mentor Texts.  Here they have a lot of great children’s book recommendations — and lots of picture book recommendations, too.  Please go check them out and link up with them to share your recommendations.

Here are the top 10 books that my two-and-a-half-year-old son and I have read and enjoyed over and over and over again this past week.

1. Captain No Beard by Carole P. Roman

My son really loves this book.  Learn how to speak pirate and have lots of fun at the same time.

2.  The Teacher from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler and Pictures by Jared Lee

I remember reading this when I was in grade school.  My son enjoyed it immensely.

3.  As the Crow Flies:  A First Book of Maps by Gail Hartman and Illustrated by Harvey Stevenson

A wonderful introduction to maps.  My son really seemed to enjoy this book.  Each time we read it he asked lots of questions.

4.  Tasty Baby Belly Buttons by Judy Sierra and Illustrated by Meilo So

This book seemed to scare and thrill my son at the same time.  My son had lots of questions about this book while we read it and afterwards, too.  He loved pretending to save the babies after we read the book.  Scariest book we’ve read, so far.

5.  Waddles by David McPhail

A wonderful and sweet story about a friendship between a duck and a raccoon.

6.  Chopsticks by Jon Berkeley

A beautiful and imaginative story about a wooden dragon who wants to fly and the mouse that helps him make it happen.

7.  Randy Riley’s Really Big Hit by Chris Van Dusen

Randy may have trouble hitting the ball, but when it comes to saving the day — he nails it!  Fantastic illustrations and an addictive rhythm.

8.  The Tooth Mouse by Susan Hood and Illustrated by Janice Nadeau

Absolutely gorgeous illustrations and a very creative story about a very determined mouse striving to be the next tooth mouse.  In the US, we may have the tooth fairy, but in France there is the tooth mouse.  I loved this one!

9.  Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs by Giles Andreae and Illustrated by Russell Ayto

My son loves this story.  Pirates + Dinosaurs = A huge win at our house.  A very fun story with fantastic illustrations.

10.  A Gold Star for Zog by Julia Donaldson and Illustrated by Axel Scheffler

Zog does his best to earn a gold star in dragon school.  During his adventures he meets a princess and a knight who have great aspirations.  This story surprised me! My son and I enjoyed reading it immensely.

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FTC Disclosures: I received a review copy from the author of Captain No Beard.  No other compensation was received.  The opinions expressed here are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” If you click on the link and purchase the book, I will receive an affiliate commission.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”