Reddit mentions: The best parents books for children

It took me a really long time to really learn how to read/feel comfortable with reading. Writing took me even longer. But my father was an editor and he used to read to me all the time and sit with me while I struggled to read back to him.

My favorite books I remember him reading to me/reading with him were:

• Amelia Bedelia- when I was younger.
  
• I also made him read the Giving Tree to me a lot! Terribly sad book.
  
• the Harry Potter series(we both got bored after the 4th one but I finished them by myself).
  
• The Hobbit
  
• The Land of Oz(the Wizard of Oz was not as exciting to me)
  
  So, this is my list for the kids who have more trouble with keeping up, or who are too shy to read aloud. To ma' homies with the LD's. Or the ones who just like awesome stories, regardless of the age group they're directed towards.
  
  I don't think I really started reading on my own till 5th grade. Which is when I found some awesome book called Anastasia(I never watched the movie before I read this, but I dont think its anything like the Disney film)
  
  I found "The Royal Diaries series - Anastasia" book. It may be the first "real" chapter book I ever started and finished on my own, without anyone forcing it down my throat. I loved it. It changed everything because I remember attempting to read all of the books for the Newberry Award nominations like all the super fast readers were after that. Which led to me finding these AMAZING books. They may be the greatest books ever for little girls with ADHD or "memory retrieval" problems, as I had been diagnosed at the time. "A Mango Shaped Space" and "So B. It"
  
  After those, I came to the conclusion that reading is awesome. I read Eragon, I found the Maximum Ride series - that had a blind character that had super powers and was cool. I found that characters with a disability changed my whole perspective, because my father is blind and I had just found out I had a learning disability as well. I think that having characters to relate to was really key.
  
  
  
  I read Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series long after middle school... I read up to the 4th book. Those were great! Again, Percy Jackson's "Dyslexia" was taken and turned into this wonderful piece of relatable fiction(perhaps causing more kids to flip their desks over and say-"I'm a demi-god so I don't care about books", but they're at least exciting enough to get kids to that point of involvement with the characters)
  
  
  So, what brought me to love books were books with female protagonists. But as I got older it was harder to find awesome books that. Once I discovered YA novels and cheesy romance, I couldn’t stop. It has now lead to my demise and I read fanfiction on my phone. But before I found all of that, Kate Brian’s Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys
  really got me to like YA. And then I found spy series and fantasy books with female protagonists
  
  The Squad
  and the Gallagher Girls
  Were for slightly younger girls.
  The Hunger Games and the Uglies series were my favorites at the end of my time with YA novels.
  
  I will try to update this list. I have to go now but I hope this was helpful.
  
  TL;DR link to a goodreads list I put together

• Press Here
  This book is SO much fun. It’s an interactive one so more fun when they get a little older.
  
  
• Room on the Broom
  A fun story about sharing and the importance of friendship when you need help.
  
  
• Pig the Pug
  This one is a hilarious story about a mean dog falling out a window lol. It was recommended to me by a little girl at Barnes and Noble. She picked it up and said “Wanna read about the worst dog ever?” She wasn’t wrong haha.
  
  
• Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site
  Just a nice little rhyming bedtime story about construction equipment.
  
  
• Baby Beluga
  Yes, like the Raffi song! Singing books are sooo great to help get your little one interested in talking. This was one of my favorite songs as a kid but I only recently found out about the book. My son loves singing this with me.
  
  
• I Love You Stinkyface
  About loving your kid no matter who they are. Although I feel like it’s slightly geared toward moms of boys, it’s great for any kid or parent (they don’t actually use pronouns for the kid in the book FYI).
  
  
• Someday
  About the dreams and wishes for your baby as they grow up. Definitely on the sappy side, geared a little more toward moms of girls but I read it to my son often (and cry while I do it).
  
  
• Little Blue Truck
  Cute rhyming story about the importance of friendship and being nice to those you meet.
  
  
• Go Away Big Green Monster
  This one is a little older but idk if everyone has heard of it. It’s essentially an interactive book that teaches your kid that they have control of monsters. Each page pieces together a picture of a monster (it’s not a scary one), until you tell the monster to go away, and then each page takes a piece of the monster away.
  
  
• Anything written by Mo Willems!!
  The Pigeon books, Elephant and Piggie books, and Knuffle Bunny are all great. Funny for adults and engaging for kids.
  
