Children's Books discussion

In March, we'll make friends with some of the most popular and memorable picture book characters of the 21st century. (This will be especially fun to compare and contrast with the "Classic Picture Book Characters" from our November 2012 theme.)


This thread has become our Master List and General Discussion about this topic. Please feel welcome to post reviews and recommendations here.

A few to get us started:

Olivia

Fancy Nancy

Duck & Goose

Bear Snores On (I *think* this is the first in the series)

Traction Man Is Here!

the cast of The Quiet Book

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale

Scaredy Squirrel

Hi Fly Guy

Tacky the Penguin
This book before 2000, some later books were after 2000

Here are a few of our favorites:

Chester (our girls adore Chester)

Elephant & Piggie (Today I Will Fly! is the first book in the series)

Skippyjon Jones

Charlie and Lola (I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato is the first book in the series)

Llama Llama Red Pajama

Stillwater and friends (Zen Shorts is the first of the three books - we reviewed Zen Ties last February for the Friendship theme)

Henry (Henry Hikes to Fitchburg is the first book in the series and my favorite) - good choice for older children

The Pout-Pout Fish

Marsupial Sue Book and CD

Splat the Cat

Iris and Walter

the crew from Trucktown - I'm not sure, but I think Smash! Crash! is the first book in the series)

Dinosaur vs. Bedtime

Sir Cumference: And the First Round Table - the first in a great series of math books, although this one was published in 1998

Ace Lacewing: Bug Detective

Bad Kitty

Otis

Hugless Douglas

the barnyard crew from Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type, although this first book was published at the end of 1999

Plantzilla

Freckleface Strawberry

Opera Cat

Houndsley and Catina

Bear and Mouse (A Visitor for Bear is the first book in the series)

Toot & Puddle (most of this series was published in 2000 or later, but this first book was published in 1997)

Good Night, Good Knight

Dora the Explorer was probably one of the most influential characters for our girls, especially when they were very young, but there isn't any particular book I'd want to nominate

The Gruffalo, although this first book in the series was published in 1999

There are tons of books featuring Biscuit, although the first few books were published in the late 1990s

Princess books from Carmela LaVigna Coyle - the first is Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots?

the picture books featuring the Earl and Mooch, characters from the comic strip 'Mutts' - the first book is The Gift of Nothing (I think!)

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes

You guys are all so good! You've mentioned everything I know about and then some that I don't. What a great topic.

I know. I read these and thought, oh I love that character. Then I started trying to think of others and really couldn't... except Pete the Cat. I haven't read it yet, but my daughter's preschool teacher says it is currently the very favorite of all of her students. We love Skippyjon Jones here, so I was glad to see that nominated. I'm trying to think of others but haven't had success so far.

Mouse and Mole, Fine Feathered Friends - an early reader series about friends/ neighbors in the tradition of Frog & Toad, no real chronological order

Bad Boys - funny attempts by our hungry heroes are always foiled, 3 books that are better read in order

Henry Hikes to Fitchburg - a bear portrays Henry David Thoreau, bringing his ideas to life for today's children, 5 books that can be read in any order

See Otto - 6 'pre-level one' very simple early readers, funny with both wit and slapstick

These are great nominations! Thank you all so much!

Another one of our girls favorites: No, David! (this book was published in 1998, but most of the books about David are 2000+)

Ike LaRue is another humorous character; Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School is the first book in the series

Ladybug Girl is another popular character; there are several books featuring her and her friends, but this is the first one in the series

Our girls also liked the Diary of a... series by Doreen Cronin - Diary of a Worm is the first book in the series

Thanks for all the wonderful nominations. We now have the challenging task of choosing the ones we'll actually read with the group!

Please VOTE for the five books you would most like to read from our official nominations list (messages 2-11) by posting a comment below with your selections.

Votes will be accepted until February 19th. Thank you!

Charlie and Lola (I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato)
Skippyjon Jones
Fancy Nancy
Olivia
Today I Will Fly (Elephant and Piggie)

This was soooo hard. I had to forego some known favorites in favor of some I want to get more familiar with. Couldn't let Elephant and Piggie go (tough to even choose among Mo Willems' crew!)

My five votes:

Mouse and Mole, Fine Feathered Friends
Bear Snores On
Chester
Today I Will Fly!
Fancy Nancy

Like Jennifer, I had a hard time making my selections. I was torn between wanting to discover new characters and series we haven't read yet and wanting to pay homage to the iconic figures we've surrounded ourselves with over the last decade or so. My selections were mixed, but more toward the latter. I also had to have Elephant and Piggie in my list!

My automatic book button isn't working again, so I'll have to just list them:

Splat the Cat
Skippyjon Jones
Fancy Nancy
Today I Will Fly
Chester

Chester
Charlie and Lola
Scaredy Squirrel
Elephant and Piggie
Houndsley and Catina

Of course, I've read them all, but they're my favorite!

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes
Skippyjon Jones
Splat the Cat
Houndsley and Catina
Chester

My votes:

The votes are in! Here are the books we will read together in March:

I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato (Charlie and Lola)

Skippyjon Jones

Fancy Nancy

Today I Will Fly! (Elephant and Piggie)

Chester

Sixth/Alternate
Olivia

Since these are all "popular" modern characters I'm hoping that you will have no trouble securing copies from your library (I hope! I hope!) I'm looking forward to our discussion in a few weeks :-)