Ep. 56: Children’s books every adult should read

You might be too old to crawl into a lap to hear a good story, but you’re never too old to read yourself a great children’s book.

Artist and illustrator Karen Sandstrom talks about her favorite children’s books. The former book editor for the Cleveland Plain Dealer owns hundreds of children’s books. She created Picture Book Sundays on her Facebook page to spotlight her favorites.

You know the kind, where you know every line by heart because the books leave an imprint on your heart, one that lasts forever.

Karen shares her lists of favorites and so does Regina. Classics, like Goodnight Moon, The Velveteen Rabbit and The Tale of Peter Rabbit, and newer books that will become classics, like Hair Love, Ocean Meets Sky and Knuffle Bunny.

Karen, whose day job is in communications at the Cleveland Clinic, also shares her own illustrations at #tinymorningsketch.

Tips & Takeaways:

• You’re never too old to feel like a child.

• Karen’s favorites include: What We’ll Build, by Oliver Jeffers; Lights on Wonder Rock, by David Litchfield; Cozy, by Jan Brett; Owl Moon, by Jane Yolen and John Schoenherr; Flotsum by David Wiesner; Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich by Adam Rex.

• Regina’s favorites include: The Day the Crayons Quit, by Drew Daywalt, Otis the tractor books, by Loren Long; The Velveteen Rabbit, by Margery Williams; Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr. Seuss; Hair Love, by Matthew A. Cherry, and anything by Mo Willems

• It all comes down to stories. Tell a good story.