10 Beautiful Books for Children

My almost-eight-year-old loves to read.

No matter how horrible a day I am having or how huge the anxiety attack I am fighting due to my mothering mistakes, that one fact makes my heart soar.

My five-year-old pre-reader also loves books, and after her father and I are hoarse from reading stories to her each night, she will turn the pages of her favorite picture books until she falls asleep.

Our hope is that the visually engaging artwork in the books will warmly welcome her to the reading family, just like her older brother.

And we are even getting the baby in on the picture book act!

In honor of September being National Literacy Month, here are my family's top ten picture books that grab our kids' attentions and ignite their imaginations.

1. Fabulous Fishes by Susan Stockdale - My ocean-adoring children love these colorful fish pictures and rhyming verses. Bonus: Local author and illustrator Stockdale has a new children's book out too, Bring on the Birds.

2. A Good Day by Kevin Henkes - A simple story of animals and one little girl on an ordinary day make for a relaxing end of day story for a child.

3. Madeline at the White House by John Bemelmans Marciano - Madeline's original author's grandson continues our favorite French school girl's adventures, featuring drawings of the monuments your own children see when they visit D.C.

4. I Love You More Than Rainbows by Susan E. Crites, illustrated by Mark & Rosemary Jarman - I met this local author at a signing at the Silver Spring Borders (RIP, dear store) and her love for children and the beauty of their world was palpable. Her colorful, joyous illustrations reflect that too!

5. Louise, The Adventures of a Chicken by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Harry Bliss - Whether she is battling pirates or a hungry circus lion, this bird shows pluck.

6. Olivia and the Missing Toy by Ian Falconer - Deliciously slightly spooky, kids will love watching their favorite funny pig-girl creep around in her home (and imagination).

7. "Slowly, Slowly, Slowly," said the Sloth by Eric Carle - If you would like your child to learn about the animals of the Amazon, turn off Diego and turn the pages of this gorgeous book.

8. Our Animal Friends at Maple Hill Farm by Alice and Martin Provensen - My kids call the hundreds of pictures in this series their "favorite farmy drawings ever", and The New York Times named this Outstanding Book of the Year.

9. Clare and the Unicorn: Happy Ever After by B.G. Hennessy, illustrated by Susan Mitchell - You will be hard-pressed to find more sweetly-drawn heroines than Clare and her one-horned pal.

10. Stellaluna by Janell Cannon - Whether your child loves animals or would love a sweet story about friendship and family, the story (and illustrations) will delight.

Jessica McFadden both reads to her children and blogs every day at A Parent in Silver Spring.

Disclosure: In some cases, Amazon affiliate links are used.

Look for these children's books at the at 11701 Georgia Avenue.