Books that are fun to read out loud

December 23, 2011 2:56 PM

What are some books, appropriate for an approx. two-year-old, that have the same sort of rhythm and/or rhyming mechanism as The Night Before Christmas?

After digging out our Christmas decorations and books this year, I'm finding I love to read The Night Before Christmas to my little boy. The rhythm of the book and the rhyming make it fun for me to read out loud, and he seems to love it too and requests it often.

So... we'd like more rhymey books! His grandma bought him Weird Al's book last year and it's exactly the sort of book I need more of. What are some others we might enjoy?

Thanks in advance!

posted by meggan to Media & Arts (16 answers total)

It's written in anapestic meter. Most of Dr. Seuss's books were written in same, I believe, but those are probably a little advanced for a 2 year old. That may help narrow your results though.
posted by Think_Long at 3:13 PM on December 23, 2011

Goodnight Moon?
posted by 4ster at 3:15 PM on December 23, 2011

Best answer: Very old school and out of print, but used ones are out there. It was a favorite of mine, then my kids. Fun rhymes. "I Can't" said the ant
posted by maxg94 at 3:18 PM on December 23, 2011 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Everywhere Babies and Hippos Go Berserk are two that I like to read aloud to my 1-year-old.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 3:28 PM on December 23, 2011

David Kirk's "Miss Spider" books, while their verses are not perfect models of meter, are really enjoyable to read aloud, either in a normal storytelling voice or a more singsong to fit the meter and rhyme, depending on the child's mood. As a bonus, the paintings are bright, cheerful, and look oddly like lickable candy.
posted by mittens at 3:29 PM on December 23, 2011

The look inside feature is not useful for either of these because they don't even show you the facing page to complete the first rhyme. Trust me they are great rhymes.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 3:30 PM on December 23, 2011

Best answer: Oh, and also "Peekaboo" by Janet and Allan Ahlberg (I think the non-US title is "Peepo!") is so, so soothing to read, and the phrases just roll off the tongue. I loved reading this one for bedtime!
posted by mittens at 3:34 PM on December 23, 2011

We love Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag
posted by belladonna at 6:23 PM on December 23, 2011 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I have had Chicken Soup with Rice stuck in my head for approximately all of my life. I remember being frustrated with my mother who did not know what chicken soup with rice was. I assure you that I can make it for you know.

The rhythm is positively mesmerizing.
posted by Quonab at 6:54 PM on December 23, 2011 [2 favorites]

My kids really liked Amy Wilson Sanger's "World Snacks" book, especially My First Sushi. The rhymes are super-catchy, the images are these gorgeous multi-media collages, and even though they're board books, they stayed relevant well into school age.
posted by padraigin at 6:55 PM on December 23, 2011

*now*
posted by Quonab at 6:56 PM on December 23, 2011

My son is currently gaga for The Caboose Who Got Loose, by Bill Peet, which follows the scheme so closely that I keep substituting lines from Night Before Christmas, a joke he can't possibly get, thus establishing early the principle that Dad's Jokes Aren't Funny.
posted by range at 8:07 PM on December 23, 2011 [1 favorite]

I love The Big Red Bath. It's a slightly different meter to The Night Before Christmas, but just as fun to read aloud.
posted by embrangled at 12:32 AM on December 24, 2011

Best answer: Picture books with good rhythm for reading aloud - the Hairy McLary books. There's a quote on the link wch shows the sort of thing. And Bear Snores On (even better in the press button snoring noise edition).
posted by paduasoy at 5:37 AM on December 24, 2011

Response by poster: These all look so wonderful! I marked the ones we're most likely to try out soon. Extra credit to mittens for reminding me of the existence of Each Peach Pear Plum, which I owned and loved as a child. And paduasoy - I can't get over Bottomley Potts! My husband will love that one.

We are a book-loving household, so keep suggestions coming if you have them! Thank you!
posted by meggan at 9:46 AM on December 24, 2011

Best answer: Half Magic illustrator Hilary Knight has some adorable Christmas books: A Firefly in a Fir Tree is "On the first day of Xmas" told by small mice. And "On the First Day of Christmas" is a story of 2 bears in love, with loads of fun jokes in the background of massively entertaining illustrations -- the bear is bringing his love all the things named, and havoc ensues. Both books rhyme, of course.

John Burningham's "Hushabye" is a lovely rhythmic bedtime book: "The three tired bears/are climbing the stairs..."

My 2YO boy and his older sisters LOVE "Chugga Chugga Choo-Choo" by Kevin Lewis - gorgeous illustrations and fun poetry: "Hurry hurry, load the freight/To the city, can't be late!"
posted by mdiskin at 11:31 AM on December 24, 2011