The other day, the preschool-age boy I nanny for brought home Frog and Toad are Friends from his school library.  Although his reading skills are not yet quite far advanced enough to take advantage of the book's true purpose -- as reading practice for beginning readers -- I discovered that it also makes for a very good set of stories when read aloud.

More than anything, though, I enjoyed this reminder of one of my favorite early reading books.

The Frog and Toad books are timeless classics for early readers.  Frog and Toad are Friends, the first in the series, was published more than 40 years ago, yet all of these books are still sold (and loved!) today by young readers.  Recently I went to the kids' section in the bookstore to buy a few early reader books for a different boy I babysit for sometimes, and Pokemon "I Can Read" books were sitting side by side with the Frog and Toad books.

I'm sure that part of the reason these books are so popular still is that parents like the thought of sharing with their kids a piece of their own childhoods.  I can still remember how much I loved reading about Frog and Toad as a kid -- two unlikely friends who did everything together.  These books rank right up there with books like Bread and Jam for Frances on my list of most memorable children's books.

What books from your childhood have you shared with your children?  Or are there any books you plan on sharing with them as they get a little older?