  (Will edit and add more later as I think of them)

I know some of these have already been mentioned, so just consider this a second vote for those titles. Also, my list skews heavily towards sci-fi/fantasy, because that is what I tend to read the most of.

By women, featuring female protagonists:

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

The Female Man by Joanna Russ

Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey

Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin

The Circus in Winter by Cathy Day (It's not entirely fair to characterize this as a book about women; it's really a set of interconnected stories featuring both male and female characters. On the other hand, many of the most memorable characters, IMO, are women, so I'm filing it in this category anyway. So there!)

The Protector of the Small Quartet by Tamora Pierce, beginning with First Test (Really, anything by Tamora Pierce would fit the bill here. They're young adult novels, so they're quick reads, but they're enjoyable and have wonderful, strong, realistic female protagonists.)

These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer (Heyer wrote really fun, enjoyable romances, typically set in the Regency period, though These Old Shades is actually Georgian. This one is probably my favorite, but they're really all quite wonderful. Not super heavy stuff, but don't write her off just because of the subject matter. She was a talented, witty writer, and her female protagonists are almost never the wilting "damsel in distress" type - they're great characters who, while still holding true to their own time and place, are bright and likeable and hold their own against the men in their lives.)

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (Another young adult book. And, again, I think it's worth noting that L'Engle's books almost always feature strong and interesting female characters. This one is probably her most famous, and begins a series featuring members of the same family, so it's a good jumping off point.)

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi


By men, featuring female protagonists:

The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle (This is another one that is perhaps not a perfect fit for this category; the titular unicorn is female, but the book is as much about Schmendrick the magician as it is about her. However, there's also Molly Grue, so on the strength of those two women, I'm classifying this book as having female protagonists.)

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Coraline by Neil Gaiman (It's a children's book, but there's plenty to enjoy about it as an adult, too.)

By women, featuring male protagonists

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

Oh, I <3 looking for books for my kids!! They are 14, 13, 12, 11, and 5. Our son is the youngest, and he loves all the books that his older sisters loved when they were younger. :D

Oh my gosh...Get those kids some books!

• This is my favorite children's book.
  
  
• The Story of Ferdinand.
  
  
• This is one of my son's favorites...IronMan!.
  
  
• The Day My Mommy Quit.
  
  
• Dragons Love Tacos.
  
  
• If You Give A Mouse A Cookie.
  
  
• I'd Know You Anywhere, My Love.
  
  
• The Day The Crayons Quit.
  
  
• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.
  
  
• Boom Chicka Rock.
  
  
• Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Mama Hook Knows Best: A Pirate Parent's Favorite Fables with CD.
  
  
• Are You My Mother?.
  
  
• Love You Forever.
  
  
• I Love You, Stinky Face.
  
  
• The Runaway Bunny.
  
  
• Oh, The Places You'll Go. Cool idea I saw on Pinterest with this book: Buy a copy and have each of your kids' teachers write a little note somewhere in it at the end of every year. Give the book to your kid as a graduation gift. I am doing this with our son now, I saw the idea too late to start it for our girls.
  
  
• Ten Little Monkeys Jumping On The Bed.
  
  
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
  
  
• The Velveteen Rabbit. -- A HUGE FAVORITE!!
  
  
• Locomotive.
  
  
• Sleep Like A Tiger.
  
  
• The Lion And The Mouse.
  
  
• Blueberries for Sal.
  
  
• David Gets In Trouble.
  
  
• Press Here. This is a very fun book!
  
  
• The One and Only Ivan.
  
  
• The Polar Express.
  
  
• Flotsam.
  
  
• Only One You.
  
  
• Beautiful Oops!.
  
  I would love this book for our oldest daughter if I win, please.
  
  /u/DrUsual...can you think of any?
  
  Thank you for the contest!

Hmm.......

If you're a comics kind of person, I'd suggest Sandman Volume 4. Not the first in the series, but the best early one that gives a feel for the rest of them, and a self-contained story.

For YA, Coraline is fantastic, and even better than the quite good movie.

For an adult novel? See, I'm not sure his best work is the long-format Adult novel. My favorite adult text work of his is probably Smoke and Mirrors, which is a short story collection.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane is also very good, but might not be a good FIRST Gaiman novel. It's sort-of a magical realism book, and that can be off-putting sometimes.

GAH! He's such a good author, and such a great PERSON, that I want him to make a good impression!

