Twaddle-Free Books for Preschoolers: Tsh's Top 10 Favorites

All the Madeline books have a great cadence of words, and the illustrations are delightful. What little girl doesn't want to live in an old house in Paris that is covered in vines?

Frances is a lovable badger with a wild imagination, silly songs, and a bag full of tricks. In "Best Friends...", she learns that a sibling can be a friend, too.

I loved this story as a kid, and my daughter loves it now. Ferdinand is a laid-back, gentle bull who's been recruited for a Spanish bullfight.

I adore this pair of amphibians. You'll laugh along with your children at Frog and Toad's sense of logic, and you'll love their close-knit friendship.

A hilarious duo of hippos who have more personality than common sense. Adults get a kick out of them, too.

A classic tale of a pair of ducks living in Boston. This story has enthralled generations of children — my daughter enjoys my original book.

This is the classic, non-Disney version. No child should miss the delightful tales of Winnie-the-Pooh and all his friends. The language is beautiful, the illustrations, sweet.

My mother-in-law gave this treasury to our daughter for Christmas, and we've read it almost daily since. The stories are brilliant, the illustrations are hilarious, and I can honestly say I don't tire from reading these stories.

Both you and your kids will identify with Alexander, who's having a day when nothing goes right. Good for kids who get frustrated when things don't go their way.

A pet crocodile comes to stay with the Primm family. A fun story about friendship and loyalty.