It's that time a year again..

I spent about 4 hours up at school today and since I am in the back to school mood, I thought I would share some of my favorite children's books. Since I like so many and there are SO many great ones, I will share 10 today, and more later...

Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3 by Bill Martin Junior - Good for preschool and the younger grades. It's as great of a counting book as Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is a letter's book. The illustrations are excellent and kids like the repetition.

The Mitten by Jan Brett - OMG. I LOVE Jan Brett. I especially enjoy her website, which has a plethora of activities on it. The mitten is about a little boy who drops his mitten and one by one some animals in the forest come crawling into it. Very cute, and there are some super cute activities to do with this book. Ages approximately 4-8.

Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett - One of my favorite versions of the Gingerbread Man! There are also tons of activites on her site. I should just say I heart www.janbrett.com and almost everything that comes with it. It's got the typical Gingerbread Man story,beautiful illustrations and I've never had kids not love it. Ages approximately 4-8.

Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner - HILARIOUS. I freaking love Skippyjon Jones. I especially love making up various voices for him and the other characters. Skippyjon is a silly little kitten who thinks he is a Chihuahua instead of a Siamese cat. He has an out of this world imagination that has kids laughing. There are others in the Skippyjon series and I also really like Skippyjon Jones in the Doghouse. Ages approximately preschool - 4th grade.

How I Became a Pirate by David Shannon - Funny story about a little boy spending the day the beach with his family when he is kidnapped by pirates. Great oppurtunity to make up voices. Every group of Kindergartener's I've read it to, has loved it. David Shannon is awesome, period. Ages approximately 4-8.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst - OMG. One of my favorite from childhood. Great story, great lessons to learn from it. Alexander has one of the worst days ever, and it's funny. Kids start repeating after you half-way through. Always make me smile, especially on a "down" day. Approximately ages 4-8.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle - I'm more in awe of the pictures and the pretty art projects you can come up with this one as opposed to the story. But it's still pretty awesome and kids love it. The book covers the life of the caterpillar and how he grows. For the younger crowd infant - kindergarten...

Love You Forever by Robert Munsch - So heartwarming! I loved it growing up and I still love it today. Mama sings to baby, "I'll love you forever, I'll love you always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be.." She continues to sing over and over through all of life's different stages this same song over and over.. and it's really sweet.. Ages toddler to 8

My School's a Zoo by Stu Smith - Yet another favorite read aloud. I have not had this book dissapoint a group of Kindergartener's yet. A little boy goes on a field trip and then the next day at school, it seems all of the animals have followed him there. He has a zebra and rhino has parents and there are LIONS in the cafeteria, among many other animals he finds throughout the day. Ages Kindergarten- 2nd.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett - This always amuses kids and is a book I do not mind reading a gazillion times! The tiny town of Chewandswallow has some unusually weather, it rained soup and juice, snowed mashed potatoes, and sometimes storms blew in of hamburgers. The weather gets bigger and bigger and it causes some problems! Really cute and funny. Ages approximately 4-8!

So here are just 10 of some of my many favorite children's books. What are your favorite children's books?