Self Improvement:

1. Tell me about it. In my 20's, I ate everything under the sun and could barely maintain. Around 35, that shit ended. I did keto to lose it, but now eat a low-carb diet to keep it off. How are your cooking skills? What eating habits do you think are hindering your goals? Mine was beer and late-night carb snacking.
   
   
2. What stopped? I'm guessing a combination of stress, depression and too much fucking life! Something else, maybe?
   
   
3. Ooooh! What did you create before? Sounds interesting!
   
   
   Stuff for your daughter:
   
   
4. A walk before or after dinner. Every day. Teach her to observe. The birds and bugs. The spray paint markings on the street. See a plane in the sky? Ask her where she thinks it is going. Ask her why she thinks the leaves on the tree are changing color and falling off. It is a great chance to bond with her and help her learn (and for you to learn from here). It also helps with your first self-improvement item. During our walks, we end up playing tag, sumo wrestling (she wins a lot), a stripped-down fartlek (you might call them Indian runs), or her invention--running while holding hands. She loves these games and it gets my ass out of a chair. Again, the bonding time is unmatched.
   
   
5. Temper your expectations here. I say do it with gusto, but know that you will need tough skin if the PTA is mostly moms. They will see you as an intruder (as they do with most men in early education). I'm not one bit saying not to do it. Just know that you'll have to be extra tough and persistent. I would suggest also joining a dad's group. It's a good way for you to meet other motivated dads and learn additional dadcraft skills. PM me if you're having a hard time finding one in your area.
   
   
6. 4-5 books a night. This is the best damn thing you can do for your daughter. Your local library is awesome. Don't forget that they can order other books from other neighboring libraries. We have dealth with death (The Fall of Freddie the Leaf, When Dinosaurs Die), potty training (Potty), divorce (Two Homes), science (Baby Loves Thermodynamics or Scientist Scientist), anatomy (Contemplating Your Belly Button), personal conduct (any of the Toddler Tools books from Free Spirit Publishing). I also throw one Dad book in each night like Kisses for Daddy, Grizzly Dad, Daddy Cuddles, Because I'm Your Dad and others. The DC Superheroes Character Education series is pretty nice. It also helps your bond with your daughter along with improving her reading skills.

I'm so incredibly sorry to hear this - I remember reading one of your previous posts and hoping for the best. You've already gotten some great advice here, in terms of following S's lead and letting her grieve however she needs to. I would talk through with her exactly what to expect at the visitation and funeral, and let her know she can ask to step outside with you for a few minutes at any time. I also agree that a counselor would be a good idea - though make sure you frame it as just something we do when we're dealing with big feelings, so she doesn't feel she's doing anything wrong or is incapable in any way.

There are also some good activity books/journals for kids to help process grief, such as Angel Catcher for Kids and When Someone Very Special Dies. There are also some beautiful picture books on the theme of death and grief, which might resonate with her even though she's maybe on the older side for picture books. In particular, her situation reminds me of the book Ida, Always, about two polar bears who are best friends until one dies (due to unspecified illness), and the other must find a way to go on while always remembering her. The Invisible String, The Memory Box, and Grief is a Mess would also be good choices. Another powerful depiction of grief is One Wave at a Time: A Story about Grief and Healing, but here the main character's father has died, so you may not want to plant that idea right now; there's also Rabbityness, which isn't explicitly about death but more about celebrating the unique legacy someone leaves behind after they are gone.

I hope something in there is helpful - maybe your daughter could read several of these and pick her favorite to give as a gift to K's dad? Help her brainstorm other ways she can offer support K's dad as well; while of course her first priority is her own grieving, it can sometimes be empowering for kids to feel like there's something meaningful they can do, to focus their energy and attention on. Whether that's writing down some favorite memories or collecting photos or making him a casserole or something else, I think K's dad would really appreciate anything S might want to share.

