The top books for my 3 years old

Last month, our “cotton ball”, Dino, turned 3 … it’s been a wonderful journey seeing him grow everyday into a caring, sweet and intelligent little boy. Since Tigo was born, I could not give him my undivided attention anymore, but he knows that there is one time during the day that there would be just the two of us – our “special time” aka reading time!

As we keep screen time to an absolute minimum, nearing nil, now for his age, if he’s not at school he would always immerse himself in lego building, pretend-play or books! Since he was born, I have tried to read to him everyday, and sometimes 12 books in one go! I normally put his little brother to bed around 6h30 so I have a full 30-45 minute reading time before bed. During our “special time” yesterday, Dino helped me select his current top 10 books… and here they are!!

1. How to Catch a Star

There once was a boy who loved stars so much that he wished he had one of his very own. Every night he watched the stars in the sky from his bedroom window and dreamed of how he could be their friend and how they could play hide-and-go-seek together. So, one day, he decided to set about catching a star of his very own…

Following the first amazing book – “Lost and Found” by Oliver Jeffers, I went on to get Dino this one from the award-winning author. We love reading this book together and imagining ways for Dino to catch his own star!

2. Don’t forget the bacon

‘Six farm eggs, a cake for tea, a pound of pears and don’t forget the bacon.’ A young boy sets out to do the shopping, determined to remember his simple list but as the sights and sounds of town distract him he finds himself in a terrible muddle. 

A great book to build up attention span and memorisation, Dino loves to make a frown every time the little boy went sidetrack from his list!

3. Paddington and the Marmalade Maze

it was because of the Paddington series I got Dino that I went on the watch the Paddington movie (with my hubby of course – kids are off screens) and loved it so much! Aside from all the ordinary family stories with extraordinary meanings, how I just love that it is based in London where Dino and Tigo are growing up! With Paddington, anything can turn into an adventure!

4. Owl Babies

A gentle tale of three baby owls reassures young children that Mummy will always come home.

This is a book with repetitive language that I found very helpful for Dino to recognise and memorise letters. He always try to finish my last sentence of each page being the little owl Bill “I love my mummy!” No wonder I love to read this book too!

5. Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?

I am a big fan of all Eric Carle’s big board books. Repetitive language and rhythm, combined with beautiful illustrations, are great for children at preschool age like Dino. I think we have pretty much all the classic Eric Carle since Dino was 1 year old, and he still loves them now. He even remembers every single line. This one introduces the reader to a menagerie of wild animals from a roaring lion to a fluting flamingo and a trumpeting elephant.

6. The Everywhere Bear

The Everywhere Bear has a wonderful time with the children in Class One, but one day he gets more than he bargained for when he falls unnoticed from a backpack and embarks on his own big adventure! He’s washed down a drain and whooshed out to sea, rescued by a fishing boat, loaded onto a lorry, carried off by a seagull . . . how will he ever make it back to Class One?

We got him this book right before his Polka theatre experience (we are a big fan of Polka) about the Everywhere Bear. It is also very relatable to Dino as his nursery also has a version of “everywhere bear”. Donaldson’s way of beautifully mixing stories and rhymes is always unpredictable and warm. We have so many books from Julia and none of them is the same as the next one!

7. The Elephant and the Bad Baby

The Elephant takes the Bad Baby for a ride and they go ‘rumpeta, rumpeta, rumpeta down the road.’ They help themselves to ice creams, pies, buns, crisps, biscuits, lollipops and apples, and the shopkeepers follow them down the road shouting and waving. All ends well as the Bad Baby learns to say ‘Please’ and his mother makes pancakes for everyone.

Another book that is great with combining repetitive language and rhythm. Dino already memorised the order of the story and sometimes he would decide to read the book for mother.

8. The Jolly Postman

Once upon a bicycle, so they say
The Jolly Postman came one day . . .

I know this is Dino’s list but I have to say Viet and I love this book so much, I love how they include various fairy-tale characters into one book and this innovative books also include so many surprises in the form of pull out letters and cards!

9. The Cat in the Hat

When Sally and her brother are left alone, they think they’re in for a dull day – until the Cat in the Hat steps in on the mat, bringing with him mayhem and madness! This is the classic book that every child should have the joy of reading.

I got him this book when he was about 18-month old and we love it still. Dr Seuss books are very “hilarious”, according to Dino. Dot only does we enjoys the words and the rhythms, but also some life stories behind each story. My favourite must be “Oh, the places you go”.

10. Goodnight Moon

In a great green room a little bunny is tucked up snugly and safely in bed and is getting ready to say goodnight to all the familiar things in his room, one by one.

This book reminded me of the time when Dino was tiny and I tried teaching him words everyday by letting him say goodbye to every item in his room! We try to read 3-5 books every night and I always keep this last as the rhythm makes it feel so comforting, the best book before putting him down for sleep!

Thank you for reading,

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