Book Recommendations for Quality Mother Daughter Time

We all benefit from good book recommendations.

As soon as your daughter can focus her precious little eyes you can start reading to her and pointing out pictures that illustrate the actions in the stories. These same books become their resources for expanding their vocabulary and reading aloud on their own.

Reading books together is a uniquely intimate and bonding - as well as learning - experience.

Mothers who invest their time and energy to stimulate their daughters’ minds by exposing them to books that inspire their imaginations and creativity, give them an advantage over those who do not. Inspirational books move us to good things. More so, enjoying these as recreation with your daughter(s) can be a fun and very rewarding experience for all.

Good news: Most of the book recommendations throughout this site can be found in our public libraries. Your public library is your most valuable outside resource for information and tools. Libraries are wonderful! I cannot advocate for them enough. They are free. They are quiet. They are conducive to peace, relaxation and learning. And librarians are always happy to give book recommendations.

Oh, and I just LOVE the smell of books! So, for me, they are also aroma therapy. :)

The following book recommendations and book clubs are easily accessible - often through public school programs, the Internet, and, of course, your local public library. Here are some of Phoebe’s and my favorite books and book clubs:

Dr. Seuss Beginner Books (Grolier Book Club Editions):

  1. Ten Apples Up On Top! by Theo. LeSieg, illustrated by Roy McKie, ©1961 Random House
  2. Go, Dog. Go! by P.D. Eastman, ©1961 P.D. Eastman
  3. The Berenstains’ B Book ©1971 Stanley and Janice Berenstain
  4. Hop On Pop by Dr. Seuss ©1963 Dr. Seuss
  5. Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman, ©1960 P.D. Eastman
  6. Put Me in the Zoo by Robert Lopshire, ©1960, 1988 Robert LopshireTutorials.com

The A Better World series (the Spike and Mike book collection) written by Nancy Hall and Mary Packard, illustrated by Lisa McCue, ©1993 Nancy Hall, Inc.

A favorite from the Macmillan Book Clubs, Inc.’s Early Start Book Club: Three Little Kittens by Paul Galdone, ©1986 Paul Galdone

Before Phoebe got to grade school we had discovered the following wonderful books together:

  1. A Porcupine Named Fluffy by Helen Lester, Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger, ©1986 Helen Lester - the story of two unlikely but likable friends
  2. Dinner at the Panda Palace by Stephanie Calmenson, Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott, ©1991 Stephanie Calmenson - a fun counting book about variety, life and eating out
  3. Nelly’s Grannies by Elizabeth Slote, ©1993 Elizabeth Slote - a wonderful book about grandmothers
  4. Pickle-Chiffon Pie by Jolly Roger Bradfield, ©1967 Rand McNally & Company - a story about selflessness and compassion - this was my favorite book as a little girl - I read it over and over
  5. Love You Forever by Robert Munsch, Illustrated by Sheila McGraw, ©1986 Robert Munsch - love was never expressed so deeply - I usually need Kleenex 2-3 pages in - it was originally given to me at my baby shower - intense, true and absolutely beautiful
  6. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, ©1964 Snake Eye Music, Inc. - a book no home should be without

Scholastic and Trumpet Book Clubs to look for and treasure:

  1. Sam the Sea Cow by Francine Jacob, Illustrated by Laura Kelly, ©1979 Francine Jacobs - I have an affinity for manatees because they are as innocent as little children and get a raw deal in the world of man - a sweet and informative story about a manatee’s life
  2. When the Fly Flew In... by Lisa Westberg Peters, Illustrated by Brad Sneed - a charming story about how a little boy’s room gets clean while he’s not in it
  3. Backstage with Clawdio by Harriet Berg Schwartz, Illustrated by David Catrow, ©1993 Harriet Berg Schwartz - one of Phoebe’s and my very, very favorites - a story about a theater cat
  4. A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon, (c) 1998 David Shannon - a story about the power of lima beans - Phoebe and I don’t like them but we sure enjoyed this story and illustrations!
  5. “I can’t” said the ant by Polly Cameron, ©1961 Polly Cameron - a fun and building story about team work and overcoming adversity
  6. More Than Anything Else by Marie Bradby, Illustrated by Chris K. Soentpiet, ©1995 Marie Bradby - a very powerful book about conviction and learning to read

There are so many more, but these remain some of our very favorites. And the best thing is that we still read them all upon occasion and enjoy the good feelings and shared memories they bring to us.

You’re never too old to enjoy a good book - no matter what age it was written for!

The Reading Rainbow is a great resources for book recommendations and learning tools for mothers and daughters.

Reading Resources for Building Literacy at Home

Read Aloud Magic: Parents, learn how to accelerate your child's literacy development and academic success in only 10 minutes a day using expert advice, tips and tools. Read Aloud is the gift of knowledge and it lasts a lifetime.


If you've got other mother daughter book recommendations, book clubs - even literacy resources - to share, I'd love to hear from you!

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