This comment will be after the funeral, but for what it's worth, I took my two daughters to see my wife's body, and it was more upsetting for me. But my oldest was just 4 at the time, youngest 2. So I think the 9 yo is a different equation altogether. But it leads me to my answer to this - "For those single fathers who lost their partners, how did you stay strong for the children? " Well, the truth is the kids have been the motivation to stay strong in general. Again, it might be different with an older kid. But in the end, it's been about openness, honesty, grieving openly together. About 2 years in now, and still I feel I'm just at the beginning. The kids are doing great, but it is the older one that is confronted more often with feeling the reality of it emotionally. As for advice on what to do, I think it depends so much on the personalities involved. I have found that offers of help frustrate me for showing and highlighting my weekness and vulnerability, and can sometimes be intrusive. At the same time, when people withdraw or are just giving me space, I think they are cold and thoughtless. Perhaps understand that you might have to tread lightly, but perhaps an ongoing reminder that you're there to help, and picking up on subtle queues as to where that help might be welcome. Be there for the long haul. I think someone bugging me with a very quick and polite and unobtrusive concerning phone call or text or email once a week, that continues despite my wavering response and assertions that everything is OK - I think that would help. What a tough time for you and your cousin. We read this book a lot in the beginning .... not for everyone I'm sure, but maybe gently offer to buy it for the little one to read together with her dad? http://www.amazon.com/Missing-Mommy-Book-About-Bereavement/dp/0805095071/ It brought us a lot of tears, but helped us have something appropriate (albeit painful) to work through every night in the beginning.

Past Work: Indie comics and political cartoons. Latest pencils and ink work here. I also recently completed this children's book.

Speciality: Comics most any style but prefer slightly stylistic cartoonish styles.

How long have you been drawing: I'm 40 years old so...most of that. :)

What would you like to draw? I love drawing comics, graphic novels, and cartoons of any type.

How active do you think you can be? I can probably commit about five hours a week. My plate is completely clean at the moment.

Do you like to work alone or in a group? Either is fine. I play well with others but am also independent enough to be self disciplined.

Also: I'm a programmer by day (web development) if that helps. I also don't mind inking.

For little kids, books like Goodnight Moon, The Velveteen Rabbit, Mama Do You Love Me?, the Corduroy Bear Series, the Beatrix Potter books (Peter Rabbit, The Tale of Tom Kitten, The Tale of Mr. Tod, etc) are all amazing. Also The Poky Little Puppy, The Original Winnie the Pooh books, and Paddington Bear are all great.

Magic Tree House is a good series for 5/6+.

Get an anthology of Grimm's Fairy Tales for ages 8+. Percy Jackson and the Olympians books are good to introduce Greek Myths to kids. As they get older, a Shakespeare anthology for children, like this one can be really awesome as well. My aunt got books like these for me to introduce me to classic literature as I grew up.

Hope this helps!

This suggestion might not be good for a few years, but I would suggest buying them now anyways since they are no longer in print.

[Meridian](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meridian_(comics) was (and still is) one of my favorite comic book series growing up (despite it being short lived). The series is written around the main character, Sephie, and documents her travels and experiences as the Minister of Meridian. The art style is gorgeous and I greatly enjoyed the storyline. While its unfortunate that there are only seven volumes, it makes it much less expensive to purchase the entire series. I now own them all and they are some of my favorite books to read whenever I am feeling down.

As for books appropriate for her age now, one of my favorites to read to the children I used to work with was Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale. The art style is super unique and combines photographs as the background scenery, and the foreground has been illustrated. There are three books total in the series (so far) and I recently purchased all three for my friends baby shower. As an adult, these books are especially enjoyable for me to read, and they always seemed to captivate my 3-5 year old audience.

Some of our favorites:

The Rainbow Goblins

The Knuffle Bunny Trilogy

City Dog, Country Frog

Short and sweet Angela Johnson Books

Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me

Night Shift Daddy

If I Were a Lion

As well as countless other staples that you'll surely receive as gifts (Goodnight Moon, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Are You My Mother?, Dr. Seuss, etc..).

But really, just read to your kid and he/she will learn to love books. Sometimes my daughter gets hung up on the dumbest books in history but I have fun with it. Like the Biscuit books for instance which you can read while thinking about other things. Another that comes to mind is this one which I've grown to love:

[I Love Colors] (http://www.amazon.com/Love-Colors-Hello-Reader-Level/dp/0439192889)

Resources from past discussions:

Feminist Parenting: Struggles, Triumphs & Comic Interludes


>This collection of essays, stories, and poetry edited by Taylor (Women of the 14th Moon, LJ 10/1/91) includes 61 contributions from feminists sharing their parenting experiences. Unlike Carrie Carmichael's Non-Sexist Childraising (1977), this is not so much a how-to book as a collection of short reports from the home front detailing successes-and some failures-in the struggle to raise children free of sexism, racism, and homophobia. In an apt summary for the whole collection, Rosalind Warren writes, "It's not easy teaching a handsome little middle-class white boy to think like a feminist-everybody else is telling him that the world is his oyster; meanwhile we're telling him he has to share." Other noteworthy contributors include Anna Quind-len, Audre Lorde, and Ms. magazine's Robin Morgan. While this book will have to search for an audience of parents who actually have time to read, it is recommended for public libraries. [See also Mother Journeys]

100 Young Adult Books for the Feminist Reader - http://bitchmagazine.org/100-young-adult-books-for-the-feminist-reader

The Amelia Bloomer project http://libr.org/ftf/bloomer.html

Some past recommendations from our users about inspiring/strong young women:

• "The Fault in Our stars, Visible Amazement, anything by Tamora Pierce (especially the lioness, protector of the small, and trickster series') Persepolis."
  
