Laura Zimmerman, library patron and mother of Evie (6), Renna (4), and Micah (3), recently shared her thoughts on reading as a family:

Here is our family’s list of favorite picture books in the 3-7 years old range (called “the age of wonder” by some!). Perhaps finding an interesting author or illustrator will send families on a fun rabbit trail to find more! This list includes beautiful illustrations that make you stop and linger … stories that make you laugh, or talk about something needful … entertaining rhyme … and for our family, stories that stick with you and come up in everyday conversation like a common family language.

Cover: The Read Aloud Family

Last year, I read The Read-Aloud Family: Making Lasting and Meaningful Connections with your Family by Sarah Mackenzie, and it transformed the way I viewed reading with my kids. Instead of randomly picking books off the library shelf (though we have found gems that way too!), I started being more thoughtful about the kind of books we read, noticing authors and illustrators more, and using the extensive Pittsburgh library system to request more book titles. Bringing new books home from the library is always a great day in our house!

  • The Circus Ship / If I Built a School / If I Built a Car / If I Built a House (Chris van Dusen)
  • Home in the Woods / Miss Maple’s Seeds (Eliza Wheeler)
  • The Grudge Keeper (Mara Rockcliff, illustrated by Eliza Wheeler)
  • Seven Silly Eaters  (Mary Ann Hoberman, illustrated by Marla Frazee)
  •  A House is a House for Me (Mary Ann Hoberman, illustrated by Betty Fraser)
  • All the World (Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Marla Frazee)
  • Roller Coaster (Marla Frazee)
  • Hello Lighthouse (Sophie Blackall)
  • Tops and Bottoms / The Donkey Egg / To Market, To Market (Janet Stevens)
  • Millions of Cats (Wanda Gag)
  •  Dr. DeSoto / Brave Irene/ Sylvester and the Magic Pebble (William Steig)
  •  Our Tree Named Steve (Alan Awiebel)
  • The Camping Trip (Jennifer K. Mann)
  •  Chrysanthemum (Kevin Henkes)
  • The Rabbit Listened (Cori Doerrfeld)
  • Huck Runs Amuck (Sean Taylor)
  • My Mama Had a Dancing Heart (Libba Moore Grey)
  •  Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch (Eileen Spinelli)
  •  Mary’s Penny (Tanya Landman)
  •  We’re Going on a Bear Hunt (Michael Rosen)
  •  Julia’s House for Lost Creatures / Nobody Likes a Goblin (Ben Hatke)
  •  Ox-Cart Man (Donald Hall, illustrated by Barbara Cooney)
  •  Roxaboxen / Miss Rumphius (Barbara Cooney)
  •  Apples to Oregon / Fannie in the Kitchen (Deborah Hopkinson)
  •  The Raft / The Elves and the Shoemaker / The Rainbabies / Pond (Jim LaMarche)
  •  The Relatives Came / Let’s Go Home: The Wonderful Things About a House / When I Was Young in the Mountains (Cynthia Rylant)
  •  Harriet, You’ll Drive Me Wild! ( Mem Fox)
  •  Pie is for Sharing (Stephanie Parsley Ledyard)
  •  The Giant Carrot (Jan Peck)
  •  The Little Green Girl (Lisa Anchin)
  •  Blizzard (John Rocco)
  •  Building our House (Jonathan Bean)
  •  It’s Monday, Mrs. Jolly Bones! (Warren Hanson)
  •  Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion (Alex T. Smith)
  •  The Gardener / One Cool Friend / The Library / The Friend (Sarah Stewart and David Small)
  •  Mirette on the High Wire (Emily Arnold McCully)
  •  The Curious Garden (Peter Brown)
  •  The Rosa Book series: A Chair for My Mother / Something Special For Me / Music, Music for Everyone / A Chair for Always (Vera B. Williams)
  •  Amazing Grace (Mary Hoffman)
  •  Muncha Muncha Muncha / Boxes for Katje (Candace Fleming)
  •  The Story of Ruby Bridges (Robert Cole)
  •  The Lion, Witch and Wardrobe picture book (illustrated by Tudor Humphries)
  •  Alligator Baby (Robert Munsch)
  •  The Giant Jam Sandwich (John Vernon Lord)
  •  Those Shoes (Maribeth Boelts)
  •  Last Stop on Market Street (Matt de la Pena)
  •  Beatrice’s Goat (Page McBrier)
  •  The Little House (Virginia Lee Burton)
  •  The Quiltmaker’s Gift / Miss Hunnicutt’s Hat (Jeff Brunbeau)
  •  Thundercake / When Lightning Comes in a Jar / Rechenka’s Eggs (Patricia Polacco)
  •  Ada Twist, Scientist; Iggy Peck, Architect; Rosie Rivere, Engineer (Andrea Beaty)
  •  Blueberries for Sal / Make Way for Ducklings / Lentil (Robert McCloskey treasury)
  •  The Little Old Man Who Could Not Read (Irma Simonton Black)
  •  What is Given from the Heart (Patricia McKissick)
  •  How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World (Marjorie Priceman)
  •  The Little Red Train treasury (Benedict Blathwayt)
  •  Brambly Hedge series: Summer Story, Autumn Story, Winter Story, Spring Story (Jill Barklem)
  •  James Herriott’s Treasury for Children