Madison and Ava's "Perfect" Before-Bed Reading List

This book is not only about getting along with others but also about being yourself — two lessons that usually don't go together in the same book!

Who doesn't remember the name of the main character? Everyone, repeat after me... "Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo" :-)

This book is about one thing, and one thing only: pink, pink, pink, pink, pink. (There might be a lesson in there, too, someplace.)

This is a fun book that explores the challenges of communication with a pre-verbal child. Little Trixie gets upset when she loses her beloved stuffed Knuffle Bunny and becomes frustrated when she can't explain what happened to Dad.

The psychology of the story is spot-on and simple: this is exactly what happens to children before they can talk, and the book is for parents as it is for the kids.

K-nuffle or 'nuffle, however you say it, it's the dads who are the true heroes in this sequel.

Most young children will experience separation anxiety at some point and this is the perfect book for providing both adults and young children with a coping strategy. While this book deals specifically with the main character being afraid to leave his mother in order to start school, it can also be used for the more traumatic situation of an impending death of a loved one. I would highly recommend this book for parents and grandparents with a terminal illness. While it is not comfortable to think about leaving a child permanently, if you have been diagnosed with a terminal illness, this book provides a gentle message of lasting love that can lessen the burden of your final goodbye.

Having learned to be away from mom in The Kissing Hand, the little raccoon must now learn to share mom with a little brother. A great book for preparing any child for the big brother (or sister) experience. Beautifully illustrated.