  
• Hunger Games Trilogy
  
  
• "Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. It's pretty old, came right out of the Harlem Renaissance. Its about her relationships with different men, and how in each of the relationships she takes a different role. It also reveals a lot of the racial zeitgeist, as well as women's issues. Plus, it's a love story, and who doesn't love a good love story?"
  
  
• A Wrinkle in Time
  
  
• Native Tongue
  
  
• "HIS DARK MATERIALS by Philip Pullman. Lyra is amaazing. Lirael and Abhorsen are great too."
  
  
• "Left to Tell. It's a true story told by a woman who survuved the massacres in Rwanda, and how she overcame the obstacles during and after. It's a very compelling read."
  
  
• "Lynne Andrews-Medicine Woman Jean Auel-Clan of the Cave Bear Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes-Women Who Run with the Wolves"
  
  
• "detective novels by Laura Lippman, who is an excellent writer. Her protagonist, Tess Monaghan, solves mysteries in Baltimore."
  
  
• "Not One Damsel in Distress: World Folktales for Strong Girls by Jane Yolen"
  
  
• "The Paper Bag Princess. Not only is it empowering to young girls, it lampoons the whole "I'll just wait here helpless for my Prince charming to come rescue me" mentality you find so often in disney films. "
  
  http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/dec/04/feminist-books-five-year-olds
  
  http://www.amightygirl.com/books
  
  http://www.amazon.com/Mama-Do-You-Love-Me/dp/0811821315/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392687674&sr=1-1&keywords=mama+do+you+love+me
  
  Coraline by Neil Gaiman is full of adventure, and is even named after a girl!

> For instance, in reality while people with ASD-1 struggle to understand nonliteral language, they certainly don't miss absolutely every single instance of it.

I completely agree with this. Also, his therapist is terrible, so it almost seems like he was getting basically no support to start with in the first place. He barely learns a single thing about interacting with people (or learning idioms) in the entire season. The only person who tries to teach him anything is his dad. The therapist seems like she's never interacted with an autistic person in her life (and maybe she is supposed to be new at this? i'm not sure, she is young). That's my biggest gripe about it.

I just started reading this book called Mockingbird, a fictional book about an autistic girl. I feel like she is actually an autistic person rather than putting a bunch of symptoms together. I'm really enjoying it. I'm about halfway through. It's hilarious just to remember similar things that I would do or think as a kid as well.

And the best part about that fictional book is she has a real school counselor who does actually try to teach her how to interact with people. And if she accidentally uses idioms, she either apologizes or actually explains the idiom to her, and she doesn't use idioms that much at all, because of course she knows she won't completely understand a lot of times.

Also in that book she thinks her dad is saying "fun raiser" and not "fund raiser." I also thought this as a kid Lol.

This list needs more Neil Gaiman.


Children/YA books: Coraline, The Graveyard Book, and Stardust are my favs. Do yourself a favor and read the version illustrated by Charles Vess, it is far superior to the (non-illustrated) mass-market paperback. I would link to it, but I can't seem to find it on Amazon. Sorry.

Now, at no point did you ask for short-fiction, though I would think it fits your criteria of being able to pick up and set down at a moment's notice, so I'm gonna rec some fine short fiction as well. Smoke and Mirrors is quite good, as is Fragile Things.

Now as long as I'm here I would be remiss if I did not at least mention The Princess Bride and the Discworld novels of Terry Pratchett. I linked to the first one in the series, but it has been my experience that you can read them in just about any order you want with very little trouble. I usually just go to my local library and grab whichever one strikes my fancy. Terry Pratchett is an amazing storyteller and he also made a sword out of metal ore mined from a meteor after being knighted. That is a true thing that happened. I kid you not. Read his books. They will make your life better. Also to bring this comment full circle, he co-authored a book with Neil Gaiman called Good Omens that is just fantastic.

