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Hand-picked books for more purposeful living

Welcome, book lover! You've reached the home of hand-picked suggestions lists you can share with family and friends, plus ideas on why and how to ask for books in lieu of cards or presents.
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Suggestion lists are hand-picked selections for sharing with family and friends when you request books in lieu of cards or gifts. Share this list.

Things That Go!

For our youngest auto enthusiasts, here’s a big collection of board books and first-words type selections. Also see the Planes, Trains & Automobiles list of suggestions for more storybook-type offerings for young kids.

  • Richard Scarry's Planes

    Richard Scarry’s Planes

    by Richard Scarry

    View on Amazon
  • Planes Go by Steve Light

    Planes Go

    by Steve Light

    No story here, but lots of aircraft sounds and energetic illustrations.

    View on Amazon
  • Steam Train, Dream Train by Sherri Duskey Rinker

    Steam Train, Dream Train

    by Sherri Duskey Rinker

    View on Amazon
  • Little Blue Truck Leads the Way by Alice Schertle

    Little Blue Truck Leads the Way

    by Alice Schertle

    A gently instructive story about patience and taking turns.

    View on Amazon
  • Stop, Train, Stop by Rev. W. Awdry

    Stop, Train, Stop

    by Rev. W. Awdry

    To be honest, I’ve never really understood the massive popularity of Thomas. But I’ve got three little boys who all adore him, so I’d say his star is still shining brightly.

    View on Amazon
  • Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo by Kevin Lewis

    Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo

    by Kevin Lewis

    View on Amazon
  • Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks from A to Z

    Richard Scarry’s Cars and Trucks from A to Z

    by Richard Scarry

    View on Amazon
  • Trashy Town by Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha

    Trashy Town

    by Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha

    My boys love the pattern and rhythm of this story. And what does Mr. Gilly do after a long day cleaning up the town with his garbage truck? He takes a bath, of course!

    View on Amazon
  • Toot Toot Beep Beep by Emma Garcia

    Toot Toot Beep Beep

    by Emma Garcia

    My middle son adored this parade of cars with their individual sounds. He quickly learned to “read” it himself. There are two more in the series, but we found them underwhelming.

    View on Amazon
  • Lift-the-Flap: First 100 Trucks and Things That Go

    Lift-the-Flap: First 100 Trucks and Things That Go

    by Roger Priddy

    View on Amazon
  • ABC's for Boys by Michael Kracht

    ABC’s for Boys

    by Michael Kracht

    The gender restriction explicit in the title might be off-putting to some (and yes, there is an ABC's for Girls, too, full of flowers and tea cups, in case you wondered), but it's still bound to be a win with the target audience. Sparse pages show a letter, a word and mostly vehicle-themed illustrations, with a few bugs and other things thrown in to round out the alphabet.

    View on Amazon
  • Trucks Go by Steve Light

    Trucks Go

    by Steve Light

    No story here, but lots of truck sounds and energetic illustrations.

    View on Amazon
  • Boats Go by Steve Light

    Boats Go

    by Steve Light

    No story here, but lots of boat sounds and energetic illustrations.

    View on Amazon
  • Richard Scarry's Trucks

    Richard Scarry’s Trucks

    by Richard Scarry

    View on Amazon
  • Digger, Dozer, Dumper by Hope Vestergaard

    Digger, Dozer, Dumper

    by Hope Vestergaard

    This is essentially a book of poetry -- 16 informational, rollicking rhymes about diggers, dozers, dumpers and other working vehicles. How cool is that?!

    View on Amazon
  • Trains Go by Steve Light

    Trains Go

    by Steve Light

    No story here, but lots of train sounds and energetic illustrations.

    View on Amazon
  • Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night? by Brianna Caplan Sayres

    Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night?

    by Brianna Caplan Sayres

    It’s always the illustrations that get me. I mean, a truck with a teddy and blankie. Who could resist that?

    View on Amazon
  • Richard Scarry's Cars

    Richard Scarry’s Cars

    by Richard Scarry

    View on Amazon
  • Go! Go! Go! Stop! by Charise Mericle Harper

    Go! Go! Go! Stop!

    by Charise Mericle Harper

    Exuberant tale of a little street light who finds his voice.

    View on Amazon
  • My Truck Is Stuck! by Kevin Lewis

    My Truck Is Stuck!

    by Kevin Lewis

    I'll admit, I kinda hated this book and was glad when the kids wore it out. But, boy, they loooooved it. Has the kind of repetition kids just eat up.

    View on Amazon
  • Go, Dog, Go! by P.D. Eastman

    Go, Dog, Go!

    by P.D. Eastman

    A fun, colorful and slightly oddball book. We’ve come to own both the full hardback version and the abridged board-book version, and I’d say I actually prefer the latter precisely because it’s abridged. The full text has this conversation woven throughout that always struck me as strange. The board-book omits that and loses nothing for it.

    View on Amazon
  • Richard Scarry's Boats

    Richard Scarry’s Boats

    by Richard Scarry

    There are four of these simple labeling books: boats, cars, planes and trucks. They're also available as a set.

    View on Amazon
  • Cars Go by Steve Light

    Cars Go

    by Steve Light

    No story here, but lots of car sounds and energetic illustrations.

    View on Amazon

Filed Under: Babies, Suggestions

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Our Suggestions for Babies

  • Best Board Books
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  • Poetry books
    Poetry
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  • Things That Go!
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  • Parenting books
    Parenting
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Our Suggestions for Kids

  • Poetry books
    Poetry
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  • Horses
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  • Dogs
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  • Kindergarten Readiness
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How To and Why

  • 10 good reasons to ask for books
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  • How to (politely) ask for books
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  • All the cutest, sweetest, cheesiest wordings to ask for...
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  • Why books are the perfect present for a baby...
    Read more

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