Things are getting better. When I was new in dadhood, you couldn't find any references to dads in kids stuff ever. I guess it was considered inconsiderate to single moms to portray dads as ever involved in anything. Parenting advice was limited to "quit being a pig and wash a dish dammit". Don't even get me started on things like the Berenstain Bears.

Now, we have daddit, 8-bit dad and a slew of other blogs, and I was able to buy my second daughter this book which she adores. In the past couple years, suddenly dads are referenced on onesies, bibs, shirts, etc.

TV, on the other hand, well that's pretty much a backwater in progress here just like it is everywhere else. Happily, the only way this intersects with my life now is online when I hear about the latest ragu commercial or some silliness, since I long ago cut the cord

There are a ton! I got them from Amazon. Once I looked at one, I just followed the recommended titles and found more lol. These are the ones I got:

Just me and my dad: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307118398

My dad loves me: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1934082848

I love you daddy: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1445462893

Because I'm your dad: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1484726618

"Just me and my dad" is his favorite. "Because I'm your dad" is a good one but at the end it says "I do all these things because that's what my dad did for me," so I'd only recommend it if your husband has a good relationship with his dad. My husband's dad passed away a decade ago, so I think it's a little bittersweet for him.

I love my job because it's the bizarro opposite of my last job. I'm like an actual human being here, it's weird. I actually don't mind waking up to go to work! That's about the highest compliment I can pay to working :)

I'm currently trudging through Pride and Prejudice and would like Coraline as a light read (comparatively!) after.


Thanks for the contest, and don't forget to glitter all the things!

I illustrated a children's book with an author who had done previous children's book and we used Createspace (print on demand) on Amazon to self publish.

This is how she did her last books and she was pretty successful with it. These are full-color books and most likely give you the best rate of return out of other options (short of printing it in your basement).

This is the book if you're interested.

Mama, Do You Love Me? is one of our most favorites. I love that it teaches about Eskimo culture and shows the child that, even when you get in trouble, their mama's love will never end.

• My goal is to find a job (I currently work in retail, but I would like a job related to my field of expertise). I have a potential client right now, just waiting for them to get back to me on the contract. Another goal I have is to eat better and workout more! I was doing well at first, but it's kind of hard to get motivated to workout when your SO isn't joining in lol (and he's the PT guy here!)
  
• my number is 73
  
• I would either like vol 25 of the Negima! manga or Coraline by Neil Gaiman

My son absolutely loves this one, and my husband loves reading it to him! It's probably their favorite book: https://www.amazon.com/Because-Your-Dad-Ahmet-Zappa/dp/1484726618/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495554311&sr=8-1&keywords=because+im+your+dad

There's also Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me: https://www.amazon.com/Papa-Please-Moon-World-Carle/dp/0689829590/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495554364&sr=8-1&keywords=papa+get+the+moon+for+me

Wonder by R.J. Palacio, about a boy with facial deformities who goes to public school for the first time.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli, as recommended above.

Rules by Cynthia Lord, about a girl who has a brother with autism.

Pretty much anything by Laurie Halse Anderson, although her books tend to gear a little older than middle school (in my opinion, anyway).

Mockingbird by Erin Erskine, about a girl with aspergers.

The Thing About Luck, a National Book Award winner about a Japanese-American girl in the Midwest dealing with family issues.

Books that might be a stretch, but I'm not sure since I don't know all the details of your assignment (and some I just like for that age):

Holes by Lois Sachar. The Giver by Lois Lowry. Maniac Magee by Jerri Spinelli. Hoot by Carl Hiaasen. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool. Savvy by Ingrid Law.


Hope these help!

Check out Papa, Do You Love Me?, the sequel to one of my favorite books, Mama, Do You Love Me?

The two Neil Gaiman children's books: The Graveyard Book and Coraline

Both are amazing fantasy, at a mid-elementary reading level. The Graveyard Book is set up so that most chapters could almost function as a stand-alone short story, which would solve the pacing problem you mentioned earlier.

EDIT: And since i just read the whole thread and was super surprised none of them were mentioned: The Roald Dahl books (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the Witches, Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, the BFG, Fantastic Mr. Fox, etc.) are all excellent, and are probably closer to a low-mid elementary school reading level.

The Mitchell books are great. My son loves them. Dad is a ginger, mom is... I'm really not sure, "brown." So the child is mixed race.


The Captain Underpants Series has a set of best friends, one is black and one is white... one also (spoiler alert) is gay in a time travel book.

A Bad Case of Stripes about a young girl who is so concerned about what others think, she gets stripes. I believe, in the beginning she's Hispanic(?.)

Isn't there a song about diarrhea? :)

(Ever since I came across songs about mixing cement and washing dishes --- I've been delighted to keep them in a mental list.)

If you wanted to add a tinge of adventure (and maybe extra amusement when you read?) you can add Neil Gaiman's "The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish"

My daughter is the same age as your little one. The book that has caused the most reading development is Poke-A-Dot - The interactive really helps with learning and it has several layers of challenge so you can be flexible and keep it at their level.



For narrative nothing beats Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale but I just love everything by Mo Williams.

I know the artist! He's a super neat guy. I'm not sure he cares that his artwork isn't used anymore. Anyways, he's illustrated a few children's books since then, and you can definitely tell it's him: http://www.amazon.com/Monster-Mama-Liz-Rosenberg/dp/0698114299

Sounds like she's taking a leaf out of this book, a childhood favorite of mine. And I quote:

>'What if I turned into a polar bear, and I was the meanest bear you ever saw and I had sharp, shiny teeth and I chased you into your tent and you cried?'
>
>'Then I would be very surprised and very scared. But still, inside the bear, you would be you, and I would love you.'

Learn your girlfriend's tricks! Buy it today!

Mine started doing this to the moon after we read the Eric Carle book about not being able to reach the moon. It has super fun fold-out pages.

https://www.amazon.com/Papa-Please-Moon-World-Carle/dp/0689829590/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=eric+carle+moon+book&qid=1562738816&s=gateway&sprefix=eric+carle+moon&sr=8-1

Tomorrow is bitter sweet: on the one hand, I don't have to get up for work; on the other, I don't get to see my work kids, as I call them. I consciously had to remember to turn off my alarm for tomorrow; it is set for weekdays only.

For my work kids, I offer a copy of Knuffle Bunny used. I recently borrowed this from the library and my kids loved it. Sadly, it is due back soon after renewing it already. I would like a copy for the kids to look at and "read" themselves. (They are 3 to 5 years of age.)

Five Alive

From what I remember, it doesn't quite fit, but "mama do you love me?" https://www.amazon.com/Mama-Do-You-Love-Me/dp/0811821315

These are all books I read with my kiddos when they were very young. They're all simple board books perfect for babies and young toddlers. They're are a lot of other great books about diversity for older children as well, but those might be too complex for a baby or young toddler.

https://www.amazon.com/More-Said-Board-Caldecott-Collection/dp/0688156347/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503326006&sr=8-1&keywords=more+more+more+said+the+baby

https://www.amazon.com/Everywhere-Babies-Susan-Meyers/dp/0152053158/ref=pd_sim_14_15?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0152053158&pd_rd_r=03G4D8KHRQ81K252DW9M&pd_rd_w=M1K8i&pd_rd_wg=DajyG&psc=1&refRID=03G4D8KHRQ81K252DW9M

https://www.amazon.com/Snowy-Day-Board-Book/dp/0670867330/ref=pd_sim_14_42?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0670867330&pd_rd_r=KF9GJMSGWKBA4TR0JR8M&pd_rd_w=bre80&pd_rd_wg=matKi&psc=1&refRID=KF9GJMSGWKBA4TR0JR8M

https://www.amazon.com/Please-Baby-Classic-Board-Books/dp/1416949119/ref=pd_sim_14_6?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1416949119&pd_rd_r=7DG5ZZCV3HPNYHX4VC00&pd_rd_w=aeFFb&pd_rd_wg=1TMyj&psc=1&refRID=7DG5ZZCV3HPNYHX4VC00

https://www.amazon.com/Mama-Do-You-Love-Me/dp/0811821315/ref=pd_sim_14_33?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0811821315&pd_rd_r=K0M5BEFZ3TZP0XJ5B3K8&pd_rd_w=TMMUN&pd_rd_wg=KBmnl&psc=1&refRID=K0M5BEFZ3TZP0XJ5B3K8

https://www.amazon.com/Here-Are-Hands-Bill-Martin/dp/0805059113/ref=pd_sim_14_24?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0805059113&pd_rd_r=CP42F8A3YVB0CPGBFZXD&pd_rd_w=PGghS&pd_rd_wg=KOL6z&psc=1&refRID=CP42F8A3YVB0CPGBFZXD

https://www.amazon.com/Making-Faces-First-Book-Emotions/dp/1419723839/ref=pd_sim_14_23?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1419723839&pd_rd_r=YJX929CFH2D0Q86GA0SA&pd_rd_w=POdwL&pd_rd_wg=5cPO4&psc=1&refRID=YJX929CFH2D0Q86GA0SA

https://www.amazon.com/Global-Babies-Fund-Children/dp/1580891748/ref=pd_sim_14_17?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1580891748&pd_rd_r=JFYA8H7YCGH5KMJAAS8N&pd_rd_w=PWnxU&pd_rd_wg=AZqYt&psc=1&refRID=JFYA8H7YCGH5KMJAAS8N

This book used is currently the cheapest on my wishlist. Thanks for the contest, fellow bookie! :)

Mama, Do You Love Me? by Barbara M. Joosse?

Yes! I found this book at Target one day and it is my absolute favorite!! I cry my eyes out every time I read it! Highly recommend this one as well: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1416928111/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It isn't about infertility, but it is so, so special.

Oh this immediately reminded me of this book we have! It's a really lovely one

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Papa-Please-Moon-Classic-Board/dp/0689829590

Mama Do You Love Me by Barbara Joose

I love Mitchell Goes Driving

Daddy Kisses

My Dad Loves Me

Dada

Because I'm Your Dad

I Love You Daddy

Edit: Not daughter specific, but I think all are gender neutral.

Another book, illustrated by the same guy, that I loved as a kid.

I came out when my youngest niece was 5 years old. I gave her a copy of the book I Am Jazz. I have also heard the books Jacob's New Dress and Annie's Plaid Shirt are good.

You... You need to read this...

http://www.amazon.com/Daddy-Papa-Me-Lesl%C3%A9a-Newman/dp/1582462623
It's called "Daddy, Papa, and Me" and it will help you understand.

We dealt with something similar where BM would smother the SD's constantly when they were over there, so any time they came to our house they weren't used to not being taken care of constantly or having a cheerleader shadowing them all the time. Which meant any second they had to themselves to think, they immediately went to "I miss mommy". It was sooooo frustrating, and it took SO a long time talking to them about how it was perfectly ok for them to do their own thing sometimes. That they are getting older and as such will need to be able to soothe themselves out of discomfort. Their feelings are legit, they are allowed to have them, but we couldn't let them just wallow in misery the whole time. We'd also focus on positive things when they'd come over, like what their favourite part of their day was, what made them laugh, etc.

Maybe look into some books on feelings, missing the other parent, growing up. The Invisible String is a good one. SO spent a lot of time during the bedtime routine, which was usually when their anxiety and "I miss mom" was the worst. He's STILL doing the same routine now. Just letting the kids know the routine, know what to expect, and having that predictability really helped.

My favorite author, Neil Gaiman, has written all sorts of things, including a few children's books.

Fortunately, The Milk

The Graveyard Book (a retelling of The Jungle Book)

Coraline

I linked to the Amazon page, which was very thorough in its description. For some reason my submission removed the link. Are only self submissions allowed in this subreddit?

http://www.amazon.com/Day-Swapped-Dad-Two-Goldfish/dp/0060587032/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266977882&sr=8-1

Tolkien's The Hobbit or Coraline by Neil Gaiman.

Sidebar, Gaiman recently mentioned this interesting tidbit regarding Miss Forcible and Miss Spink.

Coraline in the wishlist Books

The Old Apartment

Generally, I would just go through here.

Specifically, here are some lists of my favs:
one
two

[I](http://www.amazon.com/Appetit-Delicious-Life-Julia-Child/dp/0375869441/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3RPKDHM4EC9XE&coliid=I2BZYDMR4J2UQQ_ L LOVE BOOKS TOO!! :)

Reminds me of Knuffle Bunny

http://www.amazon.com/Coraline-Neil-Gaiman/dp/0380807343

Knuffle Bunny.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman is currently under $5.


Look at this little hitchhiker http://imgur.com/a/xn2U9

I got him three books: Daddy Cuddles, Daddy Kisses, and Daddy Dreams. The store wrapped them up, and I had him open it at lunch.

He had some idea because we had been on medicated cycles, but he hadn't put everything together yet. I waited until after I got my second beta back.

We have the guy version of this, Daddy, Papa, and Me.

EDIT: added link

http://www.amazon.com/Daddy-Papa-Me-Lesl%C3%A9a-Newman/dp/1582462623